Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR180100027
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,086,676.00
Summary
Integrated, scalable technology solutions for PFAS removal and destruction. This project aims to deliver a ready-to-deploy and scalable modular technology that is capable of removing poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a variety of water sources, including groundwater and surface waters, to make them virtually PFAS-free and therefore safe for human consumption. The concept draws on recent advances in water treatment and electrochemistry that is based on ion exchange, nanofiltration ....Integrated, scalable technology solutions for PFAS removal and destruction. This project aims to deliver a ready-to-deploy and scalable modular technology that is capable of removing poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a variety of water sources, including groundwater and surface waters, to make them virtually PFAS-free and therefore safe for human consumption. The concept draws on recent advances in water treatment and electrochemistry that is based on ion exchange, nanofiltration and advanced oxidation. A risk-based framework will be developed to deliver fit-for-purpose solutions at minimal cost for stakeholders and taxpayers. This project is expected to benefit the residents who live in the vicinity of contaminated waterways or consume water from polluted sources.Read moreRead less
Novel water treatment processes. The objective of this project is the discovery of novel methods for the treatment and reuse of water for both industrial and household applications. Improved treatment systems with the potential for water reuse offer significant improvements to our overall water management potential. The first part of the project is designed to focus on the study of hot bubble column evaporators for solute decomposition, sterilisation and the de-watering of heavily contaminated i ....Novel water treatment processes. The objective of this project is the discovery of novel methods for the treatment and reuse of water for both industrial and household applications. Improved treatment systems with the potential for water reuse offer significant improvements to our overall water management potential. The first part of the project is designed to focus on the study of hot bubble column evaporators for solute decomposition, sterilisation and the de-watering of heavily contaminated industrial wastewater. The second part would be based on the study of a suitable depth filter medium for the treatment of partially treated household sewage water. This is designed to form part of an on-site household sewage water treatment and reuse system which is currently being developed.Read moreRead less
Use of Parallel Inclined Channels to Enhance Foam Drainage in Ion Flotation. This study is concerned with increasing the rates of foam drainage in flotation processes. The findings will have direct benefit in the field of ion flotation, and will be highly relevant to the flotation of high value minerals worth tens of billions of dollars annually. The Reflux Classifier, a device that employs the Boycott Effect to achieve a significant increase in the effective area of the vessel, will be used. Th ....Use of Parallel Inclined Channels to Enhance Foam Drainage in Ion Flotation. This study is concerned with increasing the rates of foam drainage in flotation processes. The findings will have direct benefit in the field of ion flotation, and will be highly relevant to the flotation of high value minerals worth tens of billions of dollars annually. The Reflux Classifier, a device that employs the Boycott Effect to achieve a significant increase in the effective area of the vessel, will be used. This device has already attracted three national awards in the area of gravity concentration in mineral processing. The study is ideal for training new researchers, especially at the PhD level, given the importance of the field to Australia. Read moreRead less
Particle Transport and Separation in High Aspect Ratio Inclined Channels. This project will be of benefit to the Australian coal and mineral processing industries, worth tens of billions of dollars to the Australian economy each year. The objective is to establish new options for the processing of particles as large as 50mm, and smaller than 50 microns in size, and hence significantly extend the operating size range of the Reflux Classifier. The development of new resources, especially those of ....Particle Transport and Separation in High Aspect Ratio Inclined Channels. This project will be of benefit to the Australian coal and mineral processing industries, worth tens of billions of dollars to the Australian economy each year. The objective is to establish new options for the processing of particles as large as 50mm, and smaller than 50 microns in size, and hence significantly extend the operating size range of the Reflux Classifier. The development of new resources, especially those of poorer grade, requires more effective separation technology. Success in this project will significantly benefit the end users of the technology and also contribute to Australia's Mining Services industry.Read moreRead less
Establishing the relationship between water characteristics and fouling of membranes used in water reuse. The project will result in the following significant benefits to the Australian and international partners: a state-of-the-art laboratory and semi-pilot system from which a full-scale system could be developed and tested, funded by the water industry; an outstanding research project for postgraduate students at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Gwangji Institute of Science and Tech ....Establishing the relationship between water characteristics and fouling of membranes used in water reuse. The project will result in the following significant benefits to the Australian and international partners: a state-of-the-art laboratory and semi-pilot system from which a full-scale system could be developed and tested, funded by the water industry; an outstanding research project for postgraduate students at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Gwangji Institute of Science and Technology, Korea (GIST) and Yale University; and fostering a culture of innovation in the wastewater industry in Australia, Korea and USA and contributing to the commercialization of research by UTS, GIST and YU.Read moreRead less
Fluidised bed biosorption-flocculation granular activated carbon (FBBSF-GAC) for membrane filtration in wastewater reuse. Water resource is limited and has been continuously decreasing. The idea of recycling and reusing of wastewater has been adopted for irrigation, industry and other non-potable uses. In Australia, wastewater reuse is now considered a key strategy for conserving water at national, state and local level. In this study, the proposed treatment unit is to produce a superior effluen ....Fluidised bed biosorption-flocculation granular activated carbon (FBBSF-GAC) for membrane filtration in wastewater reuse. Water resource is limited and has been continuously decreasing. The idea of recycling and reusing of wastewater has been adopted for irrigation, industry and other non-potable uses. In Australia, wastewater reuse is now considered a key strategy for conserving water at national, state and local level. In this study, the proposed treatment unit is to produce a superior effluent quality for water reuse while minimize membrane fouling of the membrane filtration system. Hence, it will benefit water industries globally and communities in Australia. There will be a major export opportunity from Australia to supply efficient, low-cost and sustainable flocculant together with an improved treatment system worldwide.Read moreRead less
Hanging sponge aerobic bioreactor and membrane - adsorption hybrid system: a novel two stage system in wastewater reuse. A novel two-stage system consisting of a downflow hanging sponge biological reactor (DHS) and submerged membrane-adsorption hybrid system (SMAS) will be developed in this study. The DHS modified to incorporate solid separation and superior organics, and nitrogen removal will be an excellent pretreatment system that features minimum energy requirement and on sludge production. ....Hanging sponge aerobic bioreactor and membrane - adsorption hybrid system: a novel two stage system in wastewater reuse. A novel two-stage system consisting of a downflow hanging sponge biological reactor (DHS) and submerged membrane-adsorption hybrid system (SMAS) will be developed in this study. The DHS modified to incorporate solid separation and superior organics, and nitrogen removal will be an excellent pretreatment system that features minimum energy requirement and on sludge production. The post treatment of SMAS is to be studied to optimize aeration, biological activity on activated carbon will remove the remaining organics, solids, bacteria and majority of viruses. The developed hybrid system will be a cost- effective system in water reuse in small communities.Read moreRead less
Integration of Sponge Based Technology and Membrane Bioreactor: A Sustainable Treatment System for Water Recycling. Clean, safe water is becoming scarce in Australia. Recycling water is considered a promising solution to this growing problem. It is therefore important to develop sustainable treatment technologies for it. Integrating sponge-based technology and membrane bioreactor systems will solve the most challenging problem of membrane fouling while producing high quality of recycled water fr ....Integration of Sponge Based Technology and Membrane Bioreactor: A Sustainable Treatment System for Water Recycling. Clean, safe water is becoming scarce in Australia. Recycling water is considered a promising solution to this growing problem. It is therefore important to develop sustainable treatment technologies for it. Integrating sponge-based technology and membrane bioreactor systems will solve the most challenging problem of membrane fouling while producing high quality of recycled water from wastewater. The technology will maximize water resources, minimize waste and increase economic effectiveness and contributes direct benefits to the Nation in particular and to the world as a whole.Read moreRead less
An Optimal Integrated Immersed Membrane System as Pre-Treatment for Reverse Osmosis Desalination. This project will be useful for both coastal and inland areas of Australia. It will provide sustainable technology to meet the needs of water supply where the main sources are seawater and brackish water. Reverse osmosis (RO) is the dominant technology in water desalination and in the final polishing step in wastewater treatment for reuse. The novel pre-treatment proposed in this study is the key fo ....An Optimal Integrated Immersed Membrane System as Pre-Treatment for Reverse Osmosis Desalination. This project will be useful for both coastal and inland areas of Australia. It will provide sustainable technology to meet the needs of water supply where the main sources are seawater and brackish water. Reverse osmosis (RO) is the dominant technology in water desalination and in the final polishing step in wastewater treatment for reuse. The novel pre-treatment proposed in this study is the key for the cost-effective and energy efficient operation of RO. This project will strengthen research links among Australian, European and USA universities, to come up with a forefront pre-treatment technology for RO desalination. The technology is of direct benefit to ongoing RO installations in Australia and also has significant export potential.Read moreRead less
Characterising nanostructure functionality of conventional and advanced polymeric membranes using electrical impedance spectroscopy. Thin film membranes are an important separation process for industrial and municipal water treatment. This project will benefit Australian cities and industries by creating the tools to help reduce energy consumption associated with fouling of thin film membranes and indentify the next generation of efficient low fouling membranes.