B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc.(University of Toronto), Ph.D. ( Waterloo ), P.Eng.
Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
Areas of Expertise
- Bioprocess engineering for production of chemicals, fuels and materials
- Biological waste treatment of wastewater and air emissions
- Environmental aspects of pulp and paper
- Expert witness & scientific research reviews
Current Projects
- Photobioreactors for photosynthetic organisms
- Microalgae for food, fuels and biochemicals
- Wastewater and biosolids treatment in pulp and paper
Contact
- Phone: (416) 978-8517
- Email: dgrant.allen@utoronto.ca
Research Areas
Bioprocess Engineering, Biological Water Treatment, Biofiltration, Environmental Engineering, Pulp and Paper and Environment, Transport in bioreactors, Algae, and Biofilms.
Consulting Activity
Technical advice on the treatment of wastewaters and air emissions, pulp and paper environmental issues and processes involving biological systems (cells, biosludges, algae, enzymes, etc.). Also provide analysis and advice in areas of technical expertise in support of insurance claims and litigation. Provide advice to government on research tax credit claims and alternative dispute resolution.
About
Grant Allen is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto and Frank Dottori Chair in Pulp and Paper Engineering. He obtained his B.A.Sc. (1981) and M.A.Sc.(1983) degrees Chemical Engineering at the University of Toronto, specializing in bioprocesses and biomedical engineering. Grant also worked with Esso Petroleum Canada before enrolling in a Ph.D. program in chemical engineering (specializing in biochemical engineering) at the U of Waterloo. His research is in bioprocess engineering, with application to treating wastes and utilizing them for energy and chemical production. He has over 150 publications and has supervised 34 doctoral students, 46 masters and 21 postdoctoral fellows. He has co-led ten industrial research consortia working on environmental and energy challenges in the pulp and paper industry with multidisciplinary teams of up to 15 faculty and their students that engage up to 25 partners from Canada and around the world. He spent a research leave in 1994 with Weyerhaeuser Co. in Tacoma WA, working on biofiltration of air emissions and a research leave at a crown research organization in New Zealand (SCION), working with their green processing team on biorefineries. He has held several leadership positions in academia and the community, including Vice-Dean (Undergraduate) for the Faculty (2007-2011), Department Chair from (2011-2021), Director of the Pulp & Paper Centre (2001-03, 2022-23), President of the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering (2008/09) and Chair of the Chemical Institute of Canada (2019/2020). He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Engineering Institute of Canada and the Chemical Institute of Canada and was recently awarded his Faculty’s Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award.
Grant’s research interests are in the field of bioprocess engineering with emphasis on the biological treatment of waste waters, bioflocculation, microalgae production, biofiltration of air emissions, biofilms, microbiology of waste treatment and bioreactor design. His interests apply to many industrial wastes although most of his work is in the Pulp and Paper industry. Professor Allen provides technical advice on processes involving biological materials (e.g. cells, enzymes, etc.) and waste treatment (water and air) and environmental processes. He has provided advice and conducted research contracts in his areas of expertise for various manufacturing operations, engineering firms, insurance and legal firms and the Federal Government of Canada. He has extensive experience advising on scientific research tax credit claims for the Canadian government and has also received training in alternative dispute resolution.
Complete CV available upon request.