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
Overcoming microplastics induced inhibition on waste-to-energy conversion . This project aims to develop an innovative technology and the underpinning science to achieve stable and efficient mitigation of emerging microplastics induced inhibition that is becoming a key barrier hindering waste-to-energy conversion in anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion is a low-cost technology widely used to divert sewage sludge to renewable energy production. However, the increasing levels of microplastics ....Overcoming microplastics induced inhibition on waste-to-energy conversion . This project aims to develop an innovative technology and the underpinning science to achieve stable and efficient mitigation of emerging microplastics induced inhibition that is becoming a key barrier hindering waste-to-energy conversion in anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion is a low-cost technology widely used to divert sewage sludge to renewable energy production. However, the increasing levels of microplastics captured in sludge leads to low methane yield and process failure due to their small size and specific characteristics. The outcome of the project will remove the emerging barrier to enhance energy recovery that can be applied in existing anaerobic digestion infrastructure for addressing Australia’s increasing energy demand.Read moreRead less
Maximising Bioenergy Recovery from Sewage Sludge. Sewage treatment is producing large amounts of sewage sludge, which represents a substantial, but largely untapped, energy source. This project aims to develop and demonstrate an innovative, economically attractive and environmentally friendly technology, and the underpinning science, to maximize bioenergy recovery from sewage sludge. The technology is based on the treatment of sludge using free ammonia, a by-product of sewage treatment. This pro ....Maximising Bioenergy Recovery from Sewage Sludge. Sewage treatment is producing large amounts of sewage sludge, which represents a substantial, but largely untapped, energy source. This project aims to develop and demonstrate an innovative, economically attractive and environmentally friendly technology, and the underpinning science, to maximize bioenergy recovery from sewage sludge. The technology is based on the treatment of sludge using free ammonia, a by-product of sewage treatment. This project is expected to benefit Australia by substantially reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and accelerating a shift to affordable renewable energy. The outcomes of the project would provide significant energy, economic, environmental and social benefits for Australians. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100530
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$459,350.00
Summary
Directly Transforming Sewage Sludge into High-value Liquid Bioenergy. This project aims to develop an innovative technology and the underpinning science to gain renewable liquid bioenergy from sewage sludge and realise sludge reduction on an economical and safe platform, by directly transforming sewage sludge into high-value medium chain fatty acids, allowing for easy collection, storage and transportation. Wastewater treatment is generating an increasing quantity of carbon-rich sewage sludge, w ....Directly Transforming Sewage Sludge into High-value Liquid Bioenergy. This project aims to develop an innovative technology and the underpinning science to gain renewable liquid bioenergy from sewage sludge and realise sludge reduction on an economical and safe platform, by directly transforming sewage sludge into high-value medium chain fatty acids, allowing for easy collection, storage and transportation. Wastewater treatment is generating an increasing quantity of carbon-rich sewage sludge, which typically represents a substantial, but largely untapped, renewable resource. The intended outcome of the project will transform sewage sludge from a troublesome waste stream to a valuable resource that can be applied in existing sludge treatment infrastructure for addressing Australia’s increasing energy demand.Read moreRead less
Yield improvement in large-scale bubble column fermenters. For companies operating in the global marketplace, yield differences of a few percent can be critically important. Improving yeast fermentation yield requires major advances in modelling the bubble size distribution and how this impacts micro- and macro-scale mixing. Model-based knowledge transfer via full-scale plant trials is a key outcome.
New fermentation and purification production technologies for menaquinone-7 for promoting bone and cardiovascular health. We will develop a significantly more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly process for the production of vitamin K (menaquinone-7, or MK7) to manufacture food supplements for humans and animals. MK7 will increase bone regeneration and minimise the risk of cardiovascular disease. It has the potential to reduce the costs of these conditions for the community, and to incre ....New fermentation and purification production technologies for menaquinone-7 for promoting bone and cardiovascular health. We will develop a significantly more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly process for the production of vitamin K (menaquinone-7, or MK7) to manufacture food supplements for humans and animals. MK7 will increase bone regeneration and minimise the risk of cardiovascular disease. It has the potential to reduce the costs of these conditions for the community, and to increase the quality of life for Australia's ageing population. Orthopaedic diseases are also a major veterinary issue, and our advance should make MK7 a more widely used available supplementary food for animals such as horses and dogs. Read moreRead less