A New Photocatalysis Hybrid System in Wastewater Treatment for Reuse. This project would particularly be useful to unreticulated sewage systems and small sewage treatment plants are prevalent in the coastal areas of NSW and Queensland and the interior parts of Northern Territory with small and isolated communities. Opportunities for demonstrating the successful application of this cost effective method of waste water treatment to appropriate stakeholders through participation in workshops, semin ....A New Photocatalysis Hybrid System in Wastewater Treatment for Reuse. This project would particularly be useful to unreticulated sewage systems and small sewage treatment plants are prevalent in the coastal areas of NSW and Queensland and the interior parts of Northern Territory with small and isolated communities. Opportunities for demonstrating the successful application of this cost effective method of waste water treatment to appropriate stakeholders through participation in workshops, seminars and events will be explored. The study can also be extended to small and medium sized industries in their wastewater treatment. The technology is of direct benefit within the Nation and also has significant export potential. Read moreRead less
Application of the MIEXR DOC process to membrane hybrid systems for water reuse. Fresh water is increasingly scarce in Australia and wastewater reuse is being advocated as a strategy for both meeting our needs and protecting the environment. This research will test the magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) process as a pretreatment for a membrane-flocculation hybrid system (MFHS). MIEX will remove small and medium molecular weight organics and minimize membrane fouling. Large molecular weight organics, s ....Application of the MIEXR DOC process to membrane hybrid systems for water reuse. Fresh water is increasingly scarce in Australia and wastewater reuse is being advocated as a strategy for both meeting our needs and protecting the environment. This research will test the magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) process as a pretreatment for a membrane-flocculation hybrid system (MFHS). MIEX will remove small and medium molecular weight organics and minimize membrane fouling. Large molecular weight organics, suspended solids and micro-organisms will be removed by MFHS. This research will pioneer a novel hybrid system for treatment and reuse of domestic wastewater for non-drinking purposes and provide high quality research training of a doctoral student.Read moreRead less
Healthier Water: Innovative Processes for Arsenic Removal and Sludge Management. Arsenic is a highly toxic metal found in drinking water in parts of Australia and in many parts of the world. The enforcement of stringent arsenic standard for drinking water calls for an effective treatment technology. In this study, an innovative and cost effective treatment system for arsenic removal will be developed for use in small community water supplies. This novel hybrid system consists of buoyant media f ....Healthier Water: Innovative Processes for Arsenic Removal and Sludge Management. Arsenic is a highly toxic metal found in drinking water in parts of Australia and in many parts of the world. The enforcement of stringent arsenic standard for drinking water calls for an effective treatment technology. In this study, an innovative and cost effective treatment system for arsenic removal will be developed for use in small community water supplies. This novel hybrid system consists of buoyant media flocculator and a newly-developed metal oxide coated media adsorption technique to achieve superior arsenic removal. A simple and safe disposal of arsenic sludge will also be established and tested.Read moreRead less
An innovative wastewater treatment system for the removal of persisting organic pollutants (POPs). Photocatalysis is an emerging technology in wastewater treatment that is capable of completely converting POPs into harmless compounds. In this research, we will combine the expertise of Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in water reuse technologies, and Chonnam National University (CNU) in advanced oxidation processes with that of UTS' in physico-chemical treatment processes to dev ....An innovative wastewater treatment system for the removal of persisting organic pollutants (POPs). Photocatalysis is an emerging technology in wastewater treatment that is capable of completely converting POPs into harmless compounds. In this research, we will combine the expertise of Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in water reuse technologies, and Chonnam National University (CNU) in advanced oxidation processes with that of UTS' in physico-chemical treatment processes to develop a novel photocatalysis hybrid system. Through long term collaboration we aim to: (i) establish an innovative hybrid system for POPs removal, (ii) prepare industry grants, (iii) research training of postgraduate research students, and (iv) help to commercialize our research outcomes for domestic benefit and export.Read moreRead less
A novel filtration-bioadsorption hybrid system in water treatment: Cleaner and safer water for small communities. Dissolved organic matter inadequately removed by conventional water treatment processes leads to carcinogenic compounds and the formation of biofilm in the water pipe. In this research, a novel hybrid system will be developed, which consists of a bioadsorption (biologically activated carbon (BAC)) system and a floating medium prefilter. The BAC and prefilter design will be optimized ....A novel filtration-bioadsorption hybrid system in water treatment: Cleaner and safer water for small communities. Dissolved organic matter inadequately removed by conventional water treatment processes leads to carcinogenic compounds and the formation of biofilm in the water pipe. In this research, a novel hybrid system will be developed, which consists of a bioadsorption (biologically activated carbon (BAC)) system and a floating medium prefilter. The BAC and prefilter design will be optimized through new techniques such as biomass analysis, specific organics characterization and particle size distribution analysis. The hybrid unit developed will be a cost effective and low maintenance system for safe organic removal, especially in small water supply schemes.Read moreRead less
A better way to remove arsenic from drinking water. Arsenic is a serious pollutant of drinking water in parts of Australia and in Asia, We propose to developed an inovative technology to remove arsenic from water. Our international partnership combines the expertise of the University of Regina (UR), Canada in physico-chemical treatment processes with that of the UTS in membrane processes. Through a long term collaboration we aim to: (i) establish a full-scale innovative system for arsenic remova ....A better way to remove arsenic from drinking water. Arsenic is a serious pollutant of drinking water in parts of Australia and in Asia, We propose to developed an inovative technology to remove arsenic from water. Our international partnership combines the expertise of the University of Regina (UR), Canada in physico-chemical treatment processes with that of the UTS in membrane processes. Through a long term collaboration we aim to: (i) establish a full-scale innovative system for arsenic removal, (ii) prepare joint publications and apply for more industry grants, (iii) research training of postgraduate research student, and (iv) help to commercialize our research outcomes for domestic benefit and export.Read moreRead less
Development of a novel filtration hybrid system in wastewater treatment and reuse. Water industries in Australia and Japan are aiming at developing compact wastewater treatment and reuse systems. This project will form the basis for a long-term study on coupling a new static floccuator/filter system being developed at UTS and a hanging sponge cubes bioreactor being developed at NUT. A properly designed physico-chemical biological hybrid system will be cost-effective in removing a wide range of ....Development of a novel filtration hybrid system in wastewater treatment and reuse. Water industries in Australia and Japan are aiming at developing compact wastewater treatment and reuse systems. This project will form the basis for a long-term study on coupling a new static floccuator/filter system being developed at UTS and a hanging sponge cubes bioreactor being developed at NUT. A properly designed physico-chemical biological hybrid system will be cost-effective in removing a wide range of pollutants with little maintenance. This study will establish a rational hybrid system through detailed bench and pilot-scale experimentation. It will make the optimum use of the complementary expertise and facilities at NUT and UTS.Read moreRead less
Nanofiltration in Wastewater treatment for Reuse: Effect of Pretreatment for Long-term Application. Low pressure nanofiltration (NF) is a relatively new technology. The main problem of membrane fouling on NF could successfully be avoided by pretreatment. In this study, novel high rate pretreatment methods employing flocculation and biosorption concepts will be investigated to prolong membrane life time. A compact wastewater treatment technology established through this research will be useful in ....Nanofiltration in Wastewater treatment for Reuse: Effect of Pretreatment for Long-term Application. Low pressure nanofiltration (NF) is a relatively new technology. The main problem of membrane fouling on NF could successfully be avoided by pretreatment. In this study, novel high rate pretreatment methods employing flocculation and biosorption concepts will be investigated to prolong membrane life time. A compact wastewater treatment technology established through this research will be useful in small and isolated communities. This study will be conducted in collaboration with Prof. Yamamoto of University of Tokyo (UTokyo), Japan and Prof. Kim of Kwangju Institute of Science and Technology (KJIST), Korea, who are international experts on nanofiltration and water reuse technologies respectively.Read moreRead less
Interdisciplinary greenhouse gas assessment - nitrous oxide emissions from marine wastewater disposal. Data generated during this research will resolve ongoing uncertainties surrounding a blind spot in national greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement policy and methodology. Current national and international GHG emission estimates are unable to account for N2O emissions resulting from the downstream disposal phase of the wastewater management cycle, and as a result, actual GHG emissions may be far greate ....Interdisciplinary greenhouse gas assessment - nitrous oxide emissions from marine wastewater disposal. Data generated during this research will resolve ongoing uncertainties surrounding a blind spot in national greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement policy and methodology. Current national and international GHG emission estimates are unable to account for N2O emissions resulting from the downstream disposal phase of the wastewater management cycle, and as a result, actual GHG emissions may be far greater than currently estimated. This research will provide primary data on the magnitude of downstream N2O emissions coming from the near-shore marine disposal of primary-level municipal wastewater in Australia. Results from this research will help quantify the carbon footprint associated with marine disposal of poorly treated effluents worldwide.Read moreRead less
Fluorescence as a tool for sensitive detection of failures in recycled water treatment and distribution systems. Water reuse is emerging as a key strategy for the conservation of drinking water supplies around Australia. Accordingly, there is a need for fast, reliable, affordable and highly sensitive means of ensuring the reliability of treatment processes and final water quality. This research aims to meet such needs by providing new tools based on fluorescence analysis. These tools are to be i ....Fluorescence as a tool for sensitive detection of failures in recycled water treatment and distribution systems. Water reuse is emerging as a key strategy for the conservation of drinking water supplies around Australia. Accordingly, there is a need for fast, reliable, affordable and highly sensitive means of ensuring the reliability of treatment processes and final water quality. This research aims to meet such needs by providing new tools based on fluorescence analysis. These tools are to be implemented for online monitoring of treatment performance and for the identification of accidental contamination of drinking waters by recycled water. The enhanced ability to ensure both recycled water quality and drinking water quality will have public health and environmental benefits as well as protecting public confidence in water recycling systems.Read moreRead less