Remediation of groundwater using permeable reactive barriers. Permeable reactive barriers are passive subsurface installations that remove contamination from groundwater as it flows through a reactive substrate. This project will develop new permeable reactive barriers that will benefit the nation by building skills and knowledge in an area of growth in Australian industry, namely the rehabilitation of industrial lands and the protection and remediation of Australia's critical groundwater source ....Remediation of groundwater using permeable reactive barriers. Permeable reactive barriers are passive subsurface installations that remove contamination from groundwater as it flows through a reactive substrate. This project will develop new permeable reactive barriers that will benefit the nation by building skills and knowledge in an area of growth in Australian industry, namely the rehabilitation of industrial lands and the protection and remediation of Australia's critical groundwater sources. The project is aimed at remediating an industrially contaminated site in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, thereby contributing to the environmental improvement of that region. The technology developed will have wide application to other sites, both nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101070
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,124.00
Summary
Enhanced durability of geopolymers through phase engineering. This project aims to research geopolymer phases, their formation thermodynamics and formation kinetics and stability. Alkali-activated (geopolymer) binders and concretes are low-carbon dioxide alternatives to Portland cements and concretes, and ensuring their durability will enable the implementation of this greenhouse-friendly technology in industry. This project will develop a phase engineering approach to help industry manufacture ....Enhanced durability of geopolymers through phase engineering. This project aims to research geopolymer phases, their formation thermodynamics and formation kinetics and stability. Alkali-activated (geopolymer) binders and concretes are low-carbon dioxide alternatives to Portland cements and concretes, and ensuring their durability will enable the implementation of this greenhouse-friendly technology in industry. This project will develop a phase engineering approach to help industry manufacture high-durability green concrete, create a billion-dollar business, and provide safe and reliable construction products.Read moreRead less
Will geopolymer concretes stand the test of time? In developing new 'green' materials to replace traditional, high-carbon dioxide cements and concretes, it is essential to show that the new materials will be at least as durable as the traditional options. This project will enable prediction of the durability of low-carbon dioxide geopolymer concrete, using laboratory tests, cutting-edge structural analysis and computations.
Improved Landfill Barrier Design for Changing Climates. The proposed research project will develop advanced methods and guidelines for practising engineers for improved engineering and design of waste containment barrier systems, leading to improved protection of groundwater resources and the environment and sustainable development of the country. The project will contribute to the priority area of building an environmentally sustainable Australia with a specific focus on water as a critical re ....Improved Landfill Barrier Design for Changing Climates. The proposed research project will develop advanced methods and guidelines for practising engineers for improved engineering and design of waste containment barrier systems, leading to improved protection of groundwater resources and the environment and sustainable development of the country. The project will contribute to the priority area of building an environmentally sustainable Australia with a specific focus on water as a critical resource.Read moreRead less
Performance of waste stabilisation ponds: controlling factors, novel performance indicators, and risk assessment. As the world population increases, maintaining robust, cost-effective and environmentally safe wastewater treatment systems is of vital importance. This project will enhance the ability to design, operate and manage Australia's extensive wastewater infrastructure for safer and more sustainable water resources in Australia and the world.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100550
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$356,446.00
Summary
Preserving our rivers: environmental water use in a changing climate. This project aims to develop an 'active management' tool to improve the robustness and transparency of environmental water management. Managing Government investment on environmental water requires decisions on when and where to use water, involving complex trade-offs between competing benefits. This project will develop a tool to address shortcomings in currently available approaches based on the assumption of stationary clim ....Preserving our rivers: environmental water use in a changing climate. This project aims to develop an 'active management' tool to improve the robustness and transparency of environmental water management. Managing Government investment on environmental water requires decisions on when and where to use water, involving complex trade-offs between competing benefits. This project will develop a tool to address shortcomings in currently available approaches based on the assumption of stationary climate, leading to more environmental benefit for less water, and greater resilience in the face of a changing climate.Read moreRead less
Fate of engineered nanoparticles: Challenges in informing human and ecological health risk assessments. Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have generated significant public and scientific excitement due to their unique properties. This has led to their application in a wide variety of industries (for example, in composite materials and drug delivery). However, there is concern that some ENPs can have detrimental environmental impacts. This project aims to quantify, for the first time, the fate of E ....Fate of engineered nanoparticles: Challenges in informing human and ecological health risk assessments. Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have generated significant public and scientific excitement due to their unique properties. This has led to their application in a wide variety of industries (for example, in composite materials and drug delivery). However, there is concern that some ENPs can have detrimental environmental impacts. This project aims to quantify, for the first time, the fate of ENPs that have leached out of commercial products in groundwater systems. This information is expected to assist regulators in developing appropriate legislation to balance the tremendous benefits and potential risks of nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
A New Photocatalysis Hybrid System in Wastewater Treatment for Reuse. This project would particularly be useful to unreticulated sewage systems and small sewage treatment plants are prevalent in the coastal areas of NSW and Queensland and the interior parts of Northern Territory with small and isolated communities. Opportunities for demonstrating the successful application of this cost effective method of waste water treatment to appropriate stakeholders through participation in workshops, semin ....A New Photocatalysis Hybrid System in Wastewater Treatment for Reuse. This project would particularly be useful to unreticulated sewage systems and small sewage treatment plants are prevalent in the coastal areas of NSW and Queensland and the interior parts of Northern Territory with small and isolated communities. Opportunities for demonstrating the successful application of this cost effective method of waste water treatment to appropriate stakeholders through participation in workshops, seminars and events will be explored. The study can also be extended to small and medium sized industries in their wastewater treatment. The technology is of direct benefit within the Nation and also has significant export potential. Read moreRead less
Application of the MIEXR DOC process to membrane hybrid systems for water reuse. Fresh water is increasingly scarce in Australia and wastewater reuse is being advocated as a strategy for both meeting our needs and protecting the environment. This research will test the magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) process as a pretreatment for a membrane-flocculation hybrid system (MFHS). MIEX will remove small and medium molecular weight organics and minimize membrane fouling. Large molecular weight organics, s ....Application of the MIEXR DOC process to membrane hybrid systems for water reuse. Fresh water is increasingly scarce in Australia and wastewater reuse is being advocated as a strategy for both meeting our needs and protecting the environment. This research will test the magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) process as a pretreatment for a membrane-flocculation hybrid system (MFHS). MIEX will remove small and medium molecular weight organics and minimize membrane fouling. Large molecular weight organics, suspended solids and micro-organisms will be removed by MFHS. This research will pioneer a novel hybrid system for treatment and reuse of domestic wastewater for non-drinking purposes and provide high quality research training of a doctoral student.Read moreRead less
Healthier Water: Innovative Processes for Arsenic Removal and Sludge Management. Arsenic is a highly toxic metal found in drinking water in parts of Australia and in many parts of the world. The enforcement of stringent arsenic standard for drinking water calls for an effective treatment technology. In this study, an innovative and cost effective treatment system for arsenic removal will be developed for use in small community water supplies. This novel hybrid system consists of buoyant media f ....Healthier Water: Innovative Processes for Arsenic Removal and Sludge Management. Arsenic is a highly toxic metal found in drinking water in parts of Australia and in many parts of the world. The enforcement of stringent arsenic standard for drinking water calls for an effective treatment technology. In this study, an innovative and cost effective treatment system for arsenic removal will be developed for use in small community water supplies. This novel hybrid system consists of buoyant media flocculator and a newly-developed metal oxide coated media adsorption technique to achieve superior arsenic removal. A simple and safe disposal of arsenic sludge will also be established and tested.Read moreRead less