Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100185
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
High throughput microbial microculture and single cell analysis facility. High throughput microbial microculture and single cell analysis facility:
To support the emerging research area of microbial heterogeneity and variation in response to conditions, this project aims to establish a facility centred on a 24-microbioreactor system for high throughput microbial culturing. This is designed to be connected to two complementary analysis techniques – flow cytometry and high resolution infra-red mi ....High throughput microbial microculture and single cell analysis facility. High throughput microbial microculture and single cell analysis facility:
To support the emerging research area of microbial heterogeneity and variation in response to conditions, this project aims to establish a facility centred on a 24-microbioreactor system for high throughput microbial culturing. This is designed to be connected to two complementary analysis techniques – flow cytometry and high resolution infra-red microscopy – for the non-destructive measurement of metabolic activities and mapping of constituents of whole cells. This would help us to determine the variation in response between organisms, to guide cell line development and process optimisation for a wide range of biotechnology applications. Expected outcomes may apply to Australia’s brewing, wine, food processing, aquaculture, biofuels, biomedical and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Development of a Novel Process for the Formation of Polymer Vesicles. The project would provide an increased understanding of polymer structures, polymer-drug interactions and dense gas processing of polymers. The novel process developed would be beneficial on a manufacturing level since it dramatically reduces processing time and minimises energy requirements. The research to be conducted is leading-edge technology that will attract business from international polymer, drug and biotechnology co ....Development of a Novel Process for the Formation of Polymer Vesicles. The project would provide an increased understanding of polymer structures, polymer-drug interactions and dense gas processing of polymers. The novel process developed would be beneficial on a manufacturing level since it dramatically reduces processing time and minimises energy requirements. The research to be conducted is leading-edge technology that will attract business from international polymer, drug and biotechnology companies. The development of world-class research provides Australia with recognition as a world leader in the field and strengthens and broadens the knowledge base of Australian scientists and engineers.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of oligomers in dense carbon dioxide. The aim of the project is to develop a novel technique for the synthesis of low molecular weight polymers (oligomers) using dense carbon dioxide as a polymerisation solvent. The use of elevated pressure is the major impediment to the commercialisation of such technology. The technique proposed in this project will enable oligomers to be produced at greatly reduced operating pressures and may lead to a more general procedure for conducting other t ....Synthesis of oligomers in dense carbon dioxide. The aim of the project is to develop a novel technique for the synthesis of low molecular weight polymers (oligomers) using dense carbon dioxide as a polymerisation solvent. The use of elevated pressure is the major impediment to the commercialisation of such technology. The technique proposed in this project will enable oligomers to be produced at greatly reduced operating pressures and may lead to a more general procedure for conducting other types of polymer synthesis in dense carbon dioxide.Read moreRead less
Covalently immobilised molecular catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction. This project aims to develop innovative catalytic systems on semiconductor surfaces, to use sunlight for conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into high energy-content products. Sustainable chemical transformation of CO2 into valuable products, especially fuels, is one of the most important chemical processing challenges. This project will use innovative molecular engineering to covalently fix light-harvester to semiconductors ....Covalently immobilised molecular catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction. This project aims to develop innovative catalytic systems on semiconductor surfaces, to use sunlight for conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into high energy-content products. Sustainable chemical transformation of CO2 into valuable products, especially fuels, is one of the most important chemical processing challenges. This project will use innovative molecular engineering to covalently fix light-harvester to semiconductors. The expected outcome will be an efficient system to enhance CO2 conversion, which will not only reduce the environmental impact but also generate a cheap source of energy by closing the carbon loop. Using this approach, existing high carbon-emitting processes will be able to be replaced by new carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative ones for much-reduced environmental impact on our society.Read moreRead less
Assembling multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by hybrid catalytic and photochemical approach. The overall aim of this project is to assemble multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by an integrated catalytic and photocatalytic approach. The issues of impending depletion of fossil fuel resources and irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions have stimulated research for the sustainable utilisation of carbon dioxide. In situ spectros ....Assembling multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by hybrid catalytic and photochemical approach. The overall aim of this project is to assemble multi-functional nanocomposites for carbon dioxide reduction by an integrated catalytic and photocatalytic approach. The issues of impending depletion of fossil fuel resources and irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions have stimulated research for the sustainable utilisation of carbon dioxide. In situ spectroscopic studies combined with theoretical calculations will be used to elucidate the underlying reaction mechanisms of the synergistic effects of photon and thermal reduction of carbon dioxide . The success of the proposed project will allow the reduction of carbon dioxide, generate a cheap energy source in the form of environmentally benign hydrocarbons and close the carbon loop. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101618
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,000.00
Summary
Tailoring multifunctional single site catalysts for carbon dioxide conversion. This project aims to develop multifunctional single site catalysts and collaborative surface sites to complete multi-step reactions using carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation to higher alcohols with enhanced selectivity for large-chain alcohols. CO2 is an abundant and renewable carbon source for use as a feedstock, and closing the carbon cycle in an energy efficient manner has the potential for significant environmental ....Tailoring multifunctional single site catalysts for carbon dioxide conversion. This project aims to develop multifunctional single site catalysts and collaborative surface sites to complete multi-step reactions using carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation to higher alcohols with enhanced selectivity for large-chain alcohols. CO2 is an abundant and renewable carbon source for use as a feedstock, and closing the carbon cycle in an energy efficient manner has the potential for significant environmental benefits. The project is expected to advance the knowledge in rational design of new catalysts for CO2 conversion and understanding the catalyst structure-property induced reaction mechanism. This will result in an improved understanding of the reaction kinetics of utilising CO2 as a feedstock.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100583
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,000.00
Summary
Engineering of biocatalysis in metal-organic frameworks for CO2 conversion. Transforming the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable fuels would be beneficial for relieving energy shortage and improving global sustainability. This project aims to architect a biocascade system in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for artificial CO2 conversion. Learned from the living organisms, a whole biocatalysis unit including enzymes and cofactors will be encased and protected in an artificial porous ....Engineering of biocatalysis in metal-organic frameworks for CO2 conversion. Transforming the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable fuels would be beneficial for relieving energy shortage and improving global sustainability. This project aims to architect a biocascade system in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for artificial CO2 conversion. Learned from the living organisms, a whole biocatalysis unit including enzymes and cofactors will be encased and protected in an artificial porous polymeric MOF coating. This approach is expected to deliver robust biocatalysts with high reaction-activity and chemo-selectivity in converting CO2 into methanol under the industrial operating condition, involving thermal, pH, and chemical stressors. This advancement will contribute to a carbon-neutral industry and society.Read moreRead less
Improving performance of solvent extraction equipment for the minerals processing industry. This project will develop a fundamental understanding of how a new type of solvent extraction column, which was recently introduced to the mining industry, responds to changes in process conditions and operating parameters. This will enable the potential for optimal and efficient use of these assets and ensure a competitive advantage for Australia's biggest export earner.
The elutriation of ultrafine particles according to their density. This study is concerned with exploiting a new and powerful mechanism for separating particles according to their density, with strong potential for recovering and concentrating tens of billions of dollars worth of valuable minerals annually. By coupling the new separation mechanism with a centrifugal force it should be possible to apply gravity separation technology, arguably for the first time, to the recovery of ultrafine parti ....The elutriation of ultrafine particles according to their density. This study is concerned with exploiting a new and powerful mechanism for separating particles according to their density, with strong potential for recovering and concentrating tens of billions of dollars worth of valuable minerals annually. By coupling the new separation mechanism with a centrifugal force it should be possible to apply gravity separation technology, arguably for the first time, to the recovery of ultrafine particles from 200 microns to well below 10 microns, at high separation efficiency, and high feed rates. This study is also ideal for training new researchers, especially at the PhD level, in an area of importance to Australia's economic future. Read moreRead less
Carbon-Supported Iron Catalysts for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO. Nitric oxide (NO) is a major pollutant from combustion systems. This project aims to develop cost-effective and environmentally benign zerovalent iron catalysts supported on carbon material for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO using CO and unburned hydrocarbons as in-situ reductants. By applying differential reactor experimentation, kinetic modelling and advanced material characterisation techniques, the research w ....Carbon-Supported Iron Catalysts for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO. Nitric oxide (NO) is a major pollutant from combustion systems. This project aims to develop cost-effective and environmentally benign zerovalent iron catalysts supported on carbon material for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO using CO and unburned hydrocarbons as in-situ reductants. By applying differential reactor experimentation, kinetic modelling and advanced material characterisation techniques, the research will unravel complex relationships among catalyst structural features and activity, NO reduction mechanisms, and catalyst performance under practically relevant combustion conditions that underpin the development of an effective yet affordable SCR technology to control NO emission from industrial utilities and automobiles.Read moreRead less