Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC210100040
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,997,903.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB). The Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB) will transform the rapidly growing bioactive ingredients sector. It will apply advanced analytical methods to molecular characterisation of bioactive products derived from foods, food-waste, and cell-based biotechnologies. FAAB will determine modes of action for bioactives with potential lifestyle and nutritional benefits allowing for evidence- ....ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB). The Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB) will transform the rapidly growing bioactive ingredients sector. It will apply advanced analytical methods to molecular characterisation of bioactive products derived from foods, food-waste, and cell-based biotechnologies. FAAB will determine modes of action for bioactives with potential lifestyle and nutritional benefits allowing for evidence-informed decision-making, and regulatory framework development. FAAB graduates will lead and deliver future national self-reliance to the Australian bioactives sector, increasing diversification and international competitiveness and development of regulation in a growing market. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100075
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$315,000.00
Summary
Acoustic liquid handling robotics for bioactive compound discovery. This project aims to use a Labcyte Echo 550 acoustic dispenser with Combination Software to deliver sophisticated assay-ready screening. The Echo is the only liquid handling dispenser for 1536-well microplates and will allow Australian researchers to develop assay miniaturisation. The robotics will provide our nation’s researchers with a distinct competitive edge by enhancing assay sophistication, accuracy and reproducibility wh ....Acoustic liquid handling robotics for bioactive compound discovery. This project aims to use a Labcyte Echo 550 acoustic dispenser with Combination Software to deliver sophisticated assay-ready screening. The Echo is the only liquid handling dispenser for 1536-well microplates and will allow Australian researchers to develop assay miniaturisation. The robotics will provide our nation’s researchers with a distinct competitive edge by enhancing assay sophistication, accuracy and reproducibility while reducing cost. The expected benefits will advance the elucidation of molecular mechanisms involved in complex biological phenomena. The benefits of this are substantial, including reduction in test compound and reagents, which in turn reduces laboratory costs, conserves cells and increases data quality.Read moreRead less
Study of molecular interactions between wood pitch fixatives and components of wood pitch. Wood resins, released in pulping, agglomerate in the papermaking process to cause pitch deposits. These deposits adversely affect paper machine efficiency and product quality and limit further recycling of process water. This project aims to investigate the interactions between the components of the wood resins and different fixatives using capillary electrophoresis and other techniques. This knowledge w ....Study of molecular interactions between wood pitch fixatives and components of wood pitch. Wood resins, released in pulping, agglomerate in the papermaking process to cause pitch deposits. These deposits adversely affect paper machine efficiency and product quality and limit further recycling of process water. This project aims to investigate the interactions between the components of the wood resins and different fixatives using capillary electrophoresis and other techniques. This knowledge will provide a better understanding of the role of the physical and chemical properties of the fixatives in fixing the different compounds in wood resins. Molecular modelling will be used to design new fixatives that will be selective to a mixture of wood resins.
Read moreRead less
Metal complexes for sustainable light-driven synthesis. The aim of this project is to use cheap, abundant transition metal ions and visible light to enable challenging synthetic chemical reactions. The significant problems addressed are that most synthetic reactions using visible light currently require expensive precious metals, and fundamental reaction pathways used by Nature remain inaccessible. Both of these problems limit the scope of synthetic applications. The outcomes will be new knowled ....Metal complexes for sustainable light-driven synthesis. The aim of this project is to use cheap, abundant transition metal ions and visible light to enable challenging synthetic chemical reactions. The significant problems addressed are that most synthetic reactions using visible light currently require expensive precious metals, and fundamental reaction pathways used by Nature remain inaccessible. Both of these problems limit the scope of synthetic applications. The outcomes will be new knowledge and sustainable technologies that can better harness visible light for useful synthetic chemistry applications. The benefits will be more efficient and cost-effective routes to valuable molecules ubiquitous in everyday life.Read moreRead less
Advanced micro analysis systems for environmental monitoring. Understanding of the behaviour of the nutrients controlling nuisance algae in water bodies is currently limited by the cost and logistics of collecting and analysing the large numbers of samples required.
This proposal describes the development and evaluation of portable multiparameter micro analysis systems that will be capable of high frequency measurements from a sampling vessel. This will enable environmental agencies to perfo ....Advanced micro analysis systems for environmental monitoring. Understanding of the behaviour of the nutrients controlling nuisance algae in water bodies is currently limited by the cost and logistics of collecting and analysing the large numbers of samples required.
This proposal describes the development and evaluation of portable multiparameter micro analysis systems that will be capable of high frequency measurements from a sampling vessel. This will enable environmental agencies to perform rapid on-site mapping of nutrients and other water quality parameters in large water bodies, intensive scale mapping of effluent mixing and dispersal zones, quick assessment of the impact of dredging and aquaculture, and compliance monitoring in effluent streams.
Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100263
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,536.00
Summary
Halogen Bonding for Assembly and Separation in Solution. The properties of substances we experience in our daily lives owe much to very weak interactions taking place between molecules. Consider a cup of coffee: very weak interactions hold the water together as a liquid, and result in the biological action of caffeine within the body. The project aims to develop new materials based on an underexplored class of weak interactions known as halogen bonds. These interactions will be used to assemble ....Halogen Bonding for Assembly and Separation in Solution. The properties of substances we experience in our daily lives owe much to very weak interactions taking place between molecules. Consider a cup of coffee: very weak interactions hold the water together as a liquid, and result in the biological action of caffeine within the body. The project aims to develop new materials based on an underexplored class of weak interactions known as halogen bonds. These interactions will be used to assemble large molecules in solution, probe the presence of pollutants in water, and to separate active and inactive forms of pharmaceuticals. The development of health and environmental applications in the course of this project aim to significantly enhance our fundamental understanding of these weak interactions.Read moreRead less
Reduced water usage in the Australian pulp and paper industry through novel process chemistry. Norske Skog Paper Mill operates two paper mills on major rivers in Australia. For these mills to reduce water consumption greater recycling of the process water is needed which results in a build-up of detrimental substances that will affect paper machine performance and efficiency. The knowledge gained from this project will help the paper mills to find strategies to control the build-up of the detr ....Reduced water usage in the Australian pulp and paper industry through novel process chemistry. Norske Skog Paper Mill operates two paper mills on major rivers in Australia. For these mills to reduce water consumption greater recycling of the process water is needed which results in a build-up of detrimental substances that will affect paper machine performance and efficiency. The knowledge gained from this project will help the paper mills to find strategies to control the build-up of the detrimental material and deal with it in such a way that the process water can be recycled and the paper mills can reduce water consumption.Read moreRead less
An autonomous microfluidic analyser for the determination of total phosphorus and nitrogen in aquatic systems. Development of automated monitoring systems capable of extended and remote operation will enable assessment of the effectiveness of water treatment and the impact of nutrient releases on the aquatic environment. Both are important in preserving the quality of existing water resources, and assessing the quality of recycled water, in line with the National Research Priority Environmentall ....An autonomous microfluidic analyser for the determination of total phosphorus and nitrogen in aquatic systems. Development of automated monitoring systems capable of extended and remote operation will enable assessment of the effectiveness of water treatment and the impact of nutrient releases on the aquatic environment. Both are important in preserving the quality of existing water resources, and assessing the quality of recycled water, in line with the National Research Priority Environmentally sustainable Australia, and the Priority Goal, Water - a critical resource. Commercialization of the microfluidic flow analysis system for total N and P will enhance the international competitiveness of Ecotech Pty Ltd and Australia as an exporter of scientific instruments.Read moreRead less
Coinage metal nanoclusters: synthesis, structure and reactivity. Metal catalysts play important roles in the multi-billion dollar production of many industrial and fine chemicals used in wide-ranging applications including pharmaceuticals, insecticides and polymers. Despite the importance of metal catalysed reactions, the molecular details of such processes remain poorly understood. Breakthrough studies highlight that reactions previously thought to be catalysed by discrete metal catalysts are i ....Coinage metal nanoclusters: synthesis, structure and reactivity. Metal catalysts play important roles in the multi-billion dollar production of many industrial and fine chemicals used in wide-ranging applications including pharmaceuticals, insecticides and polymers. Despite the importance of metal catalysed reactions, the molecular details of such processes remain poorly understood. Breakthrough studies highlight that reactions previously thought to be catalysed by discrete metal catalysts are in fact catalysed by metal nanoclusters. This project involves the application of advanced mass spectrometric and computational methods to explore the formation and reactivity of copper, silver and gold nanoclusters. Identification of key reactive intermediates will inform the design of next generation catalysts.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989539
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
Purchase of a state-of-the-art high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. This new state-of-the-art mass spectrometer with enhanced capability will allow Tasmanian researchers to accurately determine the elemental composition of their samples of interest. The instrument will be extremely sensitive and will be able to detect elements to very low concentrations. It will be used to support a diverse range of local research projects of international significance, for example the ....Purchase of a state-of-the-art high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. This new state-of-the-art mass spectrometer with enhanced capability will allow Tasmanian researchers to accurately determine the elemental composition of their samples of interest. The instrument will be extremely sensitive and will be able to detect elements to very low concentrations. It will be used to support a diverse range of local research projects of international significance, for example the environmental assessment of clean and contaminated sites, chemical synthesis on a miniature scale using micro-chips, and the monitoring of selected elements of key importance for human health.Read moreRead less