Thermal isolation: a novel pathway to transforming complex waste. This project aims to establish a novel pathway for transforming complex waste otherwise destined for landfill into valuable products and resources. By leveraging high temperature reactions, the team plans to thermally isolate useful carbons and silica from within automotive shredder residue (ASR) in situ, to produce activated carbon products and silica layers, and so completely recycle this bulk toxic waste for the first time. Suc ....Thermal isolation: a novel pathway to transforming complex waste. This project aims to establish a novel pathway for transforming complex waste otherwise destined for landfill into valuable products and resources. By leveraging high temperature reactions, the team plans to thermally isolate useful carbons and silica from within automotive shredder residue (ASR) in situ, to produce activated carbon products and silica layers, and so completely recycle this bulk toxic waste for the first time. Such innovative new pathways for separating out valuable materials from complex and toxic wastes offer industries an alternative low-cost and sustainable source of raw materials, while reducing pressures on landfills and finite natural resources.Read moreRead less
Mineral transformation and oxidant production in subsurface environments. Sporadic influx of oxygen-rich rainwater / groundwater into subsurface waste sites induces dramatic biogeochemical changes which greatly influence the transport of contaminants present. In this project, fundamental knowledge gaps regarding the impacts of redox oscillations upon contaminant behaviour in these sediments will be addressed through a comprehensive program of field studies at a purpose-constructed experimental f ....Mineral transformation and oxidant production in subsurface environments. Sporadic influx of oxygen-rich rainwater / groundwater into subsurface waste sites induces dramatic biogeochemical changes which greatly influence the transport of contaminants present. In this project, fundamental knowledge gaps regarding the impacts of redox oscillations upon contaminant behaviour in these sediments will be addressed through a comprehensive program of field studies at a purpose-constructed experimental facility in an existing waste site, and complementary laboratory investigations. The intended outcomes are to improve understanding of contaminant mobility at the field-scale in these pervasive sites spread across the globe, and provide critical insight into their remediation using cost-effective techniques.Read moreRead less
Overcoming performance limiting chemistries in membrane distillation. This project aims to study performance limiting chemistries associated with fouling of solution-borne components on membrane surfaces that cause critical vapour pressure loss. Membrane distillation could be used for sustainable resource recovery, but no research has overcome the total loss of membrane water flux when removing water from saturated solutions where the critical resource recovery function occurs. This project will ....Overcoming performance limiting chemistries in membrane distillation. This project aims to study performance limiting chemistries associated with fouling of solution-borne components on membrane surfaces that cause critical vapour pressure loss. Membrane distillation could be used for sustainable resource recovery, but no research has overcome the total loss of membrane water flux when removing water from saturated solutions where the critical resource recovery function occurs. This project will characterise the physical and chemical properties of the flux limiting solid on the membrane surface, and the role of membrane chemistry and functional conditions in overcoming this limit. The outcomes of the work will provide innovative sustainable solutions to recover valuable products from current wastes.Read moreRead less
Bio-electrochemical sulfate reduction and sulfur recovery without external carbon source. Highly acidic waterways and mining wastewaters create major environmental challenges in inland Australia. This project will use novel, solar driven biological processes to remove the acid and metals from these streams and enable beneficial reuse of the water and other resources recovered in the process.
Advanced Nanocomposites for Enhanced Containment of Hyper-Saline Leachate. This research project seeks to apply nanotechnology approaches to develop tailored materials that are green and cost-effective, which minimise groundwater contamination by hyper-saline industrial leachates and process waters. Australian industries will benefit from lower costs associated with storage, processing and reclamation of process waters, as well as from reduced environmental fines levied by the Environmental Prot ....Advanced Nanocomposites for Enhanced Containment of Hyper-Saline Leachate. This research project seeks to apply nanotechnology approaches to develop tailored materials that are green and cost-effective, which minimise groundwater contamination by hyper-saline industrial leachates and process waters. Australian industries will benefit from lower costs associated with storage, processing and reclamation of process waters, as well as from reduced environmental fines levied by the Environmental Protection Agency due to significantly reduced barrier failure and groundwater contaminations. Australian businesses involved in manufacture, design and construction of environmental barrier systems will have access to new materials and improved technology.Read moreRead less
Design of Advanced Geopolymeric Materials Based on Nanostructural Characterisation and Modelling. Geopolymers are a class of advanced aluminosilicate materials primarily utilised in the construction and building products industries, where their application as a replacement for ordinary Portland cement provides the potential for highly significant Greenhouse gas emission reductions. Australian research has led to the increasingly widespread commercial use of this technology in a range of areas. D ....Design of Advanced Geopolymeric Materials Based on Nanostructural Characterisation and Modelling. Geopolymers are a class of advanced aluminosilicate materials primarily utilised in the construction and building products industries, where their application as a replacement for ordinary Portland cement provides the potential for highly significant Greenhouse gas emission reductions. Australian research has led to the increasingly widespread commercial use of this technology in a range of areas. Development of a full understanding of the exact chemical structure of geopolymers is essential to finding and developing new applications for these materials as well as maximising their use in known applications.Read moreRead less
Expert judgment of environmental health risks from exposures to contaminants in urban water systems. Sustainable urban water policy requires informed risk management procedures for health and environmental risks from exposures to many contaminants in urban water systems. This research articulates with the National Water Quality Management Strategy and national guidelines for drinking and recycled water; and it shows barriers to successful community adoption of new sustainable water technologies. ....Expert judgment of environmental health risks from exposures to contaminants in urban water systems. Sustainable urban water policy requires informed risk management procedures for health and environmental risks from exposures to many contaminants in urban water systems. This research articulates with the National Water Quality Management Strategy and national guidelines for drinking and recycled water; and it shows barriers to successful community adoption of new sustainable water technologies. Technical advances in modelling expert opinion will contribute to improved standardised risk assessment frameworks throughout government. The research is fundamental for better decision-making for regulators, suppliers, and managers and it will influence the international development of similar guidelines for sustainable urban water use.Read moreRead less
Zeolitic Nanoflake-Polymer Composite Membranes for Low Energy Desalination. The desalination of seawater is becoming an important source of drinking water for Australia. The current desalination process using polymer membranes is energy-intensive. The proposed project will contribute to the development of low energy desalination technology by advancing membrane design and fabrication techniques. The use of zeolitic nanoflake-polymer composite membranes developed in this project is expected to su ....Zeolitic Nanoflake-Polymer Composite Membranes for Low Energy Desalination. The desalination of seawater is becoming an important source of drinking water for Australia. The current desalination process using polymer membranes is energy-intensive. The proposed project will contribute to the development of low energy desalination technology by advancing membrane design and fabrication techniques. The use of zeolitic nanoflake-polymer composite membranes developed in this project is expected to substantially reduce energy consumption in the desalination process. This research will produce important economic and environmental benefits by developing a green technology for fresh water production and water treatment for power generation, irrigation and other industrial uses.Read moreRead less
Sustainable production of chemicals and fuels from carbon dioxide. This project intends to deliver a cost-effective efficient bioelectrochemical process converting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into chemicals and fuels. Microbes are fascinating organisms giving us cheese, beer and wine. A special group of bacteria is even able to produce electricity from waste materials, or eat electricity to convert CO2 emissions into chemicals. This process has the potential to dramatically improve the sustai ....Sustainable production of chemicals and fuels from carbon dioxide. This project intends to deliver a cost-effective efficient bioelectrochemical process converting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into chemicals and fuels. Microbes are fascinating organisms giving us cheese, beer and wine. A special group of bacteria is even able to produce electricity from waste materials, or eat electricity to convert CO2 emissions into chemicals. This process has the potential to dramatically improve the sustainability of future chemical industry and environmental biotechnology. It has been shown that acetate, an important precursor in the chemical industry, can be produced in laboratory-scale reactors using selected microbial communities. The goal of the project is to engineer a process able to produce a broad range of biochemicals and biofuels from CO2 at high rates and high product concentrations.Read moreRead less
Physics of combustion of multicomponent alternative transport fuels. Reducing Australian reliance on imported fuels, especially oil, will enhance the Australian long term energy outlook and the national energy security, and will assist Australia to reach future greenhouse gas emission targets. At a local level, the production of alternative transport fuels has the potential to provide rural Australia with a sustainable biomass-based industry. The establishment of fast growing wood plantations ....Physics of combustion of multicomponent alternative transport fuels. Reducing Australian reliance on imported fuels, especially oil, will enhance the Australian long term energy outlook and the national energy security, and will assist Australia to reach future greenhouse gas emission targets. At a local level, the production of alternative transport fuels has the potential to provide rural Australia with a sustainable biomass-based industry. The establishment of fast growing wood plantations to supply the needs of the new industry can assist regions of low rain-fall and high salinity to recover. Exporting advanced Australian alternative fuels technology to other countries with similar energy and environmental problems will further enhance the economic and social benefit to Australia.Read moreRead less