Production of hydrogen from biomass by integrated catalytic aqueous hydrolysis and reforming in subcritical water. The outcomes of this project will lead to the development of a novel process for efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production from renewable biomass using integrated hydrolysis and catalytic aqueous reforming at low temperatures. Such technological innovation will provide significant benefits to Australia as a whole for transition to a truly sustainable hydrogen economy. The nov ....Production of hydrogen from biomass by integrated catalytic aqueous hydrolysis and reforming in subcritical water. The outcomes of this project will lead to the development of a novel process for efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production from renewable biomass using integrated hydrolysis and catalytic aqueous reforming at low temperatures. Such technological innovation will provide significant benefits to Australia as a whole for transition to a truly sustainable hydrogen economy. The novel reaction system and research methodologies proposed in this proposal will certainly enhance Australia's science and technology capability and international competitiveness, in the area of reaction engineering. Also of the national benefit is the successful training of a postgraduate at PhD level who will no doubt add to future scientific research workforce.Read moreRead less
Improvements and Optimisation of Water Electrolysis for Hydroxy Gas Production for Metal Cutting Applications. The current technique for metal cutting mainly uses oxygen-acetylene flames, which means for the large number of Australian remote communities oxygen and acetylene bottles have to be transported from major cities. This incurs significant transport costs and associated environmental emissions and presents major safety concerns. Hydroxy flames using electrolysis of water can alleviate the ....Improvements and Optimisation of Water Electrolysis for Hydroxy Gas Production for Metal Cutting Applications. The current technique for metal cutting mainly uses oxygen-acetylene flames, which means for the large number of Australian remote communities oxygen and acetylene bottles have to be transported from major cities. This incurs significant transport costs and associated environmental emissions and presents major safety concerns. Hydroxy flames using electrolysis of water can alleviate these problems and, by utilising renewable electricity, the new technology to be developed in this research will transform tens of thousands of Australian metal workshops to be more environmentally friendly, safer and more cost-effective, thus contributing to the development of an environmentally sustainable Australia. Read moreRead less
A green technology for liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification. Upon arrival to its destination, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) exported from Australia must be converted back into gas to make it suitable for distribution to end users, for which the current technologies burn up to two per cent our LNG exports. This project will design a technology that will use the energy of ambient air, which will not only increase the profit but also reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989675
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,000.00
Summary
Interface-specific facility for quantifying adsorption and structures at particulate interfaces. The facility will be used by the collaborating universities to investigate adsorption and interface properties with great precision, and to develop new and improved technologies for coal and mineral processing, saline water utilisation, water desalination, energy production and environment protection. In particular, the project will investigate innovative ways of using ion-interface interactions in ....Interface-specific facility for quantifying adsorption and structures at particulate interfaces. The facility will be used by the collaborating universities to investigate adsorption and interface properties with great precision, and to develop new and improved technologies for coal and mineral processing, saline water utilisation, water desalination, energy production and environment protection. In particular, the project will investigate innovative ways of using ion-interface interactions in saline water for cleaning coal and recovering value minerals by flotation, and for improving dissolved air flotation used in water treatment and desalination to produce drinking water. The project will further investigate novel ways of capturing CO2, storing natural gases and hydrogen, and tailoring nutrient nano-crystals for foliar delivery.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of Ammonium Nitrate Decomposition and Stability of Industrial Explosives in Reactive Mining Grounds. This project is designed to probe reaction mechanisms of ammonium nitrate based explosives with pyritic shales commonly found in overburdens of mineral deposits, and to study the influence of various factors, such as mineralogical characteristics, carbonaceous materials, weathering, pH values and application of various inhibition agents, on the decomposition and stability of ammonium n ....Mechanisms of Ammonium Nitrate Decomposition and Stability of Industrial Explosives in Reactive Mining Grounds. This project is designed to probe reaction mechanisms of ammonium nitrate based explosives with pyritic shales commonly found in overburdens of mineral deposits, and to study the influence of various factors, such as mineralogical characteristics, carbonaceous materials, weathering, pH values and application of various inhibition agents, on the decomposition and stability of ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate crystallisation, which significantly reduces the stability of emulsion explosives, will be examined using both chemical and microscopic tools. The outcomes of this research will provide a scientific basis that underpins the development of safe and cost-effective explosives for applications in dangerous reactive mining grounds.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100211
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,000.00
Summary
3D Gamma Ray Tomography for Multiphase Flow Characterisation. We will establish a new tomographic facility which will allow a greater insight on the flows in industrial multiphase equipment which have opaque containers. The facility will provide a platform for Australian researchers to conduct fundamental research on complex flows, particularly those encountered in our mineral processing industry.
Methanol to diesel. Australia has large remote gas reserves which are not accessible to markets via pipeline and cannot be effectively utilised using liquefied natural gas technology. Fischer-Tropsch conversion of gas to liquid (GTL), being capital intense, is uneconomical for these stranded gas resources. This project will develop a new GTL technology to produce sulphur-free, clean combustion diesel. The outcomes of this research will be a frontier technology that allows more effective utilisat ....Methanol to diesel. Australia has large remote gas reserves which are not accessible to markets via pipeline and cannot be effectively utilised using liquefied natural gas technology. Fischer-Tropsch conversion of gas to liquid (GTL), being capital intense, is uneconomical for these stranded gas resources. This project will develop a new GTL technology to produce sulphur-free, clean combustion diesel. The outcomes of this research will be a frontier technology that allows more effective utilisation of Australian remote gas resources to meet rising global demand for transport fuels, adding enormous value to Australian natural resources and contributing to Building and Transforming Australian industries.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.
Green catalysis for energy and environment using metal free nanostructured carbons. This project will advance the nanomaterial design and science underpinning the development of green technologies for important chemical production and water treatment. The outcomes of this project will help Australia in a leading position in the sustainable development of nanotechnology and water remediation.