UC Spark

Associate Professor Peter Alan Gostomski

Chemical and Process Engineering

Phone: +64 3 364 2987 ext. 6141
 Office: Civil/Mechanical Engineering E530

Fields of Research

  • Air pollution control technology
  • Biofiltration, trickling filters
  • Bioprocess engineering
  • Environmental waste treatment
  • Process control

Researcher Summary

My research interests lay in bioprocess engineering, essentially convincing bacteria and fungi to do something interesting including degradation of compounds (biofiltration, wool scour colour) or production of compounds (microbial cellulose, methanol). Many of my projects are interconnected through my interest in unsaturated biofilms. Through control and manipulation of the unsaturated water environment, I am trying understand their metabolism and to enhance their activity.
-Understanding the hydrodynamic and biological fundamentals of three phase, low water content, biological reactor systems. This includes reaction systems such as biofiltration, trickle beds, and vadoze zone, in situ bioremediation.
-Use of novel organisms grown under harsh biological conditions or maintained in non-growth conditions for high volume transformations that are less susceptible to contamination.
-Microbial dynamics with respect to transient responses of pure cultures and dynamics of mixed cultures. Investigation of time-dependent models for control research.
-Applications of advanced control in fermentation. Development of feedback control in distributed parameter and multi-nutrient dependent systems along with novel sensor implementation.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Research Groups

Affiliations

Publications


  • Herritsch, A., Abdul Rahim, E., Fee, C.F., Morison, K.R. and Gostomski, P.A. (2013) An Interactive Virtual Tour of a Milk Powder Plant. Chemical Engineering Education (in press) (Journal Article)
  • Detchanamurthy, S. and Gostomski, P.A. (2013) Development of a modified differential biofiltration reactor with online sample and carbon dioxide monitoring system. Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering (early access online) http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/apj.1674. (Journal Article)
  • Kato, S., Freitag, J. and Gostomski, P. (2013) Infinite dilution partial molar excess entropy–enthalpy compensation for thiophene, carbon dioxide and water in ionic liquids. Fluid Phase Equilibria 339(early access on-line): 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fluid.2012.11.032. (Journal Article)
  • Abdul Rahim, E.E., Duenser, A., Billinghurst, M., Herritsch, A., Unsworth, K., Mckinnon, A. and Gostomski, P. (2012) A desktop virtual reality application for chemical and process engineering education. Melbourne, Australia: OzCHI 2012, 26-30 Nov 2012. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Detchanamurthy, S. and Gostomski, P.A. (2012) Biofiltration for treating VOCs: An overview. Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology 11(3): 231-241. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11157-012-9288-5. (Journal Article)
  • Kato, S., Freitag, J., Gostomski, P., Noritomi, H., Tachibana, T., Takeyama, T. and Y. Bando, Y. (2012) Correlation of VLE Data for the Thiophene + [bmim][BF4], +[bmim][PF6] Binaries Utilized for the Regeneration of Ionic Liquids. Solvent Extraction Research and Development, Japan 19: 171-176. http://www.solventextraction.gr.jp/serdj/jurnalpdf/vol19/pp171-176.pdf. (Journal Article)
  • Herritsch, A., Abdul Rahim, E.E., Morison, K., Duenser, A., Young, B., Fee, C., Winchester, J. and Gostomski, P. (2012) Discoveries from students' interactions with an immersive learning application. Wellington, New Zealand: Chemeca2012, 23-26 Sep 2012. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Valigore, J.M., Gostomski, P.A., Wareham, D.G. and O'Sullivan, A.D. (2012) Effects of hydraulic and solids retention times on productivity and settleability of microbial (microalgal-bacterial) biomass grown on primary treated wastewater as a biofuel feedstock. Water Research 46(9): 2957-2964. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2012.03.023. (Journal Article)
  • Evelyn, E., Marshall, A.T. and Gostomski, P. (2012) Ethanol oxidation in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) utilising various mediators and potential intergration of a MFC into an anaerobic biofiltration system. Wellington, New Zealand: Chemeca2012, 23-26 Sep 2012. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Detchanamurthy, S. and Gostomski, P.A. (2012) Metabolic uncouplers in environmental research: A critical review. Reviews in Chemical Engineering 28(4-6): 309-317. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/revce-2012-0004. (Journal Article)
  • Detchanamurthy, S. and Gostomski, P. (2012) The impact of metabolic uncouplers on the degradation rate of toluene in a biofilter. Wellington, New Zealand: Chemeca2012, 23-26 Sep 2012. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Detchanamurthy, S. and Gostomski, P. (2011) Effect of Different Metabolic Uncouplers in Biofiltration. Houston, TX, USA: ChemInnovations 2011, 13-15 Sep 2011. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Badilla, D.B., Gostomski, P.A. and Dalida, M.L.P. (2011) Kinetics and CO2 Production of Toluene Degradation in a Soil Biofilter. Manila, Phillipines: 3rd Regional Conference on Chemical Engineering, 20-21 Jan 2011. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Herritsch, A., Gostomski, P., Morison, K., Rahim, E., Dünser, A., Young, B., Fee, C., Winchester, J. and Cameron, I. (2011) Recent Developments with an Immersive Learning Tool Using a Milk Powder Production Application. Sydney, Australia: Chemeca 2011, 18-21 Sep 2011. Article 273. http://www.conference.net.au/chemeca2011/papers/273.pdf. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Kato, S., Schmelzer, J.P., Gostomski, P. and Marsh, K.N. (2011) Vapor-Phase Mole Fractions Determined from the P, x Data Using the Margules Equation for High-Pressure Binary Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Systems Including Carbon Dioxide. Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data 56(12): 4927-4934. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/je200842c. (Journal Article)
  • Badilla, D.B., Gostomski, P.A. and Dalida, M.L.P. (2010) Biofiltration for Indoor Air Pollution Control. Manila, Philippines: 5th Engineering Research and Development for Technology Conference, 11 Sep 2010. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Badilla, D.B., Gostomski, P.A. and Dalida, M.L.P. (2010) CO2 Production at different matric potentials in biofiltration. Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand: Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Practical Environmental Technologies, 24-28 Mar 2010. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Badilla, D.B., Gostomski, P.A. and Dalida, M.L.P. (2010) Degradation Rate of a Gaseous Pollutant at Varying Concentrations in a Soil Biofilter with Water Content Control. Taipei, Taiwan: 13th Asia Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering Congress, 5-8 Oct 2010. In APCChE 2010 2pp. http://apcche2010.ntu.edu.tw/program/abstract/10128.pdf. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Abdul Rahim, E.E., Unsworth, K., McKinnon, A., Dünser, A., Billinghurst, M., Gostomski, P.A. and Morison, K.R. (2010) Navigation Issues in the Development of a Virtual Chemical Processing Plant. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Computer Science Research Student Conference, 12-15 Apr 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Badilla, D.B., Gostomski, P.A. and Dalida, M.L.P. (2010) Nutrient Addition for Toluene Gas Removal in a Soil Biofilter. Davao, Philippines: Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE) Davao 1st International Science and Engineering Forum, 16-17 Apr 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Beuger, A. and Gostomski, P.A. (2009) Development of a biofilter with water content control for research purposes. Chemical Engineering Journal 151(1-3): 89-96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2009.01.045. (Journal Article)
  • Valigore, J., O'Sullivan, A.D. and Gostomski, P. (2009) Municipal Wastewater Selection for Microbial Biomass Production for Biodiesel. Aachen, Germany: 8th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies, 31 Aug-3 Sep 2009. In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies 6pp. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Beuger, A.L. and Gostomski, P.A. (2009) The Impact of Environmental Parameters on Toluene Degradation Using A Laboratory-Scale Biofilter with Internal Recycle. International Journal of Chemical Engineering 2(2-3): 87-95. (Journal Article)
  • Staiger, M.P., Piao, H., Dean, S. and Gostomski, P. (2007) Bacterial Cellulose Networks for Reinforcement of Polylactide. Kyoto, Japan: 16th International Conference on Composite Materials, 8-13 Jul 2007. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Beuger, A. and Gostomski, P. (2007) Rigorous control of environmental parameters in a biofilter using a differential reactor. Melbourne, AU: Chemeca 2007, 23-26 Sep 2007. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Dean, S., Staiger, M.P. and Gostomski, P.A. (2006) Bacterial Cellulose Properties as a Function of Growth Conditions. Auckland, New Zealand: CHEMECA 2006, 17-20 Sep 2006. In Conference Proceedings of CHEMECA 2006: Knowledge and Innovation 5pp. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Chapman, B.D., Schleicher, M., Beuger, A., Gostomski, P. and Thiele, J.H. (2006) Improved methods for the cultivation of the chemolithoautotrophic bacterium Nitrosomonas europaea. Journal of Microbiological Methods 65(1): 96-106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2005.06.013. (Journal Article)
  • Cudmore, R. and Gostomski, P. (2005) Biofilter design and operation for odor control - the New Zealand experience. In Z. Shareefdeen and A. Singh (Ed.), Biotechnology for Odor and Air Pollution Control: 235-252. Berlin: Springer GmbH. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27007-8_11. (Chapter in Book)
  • Schmidt, K.R., Chand, S., Gostomski, P.A., Boyd-Wilson, K.S.H., Ford, C. and Walter, M. (2005) Fungal Inoculum Properties and Its Effect on Growth and Enzyme Activity of Trametes versicolor in Soil. Biotechnology Progress 21(2): 377-385. (Journal Article)
  • Beuger, A., Chapman, B., Thiele, J. and Gostomski, P. (2005) Methanol production from methane by Nitrosomonas europaea in a chemostat with cell recycle. Brisbane, Australia: Chemeca 2005, 25-28 Sep 2005. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Jol, H.M., Deshusses, M.A. and Gostomski, P.A. (2004) Initial experiments on the application of ground penetrating radar to troubleshoot biofilters for air pollution control. University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar GPR 2004, Jun 2004. 423-426. (Conference Contribution - Other)
  • Holmes, D.A. and Gostomski, P.A. (2004) Production of bacterial cellulose by Acetobacter xylinum. Hamilton: Proceedings of Joint SCENZ/FEANZ/SMNZI Conference, Jun 2004. 92-95. (Conference Contribution - Other)
  • Ranasinghe, R.A. and Gostomski, P.A. (2003) A Novel Reactor for Exploring the Effect of Water Content on Biofilter Degradation Rates. Environmental Progress 22(2): 103-109. (Journal Article)
  • Ranasinghe, M.A. and Gostomski, P.A. (2002) A novel reactor for exploring the effect of water content on biofilter degradation rates. San Diego, CA: USC-TRG Conference on Biofiltration 2002, 31 Oct-1 Nov 2002. 195-202. (Conference Contribution - Other)
  • Ranasinghe, M.A., Jordan, P.J. and Gostomski, P.A. (2002) Modelling the Mass & Energy Balance in a Compost Biofilter. Christchurch, New Zealand: 9th Asian Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering (APCChE) Congress, 29 Sep-3 Oct 2002. In Green Processing and Sustainability: 9th APCChE Congress and CHEMECA 2002 CD-ROM(Paper no. 990) (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Ranasinghe, M.A., Jordan, P.J. and Gostomski, P.A. (2002) Modelling the Mass & Energy Balance in a Compost Biofilter. Baltimore, MD, USA: 95th Annual Air & Waste Management Association's Annual Conference & Exhibition, 23-27 Jun 2002. In Proceedings of AWMA's Annual Conference(CD-Rom) (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Gostomski, P.A., Mormino, R. and Bungay, H. (2002) Plate and disk bioreactors for making bacterial cellulose. In M.R. Marten, T.H. Park and T. Nagamune (Ed.), Biological Systems Engineering, Am. Chem. Soc. Symp. Series 830: 69-78. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society. (Chapter in Book)
  • Gostomski, P.A. and Morison, K.R. (Ed.) (2002) Proceedings of the 9th APCChE Congress and CHEMECA 2002 - Green Processing & Sustainability. Christchurch: University of Canterbury. (Edited Book)
  • Gostomski, P. and Liaw, L. (2001) Air Permeability of Biofilter Media. Session AE-2a. Orlando, FL: Proceedings of Air & Waste Management Assoc. 94th Ann. Mtg. & Exhib, June 18-24, 2001. Paper #389. (Conference Contribution - Other)
  • Marsh, K.N., Deev, A.V., Weatherley, L.R., Gostomiski, P.A. and Wu, A.C-T. (2001) Liquid-liquid equilibria in ionic liquid-organic solvent system. Paper IEC-023. San Diego: ACS Spring Meeting, 2001. (Conference Contribution - Other)
  • Cook, L.L., Hubler, T.B., Apel, W.A., Noah, K.S. and Gostomski, P.A. (2000) Biofiltration of asphalt Emissions: Full-scale operation treating odorous gases from asphalt product storage and loading facilities. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Proceedings of the A&WMA 93rd Annual Meeting. & Exhib.: Paper #816, June 18-24, 2000. (Conference Contribution - Other)
  • Hon, A.S. and Gostomski, P.S. (2000) Unsaturated water conductivity measurements in biofilter media. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Proceedings of the A &WMA 93rd Annual Meeting. & Exhib.: Paper #801, June 18-24, 2000. (Conference Contribution - Other)
  • Blake, C., Cook, L.L., Apel, W.A. and Gostomski, P.A. (1999) Biofiltration controls odors from asphalt processing plant. Oil & Gas Journal 97(30): 69-72. (Journal Article)
  • Cook, L.L., Gostomiski, P.A. and Apel, W.A. (1999) Biofiltration of asphalt emissions: Full-scale operation treating off-gases from polymer modified asphalt production. Environmental Progress 18(3): 178--87. (Journal Article)
  • Gostomski, P.A., Sisson, J.B. and Cherry, R.S. (1997) Water Content Dynamics in Biofiltration -- The Role of Humidity and Microbial Heat Generation. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 47: 936-944. (Journal Article)