Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR180100036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,054.00
Summary
Remediation of PFAS in current and legacy biosolids application sites. This project aims to develop novel immobilisation, adsorption and/or thermal destruction methods for biosolids, soil and groundwater in current and legacy per- and poly-fluroalkyl substance (PFAS) sites receiving biosolids. Biosolids generated during waste water treatment carry an unknown potential risk of soil and groundwater PFAS contamination, through their application in agriculture and rehabilitation sites. This project ....Remediation of PFAS in current and legacy biosolids application sites. This project aims to develop novel immobilisation, adsorption and/or thermal destruction methods for biosolids, soil and groundwater in current and legacy per- and poly-fluroalkyl substance (PFAS) sites receiving biosolids. Biosolids generated during waste water treatment carry an unknown potential risk of soil and groundwater PFAS contamination, through their application in agriculture and rehabilitation sites. This project will provide the first major investigation of the release, fate and remediation of perfluorinated compounds in relation to their environmental pathways through wastewater treatment plants in Australia. The data will be evaluated to determine if perfluorinated compounds should be further incorporated into Australian soil and water quality monitoring programs. The project will provide evidence of research advice and methodologies being successfully adopted by water industry end-users, government regulatory agencies and private remediation industries.Read moreRead less
Optimising nanofiltration and reverse osmosis filtration processes for water recycling: effects of fouling and chemical cleaning on trace contaminant removal. In Australia, water recycling is considered a principal measure to manage the current ongoing water shortage and to better protect the environment. Membrane filtration processes play important roles in the treatment of reclaimed municipal wastewater. However, there is very limited knowledge regarding the reliability of such processes in re ....Optimising nanofiltration and reverse osmosis filtration processes for water recycling: effects of fouling and chemical cleaning on trace contaminant removal. In Australia, water recycling is considered a principal measure to manage the current ongoing water shortage and to better protect the environment. Membrane filtration processes play important roles in the treatment of reclaimed municipal wastewater. However, there is very limited knowledge regarding the reliability of such processes in removing trace contaminants from recycled water, which may result in unintended health consequences. This research will lead to a comprehensive understanding of the removal process of such contaminants by membrane filtration. Consequently, the likely avenue of risk can be eliminated and the treatment process can be optimised to achieve economic savings and environmental protection.Read moreRead less
Development of in Ground and on Site Technologies for Low Cost Metal Remediation of Remote Contaminated Sites. Australia has taken a leading role internationally in promoting environmental awareness and is committed to both tackling existing pollution and mitigating future hazards. The clean-up of contaminated Australian, Antarctic and sub-Antarctic sites is seen as a national priority and research into in-situ technologies is central to meeting established remediation goals. Successful developm ....Development of in Ground and on Site Technologies for Low Cost Metal Remediation of Remote Contaminated Sites. Australia has taken a leading role internationally in promoting environmental awareness and is committed to both tackling existing pollution and mitigating future hazards. The clean-up of contaminated Australian, Antarctic and sub-Antarctic sites is seen as a national priority and research into in-situ technologies is central to meeting established remediation goals. Successful development of a low-cost in-ground remediation scheme will provide vital protection for remote Australian, Antarctic and sub-Antarctic areas. It will also do much to cement Australia as a global leader in environmental protection, offering as it does a generic remote regions metal contamination remediation solution.Read moreRead less
Development of Low Cost In Situ Techniques for Petroleum Remediation in Cold Regions. Internationally, Australia has taken a leading role in promoting environmental awareness and is committed to both the mitigation of future hazards, and the tackling of existing pollution. The clean-up of abandoned Antarctic sites is seen as a priority, and research into low-impact technology is central to meeting established remediation goals. Successful development of a low-cost in-situ remediation scheme wi ....Development of Low Cost In Situ Techniques for Petroleum Remediation in Cold Regions. Internationally, Australia has taken a leading role in promoting environmental awareness and is committed to both the mitigation of future hazards, and the tackling of existing pollution. The clean-up of abandoned Antarctic sites is seen as a priority, and research into low-impact technology is central to meeting established remediation goals. Successful development of a low-cost in-situ remediation scheme will not only serve to protect vulnerable Antarctic habitats in Australian stewardship, but will do much to cement Australia as a global leader in environmental protection offering as it does, a generic cold region hydrocarbon remediation solution.Read moreRead less
The development of low cost sorbents for removal of contaminants in ground water at cold regions contaminated sites. Contamination of soils and waters as a result of industrial and other human activities, is a significant global environmental issue. Both Australia and Japan have a large legacy of hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination from mining activities and industry. This project aims to address hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination through investigation of novel, low-cost sorbents ....The development of low cost sorbents for removal of contaminants in ground water at cold regions contaminated sites. Contamination of soils and waters as a result of industrial and other human activities, is a significant global environmental issue. Both Australia and Japan have a large legacy of hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination from mining activities and industry. This project aims to address hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination through investigation of novel, low-cost sorbents suitable for implementation in passive in-situ remediation technologies. This will be achieved through the combined efforts of Australian and Japanese scientists who are expert in the fields of water treatment and chemical synthesis of sorbent materials.Read moreRead less
Impact of Fouling on Retention of Contaminants in Electrodialysis for Brackish Water and Wastewater Applications. Water desalination and water recycling are both of utmost importance in the current global water crisis. Reverse osmosis is a commonly used process in both areas but this process has two main limitations (1) it is limited in water recovery by the concentration of salts, and (2) it produces a relatively large amount of concentrates that require disposal. Using electrodialysis to treat ....Impact of Fouling on Retention of Contaminants in Electrodialysis for Brackish Water and Wastewater Applications. Water desalination and water recycling are both of utmost importance in the current global water crisis. Reverse osmosis is a commonly used process in both areas but this process has two main limitations (1) it is limited in water recovery by the concentration of salts, and (2) it produces a relatively large amount of concentrates that require disposal. Using electrodialysis to treat such concentrates will decrease the salinity problem caused by disposal and also increase the water efficiency of the treatment process. In this research project the potential performance limitations fouling and micropollutant removal will be investigated and hence the performance improved.Read moreRead less
Sustainable Water Reuse and Resource Recovery through Cost-Effective BNR. The recycling of treated wastewater effluents is needed to achieve water security, where very low nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels must be achieved for wastewater to be effectively recycled. This research investigates a more sustainable and cost-effective N&P removal process from wastewater, benefiting the environment and improving the viability of wastewater recycling. Phosphorus is a limited resource worldwide and ....Sustainable Water Reuse and Resource Recovery through Cost-Effective BNR. The recycling of treated wastewater effluents is needed to achieve water security, where very low nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels must be achieved for wastewater to be effectively recycled. This research investigates a more sustainable and cost-effective N&P removal process from wastewater, benefiting the environment and improving the viability of wastewater recycling. Phosphorus is a limited resource worldwide and will be effectively recovered in the process to be used as a fertiliser. This project develops wastewater treatment process tools, solutions and management strategies that addresses the current challenges of how optimal nutrient removal and recovery from wastewater is achieved, enabling water recycling and saving costs.Read moreRead less
Desalination Options for Metropolitan Adelaide's Water Supply & Implications for Water Resource Allocation to Regional Communities. This project will present a proposal for water supply augmentation by desalination to alleviate rising salinity concerns and supply uncertainty of River Murray water supplies to metropolitan Adelaide in South Australia. It will investigate the feasibility of desalination options available and their consequences for regional agriculture and industry that rely on rive ....Desalination Options for Metropolitan Adelaide's Water Supply & Implications for Water Resource Allocation to Regional Communities. This project will present a proposal for water supply augmentation by desalination to alleviate rising salinity concerns and supply uncertainty of River Murray water supplies to metropolitan Adelaide in South Australia. It will investigate the feasibility of desalination options available and their consequences for regional agriculture and industry that rely on river water from metropolitan water supply pipelines for their economic survival. The project outcomes will have significant implications for government water policies and private and public sector water-infrastructure investment. It will be the first detailed study of large-scale municipal desalting costs under Australian conditions.Read moreRead less
Adsorption and Removal of Trace Organic Compounds by Membrane Processes used in Water Treatment and Wastewater Recycling. Recycling of municipal wastewaters is of growing importance as a resource-conservation and environmental-protection measure in Australia. A major impediment to increased rates of water recycling is a lack of knowledge regarding the presence, fate and removal of key trace organic compounds. Among these key contaminants are pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and steroid ....Adsorption and Removal of Trace Organic Compounds by Membrane Processes used in Water Treatment and Wastewater Recycling. Recycling of municipal wastewaters is of growing importance as a resource-conservation and environmental-protection measure in Australia. A major impediment to increased rates of water recycling is a lack of knowledge regarding the presence, fate and removal of key trace organic compounds. Among these key contaminants are pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and steroid hormones. This research will lead to a thorough understanding of the mechanisms involved with the removal of these compounds by membrane treatment applications. Major benefits will be enhanced ability to undertake risk management and a lowering of costs associated with full-scale water treatment applications.Read moreRead less
Innovative hybrid membrane-based pretreatment strategies for remote community groundwater supplies. Innovative membrane-based strategies for the removal of particulate foulants from groundwaters prior to the removal of dissolved constituents via advanced techniques will be investigated in this project, with the goal of developing robust, integrated processes for the supply of potable water to remote communities.