Biogeochemical remediation approaches for PFAS contaminated environments. This project aims to identify and harvest microorganisms capable of directly or indirectly affecting PFOS or PFOA degradation in the environment. Fluorinated compounds such as PFOS and PFOA in firefighting foams are contaminants of concern now routinely detected in contaminated groundwater and soil globally. Understanding the role of microorganisms, and the biogeochemical processes they perform in relation to fluorinated c ....Biogeochemical remediation approaches for PFAS contaminated environments. This project aims to identify and harvest microorganisms capable of directly or indirectly affecting PFOS or PFOA degradation in the environment. Fluorinated compounds such as PFOS and PFOA in firefighting foams are contaminants of concern now routinely detected in contaminated groundwater and soil globally. Understanding the role of microorganisms, and the biogeochemical processes they perform in relation to fluorinated compounds, will inform handling of contaminated sites and lead to development of cost effective and sustainable remediation technologies. Read moreRead less
Microbial infestation of pre-painted steel building materials: chemical and microbial characterization, model development and control strategies. Coated steel building materials are a multi-billion dollar Australian industry. Microorganisms form slime layers on those materials, which are unsightly and reduce their energy benefits. The project will identify the problem organisms, the factors that facilitate their growth and will develop novel biofilm resistant, functional building materials.
A novel method for controlling microbial concrete corrosion in sewers. This project plans to use a newly discovered, low-cost and environmental benign antimicrobial agent to develop an innovative technology to control the development of corrosion-inducing sewer biofilms. Concrete sewer corrosion is a long-standing and costly problem for the water industry. Microbial hydrogen sulfide oxidation on concrete surfaces plays a critical role. The technology will be designed to prevent corrosion of new ....A novel method for controlling microbial concrete corrosion in sewers. This project plans to use a newly discovered, low-cost and environmental benign antimicrobial agent to develop an innovative technology to control the development of corrosion-inducing sewer biofilms. Concrete sewer corrosion is a long-standing and costly problem for the water industry. Microbial hydrogen sulfide oxidation on concrete surfaces plays a critical role. The technology will be designed to prevent corrosion of new concrete sewers by adding a precursor chemical into the cement, or to slow down the corrosion of existing sewers by infrequently (once every one to few years) spraying the precursor chemical directly onto the concrete surface. Potentially, the project will substantially reduce sewer corrosion.Read moreRead less
Developing and testing a novel biological reduction cell to remediate heavy metal and acid-containing industrial and mine leachates. Echo Remediation Ltd. has a new reduction cell that uses sulfur and bacteria to remove heavy metals and acidity from mine leachates, but development is now required to make it viable. The project aims to optimise the process using molecular approaches to study the effects of operating conditions on the bacterial communities. As part of the investigation, active iro ....Developing and testing a novel biological reduction cell to remediate heavy metal and acid-containing industrial and mine leachates. Echo Remediation Ltd. has a new reduction cell that uses sulfur and bacteria to remove heavy metals and acidity from mine leachates, but development is now required to make it viable. The project aims to optimise the process using molecular approaches to study the effects of operating conditions on the bacterial communities. As part of the investigation, active iron reducers will be selected and introduced to the cell (in conjunction with chemical amendments) and their colonization monitored. The new technology once developed has the potential to be used at mine sites in Australia and overseas and its employment offers a sustainable, biological "green" approach to mine waste remediation.Read moreRead less
In situ bioremediation solutions for Australia's organochlorine contaminated aquifers. This project will develop biological technologies to accelerate chlorinated solvent degradation in contaminated groundwater. Bacterial cultures developed in Australia will be injected into groundwater to enhance solvent degradation resulting in environmentally friendly and cost effective environmental restoration.
Synthetic Biology Derived Electroactive Whole Cell Microbial Biosensors. The aim of this project is to develop, using synthetic biology, electrically integrated microbial biosensors for the detection of heavy metals in the environment. Building on our existing technology, this project aims to produce novel ‘biobricks’ capable of electrically integrating electric microbes into real time environmental monitors for heavy metal contaminants. This expansion of synthetic biology, and integration of el ....Synthetic Biology Derived Electroactive Whole Cell Microbial Biosensors. The aim of this project is to develop, using synthetic biology, electrically integrated microbial biosensors for the detection of heavy metals in the environment. Building on our existing technology, this project aims to produce novel ‘biobricks’ capable of electrically integrating electric microbes into real time environmental monitors for heavy metal contaminants. This expansion of synthetic biology, and integration of electric bacteria into sensor systems, will result in a new platform technology that expands our abilities to protect the ecology, agriculture and health of terrestrial, marine and agricultural at risk areas from economic and environmental damage.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL180100036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,011,916.00
Summary
Engineering microbes that increase coral climate resilience. This project aims to develop microbes which are able to enhance the climate resilience of corals. Coral reefs around the world are being lost at an alarming rate. Developing microbial symbionts to enhance coral climate resilience will give Australian and other coral reef ecosystems an increased chance of surviving the impact of climate change. The project will also enhance understanding of the functional roles of microbial symbionts of ....Engineering microbes that increase coral climate resilience. This project aims to develop microbes which are able to enhance the climate resilience of corals. Coral reefs around the world are being lost at an alarming rate. Developing microbial symbionts to enhance coral climate resilience will give Australian and other coral reef ecosystems an increased chance of surviving the impact of climate change. The project will also enhance understanding of the functional roles of microbial symbionts of corals, and advance the microbial symbiosis discipline globally. Expected outcomes include healthier coral reefs through the use of more climate resilient coral stock in reef conservation and restoration initiatives.Read moreRead less
Accelerated tailings remediation with plant and microbial biotechnologies. The Australian alumina industry produces 32 million tonnes of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings) each year, most of which is stored in perpetuity in landfill-type tailings storage facilities. The high pH, high salinity, lack of plant nutrients, and poor physical properties of bauxite residue are major barriers to safe storage and successful closure of tailings storage facilities. Existing remediation approaches a ....Accelerated tailings remediation with plant and microbial biotechnologies. The Australian alumina industry produces 32 million tonnes of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings) each year, most of which is stored in perpetuity in landfill-type tailings storage facilities. The high pH, high salinity, lack of plant nutrients, and poor physical properties of bauxite residue are major barriers to safe storage and successful closure of tailings storage facilities. Existing remediation approaches are expensive, slow, and often ineffective. We will deliver new microbial- and plant-driven biotechnologies for rapid, cost-effective remediation of bauxite residue. This will enable safe, sustainable closure of storage facilities, and safeguard the strong contribution of this $15 billion industry to Australia's economy. Read moreRead less
Bio-recovery of rare earth elements from Australian soils and mine tailings. This project aims to discover how microbes dissolve weathering-resistant phosphate minerals that contain valuable rare earth elements used widely in modern technology. This discovery would create new knowledge in the interdisciplinary fields of biogeochemistry and biohydrometallurgy, using an innovative combination of techniques in metagenomics, microbiology and mineralogy. Expected research outcomes include new, more ....Bio-recovery of rare earth elements from Australian soils and mine tailings. This project aims to discover how microbes dissolve weathering-resistant phosphate minerals that contain valuable rare earth elements used widely in modern technology. This discovery would create new knowledge in the interdisciplinary fields of biogeochemistry and biohydrometallurgy, using an innovative combination of techniques in metagenomics, microbiology and mineralogy. Expected research outcomes include new, more economic and environmentally sustainable biotechnologies for recovering rare earth elements and increasing phosphorus availability in Australian mineral deposits and soils. These outcomes should benefit the mining and agricultural sectors, by decreasing Australia's dependency on overseas REE supply and the use of fertilizers.Read moreRead less
Improving thiocyanate bioremediation with meta-genomics/transcriptomics. Improving thiocyanate bioremediation with meta-genomics/transcriptomics. This project aims to elucidate the roles of thiocyanate-degrading microbial consortium members involved in sulphur and nitrogen oxidation, using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. The gold mining industry generates environmentally toxic thiocyanate as a waste by-product, for which the most cost-effective remediation strategy is degradation by natura ....Improving thiocyanate bioremediation with meta-genomics/transcriptomics. Improving thiocyanate bioremediation with meta-genomics/transcriptomics. This project aims to elucidate the roles of thiocyanate-degrading microbial consortium members involved in sulphur and nitrogen oxidation, using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. The gold mining industry generates environmentally toxic thiocyanate as a waste by-product, for which the most cost-effective remediation strategy is degradation by natural microbes. Efforts to bioremediate, however, suffer from a lack of understanding of the full metabolic potential of the microbes involved. The intended outcome of this project is the improved design and operation of thiocyanate bioremediation reactor systems.Read moreRead less