Tailoring nano-crystal suspensions for extended ion supply to hydrophobic and hydrophilic leaf surfaces. Nutrient deficiency undermines the potential of billions of people and many nations. The requirement is to rapidly increase micro-nutrient delivery to support intensive and fortified crop production. This proposal seeks to develop a controlled ion release system through the use of tailored suspensions of nano-crystal nutrient materials for delivery to plants through the leaves. This will incr ....Tailoring nano-crystal suspensions for extended ion supply to hydrophobic and hydrophilic leaf surfaces. Nutrient deficiency undermines the potential of billions of people and many nations. The requirement is to rapidly increase micro-nutrient delivery to support intensive and fortified crop production. This proposal seeks to develop a controlled ion release system through the use of tailored suspensions of nano-crystal nutrient materials for delivery to plants through the leaves. This will increase yields from arable land, reduce water requirements and fertiliser applications, fortifying foods for better nutrition leading to improved human health and wellbeing. It leverages and applies recent significant advances in surface science and nanotechnology to gain improved outcomes in agriculture.Read moreRead less
Process for treatment of fluorine-containing synthetic greenhouse gases. It is generally agreed that increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are leading to higher average atmospheric temperatures. This research pursues the development of an energy-efficient, non-destructive process for transforming fluorine-containing greenhouse gases (GHGs) into valuable and environmentally benign products. The application of research will lead to the development of a new non-destructive proce ....Process for treatment of fluorine-containing synthetic greenhouse gases. It is generally agreed that increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are leading to higher average atmospheric temperatures. This research pursues the development of an energy-efficient, non-destructive process for transforming fluorine-containing greenhouse gases (GHGs) into valuable and environmentally benign products. The application of research will lead to the development of a new non-destructive process and will benefit Australia, socially by reducing emission of GHGs and thus protecting the environment, and economically through licensing of the technology for treatment of the growing stockpiles of synthetic GHGs.
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Particle motion and particle-convective heat transfer near the walls of fluidized beds. Background: Fluidized bed technology has important industrial applications ranging from petrol production to mineral processing for metal production. Such processes take advantage of the high rates of heat transfer in gas-fluidized beds.
Objective of project: To improve understanding and modelling of heat transfer in gas fluidized beds through the application of state-of-the-art experimental (Positron Emiss ....Particle motion and particle-convective heat transfer near the walls of fluidized beds. Background: Fluidized bed technology has important industrial applications ranging from petrol production to mineral processing for metal production. Such processes take advantage of the high rates of heat transfer in gas-fluidized beds.
Objective of project: To improve understanding and modelling of heat transfer in gas fluidized beds through the application of state-of-the-art experimental (Positron Emission Particle Tracking) and modelling (Discrete Element Method simulation) techniques.
Expected outcomes of project: New knowledge of the mechanisms of fluidized bed heat transfer. Improved the prediction of heat transfer coefficients with consequent improvements in the design and operation of fluidized bed processes.
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New dispersants for improved agrochemical and allied formulations. This project will deliver substantial benefits for national regional communities and the environment through improved agrochemical dispersion, and reduced pesticide and water use. This project will deliver improved products for agrochemicals and animal food, bringing significant agricultural advantages to Australia. This will help Huntsman with cutting-edge technologies in manufacturing agrochemical and related products for the n ....New dispersants for improved agrochemical and allied formulations. This project will deliver substantial benefits for national regional communities and the environment through improved agrochemical dispersion, and reduced pesticide and water use. This project will deliver improved products for agrochemicals and animal food, bringing significant agricultural advantages to Australia. This will help Huntsman with cutting-edge technologies in manufacturing agrochemical and related products for the national and global markets. We will provide advanced training for postgraduate and research personnel that will be sought-after by the agrochemical and allied industries.Read moreRead less
Multi-Scale, Multi-Form Approach to the Modelling, Design and Control of Complex Particulate Processes. Many particulate processes suffer from high recycle rates and instability due to lack of knowledge at various scale levels, and on the fitness between model forms and applications. This project will develop a complete model hierarchy ranging from the microscopic scale to full plant scale using a multi-scale, multi-form approach. The joint force of two world class teams will tackle the complex ....Multi-Scale, Multi-Form Approach to the Modelling, Design and Control of Complex Particulate Processes. Many particulate processes suffer from high recycle rates and instability due to lack of knowledge at various scale levels, and on the fitness between model forms and applications. This project will develop a complete model hierarchy ranging from the microscopic scale to full plant scale using a multi-scale, multi-form approach. The joint force of two world class teams will tackle the complex interaction problems covering granulation fundamentals, dynamic modelling, process design and advanced control. The work will lead to significantly improved productivity and quality for a wide range of industrial particulate processes using innovative design and model based control strategies.Read moreRead less
Emulsion Stability and Solvent Extraction Equipment Design in the Pharmaceutical Industry. The project aims at developing reliable prediction of large scale performance of liquid extraction columns. This will be done through a study of the columns in operation at GlaxoSmithKline's operation at Port Fairy alkaloids plant. In addition a detailed study of the influence of impurities on the coalescence rate of liquid dispersions will be undertaken as this is an important rate limiting step in colu ....Emulsion Stability and Solvent Extraction Equipment Design in the Pharmaceutical Industry. The project aims at developing reliable prediction of large scale performance of liquid extraction columns. This will be done through a study of the columns in operation at GlaxoSmithKline's operation at Port Fairy alkaloids plant. In addition a detailed study of the influence of impurities on the coalescence rate of liquid dispersions will be undertaken as this is an important rate limiting step in column performance. The benefit to GlaxoSmithKline will be a more efficient and optimised plant. The benefit to Australian processing industries is a reliable method of relating small scale trials to full size column performance which is a significent problem in the minerals industry at present.Read moreRead less
Next Generation of Separation Equipment for Natural Product Extraction. The benefit to GlaxoSmithKline will be the potential to upgrade to a more efficient plant which is important for maintaining their competitive position in this global business. The benefit to other Australian processing industries will be an improved understanding of the performance of membrane contactors when used for natural product separation and more specifically a reliable method for controlling fouling in this type of ....Next Generation of Separation Equipment for Natural Product Extraction. The benefit to GlaxoSmithKline will be the potential to upgrade to a more efficient plant which is important for maintaining their competitive position in this global business. The benefit to other Australian processing industries will be an improved understanding of the performance of membrane contactors when used for natural product separation and more specifically a reliable method for controlling fouling in this type of equipment which is a currently a significant industry problem.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560662
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$204,157.00
Summary
Flow Diagnostics Facility for Microstructured Systems. This Project will establish Australia's only world-class facility for the interrogation of steady and fluctuating flows in microstructured components, enabling detailed characterisation of the flow patterns and velocities that occur in single phase and multiphase flows in miniature devices. Such devices are currently being developed by the Chief Investigators in the area of microreactor technology and chemical process intensification, in mic ....Flow Diagnostics Facility for Microstructured Systems. This Project will establish Australia's only world-class facility for the interrogation of steady and fluctuating flows in microstructured components, enabling detailed characterisation of the flow patterns and velocities that occur in single phase and multiphase flows in miniature devices. Such devices are currently being developed by the Chief Investigators in the area of microreactor technology and chemical process intensification, in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and in high efficiency membrane separation systems. The new Facility will enable them and others to enhance their research through visualisation and quantification of flow behaviour at the scale of a few micrometres.Read moreRead less
Preparing Carbon Molecular Sieve Membrane (CMSM) for Olefin/Paraffin Separation. Carbon molecular sieve membrane (CMSM) presents superior selectivity and stability for many gas separation processes. This technology is energy saving, environmental friendly and with minimal operating cost. The project will develop CMSMs for the separation of olefin/paraffin, particularly, the propane/propylene mixture which is currently separated by the energy intensive cryogenic distillation in industry. The pro ....Preparing Carbon Molecular Sieve Membrane (CMSM) for Olefin/Paraffin Separation. Carbon molecular sieve membrane (CMSM) presents superior selectivity and stability for many gas separation processes. This technology is energy saving, environmental friendly and with minimal operating cost. The project will develop CMSMs for the separation of olefin/paraffin, particularly, the propane/propylene mixture which is currently separated by the energy intensive cryogenic distillation in industry. The project involves both experimental works and theoretical studies and will provide: (1) techniques for preparing CMSMs for olefin/paraffin separation; (2) methods characterizing the micro-structure of CMSMs; (3) mathematical models predicting multicomponent gas permeation/separation properties on CMSMs; (4) effect of impurities on the separation processes. Read moreRead less
Process Systems for Distributed Chemical Manufacturing. This Project investigates a new paradigm for chemicals production, moving away from large-scale centralised plant to distributed manufacture in relatively small localised facilities. The Project is built on the conjunction of a revolutionary process systems synthesis methodology with a new approach to highly compact equipment manufacture. The Project is of great significance to developing countries and to smaller, remote economies such as A ....Process Systems for Distributed Chemical Manufacturing. This Project investigates a new paradigm for chemicals production, moving away from large-scale centralised plant to distributed manufacture in relatively small localised facilities. The Project is built on the conjunction of a revolutionary process systems synthesis methodology with a new approach to highly compact equipment manufacture. The Project is of great significance to developing countries and to smaller, remote economies such as Australia's, which cannot justify or compete with world-scale production facilities. We will develop our ideas in a case study and identify routes to practical implementation of this example in particular and of the new approach in general.Read moreRead less