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
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.
Innovative seed technologies for restoration in a biodiversity hotspot. This project aims to develop and implement innovative and practical methods to improve native plant establishment within a global biodiversity hotspot. As restoration efforts worldwide are hindered by altered substrates and invasive species, the greatest challenge is to reconstruct plant communities that are resistant to invasion and resilient within disturbed landscapes. The development of advanced technologies to enhance r ....Innovative seed technologies for restoration in a biodiversity hotspot. This project aims to develop and implement innovative and practical methods to improve native plant establishment within a global biodiversity hotspot. As restoration efforts worldwide are hindered by altered substrates and invasive species, the greatest challenge is to reconstruct plant communities that are resistant to invasion and resilient within disturbed landscapes. The development of advanced technologies to enhance restoration success will benefit ecological communities impacted by urban expansion, agriculture and resource development, and their associated practitioners, government agencies, private landowners and primary Australian industry.Read moreRead less
A pilot study to demonstrate the use of 15N tracers for determining the flow of nitrogen through lower food webs. This project will have a significant impact on the way wetland wastewater treatment and reuse (WWTR) facilities are constructed in the future. Addressing the key biochemical issues to WWTR systems this study will facilitate improved construction design and management to optimise treatment performance. As National Priority One Area, sustainable water use and the efficiency of WWTR sys ....A pilot study to demonstrate the use of 15N tracers for determining the flow of nitrogen through lower food webs. This project will have a significant impact on the way wetland wastewater treatment and reuse (WWTR) facilities are constructed in the future. Addressing the key biochemical issues to WWTR systems this study will facilitate improved construction design and management to optimise treatment performance. As National Priority One Area, sustainable water use and the efficiency of WWTR systems is fundamental to our economic and social development. The results gleaned from this study will assist in the future design of WWTR systems that will be transferable outside the local study area and as such be of potential benefit both Nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
Environmental Genomics: Mining, climate change, water, crime and health. The new Environmental Genomics approach will employ high-powered genome sequencing systems to perform some of the first detailed genetic studies of Australian environments. The resulting high-resolution data will comprise a genetic audit, providing essential information for the accurate measurement of climate and environmental change. This method will dramatically improve the speed, and power of environmental impact assessm ....Environmental Genomics: Mining, climate change, water, crime and health. The new Environmental Genomics approach will employ high-powered genome sequencing systems to perform some of the first detailed genetic studies of Australian environments. The resulting high-resolution data will comprise a genetic audit, providing essential information for the accurate measurement of climate and environmental change. This method will dramatically improve the speed, and power of environmental impact assessments, permitting responsible resource development with major benefits to industry and the economy. It will also create new tools to improve water management and quality, biosecurity, forensics/policing and human health, as reflected by the diverse range of industry partners supporting this project.Read moreRead less
From Biodiversity to Health: Performing the first genetic audits of Australia. This project will establish a new technology for the rapid measurement of environmental biodiversity, whether that be in natural resources such as forests, or pathogens in water supplies or hospitals. The method is fast, low-cost and will provide much higher resolution than current methods. It will provide some of the first ever comprehensive environmental impact assessments, permitting responsible resource developmen ....From Biodiversity to Health: Performing the first genetic audits of Australia. This project will establish a new technology for the rapid measurement of environmental biodiversity, whether that be in natural resources such as forests, or pathogens in water supplies or hospitals. The method is fast, low-cost and will provide much higher resolution than current methods. It will provide some of the first ever comprehensive environmental impact assessments, permitting responsible resource development with major benefits to industry and the economy. It also provides a common platform for government agencies, from Department of Environment and Heritage to the Federal Police, and will create new tools to improve water management, biosecurity, forensics/policing and human health, as reflected by the wide range of industry partners supporting the project.Read moreRead less
Conversion of Lignite to Biochars to Enhance Soil Fertility. Lignite, or brown coal, is used in power generation, but it is uneconomic to transport and acts as a significant source of greenhouse gases. The conversion of lignite to liquid fuel and char provides an economic source of fuel and the generation of a char which also lowers the carbon footprint associated with lignite processing. Lignite-derived char has potential to act as an agent for both promoting plant growth and improving soil hea ....Conversion of Lignite to Biochars to Enhance Soil Fertility. Lignite, or brown coal, is used in power generation, but it is uneconomic to transport and acts as a significant source of greenhouse gases. The conversion of lignite to liquid fuel and char provides an economic source of fuel and the generation of a char which also lowers the carbon footprint associated with lignite processing. Lignite-derived char has potential to act as an agent for both promoting plant growth and improving soil health. This project will do much to promote the use of chars, from a lignite source, which will increase the economic viability of mining brown coal. Read moreRead less
Pelletisation of seawater-neutralised bauxite refinery residues (Bauxsol?) for construction of permeable reactive barriers to treat flowing acid mine waters. Acid mine drainage (AMD) occurs where sulphides (mostly pyrite, but also sulphides of other metals) are exposed to oxygen and water; the estimated global liability from AMD is over US$300 billion. There is currently no cost-effective way to prevent the release of acid and heavy metals from exposed sulphide minerals especially at abandoned m ....Pelletisation of seawater-neutralised bauxite refinery residues (Bauxsol?) for construction of permeable reactive barriers to treat flowing acid mine waters. Acid mine drainage (AMD) occurs where sulphides (mostly pyrite, but also sulphides of other metals) are exposed to oxygen and water; the estimated global liability from AMD is over US$300 billion. There is currently no cost-effective way to prevent the release of acid and heavy metals from exposed sulphide minerals especially at abandoned mine sites. This study investigates the pelletisation and use of neutralised bauxite refinery residues (Bauxsol?) to treat flowing metal-rich acid mine drainage waters using reactive-barriers that will neutralise acid and remove heavy metals without impeding flow.Read moreRead less
Biogeochemistry of ferruginous duricrusts. The project is focussed on the examination and application of microbial iron cycling in the formation of geologically stable, iron duricrusts in tropical regimes. The aim of the project is to develop a site-scale bioremediation strategy for iron ore mines by re-establishing canga, which are ‘ancient’ distinct ecosystems possessing unique plant species rarely found on Earth. This university-industry collaboration aims to produce economic benefits for the ....Biogeochemistry of ferruginous duricrusts. The project is focussed on the examination and application of microbial iron cycling in the formation of geologically stable, iron duricrusts in tropical regimes. The aim of the project is to develop a site-scale bioremediation strategy for iron ore mines by re-establishing canga, which are ‘ancient’ distinct ecosystems possessing unique plant species rarely found on Earth. This university-industry collaboration aims to produce economic benefits for the world’s iron mining industry through advanced training in mining-related research, and through the completion of the mining life cycle by site remediation, enhancing Australia’s position as a global leader in providing innovative solutions to today’s mining challenges.Read moreRead less
Drains in acid sulfate soils: behaviour and management for optimal water quality. Water draining from acid sulfate soil (ASS) into rivers via drains is often severely polluted, resulting in massive fish kills and chronic environmental and economic damage. Effective drain management techniques to minimise the export of acidity and deoxygenating drain oozes will be developed. The basic processes that affect hydraulic functioning, acidity and toxic drain ooze export in ASS drainage systems will be ....Drains in acid sulfate soils: behaviour and management for optimal water quality. Water draining from acid sulfate soil (ASS) into rivers via drains is often severely polluted, resulting in massive fish kills and chronic environmental and economic damage. Effective drain management techniques to minimise the export of acidity and deoxygenating drain oozes will be developed. The basic processes that affect hydraulic functioning, acidity and toxic drain ooze export in ASS drainage systems will be addressed. This project will provide the basis for the environmentally sound management of these drains. The technology developed here will be applicable throughout Australia and can be exported overseas, especially to south-east Asia.Read moreRead less