Iron - a solution for uranium resource recovery and pollution response. This project aims to determine key processes controlling uranium transport and fate in natural and engineered environments. This will result in improved efficiency in extracting uranium from tailings and subsurface deposits, reduced risk of contamination of water supplies, and improved management of radioactive waste repositories.
Are acidic mine lakes usable as regional water resources? After the de-commissioning of open-cut mines, the voids frequently fill with water. In Australia, hundreds of mine lakes will develop over the next ten years and beyond. When the base mineralogy is pyritic the water can become highly acidic with high concentrations of dissolved metals. These mine lakes frequently exist in regions where water resources are in short supply. This project will investigate possible strategies to remediate such ....Are acidic mine lakes usable as regional water resources? After the de-commissioning of open-cut mines, the voids frequently fill with water. In Australia, hundreds of mine lakes will develop over the next ten years and beyond. When the base mineralogy is pyritic the water can become highly acidic with high concentrations of dissolved metals. These mine lakes frequently exist in regions where water resources are in short supply. This project will investigate possible strategies to remediate such lakes and assess the possibility of using mining lakes as valued water resources in these regions. The primary outcome of the research will be improved management of the lakes for optimal long term water quality.Read moreRead less
A Basic Study of Mixing and Dispersion in Riverine and Estuarine Systems in South-East Queensland. Dispersion of matter in natural river systems is of considerable importance, particularly in relation to the transport of nutrients, sediment and toxicants into ecosystems as a result of stormwater runoff and wastewater discharges. The project aims to improve our basic understanding of mixing and dispersion processes in tropical and subtropical rivers and estuaries, and to develop improved predicti ....A Basic Study of Mixing and Dispersion in Riverine and Estuarine Systems in South-East Queensland. Dispersion of matter in natural river systems is of considerable importance, particularly in relation to the transport of nutrients, sediment and toxicants into ecosystems as a result of stormwater runoff and wastewater discharges. The project aims to improve our basic understanding of mixing and dispersion processes in tropical and subtropical rivers and estuaries, and to develop improved predictive models to assist with the management of natural ecosystems. This will be achieved through a Ph.D. research project integrating basic water engineering and environmental sciences.Read moreRead less
Riparian rehabilitation and ecohydraulics: interactions between flow, sediment, vegetation and bank erosion in longstem tubestock rehabilitation works. Riparian lands are important for maintaining viable ecosystems, improving water quality and reducing sediment yields in rivers and streams. Research in Australia has shown that streambank erosion is the most significant processes in the continuing physical and ecological degradation of riparian zones. The recently developed longstem tubestock sys ....Riparian rehabilitation and ecohydraulics: interactions between flow, sediment, vegetation and bank erosion in longstem tubestock rehabilitation works. Riparian lands are important for maintaining viable ecosystems, improving water quality and reducing sediment yields in rivers and streams. Research in Australia has shown that streambank erosion is the most significant processes in the continuing physical and ecological degradation of riparian zones. The recently developed longstem tubestock system has shown promise in controlling streambank erosion using native vegetation. However, rehabilitation practices rely on ad-hoc recipes without a thorough scientific understanding of near-bank processes. This research will fill this gap by combining field and laboratory experiments on tubestock plantings in order to develop guidelines and predictive tools for riparian zone management.Read moreRead less
Role of vegetation patchiness and self organisation in the ecohydrologic response of water limited ecosystems to climate variability and change. The semi-arid Australian rangelands are some of the most sensitive regions to degradation and climate change, particularly with respect to hydrology and ecology. Our predictive ability in these environments is quite poor, however, climatic change (particularly changes in rainfall regimes) are expected to intensify vegetation patterning, intensify erosi ....Role of vegetation patchiness and self organisation in the ecohydrologic response of water limited ecosystems to climate variability and change. The semi-arid Australian rangelands are some of the most sensitive regions to degradation and climate change, particularly with respect to hydrology and ecology. Our predictive ability in these environments is quite poor, however, climatic change (particularly changes in rainfall regimes) are expected to intensify vegetation patterning, intensify erosion and reduce runoff. This project will develop a modelling framework to better understand the impact of these natural (climate variability and change) and anthropogenic (grazing, deforestation) disturbances on runoff and erosion in these regions.Read moreRead less
Computer simulation and field application of tidal buffering and sub-surface alkaline barrier techniques to enhance acid sulphate soils management. In low-lying coastal areas, groundwater drawdown due to deep flood mitigation drains and prolonged droughts has exacerbated sub-surface pyrite oxidation, forming sulphuric acid. The distribution of acid following rainfall affects soil-water quality. The pressures of urban development in the Shoalhaven floodplain (civil infrastructure, agriculture, aq ....Computer simulation and field application of tidal buffering and sub-surface alkaline barrier techniques to enhance acid sulphate soils management. In low-lying coastal areas, groundwater drawdown due to deep flood mitigation drains and prolonged droughts has exacerbated sub-surface pyrite oxidation, forming sulphuric acid. The distribution of acid following rainfall affects soil-water quality. The pressures of urban development in the Shoalhaven floodplain (civil infrastructure, agriculture, aquaculture and recreational industries) necessitate the accurate prediction of acid migration. Therefore, the key challenge will be the development of comprehensive numerical models, which include complex estuarine hydrogeology and tidal dynamics, supported by field monitoring. Using these models, the novel concepts of 2-way floodgates that promote tidal flushing and the effectiveness of sub-surface alkaline barriers can be tested in the Shoalhaven, and subsequently applied globally.Read moreRead less
Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. This project aims to develop integrated and low-cost eco-engineering technology to purposefully accelerate in-situ formation of soil from tailings for sustainable native plant community rehabilitation at metal mines. Soil shortages at mines cost the Australian mining industry billions of dollars in sustainable rehabilitation of tailings, and threaten t ....Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. This project aims to develop integrated and low-cost eco-engineering technology to purposefully accelerate in-situ formation of soil from tailings for sustainable native plant community rehabilitation at metal mines. Soil shortages at mines cost the Australian mining industry billions of dollars in sustainable rehabilitation of tailings, and threaten the industry’s ecological and commercial sustainability. Building on recent findings of critical processes in soil formation from copper/lead–zinc tailings, this research will use key biogeochemical and rhizosphere processes in the tailing-soil to create a functional 'technosol'. This technology is intended to be used in Australian metal mines to offset the soil needed to rehabilitate tailings landforms with native plant communities.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR180100021
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$900,000.00
Summary
PFAS source zone remediation by foam fractionation and in situ fluidisation. This project aims to develop two methods for the in situ remediation of per- and poly-fluroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, downhole foam fractionation for in situ groundwater treatment, and in situ fluidisation for soil treatment, both separately and in combination. Using these methods, PFASs will be removed in the form of a foam, which will be extracted as a liquid concentrate. These techniques could enable PFAS ....PFAS source zone remediation by foam fractionation and in situ fluidisation. This project aims to develop two methods for the in situ remediation of per- and poly-fluroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, downhole foam fractionation for in situ groundwater treatment, and in situ fluidisation for soil treatment, both separately and in combination. Using these methods, PFASs will be removed in the form of a foam, which will be extracted as a liquid concentrate. These techniques could enable PFAS removal efficiencies of greater than 90%, providing entirely new methods for the aggressive removal of PFAS from contaminated source zones. This project will enable the rapid removal of the bulk of the PFAS present in soils and groundwater and reduce the potential for further spreading.Read moreRead less
Breaking critical barriers in soil formation of bauxite residues . Conventional methods of bauxite residue rehabilitation require expensive and unsustainable covering topsoil. Building on recent breakthroughs in eco-engineering tailings into soil, the project aims to develop a field-based technology using marine microbes and halophytic plants to accelerate in-situ soil formation from bauxite residues (incl seawater neutralised bauxite residues) under field conditions. The technology will be unde ....Breaking critical barriers in soil formation of bauxite residues . Conventional methods of bauxite residue rehabilitation require expensive and unsustainable covering topsoil. Building on recent breakthroughs in eco-engineering tailings into soil, the project aims to develop a field-based technology using marine microbes and halophytic plants to accelerate in-situ soil formation from bauxite residues (incl seawater neutralised bauxite residues) under field conditions. The technology will be underpinned by understanding the roles of marine microbe consortia and eco-engineering inputs in accelerating key mineralogical, geochemical, physical and biological changes in bauxite residues. This technology is expected to be transferable and adaptable across other alumina refineries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Wetland regeneration for effluent reuse, acid sulfate soil management and carbon credits. This project will research and develop a full-scale effluent reuse wetland to manage acid sulfate soils, regenerate wetlands and sequester atmospheric carbon. Many rural communities worldwide are affected by acid sulfate soils, unsustainable effluent disposal and wetland degradation, and the Greenhouse Effect threatens all coastal areas worldwide. This project is located at Byron Bay, a coastal and predomin ....Wetland regeneration for effluent reuse, acid sulfate soil management and carbon credits. This project will research and develop a full-scale effluent reuse wetland to manage acid sulfate soils, regenerate wetlands and sequester atmospheric carbon. Many rural communities worldwide are affected by acid sulfate soils, unsustainable effluent disposal and wetland degradation, and the Greenhouse Effect threatens all coastal areas worldwide. This project is located at Byron Bay, a coastal and predominantly rural electorate in northern NSW that is strongly affected by this combination of environmental stresses, causing serious degradation of water quality culminating in regular fish kills. The technology developed from this project will be readily transferable to other rural coastal communities worldwide.Read moreRead less