Economic Operability Assessment of Leaching Process at Kwinana Nickel Refinery. Process operability is concerned with systematic analysis and improvement of process performance in the face of variable operating conditions. This project will develop a rigorous methodology for analysis of process operability with respect to short-term and transient disturbances. The proposed technique will be applied to the Kwinana Nickel Refinery Leach section, in order to reduce the plant variability and increas ....Economic Operability Assessment of Leaching Process at Kwinana Nickel Refinery. Process operability is concerned with systematic analysis and improvement of process performance in the face of variable operating conditions. This project will develop a rigorous methodology for analysis of process operability with respect to short-term and transient disturbances. The proposed technique will be applied to the Kwinana Nickel Refinery Leach section, in order to reduce the plant variability and increase nickel throughput and plant availability. This can be considered as significant move by a process industry to embrace advanced theoretical developments and will act as a benchmark to promote future links between Australian industry and academia.Read moreRead less
Investigation and Prediction of the Novel Properties of Dendrimers. Dendrimers are a new class of highly branched polymers, which have, until now, been difficult to characterise by conventional means. This project will develop and apply molecular simulation techniques to reveal the chemical and physical properties of dendrimers and their interactions with other molecules. These novel molecules potentially have beneficial applications to areas such as drug delivery and electronic materials. Th ....Investigation and Prediction of the Novel Properties of Dendrimers. Dendrimers are a new class of highly branched polymers, which have, until now, been difficult to characterise by conventional means. This project will develop and apply molecular simulation techniques to reveal the chemical and physical properties of dendrimers and their interactions with other molecules. These novel molecules potentially have beneficial applications to areas such as drug delivery and electronic materials. The outcome of this work will assist in the exploitation of this beneficial application and will provide the basis for efficient processing.Read moreRead less
The role of floc structure in the formation of sediments and filter cakes. The project aims to understand at a fundamental level if and in what way the fractal structure of aggregates of fine particles is preserved when forming sediments and filter cakes. The effect of this structure on processes for separating solids and liquids is significant: each year, millions of dollars stand to be saved though more efficient filtration, and more efficient thickening of mineral slurries. Improved understan ....The role of floc structure in the formation of sediments and filter cakes. The project aims to understand at a fundamental level if and in what way the fractal structure of aggregates of fine particles is preserved when forming sediments and filter cakes. The effect of this structure on processes for separating solids and liquids is significant: each year, millions of dollars stand to be saved though more efficient filtration, and more efficient thickening of mineral slurries. Improved understanding allows intelligent design of flocculation systems to optimise the performance of downstream solid - liquid separation processes, maximising economic and environmental returns.Read moreRead less
Modelling of Adsorption Dynamics in Microporous Solids based on Molecular Dynamics Computations. This project seeks to incorporate non-equilibrium molecular dynamics calculations into particle scale models for adsorption kinetics. Molecular dynamics calculations will be performed for hydrocarbon molecules in small pores to obtain transport coefficients in pores of various sizes, at various bulk gas pressures and temperatures. These transport coefficients will be used in particle scale models t ....Modelling of Adsorption Dynamics in Microporous Solids based on Molecular Dynamics Computations. This project seeks to incorporate non-equilibrium molecular dynamics calculations into particle scale models for adsorption kinetics. Molecular dynamics calculations will be performed for hydrocarbon molecules in small pores to obtain transport coefficients in pores of various sizes, at various bulk gas pressures and temperatures. These transport coefficients will be used in particle scale models to obtain a dynamic model, which will be utilised to interpret experimental data from the literature as well as that being obtained in our laboratory. Such first principles-based modelling has not been performed before at the particle scale, and will mitigate the empiricism in existing approaches.Read moreRead less
Multi-drug dry powder inhalation systems for the effective treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Utilising a combination of particle engineering, computer modeling, rapid prototyping and high-speed 3D imaging this project will develop a novel approach to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A multi-drug particle system whose surface is independent of the drugs incorporated will be optimised in a novel high efficiency inhalation device.
Unravelling the mechanics of particle deposition at the micro-scale. This project aims to discover the mechanisms responsible for the interactions between aerosol particles and surfaces in a range of air flow conditions. The project expects to transform our understanding of particle deposition through a combination of novel laser-based diagnostic techniques, optical coherence tomography, and state of the art particle formulation methodologies. Expected outcomes of the project include delivery of ....Unravelling the mechanics of particle deposition at the micro-scale. This project aims to discover the mechanisms responsible for the interactions between aerosol particles and surfaces in a range of air flow conditions. The project expects to transform our understanding of particle deposition through a combination of novel laser-based diagnostic techniques, optical coherence tomography, and state of the art particle formulation methodologies. Expected outcomes of the project include delivery of new methods to optimise particle deposition, development of tunable powder formulations, as well as definition of particle-surface interaction mechanisms in flows. The project should provide significant benefits to particle systems for applications ranging from additive manufacturing to aerosol delivery.Read moreRead less
Optical tweezers as a micro-rheological probe of soft surfaces. Biomembranes are more than soft containers - their dynamic flexibility plays an important role in cell function, but measurements of mechanical properties of soft surfaces are non-existent. This project develops and applies a new optical tweezers method to measure the flexibility of membranes and its effects upon the friction of nearby particles.
Development of ultrastable high flux hydrophobic pervaporation membranes for organic separations. Perfluorinated glassy polymers (Teflons AF) as membrane materials are endowed with unique fluxes and excellent stability when in contact with various liquid organic mixtures. However, they have never been explored as membrane materials for pervaporation. The aims of this project are therefore to evaluate the applicability of composite membranes based on amorphous Teflons AF to the separation of orga ....Development of ultrastable high flux hydrophobic pervaporation membranes for organic separations. Perfluorinated glassy polymers (Teflons AF) as membrane materials are endowed with unique fluxes and excellent stability when in contact with various liquid organic mixtures. However, they have never been explored as membrane materials for pervaporation. The aims of this project are therefore to evaluate the applicability of composite membranes based on amorphous Teflons AF to the separation of organic mixtures and the removal of organic pollutants from water. The outcomes of this project will be the development of novel environmentally friendly processes in the petrochemical and biotechnology industries as well as ecologically efficient methods of waste water treatment.Read moreRead less
Multiscale modeling of flexible fibrous suspensions under flow. The outcome of this work will be a comprehensive theoretical framework by which microstructural information is distilled into an accurate multiscale model of fibre suspensions, readily applicable to industrial situations. This work will have a direct impact on the design capability and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involving fibres. The development of better models for industrially useful suspen ....Multiscale modeling of flexible fibrous suspensions under flow. The outcome of this work will be a comprehensive theoretical framework by which microstructural information is distilled into an accurate multiscale model of fibre suspensions, readily applicable to industrial situations. This work will have a direct impact on the design capability and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involving fibres. The development of better models for industrially useful suspensions offers a competitive advantage for a diverse range of Australian industries, from the paper manufacture sector, to the production of fibre-filled composite materials.Read moreRead less
Modelling of Adsorption Dynamics in Microporous Adsorbents Using Fractional Order Diffusion Equations. This project investigates the use of fractional order diffusion equations in modelling adsorption dynamics in microporous carbons. The long tail behaviour of adsorption processes cannot be readily explained by the classical second order Fickian model, and makes adsorption a candidate for the use of fractional order diffusion equations that have the potential to model such features. In the pre ....Modelling of Adsorption Dynamics in Microporous Adsorbents Using Fractional Order Diffusion Equations. This project investigates the use of fractional order diffusion equations in modelling adsorption dynamics in microporous carbons. The long tail behaviour of adsorption processes cannot be readily explained by the classical second order Fickian model, and makes adsorption a candidate for the use of fractional order diffusion equations that have the potential to model such features. In the present project we shall develop suitable numerical techniques for solving the fractional order diffusion model, and apply these to the interpretation of experimental kinetic data. The outcome will be an improved model of adsorption dynamics considering the fractal nature of the solid.Read moreRead less