Optimising Fouling Control in Membrane Bioreactors. Membrane bioreactors (MBR) are growing in importance for wastewater treatment because they offer an alternative for producing higher effluent quality wastewater within a more compact space compared to conventional processes. However, due to the pumping and bubbling used to keep the membranes clear of foulants resulting from the biological processes in MBR's, controlling fouling incurs significant energy usage and costs. The proposal aims to red ....Optimising Fouling Control in Membrane Bioreactors. Membrane bioreactors (MBR) are growing in importance for wastewater treatment because they offer an alternative for producing higher effluent quality wastewater within a more compact space compared to conventional processes. However, due to the pumping and bubbling used to keep the membranes clear of foulants resulting from the biological processes in MBR's, controlling fouling incurs significant energy usage and costs. The proposal aims to reduce the costs of fouling control by understanding the optimal conditions to remove these depositions and improve the design of MBR modules, operating conditions and shear delivery in the membrane system.Read moreRead less
Particle classification using a ferrofluid in a non uniform magnetic field. The separation of micron size components of suspensions according to the size and density of the particles is presently an intractable problem. However, by using a magnetized ferrofluid it should be possible to generate unique particle trajectories for each combination of particle size and density. This study investigates the potential of this strategy for separating such particles, laying the foundation for new small-sc ....Particle classification using a ferrofluid in a non uniform magnetic field. The separation of micron size components of suspensions according to the size and density of the particles is presently an intractable problem. However, by using a magnetized ferrofluid it should be possible to generate unique particle trajectories for each combination of particle size and density. This study investigates the potential of this strategy for separating such particles, laying the foundation for new small-scale diagnostic "lab-on a chip" technology that could be used in biotechnology to study whole blood, or in mineral processing to control energy intensive ball mills for mineral particle liberation.Read moreRead less
The Development of New Carrier Technologies for Spray-Dried Fruit Extracts. This project aims to develop new carrier techniques for spray drying fruit extracts based on the use of natural fibres, with the aim of overcoming a key problem in the operation of spray dryers for producing powders, the deposition of particles on walls. Carriers are non-sticky materials that effectively dilute the stickiness of any materials. The significance is that it will use waste products from fruit processing (th ....The Development of New Carrier Technologies for Spray-Dried Fruit Extracts. This project aims to develop new carrier techniques for spray drying fruit extracts based on the use of natural fibres, with the aim of overcoming a key problem in the operation of spray dryers for producing powders, the deposition of particles on walls. Carriers are non-sticky materials that effectively dilute the stickiness of any materials. The significance is that it will use waste products from fruit processing (the fibres from skins) to overcome this problem, and it will also be possible to dry sticky materials using material from the fruit itself, rather than additives such as maltodextrin.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882388
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$130,000.00
Summary
Advanced characterisation of organics and biopolymers in water and wastewater treatment. Although membrane technology is increasingly used for water production, wastewater treatment and reclamation, fouling by complex bio-organics is a major limitation. The liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection and the Flow FFF equipments give detailed analyses of the complex organics, thereby helping to understand the fouling and organic removal mechanisms allowing process optimisation. The availabilit ....Advanced characterisation of organics and biopolymers in water and wastewater treatment. Although membrane technology is increasingly used for water production, wastewater treatment and reclamation, fouling by complex bio-organics is a major limitation. The liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection and the Flow FFF equipments give detailed analyses of the complex organics, thereby helping to understand the fouling and organic removal mechanisms allowing process optimisation. The availability of these equipments will ramatically improve the quality of a number of research projects currently funded and being developed in Australia. This equipment would provide necessary infrastructure to keep Australian researchers world leaders in this research field (one of Australian top research priorities) and attract national and international collaborations.Read moreRead less
Transport phenomena in foam fractionation. Foam fractionation has a number of immediate applications in mineral and food processing but its most exciting potential is as low cost alternative for recovering and purifying high value biosurfactants. These are materials used to stabilise interfaces in living systems, and can be used as antibiotics and antiviral agents. The affinity for biosurfactants to collect at an interface suggests that foam fractionation is an ideal process to concentrate valua ....Transport phenomena in foam fractionation. Foam fractionation has a number of immediate applications in mineral and food processing but its most exciting potential is as low cost alternative for recovering and purifying high value biosurfactants. These are materials used to stabilise interfaces in living systems, and can be used as antibiotics and antiviral agents. The affinity for biosurfactants to collect at an interface suggests that foam fractionation is an ideal process to concentrate valuable products. Clearly, a cost-effective and reliable method of enriching streams of biosurfactants will make their use even more attractive and will engender the development of more novel biomaterials, such as pepfactants.Read moreRead less
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
Degradation of Oestrogenic and Carcinogenic Substances in Water using alternative water treatment technologies- Membrane Technology and Photocatalysis. There is currently much concern about the release into the aquatic environment of oestrogenic and carcinogenic pollutants. Current conventional water treatment technologies are ineffective in removing them from our water supplies. This research proposes to investigate alternative water treatment technologies for the removal of these compounds of ....Degradation of Oestrogenic and Carcinogenic Substances in Water using alternative water treatment technologies- Membrane Technology and Photocatalysis. There is currently much concern about the release into the aquatic environment of oestrogenic and carcinogenic pollutants. Current conventional water treatment technologies are ineffective in removing them from our water supplies. This research proposes to investigate alternative water treatment technologies for the removal of these compounds of concern. The technologies to be investigated involve integrating membrane technology and titanium dioxide photocatalysis to produce a highly effective and efficient water treatment process. The effects of various parameters on degradation of the pollutants will be investigated and monitored using different analytical techniques.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560662
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$204,157.00
Summary
Flow Diagnostics Facility for Microstructured Systems. This Project will establish Australia's only world-class facility for the interrogation of steady and fluctuating flows in microstructured components, enabling detailed characterisation of the flow patterns and velocities that occur in single phase and multiphase flows in miniature devices. Such devices are currently being developed by the Chief Investigators in the area of microreactor technology and chemical process intensification, in mic ....Flow Diagnostics Facility for Microstructured Systems. This Project will establish Australia's only world-class facility for the interrogation of steady and fluctuating flows in microstructured components, enabling detailed characterisation of the flow patterns and velocities that occur in single phase and multiphase flows in miniature devices. Such devices are currently being developed by the Chief Investigators in the area of microreactor technology and chemical process intensification, in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and in high efficiency membrane separation systems. The new Facility will enable them and others to enhance their research through visualisation and quantification of flow behaviour at the scale of a few micrometres.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
Macromolecular Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors. As the demands for domestic and industrial water increasing in Australia and overseas, membrane bioreactors (MBR) offer an alternative for producing higher effluent quality wastewater compared to conventional processes. However, aeration costs used to remove fouling deposits (which reduce the operating performance) need to be further minimised. The proposal aims to study fundamental mechanisms involve in the deposition of foulant components by usin ....Macromolecular Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors. As the demands for domestic and industrial water increasing in Australia and overseas, membrane bioreactors (MBR) offer an alternative for producing higher effluent quality wastewater compared to conventional processes. However, aeration costs used to remove fouling deposits (which reduce the operating performance) need to be further minimised. The proposal aims to study fundamental mechanisms involve in the deposition of foulant components by using model systems of polysaccharides, proteins and microbial cells and comparing these with real MBR systems. The effect of bubbling varied gas compositions (air/H2S ratios) a novel approach in this study will be investigated to prevent or remove foulants in MBR systems. Read moreRead less