X-ray tomographic analysis and modelling of metallurgical coke. This project will apply 3D X-ray micro-tomography and model-based computational analysis to develop innovative approaches to the micro-structural characterisation of metallurgical coke. This has significant ramifications for the iron industry since coke characterisation is of primary importance to improved blast furnace productivity. The project will deliver new quantitative indices of coke microstructure, develop models for simulat ....X-ray tomographic analysis and modelling of metallurgical coke. This project will apply 3D X-ray micro-tomography and model-based computational analysis to develop innovative approaches to the micro-structural characterisation of metallurgical coke. This has significant ramifications for the iron industry since coke characterisation is of primary importance to improved blast furnace productivity. The project will deliver new quantitative indices of coke microstructure, develop models for simulation of micro-structural properties and coke transport properties, and examine coke reactivity in 3D contexts. This project will also be the first study to use multi-scale 3D X-ray tomographic analysis to examine the structural dynamics of coke during both its production and its use in the blast furnace.Read moreRead less
INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF ALLOYING ELEMENTS ON SHEAR BAND FORMATION DURING THE WARM ROLLING OF LOW CARBON AND INTERSTITIAL FREE STEELS. This proposal involves the application of three dimensional atom probe field ion microscopy and advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques to study the phenomena of precipitation and solute atoms' interactions with dislocations in warm rolled low carbon steels and interstitial free steels. It is intended to examine the effect of alloying addition ....INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF ALLOYING ELEMENTS ON SHEAR BAND FORMATION DURING THE WARM ROLLING OF LOW CARBON AND INTERSTITIAL FREE STEELS. This proposal involves the application of three dimensional atom probe field ion microscopy and advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques to study the phenomena of precipitation and solute atoms' interactions with dislocations in warm rolled low carbon steels and interstitial free steels. It is intended to examine the effect of alloying additions on in-grain shear bands formation, texture formation and formability of warm rolled and annealed low carbon steels. Ultimately, the project is concerned with developing of fundamental understanging of solute interactions which provide an improved basis for design of these economically significant steels.Read moreRead less
Innovative thermodynamic process control - the key to sustainable metal use. Large amounts of electronic goods such as computers and mobile phones are discarded each year in Australia. They contain both valuable and toxic metals so dumping them as landfill is unacceptable. Australia has a smelting method which could be adapted to reprocess this waste to recover the valuable metals, returning them for reuse. It would also safely handle the toxics. This project will determine the appropriate s ....Innovative thermodynamic process control - the key to sustainable metal use. Large amounts of electronic goods such as computers and mobile phones are discarded each year in Australia. They contain both valuable and toxic metals so dumping them as landfill is unacceptable. Australia has a smelting method which could be adapted to reprocess this waste to recover the valuable metals, returning them for reuse. It would also safely handle the toxics. This project will determine the appropriate smelting strategies and control methods. As a result, transportation of toxic materials overseas will be eliminated, environmental hazards will be reduced and our sustainable use of metals will be increased.Read moreRead less
The effect of contaminant carbon films on the leaching of gold. A major problem in cyanidation is preg-robbing, which results in severe gold losses to tailings. Too much emphasis has been placed on the blinding and characterisation of free carbon or graphite particles, instead of considering carbon or graphite as a layer on top of other ore particles. It is the aim of this project to investigate the effect of contaminant carbon layers on the leaching of gold from sulphide ores. The understanding ....The effect of contaminant carbon films on the leaching of gold. A major problem in cyanidation is preg-robbing, which results in severe gold losses to tailings. Too much emphasis has been placed on the blinding and characterisation of free carbon or graphite particles, instead of considering carbon or graphite as a layer on top of other ore particles. It is the aim of this project to investigate the effect of contaminant carbon layers on the leaching of gold from sulphide ores. The understanding of the exact role of carbon layers on mineral surfaces in both preg-robbing and leaching is essential to devise process strategies that could lead to improved extraction.Read moreRead less
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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775721
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,000.00
Summary
Near Net Shaped Casting and Alloy Development Facility. Nearly all metal production is based around an initial casting phase, often followed by other deformation and thermal processes. This facility will allow us to study current and future advanced alloys and processing routes, including metals of strategic importance to Australia such as aluminium, titanium and magnesium. One of the major innovations for these metals is to directly cast to strip, followed by minimal processing to provide str ....Near Net Shaped Casting and Alloy Development Facility. Nearly all metal production is based around an initial casting phase, often followed by other deformation and thermal processes. This facility will allow us to study current and future advanced alloys and processing routes, including metals of strategic importance to Australia such as aluminium, titanium and magnesium. One of the major innovations for these metals is to directly cast to strip, followed by minimal processing to provide strip products with novel properties, low capital costs and short lead times. The outcomes from this research will support the development of existing and new metal industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Improving the Continuous Copper Converting Process Using Ferrous Calcium Silicate Slags. Replacement of refractories due to slag attack is a major cost in the copper making process. Metallurgists need to find a better slag which retains the benefits of current slags but is less aggressive towards refractories. This project will assess the suitability of a newly proposed ferrous calcium silicate slag for continuous copper converting. The outcomes will be to: (1) provide fundamental knowledge of ....Improving the Continuous Copper Converting Process Using Ferrous Calcium Silicate Slags. Replacement of refractories due to slag attack is a major cost in the copper making process. Metallurgists need to find a better slag which retains the benefits of current slags but is less aggressive towards refractories. This project will assess the suitability of a newly proposed ferrous calcium silicate slag for continuous copper converting. The outcomes will be to: (1) provide fundamental knowledge of the properties of the SiO2-CaO-FeO slag system, (2) provide data on the rate and mechanism of refractory attack by this slag and (3) enable the copper smelting industry to assess the potential of this slag to reduce operating costs.Read moreRead less
All-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalysts for water treatment. The project aims to develop high-performance Z-scheme photocatalysts by using two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors as building blocks for low-cost, highly-efficient pathogen inactivation and emerging pollutant degradation in stormwater treatment. The project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of photocatalyst design and Z-scheme photocatalytic system, and advance the application of photocatalytic oxidation in wate ....All-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalysts for water treatment. The project aims to develop high-performance Z-scheme photocatalysts by using two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors as building blocks for low-cost, highly-efficient pathogen inactivation and emerging pollutant degradation in stormwater treatment. The project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of photocatalyst design and Z-scheme photocatalytic system, and advance the application of photocatalytic oxidation in water treatment. The expected outcomes of the project include novel 2D Z-scheme photocatalysts and enhanced capacity in stormwater management.Read moreRead less
Novel conversion process for carbon dioxide to chemicals. This project aims to develop a novel sorption enhanced material and system to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to methanol. Climate change is one of the primary long-term problems confronting humankind today. Since the production of CO2 through burning fossil fuel is far greater than the current usage of CO2, there is currently little alternative to storage. As a result, there is concerted effort globally to develop alternate use ....Novel conversion process for carbon dioxide to chemicals. This project aims to develop a novel sorption enhanced material and system to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to methanol. Climate change is one of the primary long-term problems confronting humankind today. Since the production of CO2 through burning fossil fuel is far greater than the current usage of CO2, there is currently little alternative to storage. As a result, there is concerted effort globally to develop alternate uses and conversion technologies for CO2. This project will help further this goal.Read moreRead less
The development of resin and polymer based technologies for the recovery of copper and cyanide from gold processing tailings streams. This is a fundamental study on the use of resin and polymer-based ligands to recover copper and cyanide from gold cyanidation tailings. This process is environmentally more acceptable than other recovery methods, as it does not involve the use or generation of harmful species, such as HCN. It also has the advantage that copper metal and cyanide are recovered as pr ....The development of resin and polymer based technologies for the recovery of copper and cyanide from gold processing tailings streams. This is a fundamental study on the use of resin and polymer-based ligands to recover copper and cyanide from gold cyanidation tailings. This process is environmentally more acceptable than other recovery methods, as it does not involve the use or generation of harmful species, such as HCN. It also has the advantage that copper metal and cyanide are recovered as products from the copper cyanide containing streams. Thus the proposed project has the potential to substantially alter the gold recovery process, particularly in an era where environmental and public concerns exist over the discharge of cyanide species into tailings dams.Read moreRead less