A Green Technology for Enhancing Resource Recovery from Sewage Sludge. This project aims to develop an innovative technology to recover valuable resource from sewage sludge by enhancing transformation of sewage sludge into high-value medium chain fatty acids and methane. Wastewater treatment generates large amounts of resource-rich sewage sludge. However, the poor biodegradability of sewage sludge is a key barrier that impedes the efficient resource recovery. By advancing the underpinning scienc ....A Green Technology for Enhancing Resource Recovery from Sewage Sludge. This project aims to develop an innovative technology to recover valuable resource from sewage sludge by enhancing transformation of sewage sludge into high-value medium chain fatty acids and methane. Wastewater treatment generates large amounts of resource-rich sewage sludge. However, the poor biodegradability of sewage sludge is a key barrier that impedes the efficient resource recovery. By advancing the underpinning science and introducing a novel technology that innovatively harnesses a human waste, the project expects to remove the barrier. Expected project outcomes will turn sewage sludge from an undesirable waste to a valuable resource. This should provide significant benefits for Australia’s renewable energy and resource sectors.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL220100082
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,450,896.00
Summary
My Air Space: the Science of Buildings that Make us Thrive. Nothing is more necessary in human life than the air we breathe, mostly indoors where air quality has been relatively overlooked. This project aims to deliver new science and technology as a foundation for optimising indoor atmospheres to improve health, wellbeing, and comfort. Expected outcomes include innovative, efficient, low-cost diagnostic sensing of indoor atmospheres and human–space interactions, real-time detection of airborne ....My Air Space: the Science of Buildings that Make us Thrive. Nothing is more necessary in human life than the air we breathe, mostly indoors where air quality has been relatively overlooked. This project aims to deliver new science and technology as a foundation for optimising indoor atmospheres to improve health, wellbeing, and comfort. Expected outcomes include innovative, efficient, low-cost diagnostic sensing of indoor atmospheres and human–space interactions, real-time detection of airborne pathogens and particles that host them, and cost-effective localised conditioning of spaces for comfort at points of actual use. Benefits should be seen in areas of health, productivity, reduced energy use, and new industries for the design, modernising, and operation of buildings across Australia and beyond.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC220100012
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,939,486.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Advanced Building Systems Against Airborne Infection Transmission. The aim of the Centre is to engineer building systems whose elements work together to reduce airborne infection transmission by improving indoor air quality while maintaining comfort and efficiency. The significance is in establishing clean indoor air as the norm, with Australian industry being the forerunner in this process. The outcomes include new intelligent building systems, improved building technolo ....ARC Training Centre for Advanced Building Systems Against Airborne Infection Transmission. The aim of the Centre is to engineer building systems whose elements work together to reduce airborne infection transmission by improving indoor air quality while maintaining comfort and efficiency. The significance is in establishing clean indoor air as the norm, with Australian industry being the forerunner in this process. The outcomes include new intelligent building systems, improved building technologies, quantitative methods for building control, evidence for policymaking and recommendations for operational guidelines. Wide-ranging benefits include reducing the health and economic burden of inadequate indoor air and increasing the competitiveness of Australian industry in the face of increasing demand for next-level building systems.Read moreRead less
Achieving Nitrite Shunt For Mainstream Sewage Treatment Using Human Waste. This project aims to develop a novel technology to achieve mainstream nitrogen removal from domestic sewage via nitrite shunt. Nitrite shunt can reduce energy consumption and promote energy recovery compared with the conventional nitrogen removal process. However, it is difficult to inactivate nitrite-oxidising bacteria, which is a key barrier for achieving nitrite shunt. By advancing the underpinning science and introduc ....Achieving Nitrite Shunt For Mainstream Sewage Treatment Using Human Waste. This project aims to develop a novel technology to achieve mainstream nitrogen removal from domestic sewage via nitrite shunt. Nitrite shunt can reduce energy consumption and promote energy recovery compared with the conventional nitrogen removal process. However, it is difficult to inactivate nitrite-oxidising bacteria, which is a key barrier for achieving nitrite shunt. By advancing the underpinning science and introducing a novel technology that innovatively harnesses a human waste, the project expects to remove the barrier. Expected outcomes will support the transformation of sewage treatment plants into net-zero energy generators. This should provide economic, environmental and energy benefits for Australia’s water and energy sectors.Read moreRead less
Hydrogen generation by subsurface iron mineral transformations. Aim
The aim of this project is to elucidate key factors responsible for natural hydrogen generation in Australian subsurface environments.
Significance
Large amounts of this valuable resource are produced naturally with estimates of production rates of this “gold” hydrogen at least 100 times the annual demand for this critical resource.
Expected Outcomes
Based on improved understanding of the source of natural hydrogen, predictive ....Hydrogen generation by subsurface iron mineral transformations. Aim
The aim of this project is to elucidate key factors responsible for natural hydrogen generation in Australian subsurface environments.
Significance
Large amounts of this valuable resource are produced naturally with estimates of production rates of this “gold” hydrogen at least 100 times the annual demand for this critical resource.
Expected Outcomes
Based on improved understanding of the source of natural hydrogen, predictive tools will be developed that will assist in assessing the viability in Australia of hydrogen exploration and engineered retrieval.
Benefits
Ready access to naturally produced hydrogen could enable Australia to replace hydrogen that is currently generated via the use of unabated hydrocarbons.Read moreRead less
Reducing direct greenhouse gas emissions from urban wastewater systems. This project aims to develop a systematic framework for water utilities to monitor and reduce direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater systems. A standardised monitoring protocol will be developed to conduct an unprecedented nationwide sampling campaign. The obtained data, with microbial characterisation and mechanism analysis, will be used to develop novel models for accurate prediction of GHG emissions. Expect ....Reducing direct greenhouse gas emissions from urban wastewater systems. This project aims to develop a systematic framework for water utilities to monitor and reduce direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater systems. A standardised monitoring protocol will be developed to conduct an unprecedented nationwide sampling campaign. The obtained data, with microbial characterisation and mechanism analysis, will be used to develop novel models for accurate prediction of GHG emissions. Expected outcomes include protocol to accurately monitor emissions, models to predict emission under various conditions, and mitigation guideline for typical plant configurations. The anticipated benefit is a significant reduction in GHG emissions from urban water industry and support it to meet net-zero-emission goal by 2050.Read moreRead less
Industry Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: IL230100205
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,509,590.00
Summary
Recycling Innovations to Transform Electronic Waste into Green Metals. Essential materials needed to achieve sovereign capability and electrification goals are in critical short supply yet are being discarded in mountains of electronic waste. This Green Metals project aims to develop scalable technology to recover valuable metals from complex wastes, to be deployed locally and regionally. The significance of the proposal is it directly addresses key national priorities around reducing waste, boo ....Recycling Innovations to Transform Electronic Waste into Green Metals. Essential materials needed to achieve sovereign capability and electrification goals are in critical short supply yet are being discarded in mountains of electronic waste. This Green Metals project aims to develop scalable technology to recover valuable metals from complex wastes, to be deployed locally and regionally. The significance of the proposal is it directly addresses key national priorities around reducing waste, boosting recycling, creating advanced manufacturing capability. Outcomes expected are recovering metals needed for future products, scalable microrecycling solutions and new materials supply chains. Significant benefits include new jobs and skills, reduced waste, advanced capability, new business opportunities and markets.Read moreRead less
Mid-Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IM230100030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$855,472.00
Summary
Transforming urban water management through technology translation . Through university and industry partnership, this project will develop and demonstrate, at pilot scale, a highly innovative technology that manufactures an iron salt, FeCO3, for use in urban water management, and simultaneously removes CO2, H2S and NH3 from biogas thus achieving biogas valorisation. This project will demonstrate the effectiveness of FeCO3 produced, in infrastructure protection, nutrients removal and recycling, ....Transforming urban water management through technology translation . Through university and industry partnership, this project will develop and demonstrate, at pilot scale, a highly innovative technology that manufactures an iron salt, FeCO3, for use in urban water management, and simultaneously removes CO2, H2S and NH3 from biogas thus achieving biogas valorisation. This project will demonstrate the effectiveness of FeCO3 produced, in infrastructure protection, nutrients removal and recycling, and capacity enhancement of wastewater treatment plants. The outcomes of this project will lead to the adoption and commercialisation of the technology, which will substantially enhance the sustainability of urban water management in Australia, and also create jobs in, and bring incomes to Australia. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100722
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,245.00
Summary
Enabling Novel Hydrogen Storage via Combustible Ice for a Low-Carbon Future. This project aims to develop a new method for sustainable hydrogen storage. Hydrogen is vital for decarbonising Australia's economy, yet finding an efficient way for hydrogen storage is a global challenge. This project seeks to encapsulate hydrogen effectively in water to produce hydrogen-carrying combustible ice for efficient large-scale hydrogen storage, taking the advantages of water as the safest and cheapest raw ma ....Enabling Novel Hydrogen Storage via Combustible Ice for a Low-Carbon Future. This project aims to develop a new method for sustainable hydrogen storage. Hydrogen is vital for decarbonising Australia's economy, yet finding an efficient way for hydrogen storage is a global challenge. This project seeks to encapsulate hydrogen effectively in water to produce hydrogen-carrying combustible ice for efficient large-scale hydrogen storage, taking the advantages of water as the safest and cheapest raw material. Expected outcomes are cutting-edge knowledge and a new pathway of hydrogen storage. This project would contribute to turning Australia’s abundant renewable energy resources into substantial economic and environmental benefits and promote Australia's competitive edge in the global transition toward a low-carbon future.Read moreRead less
Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100422
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,637.00
Summary
Feasible quantification of greenhouse gas emitted from wastewater treatment. This project aims to develop an accurate and practical approach to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater treatment. Australian water utilities have pledged to net-zero emissions. However, most utilities do not know its actual emissions due to lack of feasible quantification method. This project will apply an interdisciplinary approach via mechanism investigations, mathematical modelling, and field work ....Feasible quantification of greenhouse gas emitted from wastewater treatment. This project aims to develop an accurate and practical approach to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater treatment. Australian water utilities have pledged to net-zero emissions. However, most utilities do not know its actual emissions due to lack of feasible quantification method. This project will apply an interdisciplinary approach via mechanism investigations, mathematical modelling, and field works to develop and validate a new feasible quantification method. This project will also advance knowledge on GHG emissions to guide quantification design. The outcomes will be translated into industry protocols and disseminated into industry. The outcomes provide timely support to water sector on its pathway to net-zero.Read moreRead less