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High purity formaldehyde production from carbon oxides. This project aims to investigate the detailed reaction mechanism of a green chemistry route of producing formaldehyde by reducing carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in liquid phase. Formaldehyde is a widely used feedstock for chemical industries, but is not considered a green chemical because it is produced using natural gas as the feed, which loses over 61 per cent of energy. This project will maximise the yield and purity of the product, ....High purity formaldehyde production from carbon oxides. This project aims to investigate the detailed reaction mechanism of a green chemistry route of producing formaldehyde by reducing carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in liquid phase. Formaldehyde is a widely used feedstock for chemical industries, but is not considered a green chemical because it is produced using natural gas as the feed, which loses over 61 per cent of energy. This project will maximise the yield and purity of the product, making it commercially viable. This project’s method for producing formaldehyde is expected to reduce the capital cost and energy losses.Read moreRead less
Developing a smart supervisory control system for pan stage operations in sugar factories. This project aims to develop a prototype smart supervisory control system for pan stage crystallisation operations in raw sugar processing. Intelligent systems technologies will be tailored to provide a standardised approach for pan operations by using key process measurements and combining them with the collective expertise and knowledge of pan operators. This project will lead to a significant advance in ....Developing a smart supervisory control system for pan stage operations in sugar factories. This project aims to develop a prototype smart supervisory control system for pan stage crystallisation operations in raw sugar processing. Intelligent systems technologies will be tailored to provide a standardised approach for pan operations by using key process measurements and combining them with the collective expertise and knowledge of pan operators. This project will lead to a significant advance in the development of intelligent systems techniques for industrial applications and provide a better decision making strategy for pan stage operations with the benefit of reduced costs of sugar manufacture and increased profitability of the Australian sugar industry.Read moreRead less
Optimisation and Control of Bagasse Handling System in a Sugar Mill. Bagasse, the fibre residue from sugar cane, is used as fuel in suspension fired boilers for energy production for the sugar milling process. The use of bagasse as a fuel is currently gaining more prominence as the sugar industry looks to co-generation joint ventures with traditional electricity supply and generation authorities. This project is aimed at applying optimisation and control techniques to bagasse handling system in ....Optimisation and Control of Bagasse Handling System in a Sugar Mill. Bagasse, the fibre residue from sugar cane, is used as fuel in suspension fired boilers for energy production for the sugar milling process. The use of bagasse as a fuel is currently gaining more prominence as the sugar industry looks to co-generation joint ventures with traditional electricity supply and generation authorities. This project is aimed at applying optimisation and control techniques to bagasse handling system in a CSR sugar mill so that the fibre residue from sugar cane can be used to gain maximum efficiency in generating energy supplies in the sugar mill. If the project succeeds, other sugar mills from CSR would implement the advanced control system.Read moreRead less
The Effective Treatment of Hot Dip Galvanizing Effluent Streams. Hot Dip galvanizing effluent represents a significant environmental hazard. This wastewater is currently trucked offsite and treated by contractors to precipitate a heavy metal sludge that is disposed of through landfill. Industrial Galvanisers, as the largest hot dip galvanizing company within Australia, are keen to eliminate this hazard. We will consider the use of an innovative membrane based process for this purpose; to recover ....The Effective Treatment of Hot Dip Galvanizing Effluent Streams. Hot Dip galvanizing effluent represents a significant environmental hazard. This wastewater is currently trucked offsite and treated by contractors to precipitate a heavy metal sludge that is disposed of through landfill. Industrial Galvanisers, as the largest hot dip galvanizing company within Australia, are keen to eliminate this hazard. We will consider the use of an innovative membrane based process for this purpose; to recover valuable zinc and iron compounds from the effluent and allow the water to be re-utilised. If successful, this project will lead to a pilot plant wastewater treatment plant being constructed at an Industrial Galvanizers site.Read moreRead less
The Treatment Of Galvanizing Wastewater: Delivering An Environmentally And Economically Sustainable Approach. This project will investigate a process to treat wastewater from industrial galvanizing sites around Australia. When implemented, the process will substantially reduce the consumption of acid and fresh water at these sites. Further, the process will recover the zinc content of the wastewater in a saleable form and can also generate ferric chloride for sale as a water treatment chemical. ....The Treatment Of Galvanizing Wastewater: Delivering An Environmentally And Economically Sustainable Approach. This project will investigate a process to treat wastewater from industrial galvanizing sites around Australia. When implemented, the process will substantially reduce the consumption of acid and fresh water at these sites. Further, the process will recover the zinc content of the wastewater in a saleable form and can also generate ferric chloride for sale as a water treatment chemical. The quantity of heavy metals disposed to landfill will also be dramatically reduced. Scientific knowledge of multicomponent liquid-liquid equilibria will be of value to a wider range of solvent extraction processes including zinc and copper metal refining.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
Production of Concentrated Fresh Milk Products. This project focuses on developing production processes for concentrated fresh milk ingredients for the international market. Ultrafiltration of whole milk solutions will be extended to maximise the product protein concentration. Electrodialysis and nanofiltration will be tailored to separate salts from lactose and produce 'designer' products with minimum wastage and energy consumption. Production of lactitol from dairy lactose, a potential new man ....Production of Concentrated Fresh Milk Products. This project focuses on developing production processes for concentrated fresh milk ingredients for the international market. Ultrafiltration of whole milk solutions will be extended to maximise the product protein concentration. Electrodialysis and nanofiltration will be tailored to separate salts from lactose and produce 'designer' products with minimum wastage and energy consumption. Production of lactitol from dairy lactose, a potential new manufacturing operation for Australia, will be assessed. This project will result in diversion of quality ingredients from commodity markets to products with significant added value. The Korumburra region will benefit financially and socially from expansion in the local dairy industry.
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Powder blending for dry powder inhalers: a new approach for direct control of powder structure. Over 80 per cent of pharmaceutical products involve the processing of powders. This project will generate new knowledge of how to assemble fine and cohesive particles into the structure required for dry powder inhaler products, leading to the development of new low-cost medicines in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
Novel and cost effective mixing technique for anaerobic digesters in municipal wastewater treatment plants. The mixing system and the models that will be developed in this project will be useful in improving the energy efficiency of anaerobic digesters operated in many towns and cities. These improvements will help to reduce greenhouse emissions significantly and also lead to reduced household water bills, as wastewater treatment costs will decrease.
Innovative zero-energy membrane technologies to reduce water consumption in the dairy industry. The Australian dairy industry not only plays a critical role in our way of life, but processed dairy products contribute to 12% or $3.27b to Australia's export revenue. It has learnt to adapt to changing market demands through innovative membrane technologies, but now energy and water are key issues. This project aims to reduce water consumption in dairy processing by treating waste streams using nove ....Innovative zero-energy membrane technologies to reduce water consumption in the dairy industry. The Australian dairy industry not only plays a critical role in our way of life, but processed dairy products contribute to 12% or $3.27b to Australia's export revenue. It has learnt to adapt to changing market demands through innovative membrane technologies, but now energy and water are key issues. This project aims to reduce water consumption in dairy processing by treating waste streams using novel membrane processes including membrane distillation. The energy is supplied from low grade waste heat, offsetting the need to supply more power to the plant. Reducing the need for water in a zero-energy way will ensure the thriving dairy industry remains cost competitive and an integral part of Australia's culture and economy.Read moreRead less