Establishing advanced networks for air quality sensing and analyses. Establishing advanced networks for air quality sensing and analyses. This project aims to develop innovative, cost-effective, high resolution air quality networks. Recent developments in sensor technologies improve the ability to harvest atmospheric data. This project will develop, validate and implement methods for high sensitivity atmospheric sensing and apply cutting-edge statistical and analytic techniques to the data sets, ....Establishing advanced networks for air quality sensing and analyses. Establishing advanced networks for air quality sensing and analyses. This project aims to develop innovative, cost-effective, high resolution air quality networks. Recent developments in sensor technologies improve the ability to harvest atmospheric data. This project will develop, validate and implement methods for high sensitivity atmospheric sensing and apply cutting-edge statistical and analytic techniques to the data sets, unprecedented in scope and resolution. Outcomes include an open access database to quantify and visualise intra-urban air pollution and human exposure and develop air quality maps and smoke pollution management tools. It is expected to advance the evidence-based management of air as a resource, increasing economic prosperity and enhancing human health and quality of life.Read moreRead less
Airborne ultrafine particles in Australian cities. There is an acute deficiency of knowledge in Australia on urban airborne ultrafine particles, originating from transport and other anthropogenic sources, which pose significant health and environmental risks. The aim of this project is to address this deficiency by an extensive multi-city, cross-disciplinary study using state of the art instrumentation and data analytic techniques. The outcome will be an in depth, quantitative insight into the c ....Airborne ultrafine particles in Australian cities. There is an acute deficiency of knowledge in Australia on urban airborne ultrafine particles, originating from transport and other anthropogenic sources, which pose significant health and environmental risks. The aim of this project is to address this deficiency by an extensive multi-city, cross-disciplinary study using state of the art instrumentation and data analytic techniques. The outcome will be an in depth, quantitative insight into the characteristics of the particles, their sources and spatial and temporal variation across different urban areas and time scales. Further, the impacts of changing fuels, vehicle technologies, and climate on future trends of the particles will be elucidated.Read moreRead less
Quantification of airborne engineered nanoparticles: developing a scientific framework to inform their regulation and control. Despite the presence of airborne engineered nanoparticles in many commercial/research facilities, there are no established methods for their detection/characterisation. This work aims to develop a foundation for the quantitative assessment of airborne engineered nanoparticles, which is critical for controlling exposure and minimising health risks.
Development of nanostructured sensors for ultra-sensitive, label-free and selective detection of biological and chemical species. Outcomes will significantly advance the technical and fundamental understanding of sensor assembly and provide guidelines for developing and manufacturing nanostructured sensors, which is critical for next generation nanoscale sensing platforms for health care, medical diagnostics and chemical detection and Australia's emerging sensor industries.
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.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100952
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
A chemical looping process for carbon fibre production from plastics. This project aims to develop Mineral Looping Plastic Reforming (MLPR), a chemical looping reforming process for tonnage production of carbon nanofibers from plastic waste. This efficient process uses naturally occurring minerals (limestone, dolomite and ilmenite) to convert plastic waste to carbon nanofibers. The project will research the inner working of the MLPR process and the reforming reactions of plastics in the presence ....A chemical looping process for carbon fibre production from plastics. This project aims to develop Mineral Looping Plastic Reforming (MLPR), a chemical looping reforming process for tonnage production of carbon nanofibers from plastic waste. This efficient process uses naturally occurring minerals (limestone, dolomite and ilmenite) to convert plastic waste to carbon nanofibers. The project will research the inner working of the MLPR process and the reforming reactions of plastics in the presence of naturally occurring mineral mixtures. This project is expected to make Australia a leader in waste use, facilitate the uptake of abundant waste streams to produce high value products, and resolve sustainability, energy and environmental issues in Australia.Read moreRead less
Development of innovative cement binders with low carbon footprint. Development of innovative cement binders with low carbon footprint. This project aims to develop innovative low carbon cement formulations for the Australian construction industry. It will design new binder formulations that include a high level clinker replacement and achieve high early strength by controlling early hydration reactions (< 24 hrs) through combining admixtures. Using geochemistry to improve early hydration, it wi ....Development of innovative cement binders with low carbon footprint. Development of innovative cement binders with low carbon footprint. This project aims to develop innovative low carbon cement formulations for the Australian construction industry. It will design new binder formulations that include a high level clinker replacement and achieve high early strength by controlling early hydration reactions (< 24 hrs) through combining admixtures. Using geochemistry to improve early hydration, it will use commonly available supplementary cementitious materials to prepare low carbon concrete. This research is expected to transform the Australian construction industry by developing higher performing, more durable structures with dramatically lower embodied carbon dioxide and improved life-cycle costs.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR180100040
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$381,468.00
Summary
Efficient PFAS removal from urban wastewater using a novel two-step approach. This project aims to enhance the removal of per- and poly-fluroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds from municipal wastewater by making two simple amendments to standard wastewater treatment plants. Magnetite nanoparticles will be added to the treatment process, which adsorb PFAS compounds and reduce them to acceptable environmental levels. The resulting sludge will be dried and ashed in a simple and novel self-sustaining ....Efficient PFAS removal from urban wastewater using a novel two-step approach. This project aims to enhance the removal of per- and poly-fluroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds from municipal wastewater by making two simple amendments to standard wastewater treatment plants. Magnetite nanoparticles will be added to the treatment process, which adsorb PFAS compounds and reduce them to acceptable environmental levels. The resulting sludge will be dried and ashed in a simple and novel self-sustaining smoldering process which will render the captured PFAS to small ash, condensate and gaseous streams suitable for established destruction technologies. The project is expected to provide support to water utilities in achieving sustainable water treatment and result in environmental and social benefits to the community.Read moreRead less
Energy positive targeted resource recovery from sludge. Energy positive targeted resource recovery from sludge. This project aims to develop an innovative, cost-effective and sustainable technology to completely dewater sludge. Sludge management is a notorious and costly issue for water utilities. The poor dewaterability of sludge results in a high moisture content. The only solid residue is inorganic ash, from which valuable resources such as coagulants, phosphate, and metals can be extracted. ....Energy positive targeted resource recovery from sludge. Energy positive targeted resource recovery from sludge. This project aims to develop an innovative, cost-effective and sustainable technology to completely dewater sludge. Sludge management is a notorious and costly issue for water utilities. The poor dewaterability of sludge results in a high moisture content. The only solid residue is inorganic ash, from which valuable resources such as coagulants, phosphate, and metals can be extracted. The research is expected to support the water utilities to achieve sustainable sludge management and potentially bring large economic, environmental and social benefits to water utilities.Read moreRead less
A novel environment friendly energy efficient ventilation system using wind turbine ventilator and advanced active flow control. This project addresses a growing demand of modern day living: cost effective and efficient ventilation in building using a novel hybrid system of wind turbine ventilator and air circulation control technology providing significant savings in total building energy consumption and carbon emissions creating frontier technology industries and new jobs.