Engineered graphene-based nanofertilizers to improve crop nutrition. This project seeks to evaluate the unique properties of graphene to more effectively engineer novel fertilizers with properties that can enhance nutrient efficiency and reduce losses to the environment. More efficient and effective fertilizer formulations are needed to improve nutrient use efficiency in agricultural systems globally, and for effective biofortification of staple food crops with essential micronutrients. Nitrogen ....Engineered graphene-based nanofertilizers to improve crop nutrition. This project seeks to evaluate the unique properties of graphene to more effectively engineer novel fertilizers with properties that can enhance nutrient efficiency and reduce losses to the environment. More efficient and effective fertilizer formulations are needed to improve nutrient use efficiency in agricultural systems globally, and for effective biofortification of staple food crops with essential micronutrients. Nitrogen may be lost from soil through leaching and gaseous losses to the atmosphere. Phosphorus, as well as copper, manganese and zinc, are prone to reactions in soils and during manufacturing which reduces their effectiveness.Read moreRead less
Bioinspired tuneable catalysts for renewable ammonia production. The project will design a new solar-powered system for electrosynthesis of ammonia to replace the current energy intensive, non-sustainable process that generates 1.5% of global CO2 emissions. An innovative new system will be developed by combining cutting edge electrochemical, spectroscopic and theoretical methods. Expected key outcomes include novel concepts in the design of advanced materials, and an efficient process for the gr ....Bioinspired tuneable catalysts for renewable ammonia production. The project will design a new solar-powered system for electrosynthesis of ammonia to replace the current energy intensive, non-sustainable process that generates 1.5% of global CO2 emissions. An innovative new system will be developed by combining cutting edge electrochemical, spectroscopic and theoretical methods. Expected key outcomes include novel concepts in the design of advanced materials, and an efficient process for the green ammonia synthesis. Given the strategic importance of ammonia as a future energy carrier for the export of Australian renewables and as a major source of fertilisers, this project should provide significant national economic and ecological benefits and is expected to have a broad reaching global impact.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH210100001
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,062,428.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Nutrients in a Circular Economy (NiCE). Urban utilities are in need to design resilient wastewater infrastructure to tackle the pressures of urban intensification, waterways pollution and climate change. This Hub aims to transform the wastewater industry with an unprecedented, city-scale circular economy of nutrients based on urine separation and processing at building level, to produce safe and effective liquid fertilisers. By engaging with stakeholders across the value cha ....ARC Research Hub for Nutrients in a Circular Economy (NiCE). Urban utilities are in need to design resilient wastewater infrastructure to tackle the pressures of urban intensification, waterways pollution and climate change. This Hub aims to transform the wastewater industry with an unprecedented, city-scale circular economy of nutrients based on urine separation and processing at building level, to produce safe and effective liquid fertilisers. By engaging with stakeholders across the value chain, this Hub expects to bring two urine processing technologies to commercial readiness, and to produce new regulations and business models for the circular economy. This will add resilience to the wastewater and urban farming industries, and will create market opportunities for new Australian technologies.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH200100023
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,950,000.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Innovative Nitrogen Fertilisers and Inhibitors. This Hub aims to transform agriculture by delivering a new class of nitrogen (N) fertilisers and inhibitors designed to stem the 50-80% losses to the environment in current products. It is intended to generate new knowledge and valuable intellectual property in controlled released and coated N fertiliser products using a novel co-design process involving representatives of the whole value chain from product design through to va ....ARC Research Hub for Innovative Nitrogen Fertilisers and Inhibitors. This Hub aims to transform agriculture by delivering a new class of nitrogen (N) fertilisers and inhibitors designed to stem the 50-80% losses to the environment in current products. It is intended to generate new knowledge and valuable intellectual property in controlled released and coated N fertiliser products using a novel co-design process involving representatives of the whole value chain from product design through to validation and adoption. The project estimates possible 20% gains in efficiency of N use, delivering large costs savings, improved productivity, increased profitability and decreased environmental impacts, helping the Australian food and agribusiness sector to reach its 2030 target of $100B value added.Read moreRead less
Connecting soil nitrogen and plant uptake for greener agriculture. This project will use synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry, root and rhizosphere biology and rhizosphere modelling to establish detailed mechanistic knowledge of the nitrogen (N) transport and uptake processes at the soil-root interface to develop new, efficient urease and nitrification inhibitors for reliable provision of N to the plant/root system. The reduction of excessive N fertilisation has significant environmental be ....Connecting soil nitrogen and plant uptake for greener agriculture. This project will use synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry, root and rhizosphere biology and rhizosphere modelling to establish detailed mechanistic knowledge of the nitrogen (N) transport and uptake processes at the soil-root interface to develop new, efficient urease and nitrification inhibitors for reliable provision of N to the plant/root system. The reduction of excessive N fertilisation has significant environmental benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. This project will lead to a breakthrough for the triple challenge of food security, environmental degradation and climate change, while improving plant productivity and increasing the profitability of agriculture through lower fertiliser costs.Read moreRead less
Study the Utility of Novel Drug Polymer Conjugates. The products likely to arise from the technology described in this proposal could have application in medical, veterinary and agricultural industries. It offers the potential to treat diseases that are at present poorly treated by enabling delivery direct to the diseased organ (e.g. eye - bacterial endophthalmitis). Completion of the project will also assist a fledgling biotech company transition to a development company with a multiple produ ....Study the Utility of Novel Drug Polymer Conjugates. The products likely to arise from the technology described in this proposal could have application in medical, veterinary and agricultural industries. It offers the potential to treat diseases that are at present poorly treated by enabling delivery direct to the diseased organ (e.g. eye - bacterial endophthalmitis). Completion of the project will also assist a fledgling biotech company transition to a development company with a multiple product portfolio, which will have a direct economic benefit to Australia both in terms of potential export earnings and as an employer highly skilled staff. The project will also provide research training and career opportunities for developing Australian based researchers.Read moreRead less
Nutrient generation from rural land and delivery to streams in the Sydney Drinking Water Catchments. The Sydney Catchment Authority must manage pollution arising from land within its catchments. There have been few local studies of nutrient losses from rural land, the major land use, and the understanding of some important processes involved in nutrient generation and delivery is weak. Therefore model predictions are uncertain. This project will quantify nutrient losses from key land uses, ev ....Nutrient generation from rural land and delivery to streams in the Sydney Drinking Water Catchments. The Sydney Catchment Authority must manage pollution arising from land within its catchments. There have been few local studies of nutrient losses from rural land, the major land use, and the understanding of some important processes involved in nutrient generation and delivery is weak. Therefore model predictions are uncertain. This project will quantify nutrient losses from key land uses, evaluate alternative loss pathways, and provide insight into the effects of scale, providing a foundation for improved modelling of nutrient sources and transport. The outcome will be the capacity to prioritise land uses and parts catchments for remedial action, whilst providing a modelling approach relevant to the SCA and other catchment managers.Read moreRead less
Organometallic materials for photonics. New high performance materials are required for applications in photonics, an area of increasing importance for Australia's high technology industries. This project addresses two critically important requirements in photonics: materials with enhanced nonlinear optical merit (both quadratic and cubic), needed for applications in optical communications, data storage and computer systems, and materials with significant optical limiting properties, required fo ....Organometallic materials for photonics. New high performance materials are required for applications in photonics, an area of increasing importance for Australia's high technology industries. This project addresses two critically important requirements in photonics: materials with enhanced nonlinear optical merit (both quadratic and cubic), needed for applications in optical communications, data storage and computer systems, and materials with significant optical limiting properties, required for laboratory optical device protection and military applications. Concomitant with these studies, the fundamental organometallic chemistry of alkynylmetal complexes and clusters will be developed, leading into oligomeric, dendritic and polymeric species which are of intrinsic, as well as applied, interest.Read moreRead less
Syntheses and non-linear optical properties of B- and N-cored metal alkynyl dendrimers. This project will (i) advance fundamental science, (ii) establish and consolidate links between groups in the UK and Australia with interests in electronic and optical properties of metal alkynyl compounds, (iii) improve technology transfer between the two groups by the mobility of the ARC International Fellow, and (iv) may identify new materials with sufficient non-linear optical and materials processing per ....Syntheses and non-linear optical properties of B- and N-cored metal alkynyl dendrimers. This project will (i) advance fundamental science, (ii) establish and consolidate links between groups in the UK and Australia with interests in electronic and optical properties of metal alkynyl compounds, (iii) improve technology transfer between the two groups by the mobility of the ARC International Fellow, and (iv) may identify new materials with sufficient non-linear optical and materials processing performance for commercial development.Read moreRead less
Domino Approaches to Polycyclic Natural Products. Organic molecules are the basis of all known life forms. The majority of our medicinal agents are organic molecules. Organic molecules are made up of atoms, connected together by bonds. Usually, these molecules are constructed by making one bond at a time. We are trying to make this laborious job quicker and more efficient by forming lots of bonds at once. Research of this kind is the basis for the development of new pharmaceuticals. Australia do ....Domino Approaches to Polycyclic Natural Products. Organic molecules are the basis of all known life forms. The majority of our medicinal agents are organic molecules. Organic molecules are made up of atoms, connected together by bonds. Usually, these molecules are constructed by making one bond at a time. We are trying to make this laborious job quicker and more efficient by forming lots of bonds at once. Research of this kind is the basis for the development of new pharmaceuticals. Australia doesn't have many people who are able to do this kind of thing. We will train four to six people in this area of research.Read moreRead less