ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation. ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation. This Centre aims to develop carbon-based catalysts for clean energy, CO2 capture, and green chemistry to reduce emissions. The Centre expects to use pioneering data-guided atomic-precision synthesis and multiscale analysis to transform fundamental science of carbon materials. Expected outcomes of this Centre will benefit new technologies for energy, environmental, and green che ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation. ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation. This Centre aims to develop carbon-based catalysts for clean energy, CO2 capture, and green chemistry to reduce emissions. The Centre expects to use pioneering data-guided atomic-precision synthesis and multiscale analysis to transform fundamental science of carbon materials. Expected outcomes of this Centre will benefit new technologies for energy, environmental, and green chemical industries by utilising abundant sunlight, seawater, and waste feedstocks. This should provide significant benefits, through industry collaborations, our new world-leading capacity will train a next generation of game changers to empower emerging carbon industries to solve grand socio-economic challenges, ultimately meeting zero-carbon emissions targets.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR180100005
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,225,000.00
Summary
Remediation of PFAS contaminated soil using soil washing and immobilisation. This project aims to assess the applicability of soil washing and immobilisation as cost-effective techniques for the remediation of per- and poly-fluroalkyl substance (PFAS) contaminated Australian soils. The project expects to establish the efficacy of the remediation of a range of PFASs, including many polyfluorinated precursors of perfluorinated, chemically-persistent legacy pollutants which are of concern. The proj ....Remediation of PFAS contaminated soil using soil washing and immobilisation. This project aims to assess the applicability of soil washing and immobilisation as cost-effective techniques for the remediation of per- and poly-fluroalkyl substance (PFAS) contaminated Australian soils. The project expects to establish the efficacy of the remediation of a range of PFASs, including many polyfluorinated precursors of perfluorinated, chemically-persistent legacy pollutants which are of concern. The project will provide a scientific basis for understanding the benefits and limitations associated with soil washing and immobilisation techniques and a more comprehensive understanding of future liabilities associated with formation of PFASs from precursors remaining in remediated soils. Collaboration with stakeholders will ensure benefits are captured both commercially and environmentally, as well as removing a potential and on-going health threat to communities exposed to these contaminants.Read moreRead less
Physico-chemical effects on long-time fluid transport for CO2 geostorage. This project aims to develop an efficient multi-scale laboratory-based modelling framework for the analysis of nonequilibrium transport and reaction processes occurring in CO2 storage scenarios. In a significant technological advance two non-destructive analysis techniques, Xray computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance, are combined with pore-scale simulations to address uncertainties in dynamic wettability alter ....Physico-chemical effects on long-time fluid transport for CO2 geostorage. This project aims to develop an efficient multi-scale laboratory-based modelling framework for the analysis of nonequilibrium transport and reaction processes occurring in CO2 storage scenarios. In a significant technological advance two non-destructive analysis techniques, Xray computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance, are combined with pore-scale simulations to address uncertainties in dynamic wettability alteration occurring during gravity driven convection. Expected outcomes are the in-situ characterisation of solid-surface interactions and predictions of multi-phase fluid flow. The project benefits the Australian resources sector by improving injectivity, storage efficiency and security of supercritical CO2 storage projects.Read moreRead less
Multiscale geomechanical modelling of basin-scale CO2 storage. This project aims to develop innovative geomechanical models that will provide rapid assessments of the potential for reservoir deformation, including induced seismicity, during geological storage of CO2. The main expected outcome is a multiscale modelling approach that will help to identify storage locations at low risk for deformation and CO2 leakage in regions of little existing geomechanical data. The project will elucidate the .... Multiscale geomechanical modelling of basin-scale CO2 storage. This project aims to develop innovative geomechanical models that will provide rapid assessments of the potential for reservoir deformation, including induced seismicity, during geological storage of CO2. The main expected outcome is a multiscale modelling approach that will help to identify storage locations at low risk for deformation and CO2 leakage in regions of little existing geomechanical data. The project will elucidate the technical and commercial viability of CO2 storage in Australia’s Cooper-Eromanga basins and provide broad economic and environmental benefits by reducing the geomechanical uncertainties that provide a barrier to the global need to upscale carbon capture and storage.Read moreRead less
Unravelling soil carbon response to warming in fire-affected ecosystems. This project aims to reveal the continental pattern of soil carbon (C) response to warming in fire-affected ecosystems across Australia and to unravel the biogeochemical mechanisms underlying fire’s role in shaping the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. Fire has modified over 40% of the Earth’s land surface and wildfire frequency is predicted to increase under global warming. This project expects to generate new k ....Unravelling soil carbon response to warming in fire-affected ecosystems. This project aims to reveal the continental pattern of soil carbon (C) response to warming in fire-affected ecosystems across Australia and to unravel the biogeochemical mechanisms underlying fire’s role in shaping the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. Fire has modified over 40% of the Earth’s land surface and wildfire frequency is predicted to increase under global warming. This project expects to generate new knowledge on how fire influences soil-to-atmosphere C fluxes in a warmer climate using a multi-disciplinary approach. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capacity to predict the terrestrial ecosystem-to-atmosphere C fluxes and their feedbacks to climate under increasing frequency of fire using Earth-system models. Read moreRead less
Formation and stabilisation of coastal blue carbon. Blue carbon is organic carbon stored within coastal vegetated ecosystems. This project will examine the composition, formation and dynamics of blue carbon in a range of coastal ecosystems. Combining advanced analytical chemistry with environmental microbiology, we will discover how blue carbon is stabilised and destabilised, a critical factor in nature-based climate change mitigation strategies. Further, we will gain a quantitative understandin ....Formation and stabilisation of coastal blue carbon. Blue carbon is organic carbon stored within coastal vegetated ecosystems. This project will examine the composition, formation and dynamics of blue carbon in a range of coastal ecosystems. Combining advanced analytical chemistry with environmental microbiology, we will discover how blue carbon is stabilised and destabilised, a critical factor in nature-based climate change mitigation strategies. Further, we will gain a quantitative understanding of blue carbon contributions to carbon cycling, providing enhanced modeling and prediction of climate-cycle feedbacks in response to biotic and environmental change. This research will significantly benefit Australia’s effective management of coastal vegetated ecosystems for maximum carbon offsets.Read moreRead less
Building insights of our largest terrestrial carbon sink: rangelands soils. Rangelands soils represent Australia’s largest carbon sink. Yet, little is known about their potential for carbon sequestration or their vulnerability to climate and environmental change. This project leverages investments in national terrestrial observation platforms and integrates previous research outputs to develop new methods to measure and build understanding of soil carbon composition and dynamics in rangeland eco ....Building insights of our largest terrestrial carbon sink: rangelands soils. Rangelands soils represent Australia’s largest carbon sink. Yet, little is known about their potential for carbon sequestration or their vulnerability to climate and environmental change. This project leverages investments in national terrestrial observation platforms and integrates previous research outputs to develop new methods to measure and build understanding of soil carbon composition and dynamics in rangeland ecosystems. Under a framework that connects detailed measurements and small-scale processes, with machine-learning, data-model assimilation and large-scale next-generation biogeochemical modelling, it’ll allow more accurate predictions of soil carbon change and better decision-making to guide sustainable rangelands management.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH220100012
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Carbon Utilisation and Recycling. This Research Hub aims to develop technologies to transform carbon dioxide emissions from our energy and manufacturing sectors into valuable products and create pathways to market to drive industry transformation. This hub aims to achieve this by developing novel electro, thermo, and biochemical methods for converting CO2 from sectors that cannot easily avoid emissions and a technological pathway for CO2 recycling. The outcomes of this Hub a ....ARC Research Hub for Carbon Utilisation and Recycling. This Research Hub aims to develop technologies to transform carbon dioxide emissions from our energy and manufacturing sectors into valuable products and create pathways to market to drive industry transformation. This hub aims to achieve this by developing novel electro, thermo, and biochemical methods for converting CO2 from sectors that cannot easily avoid emissions and a technological pathway for CO2 recycling. The outcomes of this Hub are likely to be transformative for industry, the economy, and society in moving the fate of CO2 from pollutant to feedstock. The benefits to Australia are intended to be the stimulation of a new industry, a skilled workforce for this emerging industry and a contribution to meeting CO2 reduction targets.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100326
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,231.00
Summary
Mass transfer enhancement for hydrate based carbon capture and cold storage. This project aims to generate the knowledge and techniques required to increase carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake in hydrate based carbon capture from current levels of 15.4% to up to 90% of its rated capacity. This marked improvement stems from identification of the mechanism of CO2-water mass transfer in CO2 hydrate formation and engineering of structurally modified porous hydrogels as the substrate of CO2 hydrates. Encapsu ....Mass transfer enhancement for hydrate based carbon capture and cold storage. This project aims to generate the knowledge and techniques required to increase carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake in hydrate based carbon capture from current levels of 15.4% to up to 90% of its rated capacity. This marked improvement stems from identification of the mechanism of CO2-water mass transfer in CO2 hydrate formation and engineering of structurally modified porous hydrogels as the substrate of CO2 hydrates. Encapsulation will be developed in a way that CO2 may be transported by CO2 hydrates in a concentrated form. Successful completion of the project will offer technical evaluation of a novel CO2 capture and transport solution with lower operational energy consumption and capital cost than incumbent carbon capture technologies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100623
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$412,037.00
Summary
New electrodes for green electrochemical carbon dioxide capture. This project aims to develop new electrochemical carbon capture technology. By designing and fabricating new functional electrodes and high-performance electrochemical devices based on water and driven by renewable electricity, this project will enhance the ability to capture CO2, the primary greenhouse gas that causes global climate change. Expected outcomes include new multi-dimension electrodes with unique chemistry and state-of ....New electrodes for green electrochemical carbon dioxide capture. This project aims to develop new electrochemical carbon capture technology. By designing and fabricating new functional electrodes and high-performance electrochemical devices based on water and driven by renewable electricity, this project will enhance the ability to capture CO2, the primary greenhouse gas that causes global climate change. Expected outcomes include new multi-dimension electrodes with unique chemistry and state-of-the-art CO2 capture devices plus in-depth knowledge of electrochemical CO2 capture mechanisms for optimised device design and control. Benefits include the development of circular carbon economies with capabilities to effectively capture CO2, supporting Australian industries to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.Read moreRead less