Optimising biodegradation and removal of organic and inorganic pollutants in wastewater using constructed wetlands. The urgency of water recycling is dictated by drying climate and rapid expansion of population in Australia. Constructed wetlands are environmentally-benign way to purify wastewater by removing inorganics and facilitating biodegradation of organic pollutants, thus producing recycled water that can be used in a variety of fit-for-purpose applications. This project will produce a dec ....Optimising biodegradation and removal of organic and inorganic pollutants in wastewater using constructed wetlands. The urgency of water recycling is dictated by drying climate and rapid expansion of population in Australia. Constructed wetlands are environmentally-benign way to purify wastewater by removing inorganics and facilitating biodegradation of organic pollutants, thus producing recycled water that can be used in a variety of fit-for-purpose applications. This project will produce a decision-support system for optimising wetland performance in removing inorganics and biodegrading organic pollutants from wastewater, thus enhancing water recycling and reuse in this drying continent of ours.Read moreRead less
On-line monitoring of cyanobacteria to predict coagulant doses and powdered activated carbon application in water treatment. Cyanobacteria, more commonly known as blue-green algae, can impact water quality by releasing toxins that can be harmful to human health and imparting unpleasant taste and odours to the water. This project will support the water industry in managing these risks by providing a rapid, on-line tool to assist in their removal during water treatment.
Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. This project aims to investigate new chemical sensors for sulphate for online reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring at an advanced water recycling plant. Wastewater re-use is increasingly important in Australia and worldwide for providing potable water. Demonstrating the integrity and performance of treatment technologies is needed to ....Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. Sulphate sensor for reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring. This project aims to investigate new chemical sensors for sulphate for online reverse osmosis integrity and performance monitoring at an advanced water recycling plant. Wastewater re-use is increasingly important in Australia and worldwide for providing potable water. Demonstrating the integrity and performance of treatment technologies is needed to meet health regulations. Sulphate and other surrogates of biological entities enable a rapid, on-line approach to integrity and performance monitoring, but detection with available analytical chemical technology is not feasible. This research is expected to enable better management of water treatment processes and demonstrate compliance to health standards.Read moreRead less
Multi-scale modeling of transport through deformable porous materials. Understanding solute transport through porous materials is essential because it provides a technical basis for answering many important questions in society today-how can humans avoid 'brittle bones', how to design durable infrastructure, how to safely store wastes (e.g. hazardous and municipal). Solution of each of these problems requires innovation in model development, new method of analysis, and insightful interpretation ....Multi-scale modeling of transport through deformable porous materials. Understanding solute transport through porous materials is essential because it provides a technical basis for answering many important questions in society today-how can humans avoid 'brittle bones', how to design durable infrastructure, how to safely store wastes (e.g. hazardous and municipal). Solution of each of these problems requires innovation in model development, new method of analysis, and insightful interpretation of results. While theoretical developments of this project are general, in the sense that they are not restricted to particular engineering disciplines, the four chosen applications closely align with two major research priorities namely An Environmental Sustainable Australia and Promoting and Maintaining Good Health.Read moreRead less
Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. This project aims to develop integrated and low-cost eco-engineering technology to purposefully accelerate in-situ formation of soil from tailings for sustainable native plant community rehabilitation at metal mines. Soil shortages at mines cost the Australian mining industry billions of dollars in sustainable rehabilitation of tailings, and threaten t ....Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. This project aims to develop integrated and low-cost eco-engineering technology to purposefully accelerate in-situ formation of soil from tailings for sustainable native plant community rehabilitation at metal mines. Soil shortages at mines cost the Australian mining industry billions of dollars in sustainable rehabilitation of tailings, and threaten the industry’s ecological and commercial sustainability. Building on recent findings of critical processes in soil formation from copper/lead–zinc tailings, this research will use key biogeochemical and rhizosphere processes in the tailing-soil to create a functional 'technosol'. This technology is intended to be used in Australian metal mines to offset the soil needed to rehabilitate tailings landforms with native plant communities.Read moreRead less
In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. By enhancing and guiding abiotic and biotic processes of soil development, this project aims to accelerate the in situ remediation of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings). Over 7 gigatonnes of tailings are produced globally every year, comprising complex mineral assemblages at extremes of pH and salinity with minimal biological activity. This project will build detailed knowledge on the chemi ....In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. By enhancing and guiding abiotic and biotic processes of soil development, this project aims to accelerate the in situ remediation of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings). Over 7 gigatonnes of tailings are produced globally every year, comprising complex mineral assemblages at extremes of pH and salinity with minimal biological activity. This project will build detailed knowledge on the chemical, physical, and biological properties of bauxite residue and apply this to develop field-scale in situ remediation strategies. This research will also advance understanding of soil development and primary succession of microbial communities in extreme, anthropogenic environments such as those presented by tailings.Read moreRead less
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.
Carbon dioxide-methane exchange in porous media for carbon-neutral energy production. This project aims to incorporate carbon capture and storage into natural gas production from energy reserves. Carbon sequestration could assist in achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Injecting carbon dioxide into natural gas reservoirs or methane hydrate sands would be a nearly carbon-neutral means of energy production. However, this exchange of carbon dioxide for methane is poorly understood in ....Carbon dioxide-methane exchange in porous media for carbon-neutral energy production. This project aims to incorporate carbon capture and storage into natural gas production from energy reserves. Carbon sequestration could assist in achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Injecting carbon dioxide into natural gas reservoirs or methane hydrate sands would be a nearly carbon-neutral means of energy production. However, this exchange of carbon dioxide for methane is poorly understood in both reservoirs and sands because multiple phases like water and sand affect mixing and recovery. This project will combine spatially-resolved Magnetic Resonance Imaging of high-pressure flooding and exchange experiments with multi-scale modelling. The expected outcome is simultaneous carbon dioxide sequestration with enhanced energy production.Read moreRead less
Fume resistant explosives for critical areas. Fume resistant explosives for critical areas. This project aims to understand how a new explosive works and how it can be used in critical areas. This ammonium nitrate (AN) emulsion explosive provides excellent resistance against emissions of mono-nitrogen oxide (NOx) fumes. This project will investigate physical and chemical parameters of the key emulsion components and formulate new blends for higher-strength applications. This project will researc ....Fume resistant explosives for critical areas. Fume resistant explosives for critical areas. This project aims to understand how a new explosive works and how it can be used in critical areas. This ammonium nitrate (AN) emulsion explosive provides excellent resistance against emissions of mono-nitrogen oxide (NOx) fumes. This project will investigate physical and chemical parameters of the key emulsion components and formulate new blends for higher-strength applications. This project will research the surface burning process of AN prills and other materials to understand possible NOx production and mitigation pathways. The results from the project are expected to overcome the limitations of the new technology, and make Australian industries more competitive.Read moreRead less
Mitigation of nitrogen oxides (NOx) formed in blasting of ammonium nitrate explosives. Several mines in Australia experience the formation of orange-brown fumes containing nitrogen oxide (NOx) gases, immediately after blasting of ammonium nitrate (AN) explosives to crush the rock. This project develops new explosives technologies, aimed to mitigate the formation of post-blast fumes, that are safe to people and the environment.