Prof Kilmartin is an electrochemist by training who has applied electrochemical methods to fields as diverse as wine science and electrically conducting polymers. His novel findings in oenology have assisted New Zealand companies to produce high quality Sauvignon Blanc wines and gained him an international reputation within the Wine Science community. These include findings that mechanical harvesting, juice oxidation and additives such as sulfites at harvest, play essential roles in the formation of the fruity and tropical aromas in NZ wines. His research on conducting polymers has resulted in new applications as sensing elements for the determination of antioxidants in beverages and biological fluids. A further novel concept has been the consideration of conducting polymers as solid antioxidant materials, and the creation of functional biopolymers from grape marc waste, for use as food packaging materials to increase product shelf-life.

 

Prof Kilmartin is an electrochemist by training who has applied electrochemical methods to fields as diverse as wine science and electrically conducting polymers. His novel findings in oenology have assisted New Zealand companies to produce high quality Sauvignon Blanc wines and gained him an international reputation within the Wine Science community. These include findings that mechanical harvesting, juice oxidation and additives such as sulfites at harvest, play essential roles in the formation of the fruity and tropical aromas in NZ wines. His research on conducting polymers has resulted in new applications as sensing elements for the determination of antioxidants in beverages and biological fluids. A further novel concept has been the consideration of conducting polymers as solid antioxidant materials, and the creation of functional biopolymers from grape marc waste, for use as food packaging materials to increase product shelf-life.