Molecular forces: in colloid science, complex fluids and living matter. The physical chemists; and the biologists, soil scientists and engineers who need them, have lived in parallel universes. Despite claims for relevance, the standard text book chemistry is unsatisfactory in a myriad industrial and basic applications. Identification of where theories went wrong has been made. The repair of current theories will provide better predictive experimental design principles that get to real world sol ....Molecular forces: in colloid science, complex fluids and living matter. The physical chemists; and the biologists, soil scientists and engineers who need them, have lived in parallel universes. Despite claims for relevance, the standard text book chemistry is unsatisfactory in a myriad industrial and basic applications. Identification of where theories went wrong has been made. The repair of current theories will provide better predictive experimental design principles that get to real world solutions faster. There is a genuine paradigm shift in progress. Redressing deficiencies of present theories will provide a better intuition for scientists who need a predictive intuition from physical chemistry for optimal experimental design.
Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354511
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Soil Acidification, the Environment and Production. Soil acidification affects 50% of Australia's agricultural land and is the most important economic constraint to agricultural. In addition, major external offsite impacts include greenhouse gas emissions, reduced stream and ground water health, reduced biodiversity, increased salinity and waterlogging and infrastructure damage. The aim of this network is to quantify the acidification processes and the connection of these processes to the offsit ....Soil Acidification, the Environment and Production. Soil acidification affects 50% of Australia's agricultural land and is the most important economic constraint to agricultural. In addition, major external offsite impacts include greenhouse gas emissions, reduced stream and ground water health, reduced biodiversity, increased salinity and waterlogging and infrastructure damage. The aim of this network is to quantify the acidification processes and the connection of these processes to the offsite impacts. This will lead to development of strategic plans for acidified and potential acid soils and associate offsite impacts, as well as identifying knowledge gaps and building research and policy synergies. Read moreRead less
Organophosphate pesticide degradation: evolved enzymes and biomimetics for bioremediation and medicine. Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are an indispensable part of modern agriculture - their use results in dramatically increased crop yields. However, they are toxic and can damage the environment and cause significant health problems. Enzymes are currently being used to treat runoff water that is contaminated with OPs. The same enzymes also have the potential to aid in the treatment of OP poison ....Organophosphate pesticide degradation: evolved enzymes and biomimetics for bioremediation and medicine. Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are an indispensable part of modern agriculture - their use results in dramatically increased crop yields. However, they are toxic and can damage the environment and cause significant health problems. Enzymes are currently being used to treat runoff water that is contaminated with OPs. The same enzymes also have the potential to aid in the treatment of OP poisoning. However, OP degrading enzymes could be improved in many ways - we will evolve these enzymes to enhance their catalytic properties - to enable them to act more efficiently on an increased number of OPs. Read moreRead less
Directed evolution of enzymes for bioremediation: structure function studies of bimetalloenzymes. We will evolve enzymes that degrade organophosphate pesticides (OPs) that are used in Australian agriculture. Although these OPs were designed to kill insects they are closely related to chemical warfare agents and are known to be toxic to humans. Bacteria have acquired a number of enzymes that degrade some OPs. One such enzyme has been used in field trials demonstrating its potential to degrade OP ....Directed evolution of enzymes for bioremediation: structure function studies of bimetalloenzymes. We will evolve enzymes that degrade organophosphate pesticides (OPs) that are used in Australian agriculture. Although these OPs were designed to kill insects they are closely related to chemical warfare agents and are known to be toxic to humans. Bacteria have acquired a number of enzymes that degrade some OPs. One such enzyme has been used in field trials demonstrating its potential to degrade OP residues. However, many pesticides are not removed rapidly and OP-degrading enzymes require modification(s) if they are to be useful environmental reagents - this can be achieved with directed evolution. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775548
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,000.00
Summary
Advanced characterisation facilities for functional nanostructured materials. A critical factor that enhances frontier research is a set of advanced core research experimental facilities for material characterisation purposes. The proposed equipment aims to: (1) provide research facilities for advanced nanomaterial research; (2) improve national competitiveness and growth in a knowledge-based economy; and (3) foster local talented researchers in order to meet the strategic needs of the nation fo ....Advanced characterisation facilities for functional nanostructured materials. A critical factor that enhances frontier research is a set of advanced core research experimental facilities for material characterisation purposes. The proposed equipment aims to: (1) provide research facilities for advanced nanomaterial research; (2) improve national competitiveness and growth in a knowledge-based economy; and (3) foster local talented researchers in order to meet the strategic needs of the nation for a sustainable environment. These activities will revitalise Australia's leading role in creating new technologies with particular relevance to using advanced nanostructures for the production of clean air and water, and sustainable energy alternatives.Read moreRead less
Hydraulic Properties of Swelling Clay-Gel Soils: Electrolyte and Temperature Effects. We seek to understand the impacts of electrolytes and temperature on the equilibrium and water flow properties of swelling, clay-gel soils. These soils are important in cropping, the environment and industrial processes. Their hydraulic properties govern dewatering rates, rheology, and solute movement. Double layer theory (DLVO) successfully describes the equilibrium behaviour of model, parallel-plate clay syst ....Hydraulic Properties of Swelling Clay-Gel Soils: Electrolyte and Temperature Effects. We seek to understand the impacts of electrolytes and temperature on the equilibrium and water flow properties of swelling, clay-gel soils. These soils are important in cropping, the environment and industrial processes. Their hydraulic properties govern dewatering rates, rheology, and solute movement. Double layer theory (DLVO) successfully describes the equilibrium behaviour of model, parallel-plate clay systems in laboratories. However, equilibrium and water transport properties of less-ideal, clay slurries are poorly described by theory. Field clay-gels are therefore problematic. Outcomes will be better understanding of swelling clays, improved and more cost effective management techniques for gel soils and trained graduates.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668452
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,000.00
Summary
A research grade liquid chromatograph - mass spectrometer for quantitative analysis of trace organic analytes in complex matrices. The ARC has provided matching funding of $300K to a consortium of Australian universities, CSIRO, CRCs, water utilities and other research centres for an investment in a modern system for measurement of organic species in complex mixtures. The system, called a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer, has application in environmental studies of soils, sediments and nat ....A research grade liquid chromatograph - mass spectrometer for quantitative analysis of trace organic analytes in complex matrices. The ARC has provided matching funding of $300K to a consortium of Australian universities, CSIRO, CRCs, water utilities and other research centres for an investment in a modern system for measurement of organic species in complex mixtures. The system, called a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer, has application in environmental studies of soils, sediments and natural waters; in control of quality of potable water supplies; studies of natural products and plant extracts; and in studies related to petroleum exploration, production, and environmental issues. Read moreRead less