|
 |
Biography
Born in Mauritius, François moved to France to further his education and obtained a PhD in Chemistry from Université Blaise Pascal (Clermont-Ferrand) and in collaboration with BP Chemicals Ltd. François then worked for two years at the British Petroleum Research Centre in Sunbury (UK) as a research technologist with a focus on the development of novel heterogeneous catalysts. He moved in Australia in 1999, following an appointment at Monash University where he worked within the Cooperative Research Centre for Clean Power from Lignite, a consortium looking at improving the efficiencies of coal-fired power stations.
François joined Swinburne University of Technology in 2000 as a postdoctoral fellow and used this opportunity to start his research group in Catalysis and Process Development with particular interests in clean technologies and alternative energies. During that time, he was also involved in a few programs looking at international collaborations and networking.
Following the restructure of the university in 2004, François was appointed as the Associate Dean (International) for the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, with a major role in developing exchange programs, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Teaching
Consumer Science Chemistry Environmental Science Environmental Management
Research Interests
Materials Science Alternative Energies Steam Reforming Catalysis Biocatalysis Ethno-botany
Publications Include
Evidences of segregated SnO2 type nanoparticles coating layered double hydroxide at moderate temperature M. Intissar, F. Malherbe, V. Prévot, F. Leroux, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 299, 747 Degradation of low-density polyethylene over modified zeolites P. Tu, K. Pratt, E. Kosior, F. Malherbe, Dev. Chem. Eng. Mineral Process., 14(1/2), 1-16, 2006 ncorporation of Ti4+ into layered double hydroxide sheets? The response by X-ray diffraction and absorption study M. Intissar, S. Holler, F. Malherbe, J.P. Besse and F. Leroux, J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 65, 453, 2004 Process for making glycol ethers W.J. Smith and F.C. Malherbe, US Patent 6,291,720 September 2001 nvestigating the effects of guest-host interactions on the properties of anion-exchanged Mg-Al hydrotalcites F. Malherbe, J.P Besse, J. Solid State Chem., 155 (2), 332, 2000.
Awards and Grants
Science, Technology and Innovation grant (PhD) looking at a cleaner technology for the steam reforming of methane into syngas (used in gas-to-liquid Fischer-Tropsch) ( CSIRO/STI $60,000) Successful application for a Multi-function high resolution-analytical scanning electron microscope (ARC LIEF, $350,000) Purchase of a new X-ray diffractometer through a partnership with 3 other universities to implement a Surface Science group (ARC LIEF, $50,000) Joint project with Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd Collaborative project with Nufarm Australia Ltd