Dr Richard Muhlack

• Biography/ Background

  Biography & Research Interests
  

  Dr Richard Muhlack has a PhD in Chemical Engineering and two decades of wine sector experience in various industry and research roles across process analysis and simulation, cleaner production and energy efficiency, renewable energy technology, waste treatment and environmental management. 

  In January 2014 Dr Muhlack transitioned from industry-based R&D (with the Hardy Wine Company across 1999-2008 and then AWRI from 2008-2014) to the University of Adelaide and now holds an academic position within the School of Agriculture Food and Wine, where he is working to pursue research and technical development projects in the following areas:

  • Mathematical modelling of fermentation, extraction, adsorption processes during food and wine production
  • Industrial Process Simulation and Optimisation
  • NOLO (No and Low alcohol) beverage production
  • Process efficiency and techno-economics
  • Design of food and beverage process equipment
    
  • Instrumentation and process automation
  • Energy and Water Efficiency
  • Wastewater Treatment and Cleaner Production
  • Winery & Brewery Engineering

  Please contact Richard Muhlack to discuss opportunities for research collaboration.

   

• Qualifications

  PhD - Chemical Engineering University of Adelaide, Australia
  Thesis: "Development of alternative bentonite treatments for heat-unstable white wine"

  Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) with First Class Honours University of Adelaide, Australia

   

• Awards & Achievements

  2017 University of Adelaide Executive Dean of Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching (for staff with less than 5 years of teaching experience)

  2008 DAFF Australian Agricultural Industries Young Innovators and Scientists Award Winner
  (GWRDC Award)

  2004 Roger Pysden Memorial Fellowship

   

• Teaching Interests

  Honours Coordinator - School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

   

  Areas of teaching responsibility:

  Programs: Bachelor of Viticulture & Oenology, Graduate Diploma/Masters in Oenology,

  Course Coordinator:

  Engineering for Viticulture and Oenology III

  Brewing Technology and Beer Production III

  Wine Packaging and Quality Management III

  Other teaching:

  Cellar and Winery Waste Management III

  Advances in Wine Science

  Grape and Wine Production

   

   

   

• Publications

  Book Chapters

  Stockley, C.S. Varela, C. Coulter, A. Dry, P.R. Francis, I.L. Muhlack, R. Pretorius, I.S. Controlling the highs and the lows of alcohol in wine. Peeters, A.S. (eds). Wine: Types, production and health. Nova Science Publishers: Hauppauge, N.Y. : 281-299 ; 2012

  Peer-Reviewed Journal Papers

  Setford, P.C., Jeffery, D.W., Grbin, P.R., Muhlack, R.A. (2021) A new approach to predicting the extraction of malvidin030glucoside during red wine fermentation at industrial-scale. Food and Bioproducts Processing. 131, 217-223

  Sui, Y., Wollan, D., McRae, J., Muhlack, R., Tuke, J., Wilkinson, K. (2021) Impact of commercial scale ultrafiltration on composition of white and rose wine. Separation and Purification Technology, 284, 120227

  Zhang, X.K., Jeffery, D.W., Muhlack, R.A., Duan, C Q. (2021) The effects of copigments, sulfur dioxide and enzyme on the mass trnsfer process of malvidin-3-glucoside using a modelling approach in simulated red wine maceration scenarios. Food and Bioproducts Processing. 130, 34-47

  Tindal, R.A., Jeffery, D.W., Muhlack, R.A. (2021) Mathematical modelling to enhance winemaking efficiency: A review of red wine colour and polyphenol extraction. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 27(2) 219-233

  Sui, Y., McRae, J.M., Wollan, D., Muhlack, R.A., Godden, P., Wilkinson, K.L. (2021) Use of ultrafiltration and proteolytic enzymes as alternative approaches for protein stabilisation of white wine. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, doi:10.1111/ajgw.12475
  Unterkofler, J., Muhlack, R.A., Jeffery, D.W. (2020) Processes and purposes of extraction of grape components during winemaking: current state and perspectives. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 104(11), 4737-4755

  Kang, W., Bindon, K.A., Wang, X., Muhlack, R.A., Smith, P.A., Niimi, J., Bastian, S. (2020). Chemical and Sensory Impacts of Accentuated Cut Edges (ACE) Grape Must Polyphenol Extraction Technique on Shiraz Wines. Foods, 9(8), 1027

  Kang, W., Muhlack, R.A., Bindon, K.A., Smith, P.A., Niimi, J., Bastian, S.E.P. (2019) Potato Protein Fining of Phenolic Compounds in Red Wine: A Study of the Kinetics and the Impact of Wine Matrix Components and Physical Factors, Molecules, 24(24), doi:10.3390/molecules24244578

  Keiller, B., Muhlack, R., Burton, R , van Eyk, P.(2019) Biochemical Compositional Analysis and Kinetic Modeling of Hydrothermal Carbonisation of Australian Saltbush, Energy & Fuels, doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b02931

  Marshall, J. A., Muhlack, R., Morton, B. J., Dunnigan, L., Chittleborough, D., & Kwong, C. W. (2019) Pyrolysis temperature effects on biochar water interactions and application for improved water holding capacity in vineyard soils, Soil Systems, 3(2), 27, doi:10.3390/soilsystems3020027

  Danner, L., Niimi, J., Wang, Y., Kustos, M., Muhlack, R., Bastian, S. (2019) Dynamic viscosity levels of dry white and red table wines and determination of perceived viscosity difference thresholds, American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 70(2), 205-211

  Kang, W., Niimi, J., Muhlack, R.A., Smith, P.A., Bastian, S.E.P. (2019) Dynamic characterization of wine astringency profiles using modified progressive profiling, Food Research International, 120, 244-254

  Setford, P.C., Jeffery, D.W., Grbin, P.R., Muhlack, R.A. (2019) Mass transfer of Anthocyanins during Extraction from Pre-Fermentative Grape Solids under Simulated Fermentation Conditions: Effect of Convective Conditions, Molecules, 24(1), 73; doi:10.3390/molecules24010073

  Setford, P.C., Jeffery, D.W., Grbin, P.R., Muhlack, R.A. (2019) Mathematical Modelling of Anthocanin Mass Transfer to Predict Extraction in Simulated Red Wine Fermentation Scenarios, Food Research International, 120, 244-254

  Keiller, B., van Eyk, P., Lane, D., Muhlack, R., Burton, R (2019) Hydrothermal Carbonisation of Australian Saltbush, Energy & Fuels, 33(2), 1157-1166

  Setford, P.C., Jeffery, D.W., Grbin, P.R., Muhlack, R.A. (2018) Modelling the Mass Transfer Process of Malvadin-3-Glucoside during Simulated Extraction from Fresh Grape Solids under Wine-Like Conditions, Molecules, 23(9), 2159; doi:10.3390/molecules23092159

  Muhlack, R.A., Colby, C.B (2018) Reduced product loss associated with inline bentonite treatment of white wine by simultaneous centrifugation with yeast lees. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 108, 51-57

  Muhlack, R.A., Portumathi, R., Jeffery, D.W. (2018) Sustainable wineries through waste valorisation: A review of grape marc utilisation for value-added products. Waste Management, 72, 99-118

  Setford, P.C., Jeffery, D.W., Grbin, P.R., Muhlack, R.A. (2017) Factors affecting extraction and evolution of phenolic compounds during red wine maceration and the role of process modelling. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 69 (A), 106-117

  Marshall, J. A., Morton, B. J., Muhlack, R., Chittleborough, D., & Kwong, C. W. (2017). Recovery of phosphate from calcium-containing aqueous solution resulting from biochar-induced calcium phosphate precipitation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 165, 27-35
  Muhlack, RA., O'Neill, B.K., Waters, E.J., Colby, C.B. (2016) Optimal conditions for controlling haze-forming wine protein with bentonite treatment: investigation of matrix effects and interactions using a factorial design, Food and Bioprocess Technology, 9(6), 936-843
  Marangon, M., van Sluyter, S.C., Robinson, E.M.C., Muhlack, R., Holt, H., Haynes, P.A., Godden, P.W., Smith, P.A., Waters, E.J. (2012) Degradation of white wine haze proteins by Aspergillopepsin I and II during juice flash pasteurization. Food chemistry, Volume 135, Issue 3, 1157-1165
  Muhlack R.A.; Waters, E. J.; O'Neill, B. K.; Lim, A.; Colby, C. B. (2007) An alternative method for purification of a major grape protein responsible for haze formation in white wine. Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering 2(1), 70-74
  Muhlack R.A.; Nordestgaard, S.; Waters, E. J.; O'Neill, B. K.; Lim, A.; Colby, C. B. (2006) In-line dosing for bentonite fining of wine or juice: contact time, clarification, product recovery & sensory effects. Australian Journal of Grape Wine Research 12(3), 221-234

  Waters, E.J.; Alexander, G.; Muhlack, R.; Pocock, K.; Colby, C.; O'Neill. B.K.; Høj, P.B.; Jones, P. (2005) Preventing protein haze in bottled white wine. Australian Journal of Grape Wine Research 11(2), 215-225

  Technical & Trade Journal Papers

  Smart, R., Bruer, D., Collins, C., Corsi, A., Jeffrey, I., Karantonis, C., Lockshin, L., Muhlack, R., Oemcke, D., Pike, B., Wilkes, E., Climate change: Towards Australian grape and wine industry carbon neutrality...the possible dream. Australian & New Zealand Grapecrower & Winemaker, Issue (680), 100, 2020

  Muhlack, R., Forsyth, K., Scrimgeour, N., Godden, P., There's gotta be a buck in those organic by-products. Australian & New Zealand Grapegrower & Winemaker, Issue (599), 80-82 Pages, 2013
  Muhlack, R., Scrimgeour, N., Wilkes, E., Godden, P., Johnson, D., Optimising fermentation through simulation. Wine & Viticulture Journal, Volume 28, Issue (6), 40-43 Pages, 2013
  Muhlack, R., It's time to power up, Wine Business Magazine (WBM), August 2013, pg 39-41
  Robinson, E., Scrimgeour, N., Marangon, M., Muhlack, R., Smith, P., Godden, P. Proctase as a bentonite alternative - what's the latest?. Aust. N.Z. Grapegrower Winemaker 590 : 50-52 ; 2013
  Robinson, E., Scrimgeour, N., Marangon, M., Muhlack, R., Smith, P., Godden, P., Johnson, D., Beyond Bentonite, Wine and Vine Journal, 27(6), 2012, pg 24-30
  Muhlack, R (2012) Reduce vintage costs and improve process control with new ferment simulation tool. Australian & New Zealand Grapegrower & Winemaker, Issue (582), 62-65
  Varela, C. Chambers, P.J. Coulter, A. Dry, P.R. Francis, I.L. Gawel, R. Muhlack, R. Henschke, P.A. Stockley, C.S. Herderich, M.J. Pretorius, I.S. (2011) Controlling the highs and lows of alcohol in wine. Practical Winery and Vineyard, Volume 31, Issue 1, 6-18
  Coulter, A. Stockley, C. Varela, C. Francis, L. Chambers, P. Henschke, P. Dry, P. Gawel, R. Muhlack, R. Reducing alcohol levels in wine. AWRI Technical Review (186) 11-15 ; 2010.
  Godden, P., Muhlack, R. (2010) Trends in the composition of Australian wine, 1984-2008. Australian and New Zealand Grapegrower and Winemaker, Issue (558), 47-61
  Muhlack, R., Smith, P., Pretorius, I. (2009) Engineering renewable energy resources for a carbon constrained world. Australian and New Zealand Grapegrower and Winemaker November 2009 , 82-84
  Muhlack, R.A., Smith, P.A, Wells, S., Pender, D., Pretorius, I.S. (2009) The Climate is Right for Change. Wine Business Monthly August : 60-62
  Muhlack, R (2008) Necessity the mother of invention: Being smarter with energy and water. Australian and New Zealand Wine Industry Journal Nov/Dec : 59-60.
  Muhlack, R. (2008) Engineering Fermentation. Australian and New Zealand Grapegrower and Winemaker 536: 83-90.
  Muhlack, R. (2008) Engineering Process Control of Wine Fermentation. AWRI Technical Review 175 : 11-15.
  Muhlack R.A.; Waters, E. J.; O'Neill, B. K.; Lim, A.; Colby, C. B. (2004) Factors affecting bentonite performance. AWRI Technical Review 152: 11-14, 59

  Invited Conference Presentations

  *Muhlack., R.A., Forsyth, K.K., Nordestgaard, S., Scrimgeour, N., Godden, P.W., Creating value from by-products - an industry review and insights into practical case studies, Plenary presentation - 15th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference, Sydney, Australia, 13-18th July 2013
  *Muhlack, R Automated Fermentation management, Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology Seminar - Efficiency and Sustainability in the Winery, Adelaide Australia, 21-22 Nov 2012
  *Muhlack, R. Renewable energy options for the wine industry: Planning for business sustainability, Australian Wine Industry Environment Conference, Adelaide Australia, 23rd Sept 2009
  *Muhlack, R. (2008) Filling the potholes in the environmental research landscape. Proceedings - Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology Seminar - Footprints, food miles and furphies, 10 Sept 2008.

  Refereed Conference Presentations

  *Muhlack, R. Engineering cost reductions through predictive simulation of wine fermentation, Crush 2011 Grape and Wine Science Symposium, Adelaide Australia 28-30th September 2011
  O'Neill,B., Van Heeswijck,T. B., Muhlack, R., Models for predicting wine fermentation kinetics, Proceedings of the 39th Australasian Chemical Engineering Conference, Chemeca 2011, Sydney Australia 18th Sept 2011
  van Eyk, P.J., Muhlack, R.A., Ashman, P.J. (2009) Gasification of Grape Marc in a Circulating Fluidised Bed. Proceedings of the Australian Combustion Symposium, Brisbane, Australia
  *Muhlack R.A.; Lloyd, F.; Waters, E. J.; Lim, A.; O'Neill, B. K.; Colby, C. B. (2005) Development of advanced technologies for the prevention of protein haze formation in white wine. Proceedings of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture 56th Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, USA.
  *Muhlack R.A.; Waters, E. J.; O'Neill, B. K.; Lim, A.; Colby, C. B. (2004) New insights into the adsorption of haze-forming proteins by bentonite during winemaking. Proceedings of the 32nd Australasian Chemical Engineering Conference, Chemeca 2004 Sustainable Processes.

  Industry Conference Presentations

  *Muhlack, R.A., The Ferment Simulator, W21 - Practical applications of rapid analytical measurement tools for grapes and wine, 15th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference, Sydney, Australia, 13-18th July 2013
  *Muhlack, R.A., Bentonites aren't bentonites, W24 - Heat and cold stability, 15th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference, Sydney, Australia, 13-18th July 2013
  *Muhlack, R. Are there opportunities in your winery? W05 - Winemaking Process Improvement Opportunities. 14th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference, Adelaide Australia 3-8 July 2010
  *Muhlack, R. Energy Efficiency Strategies. W05 - Winemaking Process Improvement Opportunities. 14th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference, Adelaide Australia 3-8 July 2010
  *Muhlack, R. (2009) Energy Efficient Options for the Future - Adjusting to a Carbon Constrained Economy. Winery Engineering Association National Conference, 24 June 2009
  *Muhlack, R. (2008) Engineering Fermentation. Winery Engineering Association National Conference, 18 June 2008.
  Nordestgaard S., Muhlack R., O'Neill B., Waters E.J, Colby C.B. (2007) Heat stabilisation with in-line bentonite dosing. Proceedings - W06: Process Improvement for Profitability, 13th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference, Adelaide, Australia.

Entry last updated: Tuesday, 7 Mar 2023

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