Membrane Fouling in Submerged Hollow Fibre Membrane Bioreactor Systems: Theory, Modelling and Fouling Control. The outcomes of this project will provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms of fouling in submerged hollow fibre membrane bioreactors (SHFMBR) and will provide a sound base for optimization of design and operation of SHFMBR systems. Given the crucial role of the SHFMBR in wastewater treatment and water reuse, this project will significantly contribute to the national priority are ....Membrane Fouling in Submerged Hollow Fibre Membrane Bioreactor Systems: Theory, Modelling and Fouling Control. The outcomes of this project will provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms of fouling in submerged hollow fibre membrane bioreactors (SHFMBR) and will provide a sound base for optimization of design and operation of SHFMBR systems. Given the crucial role of the SHFMBR in wastewater treatment and water reuse, this project will significantly contribute to the national priority area of 'an environmentally sustainable Australia (water-a critical resource)'. In addition, the outcomes of this project on quantitative simulation of the gel/cake structure and resulting transport phenomena will promote Australia's reputation for high quality fundamental and applied research in the area of membrane filtration. Read moreRead less
Meshes of Oxide Nanofibres for Next-Generation Ceramic Membranes. Our next-generation ceramic membranes will increase the speed and efficiency of present industrial separations as well as expanding into a variety of new separations, thereby transforming many Australian industries. Exports of this new technology also will generate significant national benefits. Application of these new membranes to removing pollutants and pathogens from water and/or air will bring significant community benefits g ....Meshes of Oxide Nanofibres for Next-Generation Ceramic Membranes. Our next-generation ceramic membranes will increase the speed and efficiency of present industrial separations as well as expanding into a variety of new separations, thereby transforming many Australian industries. Exports of this new technology also will generate significant national benefits. Application of these new membranes to removing pollutants and pathogens from water and/or air will bring significant community benefits globally, addressing such crucial issues as low-cost provision of clean drinking water. Additionally, understanding the cutting-edge science associated with the mechanisms of nanofibre growth and the assembly of nanofibre meshes is highly valuable, making an important contribution to Australia's knowledge-economy.Read moreRead less
Lowering membrane fouling by matching pre-treatment to membrane type. Delivery of potable and recycled water to communities and industry increasingly uses membrane treatment to ensure high standards of water quality, particularly as water scarcity leads to the use of poor quality water sources. Fouling of membranes occurs as water is treated, adding expense and complexity to the process. Reducing fouling will lower the cost of water treatment and improve the economics of treating water in smal ....Lowering membrane fouling by matching pre-treatment to membrane type. Delivery of potable and recycled water to communities and industry increasingly uses membrane treatment to ensure high standards of water quality, particularly as water scarcity leads to the use of poor quality water sources. Fouling of membranes occurs as water is treated, adding expense and complexity to the process. Reducing fouling will lower the cost of water treatment and improve the economics of treating water in smaller systems at source. This will enable greater reliability of localised treatment, which will reduce pumping requirements and decrease both cost and carbon emissions. Read moreRead less
University of Queensland/Arizona State University partnership to design industrially suitable zeolite membranes for desalination. For desalination, the highest costs are organic-based membrane replacement (lasting ~1 year) and energy requirement. Functionalised zeolitic membranes are low-cost, high performing, chemically tolerant and thermally stable. New zeolite membranes in principle could perform the separation outlasting their organic counterparts, while at the same time offering major energ ....University of Queensland/Arizona State University partnership to design industrially suitable zeolite membranes for desalination. For desalination, the highest costs are organic-based membrane replacement (lasting ~1 year) and energy requirement. Functionalised zeolitic membranes are low-cost, high performing, chemically tolerant and thermally stable. New zeolite membranes in principle could perform the separation outlasting their organic counterparts, while at the same time offering major energy reductions from higher fluxes. Current zeolite membrane research for desalination however is lacking. The proposed team offers experience in bringing highly significant lab scale technologies to industrial scales. The outcomes will address mutual priorities between Australia and USA for reliable low cost supply of fresh water.Read moreRead less
Developing high-flux ceramic membranes via in situ synthesis of metal oxide nanofibres for separations of biological substances. This project can deliver advanced technology for fabricating ceramic membranes and biological separation, which has considerable commercial prospects in the chemical, pharmaceutical, dairy, food and water industries. The new ceramic membrane and nanofibres are highly-valued end products of metal oxides, which are manufactured commercially on large scale in Australia. T ....Developing high-flux ceramic membranes via in situ synthesis of metal oxide nanofibres for separations of biological substances. This project can deliver advanced technology for fabricating ceramic membranes and biological separation, which has considerable commercial prospects in the chemical, pharmaceutical, dairy, food and water industries. The new ceramic membrane and nanofibres are highly-valued end products of metal oxides, which are manufactured commercially on large scale in Australia. The project could bring direct benefits to the existing industries, by fostering their growth into more value-added processes, and exporting highly-valued products abroad. Additionally, efficient ceramic membranes could offer solutions to the large-scale purification of biological substances and to the problems for providing clean drinking water.Read moreRead less
Development of Vibratory Submerged Membrane Systems for Water and Wastewater Treatment. While there has been a dramatic increase in the use of submerged membrane systems in recent years, fouling of these membranes remains a major limitation to their more widespread use with the commonly used antifouling approach of bubbling with air exhibiting serious limitations. Low frequency vibration of submerged membranes appears to offer substantial benefits with regard to increased flexibility of operatio ....Development of Vibratory Submerged Membrane Systems for Water and Wastewater Treatment. While there has been a dramatic increase in the use of submerged membrane systems in recent years, fouling of these membranes remains a major limitation to their more widespread use with the commonly used antifouling approach of bubbling with air exhibiting serious limitations. Low frequency vibration of submerged membranes appears to offer substantial benefits with regard to increased flexibility of operation (such as the ability for rapid turn up/turn down and the ability to minimise fouling in anaerobic systems)and is likely to further extend the use of membranes in water and wastewater treatment.Read moreRead less
Optimal design and operation of submerged hollow fibres for flocculated feeds. This project will provide fundamental understanding of the operation of submerged hollow fibre (SHF)membranes with flocculated feed and fouling control by bubbling. The SHF is the latest generation membrane system for water and wastewater treatment offering lower cost and reduced energy demand. The operation of the SHF with floc is radically different from conventional membrane technology and this project will provid ....Optimal design and operation of submerged hollow fibres for flocculated feeds. This project will provide fundamental understanding of the operation of submerged hollow fibre (SHF)membranes with flocculated feed and fouling control by bubbling. The SHF is the latest generation membrane system for water and wastewater treatment offering lower cost and reduced energy demand. The operation of the SHF with floc is radically different from conventional membrane technology and this project will provide the understanding necessary to optimise design and operation.Read moreRead less