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Modelling of shrinkage crack development in porous media. Australia has interesting land formations comprising various reactive soils and rock. The formation of cracking patterns due to material shrinkage during either drying or cooling has a significant influence on their origin and subsequent behaviour. The shrinkage cracks significantly affect the performance of buildings, roads and buried pipelines. The possibility of their formation is important in many engineering designs, ranging from ....Modelling of shrinkage crack development in porous media. Australia has interesting land formations comprising various reactive soils and rock. The formation of cracking patterns due to material shrinkage during either drying or cooling has a significant influence on their origin and subsequent behaviour. The shrinkage cracks significantly affect the performance of buildings, roads and buried pipelines. The possibility of their formation is important in many engineering designs, ranging from few millimetres thick material film to hundreds of metres long clay barriers used in hazardous waste landfills. Despite their wide-spread significance, quantitative methods to predict the crack formation and interpretation are not yet available, and this project will provide a solution to this problem. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560736
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,622.00
Summary
Centre for Particle Characterisation (North Queensland). The aim of this proposal is to establish a state-of-the-art research facility as part of a comprehensive material characterisation infrastructure required to support JCU's expanding activities in geology, oceanography, sustainable water research and nanotechnology. New instruments to measure attractive forces between particles, material density, porosity, surface area, and carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur content in conjunction with replacin ....Centre for Particle Characterisation (North Queensland). The aim of this proposal is to establish a state-of-the-art research facility as part of a comprehensive material characterisation infrastructure required to support JCU's expanding activities in geology, oceanography, sustainable water research and nanotechnology. New instruments to measure attractive forces between particles, material density, porosity, surface area, and carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur content in conjunction with replacing an old grain size analyser will provide advanced instrumentation for research across several Schools with a diversity of research priorities. The proposed facility will create new opportunities for collaborative programs with national and international researchers as well as foster industry partnership.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0238492
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$139,000.00
Summary
State of Art Particle Size Analysers. Particulate materials are encountered in many different forms, sizes and environments, and vastly different areas such as biological, environmental, chemical and materials engineering. Particle size and its distribution are fundamental properties of these materials. Existing particle size measuring equipment in Australia is poor as currently available facilities cannot accurately resolve particle sizes in concentrated dispersions, nor can they visualise the ....State of Art Particle Size Analysers. Particulate materials are encountered in many different forms, sizes and environments, and vastly different areas such as biological, environmental, chemical and materials engineering. Particle size and its distribution are fundamental properties of these materials. Existing particle size measuring equipment in Australia is poor as currently available facilities cannot accurately resolve particle sizes in concentrated dispersions, nor can they visualise the in situ structure and size of fragile assemblies of particles (flocs). This proposal seeks funding for a suite of complementary particle size analysers, for use in an extensive number of research areas, to specifically address these critical current deficits.Read moreRead less
Composite Mesoporous Solids of TiO2 Nano-Crystals and Silicate as Photo-catalysts for Degradation of Organic Contaminants in Water. TiO2 photo-catalysis is a promising advanced technique for breaking down organic contaminants and bacteria in water and air. This project will develop a novel class of photo-catalysts, the composite meosporous compounds of anatase and layered clay, by combining templated synthesis and pillaring techniques. They will exhibit a high photo-catalytic efficiency with sup ....Composite Mesoporous Solids of TiO2 Nano-Crystals and Silicate as Photo-catalysts for Degradation of Organic Contaminants in Water. TiO2 photo-catalysis is a promising advanced technique for breaking down organic contaminants and bacteria in water and air. This project will develop a novel class of photo-catalysts, the composite meosporous compounds of anatase and layered clay, by combining templated synthesis and pillaring techniques. They will exhibit a high photo-catalytic efficiency with superior properties for practical operations because of the framework of large porosity arising from the arrangement of discrete anatase nano-particles within the silicate layers. The project involves mostly fundamental research into material synthesis, colloid and surface chemistry and photo-catalysis, and aims to develop advanced techniques for water treatment.Read moreRead less
Development of novel environmentally benign technologies for the control of bacterial biofilms in industrial applications. Bacteria will attach to and form biofilms on almost all surfaces. This is particularly a problem in moist environments, including food preparation surfaces, pipe networks (eg. water, oil, and gas), water purification systems. The effects of bacterial biofilms are wide ranging and impact on human health, our capacity to use water resources effectively, and the environment w ....Development of novel environmentally benign technologies for the control of bacterial biofilms in industrial applications. Bacteria will attach to and form biofilms on almost all surfaces. This is particularly a problem in moist environments, including food preparation surfaces, pipe networks (eg. water, oil, and gas), water purification systems. The effects of bacterial biofilms are wide ranging and impact on human health, our capacity to use water resources effectively, and the environment where toxic chemicals are normally used to kill the biofilm. The technologies under development here have the potential to reduce our reliance on toxic chemicals as well as contribute to significant reductions in the cost to purify and distribute vital resources such as water as well as reducing bacterial contamination food surfaces.Read moreRead less
Causes of and Cures for Microbiological Foams in Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Plants. Little is known of the true diversity of the bacteria causing foaming in activated sludge systems, or why and how they cause these foams. This application seeks funds for an interdisciplinary approach to address these issues, involving input from microbiologists and surface chemists and physicists. Molecular techniques will be used to determine precisely the foaming bacterial communities and their phys ....Causes of and Cures for Microbiological Foams in Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Plants. Little is known of the true diversity of the bacteria causing foaming in activated sludge systems, or why and how they cause these foams. This application seeks funds for an interdisciplinary approach to address these issues, involving input from microbiologists and surface chemists and physicists. Molecular techniques will be used to determine precisely the foaming bacterial communities and their physiology, while their surface chemistry and organisation will be studied to understand the mechanisms involved in foaming with the intention of developing control strategies for this global problem suitable for large scale application.Read moreRead less
How does forestry impact headwater streams? Although headwater streams make up much of the catchment of rivers, the effects of forestry on instream species composition, habitat types, and ecosystem functions remain uninvestigated. We aim to fill these three gaps so that managers can: 1. determine whether stream side buffers are necessary and 2. identify which species and ecosystem functions are the most sensitive and reliable variables for future monitoring of instream ecosystem health.
Development of a novel process for recovering fluoride from spent pot-lining as AlF2(OH) using industrial waste solutions. Every year approximately 40,000 tonnes of a hazardous waste known as spent pot-lining is generated by Australia’s aluminium industry. It contains significant levels of leachable cyanide and fluoride and is currently being stored awaiting a suitable treatment technology. This project will develop a novel low-energy and low-cost process for extracting the fluoride as a usefu ....Development of a novel process for recovering fluoride from spent pot-lining as AlF2(OH) using industrial waste solutions. Every year approximately 40,000 tonnes of a hazardous waste known as spent pot-lining is generated by Australia’s aluminium industry. It contains significant levels of leachable cyanide and fluoride and is currently being stored awaiting a suitable treatment technology. This project will develop a novel low-energy and low-cost process for extracting the fluoride as a useful aluminium fluoride product that can be recycled back into the aluminium industry; destroy the cyanide; and recover other components for use in the metallurgical industry. If commercialised the benefit will be an end to the stockpiling of spent pot-lining in Australia, a more sustainable aluminium industry, and protection of the world’s natural fluoride resources.Read moreRead less
Mid-rotation diagnosis and management options for correction of water and nutrient deficiencies in plantation-grown eucalypts. This research will improve productivity of bluegum plantations by improving current diagnostic techniques (foliage and soil analysis) for nutrient disorders and the supply of water. Using a novel phloem sampling and analysis technique, we will develop a nutrient (e.g. N, P) and water diagnosis procedure that is quick, cheap, robust and reliable for field use. A major in ....Mid-rotation diagnosis and management options for correction of water and nutrient deficiencies in plantation-grown eucalypts. This research will improve productivity of bluegum plantations by improving current diagnostic techniques (foliage and soil analysis) for nutrient disorders and the supply of water. Using a novel phloem sampling and analysis technique, we will develop a nutrient (e.g. N, P) and water diagnosis procedure that is quick, cheap, robust and reliable for field use. A major innovation will be distinguishing the effects of shortages of water on growth from those of other growth influences. Overall, this project will provide a highly significant theoretical, conceptual and practical advance in mid-rotation, diagnostics for plantations with considerable commercial promise.Read moreRead less
Dynamic signaling pathways of dispersal in bacterial biofilms. This Breakthrough Science project will result in an increased understanding of the molecular processes that govern biofilm development and dispersal. While the outcomes will be directly applicable where P. aeruginosa infections continue to cause health-threatening conditions, such as in Cystic Fibrosis chronic infections, it will also be instrumental for the rational design of novel products and strategies to control biofilms of othe ....Dynamic signaling pathways of dispersal in bacterial biofilms. This Breakthrough Science project will result in an increased understanding of the molecular processes that govern biofilm development and dispersal. While the outcomes will be directly applicable where P. aeruginosa infections continue to cause health-threatening conditions, such as in Cystic Fibrosis chronic infections, it will also be instrumental for the rational design of novel products and strategies to control biofilms of other single species or of mixed species populations in many other settings. Countless environmental, industrial and clinical applications will benefit from improved antimicrobial strategies and reduced usage of antibiotics.Read moreRead less