The Geochemistry of Tellurium in Hydrothermal Environments and the Gold-Tellurium Association. Gold and base metal mining are some of Australia's principal export earners. Thus, improving the country's mining and geological exploration capabilities will be a considerable economic benefit to the whole community. The results of the project will yield information concerning how gold deposits form, improved techniques for gold exploration, and more environmentally friendly techniques for the process ....The Geochemistry of Tellurium in Hydrothermal Environments and the Gold-Tellurium Association. Gold and base metal mining are some of Australia's principal export earners. Thus, improving the country's mining and geological exploration capabilities will be a considerable economic benefit to the whole community. The results of the project will yield information concerning how gold deposits form, improved techniques for gold exploration, and more environmentally friendly techniques for the processing of gold-telluride ores. Read moreRead less
Energetics and dynamics of solvated biologically relevant molecules using liquid microjet and ion imaging technologies. The shape of many biomolecules in solution plays a critical role in determining their biological activity and function. It is known that the bonds that form between the biomolecules and the water solvent control this shape. However, very little is known about the strength and structure of these bonds at different sites around the biomolecule. Many experiments have informed u ....Energetics and dynamics of solvated biologically relevant molecules using liquid microjet and ion imaging technologies. The shape of many biomolecules in solution plays a critical role in determining their biological activity and function. It is known that the bonds that form between the biomolecules and the water solvent control this shape. However, very little is known about the strength and structure of these bonds at different sites around the biomolecule. Many experiments have informed us about the strength of the bonds, others have told us where the bonds occur. This project will provide both pieces of information for the first time, allowing us to better understand, and therefore control, biological function. This work will assist in the development of new biotechnology processes, especially in the emerging area of proteomics.Read moreRead less
Laser Spectroscopic Studies of Non-Covalent Solute-Solvent Interactions Involving Non-Volatile Biomolecules in the Gas Phase. Solute-solvent interactions play a critical role in determining whether or not many biomolecules display biological activity in solution. Making use of our novel liquid microjet injection technology, we will generate micro-solvated gas phase biomolecules by rapid laser desorption from the surface of a liquid jet (here, micro-solvation describes up to ~10 solvent molecule ....Laser Spectroscopic Studies of Non-Covalent Solute-Solvent Interactions Involving Non-Volatile Biomolecules in the Gas Phase. Solute-solvent interactions play a critical role in determining whether or not many biomolecules display biological activity in solution. Making use of our novel liquid microjet injection technology, we will generate micro-solvated gas phase biomolecules by rapid laser desorption from the surface of a liquid jet (here, micro-solvation describes up to ~10 solvent molecules attached to a solute). Following desorption, laser spectroscopy will be used to directly characterise the non-volatile biomolecular solute-solvent topography. This project will create a new application of laser science to study biophysical and biochemical processes that remain difficult, if not impossible, to explore using traditional techniques.Read moreRead less
Energetics, spectroscopy and dissociation dynamics of bimolecular complexes of atmospheric importance. The Global Warming debate illustrates the importance of having a firm scientific underpinning to calculations of the atmosphere. It is important in calculations of atmospheric chemistry to have all pathways and species properly accounted for. It has recently emerged that intermolecular complexes may play a role in atmospheric chemistry. Of these, those involving water are very important beca ....Energetics, spectroscopy and dissociation dynamics of bimolecular complexes of atmospheric importance. The Global Warming debate illustrates the importance of having a firm scientific underpinning to calculations of the atmosphere. It is important in calculations of atmospheric chemistry to have all pathways and species properly accounted for. It has recently emerged that intermolecular complexes may play a role in atmospheric chemistry. Of these, those involving water are very important because of water's ability to form strong hydrogen bonds. This project will provide key experimental data on one of the most important complexes, the water-hydroxyl radical complex.Read moreRead less