Reactive oxygen species production on oxygenation of subsurface sediments. This project aims to examine the nature, extent and effect of redox processes in subsurface environments. Reactive oxygen species, including hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, transform and affect redox-active substances in the environment such as arsenic, uranium and natural organic matter (which may be oxidised to carbon dioxide). Production of significant quantities of reactive oxygen species on oxyge ....Reactive oxygen species production on oxygenation of subsurface sediments. This project aims to examine the nature, extent and effect of redox processes in subsurface environments. Reactive oxygen species, including hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, transform and affect redox-active substances in the environment such as arsenic, uranium and natural organic matter (which may be oxidised to carbon dioxide). Production of significant quantities of reactive oxygen species on oxygenation of subsurface sediments through actions such as aquifer recharge and high flow events may alter the form and mobility of trace elements and influence the cycling of carbon and eventual efflux of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This project will examine the nature, extent and effect of these redox processes in selected subsurface environments. This research could have implications for contaminant transformation and fate and carbon cycling.Read moreRead less
Redox transformations of natural organic matter. This project aims to determine the electron transfer (redox) properties of terrestrially and microbially-derived natural organic matter (NOM) and the implications of these redox characteristics to reactive oxygen species generation, metals transformation and carbon cycling. Experimental and computational studies using model compounds containing quinone and thiol-containing functional groups as well as well-characterised humic substances and algal ....Redox transformations of natural organic matter. This project aims to determine the electron transfer (redox) properties of terrestrially and microbially-derived natural organic matter (NOM) and the implications of these redox characteristics to reactive oxygen species generation, metals transformation and carbon cycling. Experimental and computational studies using model compounds containing quinone and thiol-containing functional groups as well as well-characterised humic substances and algal exudates will be undertaken under both dark and light conditions. Kinetic models of these processes will be developed enabling prediction of the impact of NOM-mediated electron transfer processes on oxidant generation, metals transformation and carbon cycling.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the secrets of the groundwater cycle using Si and Li isotopes. This project aims to determine how non-conventional lithium and silicon isotopes can be used to understand groundwater processes using an innovative source-to-target approach. The project aims to apply these isotope tracers to trace the water cycle within a well constrained system: an island aquifer with a dense borefield which has been analysed using traditional isotopic techniques. Supporting hydrochemical data will be us ....Unlocking the secrets of the groundwater cycle using Si and Li isotopes. This project aims to determine how non-conventional lithium and silicon isotopes can be used to understand groundwater processes using an innovative source-to-target approach. The project aims to apply these isotope tracers to trace the water cycle within a well constrained system: an island aquifer with a dense borefield which has been analysed using traditional isotopic techniques. Supporting hydrochemical data will be used to determine the relationship of the isotopes with environmental processes. The project impact will be the development of new methods to help understand our groundwater resource. The improved process understanding will be translated to groundwater management in general. The projects' focus on carbonate aquifer systems typical of coastal regions of southern, eastern and western Australia will have relevance to groundwater management in urban areas such as Perth and in rural areas for tourism and viticulture, and for management of natural resources in National Parks.Read moreRead less
New perspectives on arsenic speciation and fate in anoxic aqueous environments: Resolving unexplored interactions with the sulfur cycle. Using exciting new experiments and innovative analyses, this project will provide transformational insights into how sulfur cycling in the Earth’s critical zone affects arsenic speciation and fate. The project will resolve, for the first time, unexplored interactions between arsenic geochemistry and the low-temperature formation and transformation of metastable ....New perspectives on arsenic speciation and fate in anoxic aqueous environments: Resolving unexplored interactions with the sulfur cycle. Using exciting new experiments and innovative analyses, this project will provide transformational insights into how sulfur cycling in the Earth’s critical zone affects arsenic speciation and fate. The project will resolve, for the first time, unexplored interactions between arsenic geochemistry and the low-temperature formation and transformation of metastable iron sulfide minerals. The outcomes will provide crucially important new perspectives on arsenic geochemistry in anoxic soils, sediments and groundwater systems.Read moreRead less
Interactions between antimony and the sulphur cycle. This project aims to unravel unexplored interactions between the sulphur cycle and fundamentally important aspects of antimony geochemistry in the Earth’s critical zone. This project will resolve interactions between antimony geochemistry and the low-temperature formation and transformation of metastable iron sulphide minerals. The outcomes are expected to provide crucially important perspectives on antimony geochemistry in anoxic soils, sedim ....Interactions between antimony and the sulphur cycle. This project aims to unravel unexplored interactions between the sulphur cycle and fundamentally important aspects of antimony geochemistry in the Earth’s critical zone. This project will resolve interactions between antimony geochemistry and the low-temperature formation and transformation of metastable iron sulphide minerals. The outcomes are expected to provide crucially important perspectives on antimony geochemistry in anoxic soils, sediments and groundwater systems. This understanding should lead to more accurate geochemical risk assessments and better site treatment strategies for environmental antimony contamination.Read moreRead less
Untangling metabolism and greenhouse gas production in intermittent streams. Freshwater streams are disproportionately large producers of greenhouse gases. Identifying the factors controlling their greenhouse gas production is critical as stream function is increasingly altered by both changing rainfall patterns and human pollution. This project aims to resolve the factors controlling stream greenhouse gas production. It will apply an unprecedented combination of continuous stream function and i ....Untangling metabolism and greenhouse gas production in intermittent streams. Freshwater streams are disproportionately large producers of greenhouse gases. Identifying the factors controlling their greenhouse gas production is critical as stream function is increasingly altered by both changing rainfall patterns and human pollution. This project aims to resolve the factors controlling stream greenhouse gas production. It will apply an unprecedented combination of continuous stream function and intensive isotope measurements to perennially flowing and intermittent streams in disturbed and undisturbed landscapes. This project is significant because it will quantify the changing role of streams in greenhouse gas emissions. Outcomes will provide critical information for managing Australia’s freshwater resources. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100023
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Innovative isotopic techniques to study the response of soil and water resources to modern and past climate change. Innovative isotopic techniques to study the response of soil and water resources to modern and past climate change: The emergence of innovative isotopic tools has provided unprecedented opportunities to improve our understanding of the processes that shape the earth's resources and environment. The plasma-source mass spectrometer will be dedicated to applying these techniques to ea ....Innovative isotopic techniques to study the response of soil and water resources to modern and past climate change. Innovative isotopic techniques to study the response of soil and water resources to modern and past climate change: The emergence of innovative isotopic tools has provided unprecedented opportunities to improve our understanding of the processes that shape the earth's resources and environment. The plasma-source mass spectrometer will be dedicated to applying these techniques to earth surface processes, and establishing unique capabilities to decipher how soil and water resources respond to modern and past climate change in Australia.Read moreRead less
New perspectives on iron oxide transformations in oxic and anoxic aqueous environments: implications for iron bioavailability and contaminant mobility. Transformations in the form and reactivity of iron oxides in oxic and anoxic aqueous environments are considerably more dynamic than previously thought. This project will examine the nature and extent of these transformations and elucidate their impact on supply of iron to organisms and mobility of uranium and arsenic in groundwaters.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100159
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
Mobile Australian field isotope alliance. This project will enable a quantum leap in capacity to undertake, real-time, field-based studies of environmental processes using the natural isotope tracers of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. This will enable the project to address a range of fundamental research questions in climate change, water resources, ecology and human impact in tropical Australia.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100141
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia's ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources. High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia’s ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources: Micro-sampling thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) provides the ability to undertake ultra low-level isotope analysis of earth and environmental samples. Analysis of radiogenic (for example, Neodymium, Strontium and ....High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia's ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources. High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia’s ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources: Micro-sampling thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) provides the ability to undertake ultra low-level isotope analysis of earth and environmental samples. Analysis of radiogenic (for example, Neodymium, Strontium and Lead) and stable (for example, Boron) isotopes allows researchers to trace the evolution of the Australian continent from its beginnings in the Precambrian through to the impacts of climate change in the Quaternary period (the last 2.6 million years). The proposed micro-sampling TIMS facility will give researchers the opportunity to characterise mineral deposit formation, paleoclimate records and groundwater sources with new levels of accuracy and precision. This will help secure the economic and environmental future of Australia.Read moreRead less