A pilot study to demonstrate the use of 15N tracers for determining the flow of nitrogen through lower food webs. This project will have a significant impact on the way wetland wastewater treatment and reuse (WWTR) facilities are constructed in the future. Addressing the key biochemical issues to WWTR systems this study will facilitate improved construction design and management to optimise treatment performance. As National Priority One Area, sustainable water use and the efficiency of WWTR sys ....A pilot study to demonstrate the use of 15N tracers for determining the flow of nitrogen through lower food webs. This project will have a significant impact on the way wetland wastewater treatment and reuse (WWTR) facilities are constructed in the future. Addressing the key biochemical issues to WWTR systems this study will facilitate improved construction design and management to optimise treatment performance. As National Priority One Area, sustainable water use and the efficiency of WWTR systems is fundamental to our economic and social development. The results gleaned from this study will assist in the future design of WWTR systems that will be transferable outside the local study area and as such be of potential benefit both Nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
Environmental Genomics: Mining, climate change, water, crime and health. The new Environmental Genomics approach will employ high-powered genome sequencing systems to perform some of the first detailed genetic studies of Australian environments. The resulting high-resolution data will comprise a genetic audit, providing essential information for the accurate measurement of climate and environmental change. This method will dramatically improve the speed, and power of environmental impact assessm ....Environmental Genomics: Mining, climate change, water, crime and health. The new Environmental Genomics approach will employ high-powered genome sequencing systems to perform some of the first detailed genetic studies of Australian environments. The resulting high-resolution data will comprise a genetic audit, providing essential information for the accurate measurement of climate and environmental change. This method will dramatically improve the speed, and power of environmental impact assessments, permitting responsible resource development with major benefits to industry and the economy. It will also create new tools to improve water management and quality, biosecurity, forensics/policing and human health, as reflected by the diverse range of industry partners supporting this project.Read moreRead less
From Biodiversity to Health: Performing the first genetic audits of Australia. This project will establish a new technology for the rapid measurement of environmental biodiversity, whether that be in natural resources such as forests, or pathogens in water supplies or hospitals. The method is fast, low-cost and will provide much higher resolution than current methods. It will provide some of the first ever comprehensive environmental impact assessments, permitting responsible resource developmen ....From Biodiversity to Health: Performing the first genetic audits of Australia. This project will establish a new technology for the rapid measurement of environmental biodiversity, whether that be in natural resources such as forests, or pathogens in water supplies or hospitals. The method is fast, low-cost and will provide much higher resolution than current methods. It will provide some of the first ever comprehensive environmental impact assessments, permitting responsible resource development with major benefits to industry and the economy. It also provides a common platform for government agencies, from Department of Environment and Heritage to the Federal Police, and will create new tools to improve water management, biosecurity, forensics/policing and human health, as reflected by the wide range of industry partners supporting the project.Read moreRead less
Direct reduction of mixed oxides at lower temperatures: a novel approach to produce lightweight ferrous alloys. This project will develop a novel approach to directly produce aluminium based ferrous alloys at temperatures 550C-950C lower than conventional processes. The simultaneous reduction of mixed oxides will lower the energy requirements for producing ferroalloys, enhance cost effectiveness and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The performance of environmentally sustainable design features in commercial buildings. Two office buildings are to be analysed in respect of environmental performance both technically and in terms of the building occupants. The buildings are similar in location, use, quality and materials. One building contains several environmentally sustainable design features and it is expected that improvements in environmental outcomes will be observed when compared with the other building. The results ....The performance of environmentally sustainable design features in commercial buildings. Two office buildings are to be analysed in respect of environmental performance both technically and in terms of the building occupants. The buildings are similar in location, use, quality and materials. One building contains several environmentally sustainable design features and it is expected that improvements in environmental outcomes will be observed when compared with the other building. The results will provide a useful benchmark and a guide to the potential of environmentally sustainable property development.Read moreRead less
Lower temperature ironmaking: macro and atomic-level understanding of accelerated carburisation of reduced iron. This project will gain an understanding of how iron-oxide can be simultaneously reduced and carburised in ironmaking, including the kinetics and associated mechanisms of the reaction with waste coal/iron-ore fines. This will be the key to developing a relatively low-temperature process, with significant savings in energy consumption.
Predicting plankton patchiness in lakes using a high resolution sampling system. This research will benefit Australian Society through a better understanding and prediction of the response of aquatic systems to major shifts in the environment. Eutrophication and toxic algal blooms represent serious threats to the security of water supplies in Australia and elsewhere. Through development of high resolution technology (SPS), this project will provide the necessary knowledge and data for producing ....Predicting plankton patchiness in lakes using a high resolution sampling system. This research will benefit Australian Society through a better understanding and prediction of the response of aquatic systems to major shifts in the environment. Eutrophication and toxic algal blooms represent serious threats to the security of water supplies in Australia and elsewhere. Through development of high resolution technology (SPS), this project will provide the necessary knowledge and data for producing management tools capable of detailed predictions of the behaviour of aquatic systems. Successful management of Australian waters relies heavily on a better understanding of the scale dependent processes which govern the response to external perturbations such as increased nutrient export and consequent eutrophication.Read moreRead less
A new end use of recycled water for sustainable Australian water. The economic, environmental and social impacts of this project would have benefits across Australia, and the rest of the world. Recycled water has never been used in clothes washing machines anywhere in the world, by introducing it here in Australia we would save approximately 20% of domestic water used for laundry purposes. This also has significant policy implications as this would be a huge step towards the implementation of a ....A new end use of recycled water for sustainable Australian water. The economic, environmental and social impacts of this project would have benefits across Australia, and the rest of the world. Recycled water has never been used in clothes washing machines anywhere in the world, by introducing it here in Australia we would save approximately 20% of domestic water used for laundry purposes. This also has significant policy implications as this would be a huge step towards the implementation of a program of recycled water usage in Australia.Read moreRead less
Stabilisation of algal biomass harvested from coal seam gas associated water to generate a renewable, high nutrient resource. This project will develop composting technology to stabilise the biomass harvested from coal seam gas ponds. A feature of the project is consideration of toxic algal metabolites, and the potential for the release and degradation of these compounds during stabilisation.
Hot stage separation of non-ferrous fraction during iron ore reduction. The project aims to provide in-situ investigation of the behaviour and properties of the non-ferrous fraction in iron ore during reduction. The results aim to allow industry to: improve the quality of the final metallic iron product; economically separate and recover high-value non-ferrous impurities in the iron ore; reduce waste generated by ironmaking; and enable utilisation of, and add value to, iron ores that currently a ....Hot stage separation of non-ferrous fraction during iron ore reduction. The project aims to provide in-situ investigation of the behaviour and properties of the non-ferrous fraction in iron ore during reduction. The results aim to allow industry to: improve the quality of the final metallic iron product; economically separate and recover high-value non-ferrous impurities in the iron ore; reduce waste generated by ironmaking; and enable utilisation of, and add value to, iron ores that currently are not commercially viable due to their high impurity levels and low iron contents. The project aims to help expand the mining potential of the currently unviable iron ore deposits and enable industry to maintain the economic benefits from iron ore production in the years to come.Read moreRead less