Nano-engineered catalysts for sustainable fuel production from waste . This project aims to address two major problems simultaneously-reducing the burden of non-recyclable waste currently going to landfill in Australia, and offsetting Australia’s reliance on imported diesel to support industry and transport needs. While approximately 95% of diesel consumed in Australia is imported, vast quantities of carbon-based waste ends up in landfill. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is a mixture of plant-based ....Nano-engineered catalysts for sustainable fuel production from waste . This project aims to address two major problems simultaneously-reducing the burden of non-recyclable waste currently going to landfill in Australia, and offsetting Australia’s reliance on imported diesel to support industry and transport needs. While approximately 95% of diesel consumed in Australia is imported, vast quantities of carbon-based waste ends up in landfill. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is a mixture of plant-based waste (including food, garden, paper, and wood) and fossil-fuel derived materials (plastics). Using an innovative and environmentally-sustainable catalytic process, the outcomes of this project are aimed alleviating Australia’s dependence on diesel fuel imports and better waste management solutions in Australia.Read moreRead less
Advanced chemical recycling of mixed plastics for monomer recovery. This project aims to develop innovative catalytic routes to the chemical recycling of mixed plastics for recovery of their molecular building blocks. Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the Australian ecosystem. Efficient recycling technologies are urgently needed as Australia only recycles ~4% of its 3.4 million tons of mixed waste plastics. This project expects to design highly efficient catalysts for the stepwise ....Advanced chemical recycling of mixed plastics for monomer recovery. This project aims to develop innovative catalytic routes to the chemical recycling of mixed plastics for recovery of their molecular building blocks. Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the Australian ecosystem. Efficient recycling technologies are urgently needed as Australia only recycles ~4% of its 3.4 million tons of mixed waste plastics. This project expects to design highly efficient catalysts for the stepwise breakdown of mixed polyolefin plastics into monomers for the subsequent manufacturing of virgin plastics in a circular economy, and to elucidate fundamental underpinning reaction mechanisms. Outcomes will stimulate the Australian waste plastic recycling industry, and minimise plastic accumulation in the environment.Read moreRead less
Manufacturing high value carbon products and chemicals from spent tyres. Manufacturing high value carbon products and chemicals from spent tyres. This project aims to develop an innovative and integrated thermochemical process for use of spent tyres. Australia disposes of more than 400,000 tonnes of spent tyres per annum in landfills, stockpiles and random dumping, incurring significant environmental hazards, serious health risks and wastage of resources. This research is expected to result in n ....Manufacturing high value carbon products and chemicals from spent tyres. Manufacturing high value carbon products and chemicals from spent tyres. This project aims to develop an innovative and integrated thermochemical process for use of spent tyres. Australia disposes of more than 400,000 tonnes of spent tyres per annum in landfills, stockpiles and random dumping, incurring significant environmental hazards, serious health risks and wastage of resources. This research is expected to result in new knowledge of the thermal behaviour of rubber and new techniques to identify, extract and use high value carbon materials and chemicals from thermochemical processing of spent tyres. The research outcomes are expected to provide a technological foundation for an emerging industry for environmentally responsible and economically self-sustaining use of spent tyres.Read moreRead less
A fundamental study of milk ultrafiltration. The Dairy Industry is one of Australia's largest domestic and export industries. The fundamental knowledge and models developed in this project will be used to optimise dairy membrane processing. This will reduce water and energy use to improve the global competitiveness and reduce the environmental impact of the Australian Dairy Industry.
Fires of halogenated industrial chemicals and their impact on the Australian environment. Recent large fires of industrial chemicals in Australia led to significant environmental pollution. In this project, we will develop sophisticated techniques to assess pollutants formed in fires of commonly used industrial chemicals. The results will find immediate applications in training fire brigades in their response to chemical fires.
Membrane Systems for CO2 Capture and Conversion Using Multi-Enzyme Cascades. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one of the defining technological challenges in today's industry and society. Primary sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) are due to energy generation using fossil fuels as well as key manufacturing activities such cement production and steel making. This project aims to focus on novel approaches to enzyme mediated membrane contactor systems to create robust, high efficiency CO2 capture f ....Membrane Systems for CO2 Capture and Conversion Using Multi-Enzyme Cascades. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one of the defining technological challenges in today's industry and society. Primary sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) are due to energy generation using fossil fuels as well as key manufacturing activities such cement production and steel making. This project aims to focus on novel approaches to enzyme mediated membrane contactor systems to create robust, high efficiency CO2 capture from post-combustion and other gas emissions and conversion into useful chemical feedstock. Enzyme immobilisation and stabilisation are expected to be enhanced using functionalised nanoparticles and nanostructured membranes.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the catalytic activity of metal oxides through hybrid catalysis. This project aims to understand the interaction of light responsive nano-metals and metal oxide supports in photo-thermal catalysis, and channel light and heat to efficiently drive catalytic reactions. From this understanding, it will develop principles to activate the active site of metal oxides and control catalytic activity with high selectivity and stability. It will use this knowledge to selectively oxidate methane a ....Unlocking the catalytic activity of metal oxides through hybrid catalysis. This project aims to understand the interaction of light responsive nano-metals and metal oxide supports in photo-thermal catalysis, and channel light and heat to efficiently drive catalytic reactions. From this understanding, it will develop principles to activate the active site of metal oxides and control catalytic activity with high selectivity and stability. It will use this knowledge to selectively oxidate methane and oxidative coupling of methane reactions. The expected outcome is an inexpensive green catalysis method for chemical manufacture. This should lower the amount of waste, decrease energy consumption and improve human health, finite global resources and quality of life.Read moreRead less
Characterising nanostructure functionality of conventional and advanced polymeric membranes using electrical impedance spectroscopy. Thin film membranes are an important separation process for industrial and municipal water treatment. This project will benefit Australian cities and industries by creating the tools to help reduce energy consumption associated with fouling of thin film membranes and indentify the next generation of efficient low fouling membranes.
Developing the next generation of materials and optimal transport processes for membrane distillation and crystallisation processes. Membrane distillation and crystallisation allows the use of solar energy or waste heat instead of electricity to purify water, concentrate brines, and generate valuable crystalline products. In this project novel membranes and processes will be developed to improve the productivity and reliability of these technologies.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100329
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide with water into hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. This project aims to develop a highly efficient photocatalytic process for converting CO2 into hydrocarbon fuels and high value-added chemicals. This new technology can reduce CO2 concentrations in the environment and provide a feasible mean to produce non-fossil fuels and industrial chemicals that society has to depend upon.