Carbon-Supported Iron Catalysts for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO. Nitric oxide (NO) is a major pollutant from combustion systems. This project aims to develop cost-effective and environmentally benign zerovalent iron catalysts supported on carbon material for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO using CO and unburned hydrocarbons as in-situ reductants. By applying differential reactor experimentation, kinetic modelling and advanced material characterisation techniques, the research w ....Carbon-Supported Iron Catalysts for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO. Nitric oxide (NO) is a major pollutant from combustion systems. This project aims to develop cost-effective and environmentally benign zerovalent iron catalysts supported on carbon material for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO using CO and unburned hydrocarbons as in-situ reductants. By applying differential reactor experimentation, kinetic modelling and advanced material characterisation techniques, the research will unravel complex relationships among catalyst structural features and activity, NO reduction mechanisms, and catalyst performance under practically relevant combustion conditions that underpin the development of an effective yet affordable SCR technology to control NO emission from industrial utilities and automobiles.Read moreRead less
Process studies for photocatalytic rejuvenation of spent industrial Bayer liquor. A new low-energy photocatalytic process for the continuous treatment of spent liquor from the Bayer process for alumina production has been demonstrated. This new technology can process up to 1500 litres of industrial caustic effluent per day with a reduction in carbon dioxide release. The photo-treated refinery wastewater also provides water savings of 30 per cent.
Unlocking the catalytic activity of metal oxides through hybrid catalysis. This project aims to understand the interaction of light responsive nano-metals and metal oxide supports in photo-thermal catalysis, and channel light and heat to efficiently drive catalytic reactions. From this understanding, it will develop principles to activate the active site of metal oxides and control catalytic activity with high selectivity and stability. It will use this knowledge to selectively oxidate methane a ....Unlocking the catalytic activity of metal oxides through hybrid catalysis. This project aims to understand the interaction of light responsive nano-metals and metal oxide supports in photo-thermal catalysis, and channel light and heat to efficiently drive catalytic reactions. From this understanding, it will develop principles to activate the active site of metal oxides and control catalytic activity with high selectivity and stability. It will use this knowledge to selectively oxidate methane and oxidative coupling of methane reactions. The expected outcome is an inexpensive green catalysis method for chemical manufacture. This should lower the amount of waste, decrease energy consumption and improve human health, finite global resources and quality of life.Read moreRead less
Biochar as a renewable catalyst for hot gas cleaning. This project aims to generate new knowledge for the development of a novel hot gas cleaning technology. This project expects to understand the mechanisms of tar reforming using biochar as a renewable catalyst, which can avoid the problems associated with the catalyst deactivation and catalyst disposal if conventional supported catalysts are used. Expected outcomes of this project include a theoretical framework and a kinetic model describing ....Biochar as a renewable catalyst for hot gas cleaning. This project aims to generate new knowledge for the development of a novel hot gas cleaning technology. This project expects to understand the mechanisms of tar reforming using biochar as a renewable catalyst, which can avoid the problems associated with the catalyst deactivation and catalyst disposal if conventional supported catalysts are used. Expected outcomes of this project include a theoretical framework and a kinetic model describing the catalytic reforming of tar as part of the hot gas cleaning during the conversion of biomass. The technology will contribute to Australia’s improved energy security and reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the carbon-constrained future.Read moreRead less
Smart self-propelled nanoreactors for catalytic environmental remediation. This project aims to develop nanomaterial design and technology to enable the applications of nanotechnology for environmental remediation. Various nanomotors with different asymmetric structures will be fabricated and tested for catalytic and photocatalytic degradation of aqueous pollutants. The physicochemical properties, motion behaviour and catalytic performance will be comprehensively investigated. The outcomes of th ....Smart self-propelled nanoreactors for catalytic environmental remediation. This project aims to develop nanomaterial design and technology to enable the applications of nanotechnology for environmental remediation. Various nanomotors with different asymmetric structures will be fabricated and tested for catalytic and photocatalytic degradation of aqueous pollutants. The physicochemical properties, motion behaviour and catalytic performance will be comprehensively investigated. The outcomes of the project will underpin the development of green technologies for sustainable energy conversion and water treatment. This will provide significant benefits, putting Australia in a leading position in the sustainable development of nanotechnology for sustainable energy supply and transformation as well as environmental and biomedical applications.Read moreRead less
3-D Printed Catalytic Monoliths for Energy Efficient Carbon Conversion. Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) is an essential pathway for reducing carbon in the Earth's atmosphere. However a major hurdle in the carbon utilisation part is that the conversion technologies often rely on energy derived from fossil sources. Electrification of carbon conversion processes can overcome this hurdle by providing this energy via renewables. This project aims to develop an electrically powered energy efficie ....3-D Printed Catalytic Monoliths for Energy Efficient Carbon Conversion. Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) is an essential pathway for reducing carbon in the Earth's atmosphere. However a major hurdle in the carbon utilisation part is that the conversion technologies often rely on energy derived from fossil sources. Electrification of carbon conversion processes can overcome this hurdle by providing this energy via renewables. This project aims to develop an electrically powered energy efficient catalytic process for carbon conversion. A modular 3-D printed monolithic catalytic reactor prototype powered by induction or resistive heating will be developed to minimise energy loss in the carbon conversion process. An expected outcome of this project is translation of this prototype in a CCU pilot scale facility.Read moreRead less
A New Photocatalytic System for Solar-to-Chemical Energy Conversion. The expected outcomes of this program are a new class of photocatalyst systems for converting waste products into valuable chemicals using solar energy. Using advanced materials and photocatalysis, the project aims to develop a new class of bi-functional photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems for application in waste brine treatment and valuable chemical generation. The key concept lies in the innovative design of layered semicondu ....A New Photocatalytic System for Solar-to-Chemical Energy Conversion. The expected outcomes of this program are a new class of photocatalyst systems for converting waste products into valuable chemicals using solar energy. Using advanced materials and photocatalysis, the project aims to develop a new class of bi-functional photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems for application in waste brine treatment and valuable chemical generation. The key concept lies in the innovative design of layered semiconductors as efficient and stable photocatalysts and their integration into PEC reaction systems for simultaneous solar hydrogen and valuable chemicals (eg bromine) generation from brine. The project aims to advance fundamental understanding of the photocatalytic water-splitting concept to other waste product splitting.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL140100081
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,380,000.00
Summary
Engineering hybrid photocatalytic systems for sustainable fuel generation. Engineering hybrid photocatalytic systems for sustainable fuel generation. The project aims to develop next generation hybrid photo-(co)catalyst and gaseous photoelectrode systems that will effectively harness solar energy to transform carbon dioxide into sustainable fuels using a multi-scale approach: designing hetero-structured material systems; elucidating surface reaction mechanisms, and engineering coupled photo/ther ....Engineering hybrid photocatalytic systems for sustainable fuel generation. Engineering hybrid photocatalytic systems for sustainable fuel generation. The project aims to develop next generation hybrid photo-(co)catalyst and gaseous photoelectrode systems that will effectively harness solar energy to transform carbon dioxide into sustainable fuels using a multi-scale approach: designing hetero-structured material systems; elucidating surface reaction mechanisms, and engineering coupled photo/thermal-catalytic and unique gaseous photoelectrochemical systems. This project aims to yield fundamental new knowledge for the economical conversion and storage of solar energy as an environmentally benign chemical fuel, as well as create contemporary material systems and reactors for photo- and thermal-catalysis and photoelectrochemical reactions that utilise carbon dioxide as a feedstock.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100126
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
An integrated kinetic measurement system enabling efficient solar energy conversion. This measurement facility will underpin advances in the fundamental understanding of new semiconducting materials for high efficiency light-driven energy conversion systems. The outcomes of the research at the facility will lead to significant economic and environmental benefits for many industries, such as low cost solar cells and water purifications.
A novel route to produce olefin feedstock for Australia. This project aims to develop a new process to produce longer chain hydrocarbons usable in Australia's olefin and polymer industries. Besides their use as a fuel, hydrocarbons are major industrial chemicals used for the production of polymeric materials and as refrigerants. Olefins are precursors to polymers and conventionally are produced from saturated hydrocarbons through the process of steam cracking. The major precursors for monomers a ....A novel route to produce olefin feedstock for Australia. This project aims to develop a new process to produce longer chain hydrocarbons usable in Australia's olefin and polymer industries. Besides their use as a fuel, hydrocarbons are major industrial chemicals used for the production of polymeric materials and as refrigerants. Olefins are precursors to polymers and conventionally are produced from saturated hydrocarbons through the process of steam cracking. The major precursors for monomers are present in significant quantities in only a few natural gas sources and these sources also undergo significant seasonal variation and are costly. The project aims to develop new catalysts and process conditions to convert low-value feedstock hydrocarbons into feedstock for conventional steam crackers.Read moreRead less