Design of Nanoporous BCN with Tunable Pores for CO2 Capture and Conversion. This project aims to design and develop advanced boron carbon nitride-based materials with high specific surface areas, tunable pores and functional groups, guided by theoretical calculations for the capture of CO2 at ambient conditions. By introducing single metal atoms in the above nanostructures, we also aim to design a novel catalytic system for the effective conversion of CO2 into fine chemicals. This project will o ....Design of Nanoporous BCN with Tunable Pores for CO2 Capture and Conversion. This project aims to design and develop advanced boron carbon nitride-based materials with high specific surface areas, tunable pores and functional groups, guided by theoretical calculations for the capture of CO2 at ambient conditions. By introducing single metal atoms in the above nanostructures, we also aim to design a novel catalytic system for the effective conversion of CO2 into fine chemicals. This project will offer new knowledge on the design of low-cost advanced materials with specific functionalities for the simultaneous capture and conversion of CO2. This project will make a significant impact on Australian industries and further offer job opportunities and economic benefits by offering new technologies for a clean environment.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Controlled Trial Investigating The Respiratory Effects Of Nitrogen Dioxide In Schoolchildren
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$212,189.00
Summary
Research has shown that exposures to air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide, ozone and respirable particulate matter less than 10 microns are associated with respiratory symptoms. Unlike the other air pollutants nitrogen dioxide is an indoor gas which occurs in higher concentrations than outdoors in households which cook or heat with gas. Recent research has demonstrated that NO2 at concentrations easily achieved indoors can increase respiratory illness, particularly in c ....Research has shown that exposures to air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide, ozone and respirable particulate matter less than 10 microns are associated with respiratory symptoms. Unlike the other air pollutants nitrogen dioxide is an indoor gas which occurs in higher concentrations than outdoors in households which cook or heat with gas. Recent research has demonstrated that NO2 at concentrations easily achieved indoors can increase respiratory illness, particularly in children and asthmatics. In South Australia we have the opportunity to demonstrate health effects of NO2 on children with asthma more conclusively, as a high number of schools heat their classrooms with unflued gas heaters which produce high NO2. In the proposed study, half of the primary schools with unflued gas heaters will have these heaters replaced with heaters which do not emit NO2. This process of selecting schools will be performed at random and in the school holidays, so as not to bias the children in regard to their exposure status. Additionally, only asthmatic children without gas appliances at home will be included. Asthma symptoms and lung function measurements will be collected in order to determine any differences in the health outcomes of both groups. The results of this study will be able to give conclusive information on health effects related to NO2, that will substantially contribute to the development of a recommended NO2 guideline. This is of worldwide interest.Read moreRead less
Root effects on soil organic matter: a double-edged sword. This project aims to understand how plant roots build and destroy soil organic matter in grasslands and what the impacts are of drought. Soil organic matter is the largest terrestrial reservoir of nutrients for plant growth, but paradoxically, formation of new soil organic matter by plant roots also requires external nutrients. This project will address this apparent paradox by using a new root-centric framework and stable isotope techni ....Root effects on soil organic matter: a double-edged sword. This project aims to understand how plant roots build and destroy soil organic matter in grasslands and what the impacts are of drought. Soil organic matter is the largest terrestrial reservoir of nutrients for plant growth, but paradoxically, formation of new soil organic matter by plant roots also requires external nutrients. This project will address this apparent paradox by using a new root-centric framework and stable isotope techniques. The project will use state-of-the art computer models that incorporate the latest frameworks on soil organic matter interacting with plant roots. Benefits include an improved capacity to manage and predict grassland productivity and soil organic matter dynamics with greater resolution and accuracy.Read moreRead less
Reducing Indoor Air Pollution In The Home: A Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Behavioural Intervention.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$85,552.00
Summary
Exposure to air pollution is not confined to pollution emitted outdoors by motor vehicles and industry. We are exposed to a diverse and complex mix of indoor pollutants produced in many cases by everyday activities. Since we spend about 70-90% of our time indoors, the potential effect of these pollutants on our health is important and of concern. There is a growing number of scientific studies that confirm the importance of indoor air pollution to our health. Two indoor pollutants commonly found ....Exposure to air pollution is not confined to pollution emitted outdoors by motor vehicles and industry. We are exposed to a diverse and complex mix of indoor pollutants produced in many cases by everyday activities. Since we spend about 70-90% of our time indoors, the potential effect of these pollutants on our health is important and of concern. There is a growing number of scientific studies that confirm the importance of indoor air pollution to our health. Two indoor pollutants commonly found in the home are nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emitted from gas appliances and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). ETS, or passive smoking, is known to increase lower respiratory tract illness in children, asthma, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that NO2 may increase respiratory symptoms and exacerbate the response of asthmatics to allergens such as house dust mites. In this project we extend our earlier work on indoor air pollution, with the aim of evaluating simple and effective ways to improve air quality in the home. Parents of school children from the Newcastle area will be invited to participate in the study. Parents will receive information about the health risks of indoor air pollution and advice on how to decrease the levels in their home. We will monitor the air quality in each participant's home to see whether the education program has helped parents to decrease the levels of NO2 and ETS in their home. We will also examine whether a reduction in these pollutants has improved the lung health of the children in the study.Read moreRead less
Role of nitrogen-rich compounds for increasing carbon sequestration in soil. This project aims to unravel how increasing concentrations of nitrogen-rich compounds in soils can potentially increase our ability to sequester soil organic carbon. This is significant because long-term agricultural production greatly reduces soil organic carbon stocks and releases carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Expected outcomes of this project include providing information that is urgently needed to develop pred ....Role of nitrogen-rich compounds for increasing carbon sequestration in soil. This project aims to unravel how increasing concentrations of nitrogen-rich compounds in soils can potentially increase our ability to sequester soil organic carbon. This is significant because long-term agricultural production greatly reduces soil organic carbon stocks and releases carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Expected outcomes of this project include providing information that is urgently needed to develop predictive carbon models for effective policy-making and improved management. This project should provide substantial benefits, including fulfilling the carbon sequestration potential of Australia’s soils, thereby delivering positive economic outcomes through increased farm-gate output and mitigation of climate change.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation. ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation. This Centre aims to develop carbon-based catalysts for clean energy, CO2 capture, and green chemistry to reduce emissions. The Centre expects to use pioneering data-guided atomic-precision synthesis and multiscale analysis to transform fundamental science of carbon materials. Expected outcomes of this Centre will benefit new technologies for energy, environmental, and green che ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation. ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation. This Centre aims to develop carbon-based catalysts for clean energy, CO2 capture, and green chemistry to reduce emissions. The Centre expects to use pioneering data-guided atomic-precision synthesis and multiscale analysis to transform fundamental science of carbon materials. Expected outcomes of this Centre will benefit new technologies for energy, environmental, and green chemical industries by utilising abundant sunlight, seawater, and waste feedstocks. This should provide significant benefits, through industry collaborations, our new world-leading capacity will train a next generation of game changers to empower emerging carbon industries to solve grand socio-economic challenges, ultimately meeting zero-carbon emissions targets.Read moreRead less
Mineral Biosequestration of Organic Carbon in Early Pedogenesis of Tailings. Upcycling tailings into soil (technosols developed from technogenic parent materials) offers a sustainable approach to overcome severe topsoil shortage that limits the progress of ecological rehabilitation of tailings across mine sites. This project aims to establish new knowledge on mineral bioweathering, organic carbon (OC) sequestration in rapidly formed mineral phases, and OC turnover driven by colonising microbes a ....Mineral Biosequestration of Organic Carbon in Early Pedogenesis of Tailings. Upcycling tailings into soil (technosols developed from technogenic parent materials) offers a sustainable approach to overcome severe topsoil shortage that limits the progress of ecological rehabilitation of tailings across mine sites. This project aims to establish new knowledge on mineral bioweathering, organic carbon (OC) sequestration in rapidly formed mineral phases, and OC turnover driven by colonising microbes and plant roots, in the early pedogenesis of tailings initiated by inputs of organic and inorganic materials. This new knowledge is required for developing eco-engineering technology adaptable to a wide range of tailings of diverse mineralogy, to achieve sustainable tailings rehabilitation and organic carbon sequestration.Read moreRead less