Biogeochemical remediation approaches for PFAS contaminated environments. This project aims to identify and harvest microorganisms capable of directly or indirectly affecting PFOS or PFOA degradation in the environment. Fluorinated compounds such as PFOS and PFOA in firefighting foams are contaminants of concern now routinely detected in contaminated groundwater and soil globally. Understanding the role of microorganisms, and the biogeochemical processes they perform in relation to fluorinated c ....Biogeochemical remediation approaches for PFAS contaminated environments. This project aims to identify and harvest microorganisms capable of directly or indirectly affecting PFOS or PFOA degradation in the environment. Fluorinated compounds such as PFOS and PFOA in firefighting foams are contaminants of concern now routinely detected in contaminated groundwater and soil globally. Understanding the role of microorganisms, and the biogeochemical processes they perform in relation to fluorinated compounds, will inform handling of contaminated sites and lead to development of cost effective and sustainable remediation technologies. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101471
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$441,100.00
Summary
Controlling uranium species to its long-term stability in bioremediation. This project aims to reveal the mechanisms of uranium transformation and immobilisation in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions of bioremediation with the emphasis on elucidating stable uranium immobilised under different pathways and conditions. This project expects to generate new knowledge regarding the relationship between uranium speciation and stability with the matrix mineral, microbiota, and environmental conditio ....Controlling uranium species to its long-term stability in bioremediation. This project aims to reveal the mechanisms of uranium transformation and immobilisation in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions of bioremediation with the emphasis on elucidating stable uranium immobilised under different pathways and conditions. This project expects to generate new knowledge regarding the relationship between uranium speciation and stability with the matrix mineral, microbiota, and environmental conditions. Expected outcomes from this project include new strategies for preferential immobilisation of uranium to stable species that are resistant to air and acid. The anticipated benefits of this project include mitigating uranium contamination and promoting the sustainable development of the uranium industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Arsenic and copper cycling in the soil-plant continuum in water-limited mining environments. This project will characterise cycling of arsenic and copper in the landscape after gold mining and will establish environmental risk-assessment framework. The results of this project will improve rehabilitation of mining-affected areas.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100755
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,948.00
Summary
Developing phytosystems for the biofiltration of air pollutants . This project aims to develop, evaluate and apply a range of biotechnology driven solutions for the use of phytosystem biofilters designed for air purification. The findings of the project will demonstrate the fundamental mechanisms behind botanical air pollutant biofiltration, apply systematic technological development against a range of air pollutants, and provide strategies to deploy the technology. With a transdisciplinary appr ....Developing phytosystems for the biofiltration of air pollutants . This project aims to develop, evaluate and apply a range of biotechnology driven solutions for the use of phytosystem biofilters designed for air purification. The findings of the project will demonstrate the fundamental mechanisms behind botanical air pollutant biofiltration, apply systematic technological development against a range of air pollutants, and provide strategies to deploy the technology. With a transdisciplinary approach utilising techniques new to this discipline, the project will substantially advance the fundamental science underlying this novel and highly valuable area of air-bioremediation technology, and will create a much stronger economic driver for this Australia-led innovation.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100500
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,000.00
Summary
Electron transfer at the microbe-mineral interface via cytochromes/exudates. This project aims to develop the kinetic (both in vivo and in vitro) and thermodynamic models of the extracellular electron transfer processes at the microbe-mineral interface via outer membrane cytochromes and exudates of dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria, and elucidating the potential electron transfer process from iron-reducing bacteria to semiconducting iron minerals. The observed models will provide a more compr ....Electron transfer at the microbe-mineral interface via cytochromes/exudates. This project aims to develop the kinetic (both in vivo and in vitro) and thermodynamic models of the extracellular electron transfer processes at the microbe-mineral interface via outer membrane cytochromes and exudates of dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria, and elucidating the potential electron transfer process from iron-reducing bacteria to semiconducting iron minerals. The observed models will provide a more comprehensive understanding of electron transfer reactions at the microbe-mineral interface, which will be helpful in the prediction of natural redox processes of iron transformation and in the development of bioremediation strategies for contaminated sites.Read moreRead less
Electron transport catalysis in organohalide pollutant respiration. This project aims to understand the link between substrate specificity and gene sequence of dehalogenating enzymes in organohalide respiring bacteria (ORB) and the mechanism by which electrons are transferred to dehalogenating enzymes through protein-protein interactions. Organohalides were present in Earth's early history and now pollute the environment globally. Organohalide respiring bacteria (ORB) can degrade these pollutant ....Electron transport catalysis in organohalide pollutant respiration. This project aims to understand the link between substrate specificity and gene sequence of dehalogenating enzymes in organohalide respiring bacteria (ORB) and the mechanism by which electrons are transferred to dehalogenating enzymes through protein-protein interactions. Organohalides were present in Earth's early history and now pollute the environment globally. Organohalide respiring bacteria (ORB) can degrade these pollutants by using them as terminal electron acceptors in their respiratory metabolism. This represents one of the most ancient respiratory systems on Earth about which little is known. This project will add to our fundamental knowledge of microbial evolution and metabolic systems, and pave the way for next generation organohalide remediation technologies.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100007
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,000.00
Summary
Metal speciation for complex studies in changing environments. Metal speciation for complex studies in changing environments: The Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer with a High Performance Liquid Chromatography front end (HPLC-ICP-MS) for metal speciation studies is a highly valuable extension of existing cutting edge infrastructure for geochemical research. Existing invertebrate culturing capacity will also enable unique opportunities for experimental studies driven by understanding m ....Metal speciation for complex studies in changing environments. Metal speciation for complex studies in changing environments: The Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer with a High Performance Liquid Chromatography front end (HPLC-ICP-MS) for metal speciation studies is a highly valuable extension of existing cutting edge infrastructure for geochemical research. Existing invertebrate culturing capacity will also enable unique opportunities for experimental studies driven by understanding metal speciation and uptake by organisms. This facility will be housed within a highly productive research environment providing new and novel capabilities to study abiotic and biotic interactions in changing environments.Read moreRead less
Mine-site rehabilitation through novel plant and microbe interactions. This project will endeavour to improve restoration technologies aimed at reconstructing diverse and resilient new plant communities following disturbance. The factors which govern successful outcomes of restoration are not fully understood. Current restoration practices rely on the soil microbial community to generate key microbial ecosystem services but their function in novel post-mining substrates modified with soil amelio ....Mine-site rehabilitation through novel plant and microbe interactions. This project will endeavour to improve restoration technologies aimed at reconstructing diverse and resilient new plant communities following disturbance. The factors which govern successful outcomes of restoration are not fully understood. Current restoration practices rely on the soil microbial community to generate key microbial ecosystem services but their function in novel post-mining substrates modified with soil ameliorants is limited. The project aims to use next-generation DNA sequencing to elucidate the structure and function of microbial ecosystem dynamics in modified substrates and apply this understanding to improve restoration outcomes for species and communities affected by the expansion of mining activities in the Pilbara and nationally.Read moreRead less
Overcoming critical recruitment bottlenecks limiting seedling establishment in degraded seagrass ecosystems: a systems approach to restoration. This project will apply a demographic approach, adopted from terrestrial models of seed-based restoration, to identify those early life-stage transitions most limiting to seedling establishment in seagrass restoration.
Phytoextraction approaches for mitigating heavy metal release from unlined and loosely capped rural landfills. Australian rural landfills are used for storing hazardous wastes which contain toxic metals. Impermeable clay caps are often utilized to encapsulate these wastes and prevent release of pollutants into the environment. The integrity of these caps is crucial and requires constant care. The project aims to develop novel approaches which will improve substantially the long-term environmenta ....Phytoextraction approaches for mitigating heavy metal release from unlined and loosely capped rural landfills. Australian rural landfills are used for storing hazardous wastes which contain toxic metals. Impermeable clay caps are often utilized to encapsulate these wastes and prevent release of pollutants into the environment. The integrity of these caps is crucial and requires constant care. The project aims to develop novel approaches which will improve substantially the long-term environmental safety of rural landfills and deliver additional economic benefits. These approaches involve the use of high-value tree crops and plants capable of extracting toxic metals. Utilization of these plants will create a valuable resource on an otherwise derelict area and this will be of considerable local/regional benefit and national significance.Read moreRead less