Development of redox-mediated microbial assays for the rapid characterisation and assessment of wastewater, wastewater treatment processes and recycled water. With SE Qld on Level 5 water restrictions the need to reduce our demand on drinking water by increasing our reliance on recycled water is now urgent. To achieve this we need to ensure that the quality of our recycled wastewater is of a suitable and reliable standard. This project will assist the water industry in this endeavour by the de ....Development of redox-mediated microbial assays for the rapid characterisation and assessment of wastewater, wastewater treatment processes and recycled water. With SE Qld on Level 5 water restrictions the need to reduce our demand on drinking water by increasing our reliance on recycled water is now urgent. To achieve this we need to ensure that the quality of our recycled wastewater is of a suitable and reliable standard. This project will assist the water industry in this endeavour by the developing monitoring techniques that can rapidly characterise and assess the effectiveness of wastewater treatment processes and the quality of the water derived from them. These methods will provide early warnings of potential 'upsets' in treatment plants that would otherwise result in poor quality effluents that would need to be discharged as waste rather than be recycled.Read moreRead less
Determination of the fate of dissolved organic nitrogen in biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes and development of appropriate treatment technologies. The aim of this project is to better characterise the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in sewage treatment plant influent, determine its fate in biological nutrient removal (BNR) plants, and to evaluate and develop an appropriate treatment technology.
As a result of tightening effluent N licence requirements for sewage treatment plants, ....Determination of the fate of dissolved organic nitrogen in biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes and development of appropriate treatment technologies. The aim of this project is to better characterise the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in sewage treatment plant influent, determine its fate in biological nutrient removal (BNR) plants, and to evaluate and develop an appropriate treatment technology.
As a result of tightening effluent N licence requirements for sewage treatment plants, the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) fraction has become extremely important. In many cases, the DON forms the major fraction of the effluent N, and is constraining further reductions in licence specifications, and in some cases it is the cause of failure to meet licence.
DON is refractory (un-biodegradable), very poorly characterised, its fate in conventional biological treatment processes not known, and its eventual impact on the environment unknown. Considering its importance, it is critical that these issues are addressed. This proposal intends to address some of them.
This project is an APA(I) PhD student project.Read moreRead less
Ecosystem response to human, veterinary and growth promoting antibiotics in the aquatic environment. The objective of this study is to assess the threat to Australian aquatic ecosystems by antibiotics excreted and/or discarded through human activities each year. Specifically this study aims to: 1) Determine types of antibiotics, concentrations and distribution in surface waters downstream from potential sources; 2) Investigate bacterial resistance and bacterial community changes to antibiotic c ....Ecosystem response to human, veterinary and growth promoting antibiotics in the aquatic environment. The objective of this study is to assess the threat to Australian aquatic ecosystems by antibiotics excreted and/or discarded through human activities each year. Specifically this study aims to: 1) Determine types of antibiotics, concentrations and distribution in surface waters downstream from potential sources; 2) Investigate bacterial resistance and bacterial community changes to antibiotic compounds entering the aquatic environment; 3) Determine the influence of antibiotics on key ecological processes performed by bacteria - e.g. nitrogen cycle; 4) Assess effect on, and efficiency of, various effluent treatments in removing antibiotics and direct improvements for future removal.Read moreRead less
Next generation bioplastics: Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics from organic waste. Production of next generation bioplastics by using waste as a resource supports an environmentally sustainable Australia and provides wide-ranging commercial opportunities for Australian businesses. Fundamental research in this field will provide a platform for creation of an Australian Centre of Excellence in PHA bioplastics, which will play an integral role in progressing research on sustainab ....Next generation bioplastics: Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics from organic waste. Production of next generation bioplastics by using waste as a resource supports an environmentally sustainable Australia and provides wide-ranging commercial opportunities for Australian businesses. Fundamental research in this field will provide a platform for creation of an Australian Centre of Excellence in PHA bioplastics, which will play an integral role in progressing research on sustainable materials development. The project will provide training and PhD education in environmental biotechnology, and direct commercial benefits to Australia by the development of significant Intellectual Property and linkage between an Australian University and leading players in environment technology commercialisation.Read moreRead less
Tailored Biodegradable Polymers for Injection Moulding Applications. This project aims to engineer and scale up production of biodegradable injection molded products with tailored properties, processing and biodegradation. Specifically we will focus on novel materials and processing technologies in tandem with biodegradation understandings to expand the utilization of starch-based polymers. We will then combine fundamental rheological and polymer processing skills with and product development ex ....Tailored Biodegradable Polymers for Injection Moulding Applications. This project aims to engineer and scale up production of biodegradable injection molded products with tailored properties, processing and biodegradation. Specifically we will focus on novel materials and processing technologies in tandem with biodegradation understandings to expand the utilization of starch-based polymers. We will then combine fundamental rheological and polymer processing skills with and product development experience from both universities and the industrial partner (Plantic Technologies) to scale up processing and develop successful biodegradable products. This project will also enable an Australian owned start-up company with a broad shareholder base to generate significant export income through key commercialization.Read moreRead less
Development of a Nitrogen Removal Technology to Integrate with the Novel ‘EnRec’ Energy Recovery Sewage Treatment Process. The aim of this project is to develop a nitrogen removal technology to integrate with the novel energy recovery sewage treatment process, EnRec. EnRec is presently being developed as part of a collaborative R&D activity between the partners, and is partly supported by a Queensland Government (QSEIF) grant which was awarded in November 2002.
One important issue yet to b ....Development of a Nitrogen Removal Technology to Integrate with the Novel ‘EnRec’ Energy Recovery Sewage Treatment Process. The aim of this project is to develop a nitrogen removal technology to integrate with the novel energy recovery sewage treatment process, EnRec. EnRec is presently being developed as part of a collaborative R&D activity between the partners, and is partly supported by a Queensland Government (QSEIF) grant which was awarded in November 2002.
One important issue yet to be addressed is how to achieve nitrogen removal in the EnRec process. One of the major differences between the EnRec process and conventional sewage treatment technology is that the main process reactor is anaerobic, thus eliminating aeration costs and enabling methane production. However, anaerobic treatment processes do not provide significant nitrogen removal, and thus it will be necessary to integrate a nitrogen removal technology with the main energy recovery process. This is the aim of this project.
The project is an APA(I) PhD student project.Read moreRead less
An optimally integrated treatment process for food waste and wastewater to maximise sustainability in a decentralised treatment plant. Decentralised small scale treatment plants are required for remote communities, resort locations and 'rural residential' developments. This project has access to an operational plant in urban Brisbane serving 21 houses, the first development in urban Australia with full approval for an onsite treatment facility. The plant has been designed to treat an integrate ....An optimally integrated treatment process for food waste and wastewater to maximise sustainability in a decentralised treatment plant. Decentralised small scale treatment plants are required for remote communities, resort locations and 'rural residential' developments. This project has access to an operational plant in urban Brisbane serving 21 houses, the first development in urban Australia with full approval for an onsite treatment facility. The plant has been designed to treat an integrated kitchen waste and blackwater stream, with upstream anaerobic digestion that reduces the survival of wastewater pathogens and generates soluble organic carbon for the biological removal of nitrogen and phosphorous. The project will produce expertise in decentralised treatment systems, including the development of two PhD students in this area.Read moreRead less