Miniaturised electrophoretic systems for distributed environmental sensing. This project aims to develop new low-cost sensors to quantify a range of water nutrients for continuous automated water monitoring. The project aims to design a microfluidic cartridge to obtain a particulate-free sample for analysis by the rapid separation of inorganic anions and cations. The cartridge is intended to be operated in a portable low cost, low weight, low power instrument. The deployment of multiple units ai ....Miniaturised electrophoretic systems for distributed environmental sensing. This project aims to develop new low-cost sensors to quantify a range of water nutrients for continuous automated water monitoring. The project aims to design a microfluidic cartridge to obtain a particulate-free sample for analysis by the rapid separation of inorganic anions and cations. The cartridge is intended to be operated in a portable low cost, low weight, low power instrument. The deployment of multiple units aims to provide a continuous data stream describing the changes in nutrient profiles within various waters, to feed into environmental models and inform best practice for agriculture and aquaculture industries.Read moreRead less
New hyphenated chromatographic and spectroscopic methods for oil analysis. This project aims to use novel chemical separation methods combined with spectroscopy to identify useful markers in olive oil and essential oil to ensure purity, quality and authenticity, which are all ongoing issues in these industries in Australia and overseas. The project plans to compare and integrate results of multidimensional gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared analyses ....New hyphenated chromatographic and spectroscopic methods for oil analysis. This project aims to use novel chemical separation methods combined with spectroscopy to identify useful markers in olive oil and essential oil to ensure purity, quality and authenticity, which are all ongoing issues in these industries in Australia and overseas. The project plans to compare and integrate results of multidimensional gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared analyses with data libraries to generate precise molecular identification. The outcome is expected to help monitor adulteration of oils and maintain the high quality standards of Australian produce.Read moreRead less
Novel semio-chemical approach to control the Australian Sheep Blowfly . The Australian Federal Government through the 'Smart Farming' initiative highlights the need for improved multidisciplinary measures in order to remain at the global forefront of the invention and adoption of technology. This multidisciplinary project (entomology, biotechnology, analytical chemistry and genomics) will rapidly inform the management of fly strike on an important Australian resource merino sheep. This will bui ....Novel semio-chemical approach to control the Australian Sheep Blowfly . The Australian Federal Government through the 'Smart Farming' initiative highlights the need for improved multidisciplinary measures in order to remain at the global forefront of the invention and adoption of technology. This multidisciplinary project (entomology, biotechnology, analytical chemistry and genomics) will rapidly inform the management of fly strike on an important Australian resource merino sheep. This will build the key biochemical data in order to develop a novel fly lure technology (at scale) to be used on farm delivering national benefit through improved animal welfare and safety considerations for producers, and will establish the best approach to disseminate this scientific information to stakeholders such as farmers.Read moreRead less
On-site and comprehensive technology for chemical weapons, toxins and drugs. This project aims to evaluate and validate broad capabilities of advanced chemical profiling using benchtop and portable gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for forensic applications. Establishing guidelines for sampling various matrices, key performance measures, and improving chemical and residue identification for drug profiling in clandestine laboratories and public venues, chemical warfare agents, and chemical tox ....On-site and comprehensive technology for chemical weapons, toxins and drugs. This project aims to evaluate and validate broad capabilities of advanced chemical profiling using benchtop and portable gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for forensic applications. Establishing guidelines for sampling various matrices, key performance measures, and improving chemical and residue identification for drug profiling in clandestine laboratories and public venues, chemical warfare agents, and chemical toxins is expected. Anticipated outcomes for project partners in defence and policing include detailed knowledge of sample and residue composition and on-site assessment of chemical risks with immediate feedback. Benefits should include improved community and security services safety by enhanced detection of harmful substances.Read moreRead less
Identification and isolation of new pharmaceutical opiate analogues: today's problems tomorrow's solutions. This project will identify and characterise the impurity profiles across opiate alkaloid production, which will enhance the development of manufacturing processes through the reduction of problem impurities and provide potential new drug substances from the isolation of other opiate derived concomitant species.
Advanced Separation Technologies and Chemometric Data Processing for Macromolecular Materials and Metabolite Profiling. The project will develop innovative separation technologies for specialised materials, which could lead the scientific export industry in Australia, with employment benefits to the community. Partner, Dow has links with researchers around the world, and this project will allow Australian researchers to access the network of Dow laboratories and projects and develop a long-term ....Advanced Separation Technologies and Chemometric Data Processing for Macromolecular Materials and Metabolite Profiling. The project will develop innovative separation technologies for specialised materials, which could lead the scientific export industry in Australia, with employment benefits to the community. Partner, Dow has links with researchers around the world, and this project will allow Australian researchers to access the network of Dow laboratories and projects and develop a long-term relationship. The analysis methods to be developed will focus on metabolite profiling which has relevance to a broad range of biological monitoring activities from human health, to plant genetics and breeding. New generation polymer materials will be characterised by using the new techniques developed. The methods will be platform technologies for future studies eg. anti-terrorism bio- and chemo-monitoring.Read moreRead less
Marine oil seeps and airborne particulates characterisation for organic compositional fingerprinting by using novel gas chromatographic technologies. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) is a powerful new tool for studying complex organic materials. The technique provides a highly sensitive method of fingerprinting not only the composition of the material but also its environmental history and behaviour. In this project the technique will be applied to a range of petroleum- ....Marine oil seeps and airborne particulates characterisation for organic compositional fingerprinting by using novel gas chromatographic technologies. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) is a powerful new tool for studying complex organic materials. The technique provides a highly sensitive method of fingerprinting not only the composition of the material but also its environmental history and behaviour. In this project the technique will be applied to a range of petroleum-related organic samples, including oil seeps from the ocean floor, and airborne particulates contributing to air pollution. The research will lead to a better understanding of geochemistry of petroleum-related materials and their potential impact on the environment and on public health.Read moreRead less
The Synthesis and Analysis of Certain Explosives and Illicit Drugs for Improved Forensic Detection. There is an increasing demand within law enforcement agencies, worldwide, for selective and sensitive methods for the determination of illicit substances. Over the last decade Deakin University chemists have played a major role in establishing the utility of chemiluminescent reactions for the determination of a variety of pharmaceutical opiates in process streams. This project seeks to build upon ....The Synthesis and Analysis of Certain Explosives and Illicit Drugs for Improved Forensic Detection. There is an increasing demand within law enforcement agencies, worldwide, for selective and sensitive methods for the determination of illicit substances. Over the last decade Deakin University chemists have played a major role in establishing the utility of chemiluminescent reactions for the determination of a variety of pharmaceutical opiates in process streams. This project seeks to build upon these successes, in order to develop innovative analytical strategies for forensic detection of certain illicit drugs and explosives. The results of this research have the potential to revolutionise key aspects of forensic analysis.Read moreRead less
Impacts of pharmaceuticals and personal care products on Australian aquatic ecosystems. Pharmaceutical and personal care products (e.g. antihistamines, caffeine, antibiotics) have recently been shown to suppress rates of the critical processes providing food resources to fish and insects, threatening viability of aquatic ecosystems. Using novel methods, this project will investigate acute and longer term impacts of these chemicals.
Oxidation product generation during heating and storage of bio-fuels and alternative fuels assessed by multidimensional gas chromatography. Renewable bio-fuels offer much promise as a replacement for fossil fuels. However, they have a tendency to oxidise when prepared and used, potentially forming gums and solid deposits in engines. The objective of this project is the identification of these deposits and subsequent prevention during engine operation.