NOVEL Fe-Cr OXIDE AND SKELETAL (RANEY) CATALYSTS FOR WATER GAS SHIFT REACTION. The water gas shift reaction has an importance implication in the control of carbon monoxide/hydrogen ratios of gas mixtures used during the synthesis of methanol, diesel and hydrogen. The research study aims to develop and characterise Fe-Cr oxide and chromia-promoted Raney Cu catalysts for water gas shift reaction using a tube wall reactor. The catalyst fabrication is based on leaching and electrochemical deposition ....NOVEL Fe-Cr OXIDE AND SKELETAL (RANEY) CATALYSTS FOR WATER GAS SHIFT REACTION. The water gas shift reaction has an importance implication in the control of carbon monoxide/hydrogen ratios of gas mixtures used during the synthesis of methanol, diesel and hydrogen. The research study aims to develop and characterise Fe-Cr oxide and chromia-promoted Raney Cu catalysts for water gas shift reaction using a tube wall reactor. The catalyst fabrication is based on leaching and electrochemical deposition to promote the catalytic activity. The produced catalysts will be characterised and tested for catalytic activity, temperature stability and other physical properties to determine fundamental understanding for future commercial applications.Read moreRead less
Development of constitutive models for concentrated suspensions via particle-level simulations. The outcome of this work will be a comprehensive theoretical framework by which accurate microstructural information is distilled into a macro-scale constitutive model of particulate suspensions, readily useable for modelling of practical industrial applications. This work will have a direct impact on the design capability and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involvin ....Development of constitutive models for concentrated suspensions via particle-level simulations. The outcome of this work will be a comprehensive theoretical framework by which accurate microstructural information is distilled into a macro-scale constitutive model of particulate suspensions, readily useable for modelling of practical industrial applications. This work will have a direct impact on the design capability and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involving suspensions. The development of better models for industrially useful suspensions offers a competitive advantage for a diverse range of Australia industry, from the food preparation sector, to mineral slurry transport, and water filtration and recycling.Read moreRead less
Microstructural mechanisms of magnetorheological suspensions. A magnetorheological suspension (MRS) is a "smart material" which shows an enormous but reversible increase in flow resistance upon application of a magnetic field. These tunable fluids have many engineering applications, such as in adjustable vibration damping systems. This project comprises a series of innovative experiments and computer simulations, which will lead to a predictive constitutive model. We will investigate the underly ....Microstructural mechanisms of magnetorheological suspensions. A magnetorheological suspension (MRS) is a "smart material" which shows an enormous but reversible increase in flow resistance upon application of a magnetic field. These tunable fluids have many engineering applications, such as in adjustable vibration damping systems. This project comprises a series of innovative experiments and computer simulations, which will lead to a predictive constitutive model. We will investigate the underlying physical mechanisms governing the mechanical response of MRS, including the behaviour under small strains and under squeeze flow, the effects of rheometer wall conditions, and the role of matrix viscoelasticity or viscoplasticity.Read moreRead less
Engineering floating liquid marbles for three-dimensional cell cultures. This project aims to understand the physics of three-dimensional cell cultures in a liquid marble floating on a liquid free surface. New methodology developed can produce these cell cultures without using matrices or scaffolds and with run-times well beyond existing technologies. This methodology closely mimics a normal in-vivo environment and produces spheroids needed in cell transplantation therapies. This project will re ....Engineering floating liquid marbles for three-dimensional cell cultures. This project aims to understand the physics of three-dimensional cell cultures in a liquid marble floating on a liquid free surface. New methodology developed can produce these cell cultures without using matrices or scaffolds and with run-times well beyond existing technologies. This methodology closely mimics a normal in-vivo environment and produces spheroids needed in cell transplantation therapies. This project will resolve uncertainties in the underlying phenomena. The expected outcome should support future high quality cell cultures suitable for transplantation therapies.Read moreRead less
Manufacturing Nanostructured Polymer Thin Films using Visible Light. This research aims the development of selective photochemical tools driven by different colours of light for the fabrication of nanostructured polymer brush thin films. By using different wavelengths to selectively activate specific chemical reactions, this will enable multiple reactions to be performed simultaneously, significantly streamlining fabrication. Additionally, the increased selectivity offers pathways to more sophis ....Manufacturing Nanostructured Polymer Thin Films using Visible Light. This research aims the development of selective photochemical tools driven by different colours of light for the fabrication of nanostructured polymer brush thin films. By using different wavelengths to selectively activate specific chemical reactions, this will enable multiple reactions to be performed simultaneously, significantly streamlining fabrication. Additionally, the increased selectivity offers pathways to more sophisticated nanoarchitectures in comparison to existing methods. This research will lead to the fabrication of 3D polymer brush architectures with unparalleled precision, which will be of high scientific and industrial value for a diverse range of applications, such as optoelectronics, nanoactuation, and sensing.Read moreRead less
Membranes coupled with physico-chemcial treatment in water reuse: New hybrid systems development and fouling assessment. This project will be useful to sewage treatment systems prevalent in the coastal areas of NSW and Queensland and the interior parts of Northern Territory with isolated communities. Membrane processes are a sustainable technology in wastewater treatment for reuse. The novel pre-treatment and fouling assessment protocol proposed in this study are the keys for the cost-effective ....Membranes coupled with physico-chemcial treatment in water reuse: New hybrid systems development and fouling assessment. This project will be useful to sewage treatment systems prevalent in the coastal areas of NSW and Queensland and the interior parts of Northern Territory with isolated communities. Membrane processes are a sustainable technology in wastewater treatment for reuse. The novel pre-treatment and fouling assessment protocol proposed in this study are the keys for the cost-effective and energy-efficient operation and testing of membrane processes. This project will strengthen research links between Australian and European universities, through the development of an innovative pre-treatment technology. The technology is of direct benefit to reuse applications in Australia and has significant export potential.Read moreRead less
Recycling water and nutrients using a high-rate membrane bioreactor coupled with an ion-exchange system. Australia urgently needs to recycle both water and nutrients to protect its rivers and sustain its agriculture. This project will yield a sustainable, energy-efficient treatment system for water reuse and nutrient recovery. The technology's greater economy and efficiency will benefit decentralised systems in urban centres and small sewage treatment plants in isolated communities alike by en ....Recycling water and nutrients using a high-rate membrane bioreactor coupled with an ion-exchange system. Australia urgently needs to recycle both water and nutrients to protect its rivers and sustain its agriculture. This project will yield a sustainable, energy-efficient treatment system for water reuse and nutrient recovery. The technology's greater economy and efficiency will benefit decentralised systems in urban centres and small sewage treatment plants in isolated communities alike by enabling greater water reuse and by reducing the environmental impact of waste discharges. It will be of immediate benefit to the Australian water industry and to exports. This project will strengthen links in water science between Australian and European institutions.Read moreRead less
Force Interactions in Packed and Fluidised Beds at Micro-Scale Operation. Industrial processing in the 20th century was about increasing size to gain benefit from economies of scale. This century, the focus is on micro devices like lab-on-a-chip and high speed computer processors that deliver their product directly to the consumer. There are significant obstacles facing this new technology. Mixing is reduced due to laminar flow, and a large amount of energy is needed to move the fluid through su ....Force Interactions in Packed and Fluidised Beds at Micro-Scale Operation. Industrial processing in the 20th century was about increasing size to gain benefit from economies of scale. This century, the focus is on micro devices like lab-on-a-chip and high speed computer processors that deliver their product directly to the consumer. There are significant obstacles facing this new technology. Mixing is reduced due to laminar flow, and a large amount of energy is needed to move the fluid through such small devices. Particles are often added to improve mixing and heat transfer, but their presence adds to the energy requirements. This study will help us overcome these challenges. Read moreRead less
Gas-phase and catalytic reaction of halons under reducing conditions. Halons are ozone-depleting substances, but their use continues in most countries. This project pursues techniques to convert, rather than destroy, halons into benign and useful products. The aims of this project are to gain a fundamental understanding of the reactions of the most commonly used halons, 1301, 1211 and 2402, and perform a detailed examination of catalytic processes for conversion of halons to HFCs. The primary ....Gas-phase and catalytic reaction of halons under reducing conditions. Halons are ozone-depleting substances, but their use continues in most countries. This project pursues techniques to convert, rather than destroy, halons into benign and useful products. The aims of this project are to gain a fundamental understanding of the reactions of the most commonly used halons, 1301, 1211 and 2402, and perform a detailed examination of catalytic processes for conversion of halons to HFCs. The primary outcome from the study will be the development of a process specifically designed to convert halons into useful products. This will assist with efforts to phase out continued halon use.Read moreRead less
Transformation of halons and CFC to valuable products through their reaction with methane. Halons and CFCs are well known as ozone depleting substances (ODS). This project pursues the development of a novel process to transform stockpiles of halons and CFCs into vinylidene difluoride (C2H2F2). Vinylidene difluoride is a highly valued commodity, used in the synthesis of heat resistant materials. The primary aim of this research is to gain understanding of the role of catalysts during conversion o ....Transformation of halons and CFC to valuable products through their reaction with methane. Halons and CFCs are well known as ozone depleting substances (ODS). This project pursues the development of a novel process to transform stockpiles of halons and CFCs into vinylidene difluoride (C2H2F2). Vinylidene difluoride is a highly valued commodity, used in the synthesis of heat resistant materials. The primary aim of this research is to gain understanding of the role of catalysts during conversion of CFC 12 and halon 1211 into the desired reaction product. The signifigance of the project is that it will facilitate development of a process for non-destructive treatment of ozone depleting substances. The major outcome of the proposed research is it will lay the technical foundation for the development of an energy efficient process to convert rather than destroy these ODS.Read moreRead less