Low oxidation state magnesium complexes: multitalented reagents for sustainable chemical synthesis. The chemistry of stable low oxidation state s-block compounds was initiated at Monash in 2007. In addition to being of major fundamental importance, applications of these highly reactive systems have rapidly developed. To cement Australia's international lead in this emerging and competitive field, this project aims to develop a new generation of magnesium(I) (and related) compounds, and to instal ....Low oxidation state magnesium complexes: multitalented reagents for sustainable chemical synthesis. The chemistry of stable low oxidation state s-block compounds was initiated at Monash in 2007. In addition to being of major fundamental importance, applications of these highly reactive systems have rapidly developed. To cement Australia's international lead in this emerging and competitive field, this project aims to develop a new generation of magnesium(I) (and related) compounds, and to install them as sought after reagents for sustainable synthetic methodologies. For the first time, environmentally benign s-block compounds will be utilised for the low energy stoichiometric and catalytic transformation of abundant, often inert gaseous small molecules, for example, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, to value added products important to industry and academia.Read moreRead less
New technologies for e-waste recycling. This project aims to provide commercially viable methods for recycling electronic waste (e-waste), with a focus on plastic recycling and precious metal recovery from circuit boards. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the separation and recovery of gold, silver, and palladium using novel leach reagents and sorbents. Additionally, new techniques will be evaluated for converting e-waste plastic into construction materials. Expected outcomes of ....New technologies for e-waste recycling. This project aims to provide commercially viable methods for recycling electronic waste (e-waste), with a focus on plastic recycling and precious metal recovery from circuit boards. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the separation and recovery of gold, silver, and palladium using novel leach reagents and sorbents. Additionally, new techniques will be evaluated for converting e-waste plastic into construction materials. Expected outcomes of this project include new capabilities for Australia's e-waste recycling industry, as the majority of circuit board waste is shipped overseas. This should provide significant economic benefits such as the recovery of valuable metals and the development of novel construction materials.Read moreRead less
Low-Valent p-Block Compounds: Taking on Noble Roles in Catalysis. In this project, innovative approaches will be employed to access new, and fundamentally important, classes of low oxidation state main group compounds, the electronic properties and reactivity of which will be readily tuned to mimic those of noble transition metal complexes. The project aims to harness these attributes, for the first time, to establish such compounds as cheap and sustainable alternatives to the expensive and toxi ....Low-Valent p-Block Compounds: Taking on Noble Roles in Catalysis. In this project, innovative approaches will be employed to access new, and fundamentally important, classes of low oxidation state main group compounds, the electronic properties and reactivity of which will be readily tuned to mimic those of noble transition metal complexes. The project aims to harness these attributes, for the first time, to establish such compounds as cheap and sustainable alternatives to the expensive and toxic transition metal catalysts that are currently essential to numerous synthetic processes utilised in academia and industry. The involvement of a synergistic international network of collaborators will be central to the success of this project, which offers major academic, environmental and economic benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less