A novel process for removing phosphorus microbiologically from wastewater. Australia is a water limited continent, and its rivers and lakes are priceless assets, but because of climatic conditions, these are especially sensitive to blooms of 'blue green algae'. Some are highly toxic, and water containing them is unsuitable for most purposes. Current technology for P removal requires constructing complex plant configurations, and most of these operate unpredictably and unreliably. This project ....A novel process for removing phosphorus microbiologically from wastewater. Australia is a water limited continent, and its rivers and lakes are priceless assets, but because of climatic conditions, these are especially sensitive to blooms of 'blue green algae'. Some are highly toxic, and water containing them is unsuitable for most purposes. Current technology for P removal requires constructing complex plant configurations, and most of these operate unpredictably and unreliably. This project will develop and fully evaluate a revolutionarily different alternative with a fully aerobic system, capable of being added onto the end of a conventional treatment plant, making protection of rivers and streams simpler and more feasible. Read moreRead less
A Green Technology for Enhancing Resource Recovery from Sewage Sludge. This project aims to develop an innovative technology to recover valuable resource from sewage sludge by enhancing transformation of sewage sludge into high-value medium chain fatty acids and methane. Wastewater treatment generates large amounts of resource-rich sewage sludge. However, the poor biodegradability of sewage sludge is a key barrier that impedes the efficient resource recovery. By advancing the underpinning scienc ....A Green Technology for Enhancing Resource Recovery from Sewage Sludge. This project aims to develop an innovative technology to recover valuable resource from sewage sludge by enhancing transformation of sewage sludge into high-value medium chain fatty acids and methane. Wastewater treatment generates large amounts of resource-rich sewage sludge. However, the poor biodegradability of sewage sludge is a key barrier that impedes the efficient resource recovery. By advancing the underpinning science and introducing a novel technology that innovatively harnesses a human waste, the project expects to remove the barrier. Expected project outcomes will turn sewage sludge from an undesirable waste to a valuable resource. This should provide significant benefits for Australia’s renewable energy and resource sectors.Read moreRead less
Creating pH-sensitive self-healing concrete using sludge waste for sewers. In Australia, our 117,000 km of concrete sewer pipes are currently internally corroding at a depth rate of 1-3 mm per annum. The repair of deteriorated concrete is costly and often short-lived. Based on an advanced composite technology, this project will develop a pH-sensitive self-healing concrete that can repair itself without human intervention at the early stage of corrosion. Sludge waste from drinking water treatment ....Creating pH-sensitive self-healing concrete using sludge waste for sewers. In Australia, our 117,000 km of concrete sewer pipes are currently internally corroding at a depth rate of 1-3 mm per annum. The repair of deteriorated concrete is costly and often short-lived. Based on an advanced composite technology, this project will develop a pH-sensitive self-healing concrete that can repair itself without human intervention at the early stage of corrosion. Sludge waste from drinking water treatment will be utilised as a healing agent to mitigate the corrosion. Combined experiments and molecular dynamics simulation will uncover all aspects of the healing process to enable the practical application of this technology. The findings will extend the lifetime of concrete structures and promote a circular economy.Read moreRead less
Modelling of polydisperse particle-fluid reacting flows. Complex polydisperse particle-fluid reacting flows are widely practised in many industries where particle size distribution is wide and particle number is huge, yet the process design and optimisation are hindered by the lack of fundamental understanding of the complex reacting flows, particularly polydispersity and interactions. The project will tackle this specific challenge by developing a novel particle-scale mathematical model by inco ....Modelling of polydisperse particle-fluid reacting flows. Complex polydisperse particle-fluid reacting flows are widely practised in many industries where particle size distribution is wide and particle number is huge, yet the process design and optimisation are hindered by the lack of fundamental understanding of the complex reacting flows, particularly polydispersity and interactions. The project will tackle this specific challenge by developing a novel particle-scale mathematical model by incorporating new numerical techniques of interphase heat/mass transfers, polydispersity and computation speed-up; and applying it to two typical industry processes for demonstration. The outcomes will be applied across a range of industries of vital importance to Australian economic and technological future.Read moreRead less
Functional Analyses of Bacteria Involved in Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal from Wastewater. The abundant growth of blue-green algae in global waterways is substantially caused by phosphorus (P) release from wastewater treatment plants. This environmental drama can be mitigated against by P-accumulating bacteria partitioning the P inside their cells. The P-removal process often fails, but since the metabolism of P-accumulating bacteria is unknown, remedial actions are based on conjecture ....Functional Analyses of Bacteria Involved in Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal from Wastewater. The abundant growth of blue-green algae in global waterways is substantially caused by phosphorus (P) release from wastewater treatment plants. This environmental drama can be mitigated against by P-accumulating bacteria partitioning the P inside their cells. The P-removal process often fails, but since the metabolism of P-accumulating bacteria is unknown, remedial actions are based on conjecture. This fundamental, knowledge-generating project will address this shortfall and will develop methods to evaluate the activity of P-accumulating bacteria, contributing substantial understanding of their metabolism. The final goal is to promote stable, reproducible P-removal from wastewater.Read moreRead less
The only constant is change: ecology and evolution of phage-host interactions in a model ecosystem. Microorganisms underpin life on Earth, but our understanding of their diversity and activity is limited by our inability to grow most of them in the laboratory. Recently, new techniques have emerged that allow access to the genetic information of all microorganisms by directly sequencing DNA and RNA from the environment. In this research we will further develop these frontier technologies, promoti ....The only constant is change: ecology and evolution of phage-host interactions in a model ecosystem. Microorganisms underpin life on Earth, but our understanding of their diversity and activity is limited by our inability to grow most of them in the laboratory. Recently, new techniques have emerged that allow access to the genetic information of all microorganisms by directly sequencing DNA and RNA from the environment. In this research we will further develop these frontier technologies, promoting this new area of science in Australia. We will apply these techniques to microbial communities involved in wastewater treatment in order to understand the interactions between microorganisms and the viruses that infect them. Understanding this interaction will have important implications for optimising these treatment processes.Read moreRead less
The use of chiral pharmaceutical compounds to characterise sewage treatment processes and sewage contamination of surface waters. Contamination by poorly treated and untreated sewage can severely degrade the quality of Australian surface waters. However, the behaviour of organic chemicals during conventional sewage treatment processes remains poorly understood. Furthermore, raw sewage pollution is generally not distinguishable from properly discharged treated sewage effluent by current analytica ....The use of chiral pharmaceutical compounds to characterise sewage treatment processes and sewage contamination of surface waters. Contamination by poorly treated and untreated sewage can severely degrade the quality of Australian surface waters. However, the behaviour of organic chemicals during conventional sewage treatment processes remains poorly understood. Furthermore, raw sewage pollution is generally not distinguishable from properly discharged treated sewage effluent by current analytical methods. The proposed research will provide a chemical marker for characterising treatment processes and identifying untreated sewage pollution. This will help to identify sources of such pollution so that they may be corrected. A principal outcome of the research will be the improved ability to protect Australia's valuable surface waters from sewage pollution.Read moreRead less
Membrane Fouling in Submerged Hollow Fibre Membrane Bioreactor Systems: Theory, Modelling and Fouling Control. The outcomes of this project will provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms of fouling in submerged hollow fibre membrane bioreactors (SHFMBR) and will provide a sound base for optimization of design and operation of SHFMBR systems. Given the crucial role of the SHFMBR in wastewater treatment and water reuse, this project will significantly contribute to the national priority are ....Membrane Fouling in Submerged Hollow Fibre Membrane Bioreactor Systems: Theory, Modelling and Fouling Control. The outcomes of this project will provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms of fouling in submerged hollow fibre membrane bioreactors (SHFMBR) and will provide a sound base for optimization of design and operation of SHFMBR systems. Given the crucial role of the SHFMBR in wastewater treatment and water reuse, this project will significantly contribute to the national priority area of 'an environmentally sustainable Australia (water-a critical resource)'. In addition, the outcomes of this project on quantitative simulation of the gel/cake structure and resulting transport phenomena will promote Australia's reputation for high quality fundamental and applied research in the area of membrane filtration. Read moreRead less
Optimal design and operation of submerged hollow fibres for flocculated feeds. This project will provide fundamental understanding of the operation of submerged hollow fibre (SHF)membranes with flocculated feed and fouling control by bubbling. The SHF is the latest generation membrane system for water and wastewater treatment offering lower cost and reduced energy demand. The operation of the SHF with floc is radically different from conventional membrane technology and this project will provid ....Optimal design and operation of submerged hollow fibres for flocculated feeds. This project will provide fundamental understanding of the operation of submerged hollow fibre (SHF)membranes with flocculated feed and fouling control by bubbling. The SHF is the latest generation membrane system for water and wastewater treatment offering lower cost and reduced energy demand. The operation of the SHF with floc is radically different from conventional membrane technology and this project will provide the understanding necessary to optimise design and operation.Read moreRead less
Novel biodegradable starch/clay nanocomposites with enhanced strength and moisture resistance. The outcomes of the project will make an important contribution to a new technology of biodegradable polymer nanocomposites based on natural starch and clay. The project has direct environmental benefit due to the complete biodegradation of the resulting starch/clay nanocomposites which will be able to replace some non-biodegradable polymers in packaging and disposable bags, cups and boxes, etc. The re ....Novel biodegradable starch/clay nanocomposites with enhanced strength and moisture resistance. The outcomes of the project will make an important contribution to a new technology of biodegradable polymer nanocomposites based on natural starch and clay. The project has direct environmental benefit due to the complete biodegradation of the resulting starch/clay nanocomposites which will be able to replace some non-biodegradable polymers in packaging and disposable bags, cups and boxes, etc. The reduction in use of non-biodegradable polymers will be helpful to solve the "white pollution" and improve our living environments. This study will result in huge economic benefits for the national agriculture and plastic industries since Australia has a large starch production, and will enable Australia to be at the leading edge in this area.Read moreRead less