Neuroimaging changes underpinning improvements in cognition in the elderly. Natural supplements are often used to improve brain and cognitive function, however, we do not know how these supplements work in the brain. Using novel brain imaging scans, the project will investigate whether 12-month administration of two promising natural supplements improves brain markers of ageing and cognitive decline in an elderly population.
Studying the impact of pulsed magnetic fields on neural tissue. This project will determine the optimal parameters of pulsed magnetic fields for treating the ageing and/or damaged brain. The safety features, low cost and compact size of the medical device being investigated maximise compliance and make it relevant to populations in remote and rural areas.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100001
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
An advanced thermogravimetric analysis system for world-leading research in clean energy, catalysis, material science and nanotechnology. Many chemical reactions occurring in solid materials during heating significantly affect the materials' stability, and subsequently affects the processes of production of clean energy, material synthesis, catalyst preparation, and nanotechnology. No equipment currently exists in Australia that will mitigate the wide range of conditions in such reactions in ma ....An advanced thermogravimetric analysis system for world-leading research in clean energy, catalysis, material science and nanotechnology. Many chemical reactions occurring in solid materials during heating significantly affect the materials' stability, and subsequently affects the processes of production of clean energy, material synthesis, catalyst preparation, and nanotechnology. No equipment currently exists in Australia that will mitigate the wide range of conditions in such reactions in materials processing. This situation impedes research progress in Australia, disadvantages Australian research students, and ultimately makes our research less competitive internationally. The establishment of the proposed apparatus will increase the competitiveness of Australian science and engineering, and contribute to the development of new Australian technologies that are important to the Australian economy and to environmental sustainability.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101215
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
A novel pyrolysis process for high-quality bio-oil production from biomass. The project outcome will provide fundamental knowledge essential to the development of a novel pyrolysis process for high-quality bio-oil production with biochar, a value-added by-product. It will largely accelerate the commercialisation of the biomass pyrolysis process to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel use in the energy sector.
Advanced biomass gasification process for distributed power generation with significant negative carbon emission in rural and regional Australia. The outcome of this project is fundamental knowledge essential to the development of advanced biomass gasification processes for distributed power generation with drastic reduction in carbon emissions and the recycling of inorganic nutrients to the land. It will contribute significantly to the future sustainability of rural and regional Australia.
Integrated photo and thermal catalysis for economic carbon dioxide conversion to fuels. The project aims to develop an integrated process for simultaneously photo- and thermal-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapour to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals using solar light and waste heat from flue gas. This project will design and make multi-functional catalysts based on zirconium metal organic frameworks, incorporating quantum dots and metal nanoclusters. This project is expected to ....Integrated photo and thermal catalysis for economic carbon dioxide conversion to fuels. The project aims to develop an integrated process for simultaneously photo- and thermal-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapour to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals using solar light and waste heat from flue gas. This project will design and make multi-functional catalysts based on zirconium metal organic frameworks, incorporating quantum dots and metal nanoclusters. This project is expected to develop an advanced materials system, reduce carbon dioxide and use it to produce fuel, and harness solar energy. The project should advance Australia’s leading role in reducing carbon emission, and producing clean energy and nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Production, processing and combustion of an innovative slurry fuel for high efficiency distributed power generation. This project will advance the science underpinning the development of an innovative technology for energy production (with carbon capture) and use in remote regions. The outcomes of this research will help meet the great challenges of climate change and contribute to the development of an environmentally sustainable Australia.
Initiation of spontaneous fires. This project aims to determine the origin of the initiation reactions that set off the self-heating of wood chips, coal, milk powder and other economically-important materials, leading to spontaneous fires. This project will provide fundamental understanding of the reactions between electronically excited species of oxygen and carbonaceous fuels, with applications to improved safety in wood, mineral and food industries. The outcomes include identification of the ....Initiation of spontaneous fires. This project aims to determine the origin of the initiation reactions that set off the self-heating of wood chips, coal, milk powder and other economically-important materials, leading to spontaneous fires. This project will provide fundamental understanding of the reactions between electronically excited species of oxygen and carbonaceous fuels, with applications to improved safety in wood, mineral and food industries. The outcomes include identification of the initiation mechanisms and development of mechanistic models that include the initiation step of the self-heating process, and development of new technologies for mitigation of spontaneous fires, based on quenching of the initiation reactions.Read moreRead less
Coproduction of Bioslurry and Liquid Transport Fuels from Biomass Pyrolysis. This project aims to develop a novel technology from biomass pyrolysis for coproducing a diesel/biodiesel/bio-oil blend as a liquid transport fuel for local use and a high-quality bioslurry fuel suitable for transport to centralised stationary applications. The technology aims to address key issues associated with current biofuel production from biomass pyrolysis due to the undesired high acidity, poor stability and hig ....Coproduction of Bioslurry and Liquid Transport Fuels from Biomass Pyrolysis. This project aims to develop a novel technology from biomass pyrolysis for coproducing a diesel/biodiesel/bio-oil blend as a liquid transport fuel for local use and a high-quality bioslurry fuel suitable for transport to centralised stationary applications. The technology aims to address key issues associated with current biofuel production from biomass pyrolysis due to the undesired high acidity, poor stability and high oxygen content of bio-oil. The liquid transport fuel is expected to be produced without the expensive bio-oil hydrotreating for deep de-oxygenation, which is otherwise required for using bio-oil as feedstock in conventional petroleum refining process. Both biofuel products can be adoptable for wide applications in the existing vast infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Bio-oil/char slurry from biomass for co-combustion in coal power plants: achieving power generation with a significant reduction of CO2 emission. This project will develop an advanced co-combustion technology of bio-oil/char slurry (i.e. bioslurry), prepared from biomass pyrolysis products, and coal in the existing coal-fired power plants for achieving significant CO2 reduction. It will enhance Australia's competitive advantage through high impact scientific and technological innovations.