Qualitative and quantitative modelling of hydraulic fracturing of brittle materials. Few technologies have caused more concern in the general population than the so called hydraulic fracturing technique, applied to enhance the hydraulic conductivity of resource-bearing rocks by injecting high pressure fluids. The concern revolves around uncertainty with leakage of used chemicals to overlying aquifers, unwanted seismic events and surface subsidence. This research, combining experimental and compu ....Qualitative and quantitative modelling of hydraulic fracturing of brittle materials. Few technologies have caused more concern in the general population than the so called hydraulic fracturing technique, applied to enhance the hydraulic conductivity of resource-bearing rocks by injecting high pressure fluids. The concern revolves around uncertainty with leakage of used chemicals to overlying aquifers, unwanted seismic events and surface subsidence. This research, combining experimental and computational investigations, aims to establish fundamental understanding of key processes controlling fracture formation in brittle materials (coal seams and porous rocks) under the action of hydraulic fracturing. The research outcomes will help to assess and minimise the risks associated with the hydraulic fracturing technology. Read moreRead less
Designing New Visible-light Active Photocatalysts for Efficient CO2 Reduction. The increasing concern over Climate Change has triggered great efforts in developing new CO2 capture technologies. The outcomes of this program will lead to a new class of photocatalysts that underpin the development of economical CO2 reduction for clean fuel production using sunlight. Such technologies will speed up the transition of Australian environmental and energy industries from fossil fuel economy to renewable ....Designing New Visible-light Active Photocatalysts for Efficient CO2 Reduction. The increasing concern over Climate Change has triggered great efforts in developing new CO2 capture technologies. The outcomes of this program will lead to a new class of photocatalysts that underpin the development of economical CO2 reduction for clean fuel production using sunlight. Such technologies will speed up the transition of Australian environmental and energy industries from fossil fuel economy to renewable energy economy. The research program will contribute significantly to knowledge advancement in nanomaterials, surface chemistry, and photochemistry, and falls in the National Research Priority Area of 'Environmentally Sustainable Australia' addressing the key goals of Climate Change and low emission energy supply.Read moreRead less
Novel Concept for Wastewater Treatment with Integrated Power Production based on Microbial Fuel Cells. Microbial fuel cells are a novel process concept that enables organics, such as sugars, to be converted directly to electricity with the help of naturally occurring microorganisms. This technology has particularly exciting applications in the environmental field, namely in wastewater treatment. It offers significant benefits over current processes, particularly reduced energy consumption or eve ....Novel Concept for Wastewater Treatment with Integrated Power Production based on Microbial Fuel Cells. Microbial fuel cells are a novel process concept that enables organics, such as sugars, to be converted directly to electricity with the help of naturally occurring microorganisms. This technology has particularly exciting applications in the environmental field, namely in wastewater treatment. It offers significant benefits over current processes, particularly reduced energy consumption or even electricity generation and lower sludge production. This project will demonstrate the performance and application of such microbial fuel cells for the removal of organic and nitrogen-based pollutants from wastewater. If successful, this technology offers major advances in both water treatment and renewable energy aspects.Read moreRead less
Targeted bioengineering and systems biology for solar powered hydrogen production in green algal cells. The development of clean fuels to combat climate change and protect against oil price shocks, is an urgent challenge facing our society. Fuels make up ~67% of the energy market, yet most low-CO2 emissions technologies (e.g. nuclear and clean-coal-technology) target the electricity market. In contrast the Solar Bio-H2 process uses algal photobioreactors to drive solar-powered H2 fuel production ....Targeted bioengineering and systems biology for solar powered hydrogen production in green algal cells. The development of clean fuels to combat climate change and protect against oil price shocks, is an urgent challenge facing our society. Fuels make up ~67% of the energy market, yet most low-CO2 emissions technologies (e.g. nuclear and clean-coal-technology) target the electricity market. In contrast the Solar Bio-H2 process uses algal photobioreactors to drive solar-powered H2 fuel production from water (ultimately sea water, facilitating desalination). This project aims to improve the efficiency of the process towards economical levels. The Solar Bio-H2 process reduces water requirements for biofuel production. Locating bioreactors on non-arable land also eliminates competition between biofuel and food production.Read moreRead less
Hydrogen production from the anaerobic digestion of organic waste using a novel membrane. Solid organic waste is a potentially large, decentralized and sustainable source of hydrogen. The potential hydrogen yield from the anaerobic digestion of solid organic waste in Sydney alone could power over 750,000 passenger vehicles. Hydrogen is always generated in the digestion of organic material, but under natural conditions it is scavenged by methanogens. Recently developed silica membranes are sel ....Hydrogen production from the anaerobic digestion of organic waste using a novel membrane. Solid organic waste is a potentially large, decentralized and sustainable source of hydrogen. The potential hydrogen yield from the anaerobic digestion of solid organic waste in Sydney alone could power over 750,000 passenger vehicles. Hydrogen is always generated in the digestion of organic material, but under natural conditions it is scavenged by methanogens. Recently developed silica membranes are selectively and highly permeable to hydrogen, and these can be used to draw hydrogen from the digester. The digester will be run at high temperatures (>65oC) because this favours organisms that produce hydrogen over methanogens. Anaerobic digesters are well established in Europe and at least 3 municipal plants already exist in Australia.Read moreRead less
Development of new membrane-electrode assemblies for low temperature fuel cells. New electrodes and electrolytes for low temperature fuel cells will herald in a new epoch in the hydrogen economy for Australia. The IP developed in this project will form the basis for new transportation systems that do not lead to chemical pollution in Australia's cities. The new materials and processing techniques will lead to cheaper and more efficient fuel cells, allowing their use in portable computers, small ....Development of new membrane-electrode assemblies for low temperature fuel cells. New electrodes and electrolytes for low temperature fuel cells will herald in a new epoch in the hydrogen economy for Australia. The IP developed in this project will form the basis for new transportation systems that do not lead to chemical pollution in Australia's cities. The new materials and processing techniques will lead to cheaper and more efficient fuel cells, allowing their use in portable computers, small electrical appliances, public transport and in private cars in about ten years. Read moreRead less
The structural biology of light capture: A molecular resolution 3D atlas of the photosynthetic machinery. This project underpins the development of carbon dioxide (CO2)-neutral fuels for the future. Fuels account for around sixty seven percent of the global energy market. The Solar-Biofuels Consortium (www.solarbiofuels.org) is targeting this market by developing high efficiency second generation microalgal biofuel systems for the production of bio-diesel, bio-methane and bio-hydrogen (shown on ....The structural biology of light capture: A molecular resolution 3D atlas of the photosynthetic machinery. This project underpins the development of carbon dioxide (CO2)-neutral fuels for the future. Fuels account for around sixty seven percent of the global energy market. The Solar-Biofuels Consortium (www.solarbiofuels.org) is targeting this market by developing high efficiency second generation microalgal biofuel systems for the production of bio-diesel, bio-methane and bio-hydrogen (shown on Catalyst 2007). The solar-powered microalgal bioreactors can be located on non-arable land (eliminating competition with food production) and be coupled to carbon sequestration. Closed systems also minimize water use. This technology differs from most others (that is, clean-coal, nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal) as these target the electricity market.Read moreRead less
Modification of lignin biosynthesis in sugarcane for the improved efficiency of pre-treatment in ethanol production. Sugarcane is one of Australia's most important rural industries. However, as a single product industry, declining sugar prices threaten the industry's long term economic sustainability unless alternative markets for sugarcane are created. Utilising the sugarcane waste for cellulosic ethanol would provide a new revenue stream, injecting life into the Australian sugarcane industry. ....Modification of lignin biosynthesis in sugarcane for the improved efficiency of pre-treatment in ethanol production. Sugarcane is one of Australia's most important rural industries. However, as a single product industry, declining sugar prices threaten the industry's long term economic sustainability unless alternative markets for sugarcane are created. Utilising the sugarcane waste for cellulosic ethanol would provide a new revenue stream, injecting life into the Australian sugarcane industry. In addition, cellulosic ethanol from sugarcane has the potential to substantially decrease the cost of biofuel production and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The research proposed here will advance our ability to improve sugarcane through biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Fundamental Knowledge Generation of Organic Solid Waste-Microorganism Interactions. The management of organic solid waste is a major global environmental issue, exacerbated by increasing populations and urbanisation. However, there are biological processes (e.g. anaerobic composting) that show excellent potential as the solution to this global problem. We know that the rate-limiting step to biological organic solid waste degradation is the initial hydrolysis process carried out by microorganisms ....Fundamental Knowledge Generation of Organic Solid Waste-Microorganism Interactions. The management of organic solid waste is a major global environmental issue, exacerbated by increasing populations and urbanisation. However, there are biological processes (e.g. anaerobic composting) that show excellent potential as the solution to this global problem. We know that the rate-limiting step to biological organic solid waste degradation is the initial hydrolysis process carried out by microorganisms. We will study at a microscale the "organic solid waste surface-microorganism" interactions and compare data from digesters with the rumen which is a highly efficient model solid substrate digestion system. Our generated knowledge will be used in future practical applications.Read moreRead less
Numerical modelling of coupled deformation, fluid flow and heat flow in modern and ancient rifts. Computer modeling of geological processes is increasingly important to mineral and hydrocarbon exploration, to hazard prediction (e.g. earthquakes) and to plate tectonics. Because it is difficult to understand geological processes from ancient rocks, we will use new computer models to study fluid circulation in an active volcanic fault zone in New Zealand, where many of the parameters obscured in an ....Numerical modelling of coupled deformation, fluid flow and heat flow in modern and ancient rifts. Computer modeling of geological processes is increasingly important to mineral and hydrocarbon exploration, to hazard prediction (e.g. earthquakes) and to plate tectonics. Because it is difficult to understand geological processes from ancient rocks, we will use new computer models to study fluid circulation in an active volcanic fault zone in New Zealand, where many of the parameters obscured in ancient rocks can be measured directly. We will determine processes of fluid migration that contributed to the formation of mineral deposits in ancient rocks, such as those mined in eastern Australia for gold. The project also has implications for discovery and development of energy resources including fossil fuels and geothermal waters.Read moreRead less