A novel mineral looping tar removal process for biomass gasification. A novel mineral looping tar removal process for biomass gasification. This project aims to develop a simple, robust and cost effective method for removing tar from biomass gasification processes. The solution (Mineral Looping Tar Removal) involves the cyclic carbonation and calcination of a mixture of naturally occurring minerals and/or solid waste to remove tar. This project will bring together energy researchers and renewabl ....A novel mineral looping tar removal process for biomass gasification. A novel mineral looping tar removal process for biomass gasification. This project aims to develop a simple, robust and cost effective method for removing tar from biomass gasification processes. The solution (Mineral Looping Tar Removal) involves the cyclic carbonation and calcination of a mixture of naturally occurring minerals and/or solid waste to remove tar. This project will bring together energy researchers and renewable energy developers to resolve science and engineering issues that underpin the performance degradation of these minerals in large-scale settings. Project outcomes include improved understanding of gas cleaning and a cost effective and environmentally sound technology.Read moreRead less
In-situ catalytic upgrading of bio-oil using scrap tyre char. This project aims to develop advanced, cost-competitive catalysts based on scrap tyre char, an otherwise low-value by-product. These catalysts will be optimised for use in upgrading bio-oil derived from the pyrolysis of woody eucalyptus, an abundant biomass resource across Australia. The project is expected to promote the commercialisation of bio-oil production and enhance the valorisation of scrap tyre char. This is expected to reduc ....In-situ catalytic upgrading of bio-oil using scrap tyre char. This project aims to develop advanced, cost-competitive catalysts based on scrap tyre char, an otherwise low-value by-product. These catalysts will be optimised for use in upgrading bio-oil derived from the pyrolysis of woody eucalyptus, an abundant biomass resource across Australia. The project is expected to promote the commercialisation of bio-oil production and enhance the valorisation of scrap tyre char. This is expected to reduce the carbon footprint from Australian industry, and promote the recycling and reuse of waste scrap tyres.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100098
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,000.00
Summary
A comprehensive gas/vapour sorption facility for the fast advancement of decarbonised energy technologies. Solutions to clean energy production, storage and use are critical to Australia’s prosperity, yet there is a significant lack of targeted research facilities for the development of the highly needed materials and technologies for powering a sustainable Australia. This facility will bring research efforts closer to practical solutions.
Probing microbial emulsions to break barriers to green oil production. This project aims to understand ultrasonic processing of concentrated slurries of oil-bearing yeast and algae. Humans must reduce their dependency on petroleum. While microorganisms can produce oils as replacement fuels and base chemicals, the processes for extracting these oils are inefficient. Ultrasound could improve oil recovery by replacing toxic solvents. Understanding the effects of ultrasound on microbial emulsions is ....Probing microbial emulsions to break barriers to green oil production. This project aims to understand ultrasonic processing of concentrated slurries of oil-bearing yeast and algae. Humans must reduce their dependency on petroleum. While microorganisms can produce oils as replacement fuels and base chemicals, the processes for extracting these oils are inefficient. Ultrasound could improve oil recovery by replacing toxic solvents. Understanding the effects of ultrasound on microbial emulsions is expected to develop solvent-free oil recovery processes that improve the economic and environmental benefits of microbial oil production. Such processes would greatly increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of producing microbial oils that can be used as green alternatives to petroleum fuels and chemicals.Read moreRead less
MOF-polymer 3D composites for liquid organic hydrogen carrier utilisation. This project aims to address the hydrogen transportation challenge by utilising liquid organic hydrogen carriers rather than other techniques involving high pressures or cryogenic temperatures that need complex infrastructure. This project expects to generate knowledge in the hydrogen economy area using the novel approach of simplifying the separation of the liquid carriers before and after their release of hydrogen. Expe ....MOF-polymer 3D composites for liquid organic hydrogen carrier utilisation. This project aims to address the hydrogen transportation challenge by utilising liquid organic hydrogen carriers rather than other techniques involving high pressures or cryogenic temperatures that need complex infrastructure. This project expects to generate knowledge in the hydrogen economy area using the novel approach of simplifying the separation of the liquid carriers before and after their release of hydrogen. Expected outcomes of this project include largely enhanced hydrogen transportation efficiency by recently discovered new materials. This should provide significant benefits such as a huge economic opportunity for Australia, both for domestic low cost clean energy, and for export to Asia in the hydrogen economy.Read moreRead less
The Permeation of Water through Industrial Membrane Systems. This project aims to understand the permeation of water through commercially relevant non-porous polymeric membranes. Permeation, solubility and diffusivity will be studied in the vicinity of the glass transition temperature to elucidate the changes in free volume that occur through this transition. Non-linear concentration gradients due to anisotropic swelling will be probed using novel laminated membrane systems. Water clustering wil ....The Permeation of Water through Industrial Membrane Systems. This project aims to understand the permeation of water through commercially relevant non-porous polymeric membranes. Permeation, solubility and diffusivity will be studied in the vicinity of the glass transition temperature to elucidate the changes in free volume that occur through this transition. Non-linear concentration gradients due to anisotropic swelling will be probed using novel laminated membrane systems. Water clustering will be evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Results are proposed to be used to build a new phenomenological model of water permeation that can be used directly by engineers in the design of industrial membrane systems.Read moreRead less
Biosolid flow, separation and activity in anaerobic lagoons. This project aims to develop a fundamental model of the complex, non-steady state flow behaviour in anaerobic lagoons. The project will develop new operating procedures and designs for large municipal, industrial and agricultural anaerobic lagoons. This will improve the efficiency of anaerobic digestion and reduce wastewater treatment costs, as well as increase renewable and sustainable biogas production. The intended outcome is a va ....Biosolid flow, separation and activity in anaerobic lagoons. This project aims to develop a fundamental model of the complex, non-steady state flow behaviour in anaerobic lagoons. The project will develop new operating procedures and designs for large municipal, industrial and agricultural anaerobic lagoons. This will improve the efficiency of anaerobic digestion and reduce wastewater treatment costs, as well as increase renewable and sustainable biogas production. The intended outcome is a validated 3D model that captures the physical and biological complexities of anaerobic lagoons. This will impact the design and operation of partner organisation lagoons, reducing capital and operating costs and improving biogas production.Read moreRead less
Breaking it down: Dissecting the mechanism and exploring new inhibition strategies for polysaccharide cleaving enzymes. Mannose, a common carbohydrate building block, is present in a wide variety of complex polysaccharides including energy storage polymers and glycans attached to proteins. The enzymes that degrade these mannose-rich polymers, termed mannosidases, are important in biofuel production and human health and disease. This project will study a range of mannosidases to chemically and st ....Breaking it down: Dissecting the mechanism and exploring new inhibition strategies for polysaccharide cleaving enzymes. Mannose, a common carbohydrate building block, is present in a wide variety of complex polysaccharides including energy storage polymers and glycans attached to proteins. The enzymes that degrade these mannose-rich polymers, termed mannosidases, are important in biofuel production and human health and disease. This project will study a range of mannosidases to chemically and structurally define their mechanisms and establish strategies to allow intervention in mannosidase-specific disease processes. This work will inform strategies to engineer new enzymes for future biotechnology and industrial applications including sustainable chemical manufacturing, and underpin the development of innovative drugs for treating fungal infections and cancer.Read moreRead less
Making best use of biofuels – understanding the interactions between alcohol and hydrocarbon fuels in engine combustion. Biofuels are increasingly used as blending components for transport fuels. Biofuels possess much different chemical structures from conventional fuels, and can therefore interact with hydrocarbon fuels during engine combustion processes and consequently affect engine efficiency and emissions. This project aims to investigate the chemical interactions between representative com ....Making best use of biofuels – understanding the interactions between alcohol and hydrocarbon fuels in engine combustion. Biofuels are increasingly used as blending components for transport fuels. Biofuels possess much different chemical structures from conventional fuels, and can therefore interact with hydrocarbon fuels during engine combustion processes and consequently affect engine efficiency and emissions. This project aims to investigate the chemical interactions between representative compounds of biofuels (ethanol) and fossil fuels (n-heptane, iso-octane and toluene) during engine autoignition processes. The outcomes will fill a significant gap in our understanding for biofuel combustion chemistry, essential for building predictive combustion models, and will guide the best use of the precious Australian biofuel resources to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Read moreRead less
Novel concepts for bioelectrochemical generation of renewable fuels and chemicals from wastewater. Global warming and the diminishing fossil fuel resources are posing an ever increasing threat to our societies and economies. This project aims to develop novel and highly innovative bioelectrochemical processes for the production of valuable fuels and chemicals from wastewater, which is a largely untapped renewable resource.