Novel Synthesis and Bio-applications of Functional Macroporous Ordered Siliceous Foams. This project will lead to advances in materials science and nanotechnology, providing high efficiency separation and purification for viruses or plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which are important in modern gene engineering for the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases. Application benefits also include developing a new protocol in the detection of trace amount proteins, which will afford a signific ....Novel Synthesis and Bio-applications of Functional Macroporous Ordered Siliceous Foams. This project will lead to advances in materials science and nanotechnology, providing high efficiency separation and purification for viruses or plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which are important in modern gene engineering for the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases. Application benefits also include developing a new protocol in the detection of trace amount proteins, which will afford a significant improvement in diverse fields such as health care. Through this project, novel macroporous materials will be fabricated using an economically and environmentally sustainable approach. These new materials will have unique structures and properties compared to conventional macroporous materials, advancing Australia's intellectual position in this discipline.Read moreRead less
Friction-based modelling of the dynamics of nanoconfined fluid mixtures. This project will transform the molecular science of fluid transport in nanoconfined spaces by delivering a tool that will be critical to the development of emerging nanotechnologies. The tool will embed a novel theory in a framework for modelling transport over all scales from nano- to macroscopic. The project will have strong benefits for the advancement of leading-edge fundamental research and in its relevance to a numbe ....Friction-based modelling of the dynamics of nanoconfined fluid mixtures. This project will transform the molecular science of fluid transport in nanoconfined spaces by delivering a tool that will be critical to the development of emerging nanotechnologies. The tool will embed a novel theory in a framework for modelling transport over all scales from nano- to macroscopic. The project will have strong benefits for the advancement of leading-edge fundamental research and in its relevance to a number of novel nanotechnologies. It will be particularly relevant to scientific and industrial developments exploiting new nanomaterials such as AlPO4-25, carbon molecular sieves and carbon nanotubes, as well as in nanofluidics.Read moreRead less
Frictional and viscous effects during transport in nanopores. Gas mixtures exposed to materials containing molecular sized pores (nanopores) are adsorbed, forming states of matter not existing in the bulk. Differential forces acting on the components of mixtures promote industrially and environmentally important separations. However, transport of confined fluids has been poorly understood. Recently we have made progress using computer simulation, and have proposed a highly successful theory. ....Frictional and viscous effects during transport in nanopores. Gas mixtures exposed to materials containing molecular sized pores (nanopores) are adsorbed, forming states of matter not existing in the bulk. Differential forces acting on the components of mixtures promote industrially and environmentally important separations. However, transport of confined fluids has been poorly understood. Recently we have made progress using computer simulation, and have proposed a highly successful theory. These investigations have revealed the crucial role of scattering from the surface atoms of the confining solid. Theoretical investigation of single spherical species has been initiated, and extension to other species and to mixtures is now envisaged.Read moreRead less
Multicomponent Transport in Nanopores. Good understanding of transport mechanisms in nanopores is crucial to the successful application of numerous recently developed novel templated microporous and mesoporous materials. This project seeks to extend a new theory developed by the applicants for single component transport in cylindrical mesopores, to cylindrical micropores as well as to multicomponent adsorbates, in conjunction with experiments using microporous and mesoporous materials such as M ....Multicomponent Transport in Nanopores. Good understanding of transport mechanisms in nanopores is crucial to the successful application of numerous recently developed novel templated microporous and mesoporous materials. This project seeks to extend a new theory developed by the applicants for single component transport in cylindrical mesopores, to cylindrical micropores as well as to multicomponent adsorbates, in conjunction with experiments using microporous and mesoporous materials such as MCM-41, VPI-5 and AlPO4-5. The outcome will be a powerful new theory for a priori prediction of transport coefficients for multicomponent fluids in nanopores based on molecular level information alone, thereby overcoming the empiricism in existing models.Read moreRead less
Development of smart material for the adsorption of oil spills on roads. The cost of road fuel spills in both Australia and worldwide is enormous. The research objective is to develop an admixture suitable for the absorption/adsorption of fuel and oil from road spills. The material will be designed to be contained within a fabric. The innovation is the application of the admixture in the form of a carpet, which is designed as easily used, non-toxic, recyclable and environmentally friendly. T ....Development of smart material for the adsorption of oil spills on roads. The cost of road fuel spills in both Australia and worldwide is enormous. The research objective is to develop an admixture suitable for the absorption/adsorption of fuel and oil from road spills. The material will be designed to be contained within a fabric. The innovation is the application of the admixture in the form of a carpet, which is designed as easily used, non-toxic, recyclable and environmentally friendly. The application is rapid. The successful development of the material has enormous economic benefits to Australia, providing a new industry with many employees. This new industry has the potential to bring great wealth to Australia.Read moreRead less
Quantum Induced Kinetic Molecular Sieving of Hydrogen Isotopes in Nanoporous Materials. This research addresses a key challenge in gas separation; that of separation of deuterium from hydrogen, while advancing the molecular science of adsorption and transport of light gases in molecularly confined spaces. This project has a multitude of benefits for Australia, not only because of the economic potential of deuterium, but because it will see a new generation of Australian researchers trained in mu ....Quantum Induced Kinetic Molecular Sieving of Hydrogen Isotopes in Nanoporous Materials. This research addresses a key challenge in gas separation; that of separation of deuterium from hydrogen, while advancing the molecular science of adsorption and transport of light gases in molecularly confined spaces. This project has a multitude of benefits for Australia, not only because of the economic potential of deuterium, but because it will see a new generation of Australian researchers trained in multidisciplinary cutting-edge research while addressing several areas of national priority, including breakthrough sciences, and development of frontier technologies, and thereby creating new opportunities for industry.Read moreRead less
Improved Nanoscale and Molecular Models for Nanostructured Carbons, and their Applications in Simulation of Confined Fluids. This project has a multitude of benefits for Australia, a key one of which is the promotion of cross-disciplinary interaction and collaboration to conduct leading edge research in a technologically important area. In addition the project will utilize two PhD students who will be trained in research, and gain a broad range of skills in this multifaceted project involving t ....Improved Nanoscale and Molecular Models for Nanostructured Carbons, and their Applications in Simulation of Confined Fluids. This project has a multitude of benefits for Australia, a key one of which is the promotion of cross-disciplinary interaction and collaboration to conduct leading edge research in a technologically important area. In addition the project will utilize two PhD students who will be trained in research, and gain a broad range of skills in this multifaceted project involving theory, simulation and experiment. The research, grounded in molecular fundamentals, will also lead to the development of advanced tools for adsorption process modelling, useful in process design and scale-up, and contribute to Goal 1 of National Priority Area 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries.Read moreRead less
Microfluidic Studies of Stimuli-Responsive Emulsions. Breakthrough 'stimuli-responsive interface technology' has been developed in Australia to allow better control over emulsions, which are oil-in-water mixtures used widely in everyday products such as medicines. This project will increase our understanding of this new technology, by examining how the chemistry of the molecules at the interface interacts with fluid behaviour when the emulsion is made. The research will employ miniature lab-on-a ....Microfluidic Studies of Stimuli-Responsive Emulsions. Breakthrough 'stimuli-responsive interface technology' has been developed in Australia to allow better control over emulsions, which are oil-in-water mixtures used widely in everyday products such as medicines. This project will increase our understanding of this new technology, by examining how the chemistry of the molecules at the interface interacts with fluid behaviour when the emulsion is made. The research will employ miniature lab-on-a-chip systems, to give engineers and scientists design rules for this new technology, opening the way to new products that will improve our everyday lives. One immediate product to be researched is 'precision' double emulsions, which show unique properties for the delivery of chemotherapy medicines.Read moreRead less
Development of Superflux Carbon Nanotube Membranes for Gas Separation. The project seeks to develop gas separation membranes displaying superfluxes - throughputs 10 to 100 times higher than current systems, with lower operating costs. There is compelling evidence that very high flow rates are achievable and they have been shown for single gas transport. Theory predicts that highly selective separations are possible, but this has not yet been experimentally shown - a key outcome from this proje ....Development of Superflux Carbon Nanotube Membranes for Gas Separation. The project seeks to develop gas separation membranes displaying superfluxes - throughputs 10 to 100 times higher than current systems, with lower operating costs. There is compelling evidence that very high flow rates are achievable and they have been shown for single gas transport. Theory predicts that highly selective separations are possible, but this has not yet been experimentally shown - a key outcome from this project. The applications are widespread and include separation of carbon dioxide from power station flue gas for sequestration, purification of natural gas and provision of pure component gases such as oxygen and nitrogen amongst others.Read moreRead less
Application of Water Based Fractionation in the Assessment of Metallurgical Coal. The metallurgical coal market (13% of coal market) is highly specialized, and competitive. The coal, which is utilized as a reducing agent in iron making, represents more than 52% of Australian coal exports. This study addresses growing evidence that organic liquids used to fractionate and in turn assess metallurgical coals lead to negative assessments, hence loss of markets, and lost opportunities. A new water bas ....Application of Water Based Fractionation in the Assessment of Metallurgical Coal. The metallurgical coal market (13% of coal market) is highly specialized, and competitive. The coal, which is utilized as a reducing agent in iron making, represents more than 52% of Australian coal exports. This study addresses growing evidence that organic liquids used to fractionate and in turn assess metallurgical coals lead to negative assessments, hence loss of markets, and lost opportunities. A new water based fractionation method will be established, and a systematic investigation into the effects of the organic liquids will be undertaken. These results will be used to build a case for replacing the organic liquids used in the industry, which are known to have negative health and environmental impacts. Read moreRead less