The development of resin and polymer based technologies for the recovery of copper and cyanide from gold processing tailings streams. This is a fundamental study on the use of resin and polymer-based ligands to recover copper and cyanide from gold cyanidation tailings. This process is environmentally more acceptable than other recovery methods, as it does not involve the use or generation of harmful species, such as HCN. It also has the advantage that copper metal and cyanide are recovered as pr ....The development of resin and polymer based technologies for the recovery of copper and cyanide from gold processing tailings streams. This is a fundamental study on the use of resin and polymer-based ligands to recover copper and cyanide from gold cyanidation tailings. This process is environmentally more acceptable than other recovery methods, as it does not involve the use or generation of harmful species, such as HCN. It also has the advantage that copper metal and cyanide are recovered as products from the copper cyanide containing streams. Thus the proposed project has the potential to substantially alter the gold recovery process, particularly in an era where environmental and public concerns exist over the discharge of cyanide species into tailings dams.Read moreRead less
Redox processes in Bayer liquors. Alumina, and the aluminium produced from it, are amongst Australia's most important mineral commodities, earning about $8 billion p.a. in exports. However, ongoing technological improvements are needed for Australian producers to remain globally competitive. This project addresses a key problem in alumina production - the behaviour of organic impurities - which will help to increase industrial productivity and reduce energy consumption. Insights gained from this ....Redox processes in Bayer liquors. Alumina, and the aluminium produced from it, are amongst Australia's most important mineral commodities, earning about $8 billion p.a. in exports. However, ongoing technological improvements are needed for Australian producers to remain globally competitive. This project addresses a key problem in alumina production - the behaviour of organic impurities - which will help to increase industrial productivity and reduce energy consumption. Insights gained from this research will also minimize the environmental and occupational health impacts of various process emissions, making the industry more sustainable.Read moreRead less
Improving the Performance of Lead Anodes in the Electrowinning of Copper. The aim of this project is the development of a fundamental understanding of the role of certain metal ions such as cobalt and manganese in modifying the electrochemical and corrosion performance of lead alloy materials used as anodes in the electrowinning of base metals such as copper, zinc and nickel.
The development of improved anodes will be of major benefit to the industry in terms of anode cost and particularly ener ....Improving the Performance of Lead Anodes in the Electrowinning of Copper. The aim of this project is the development of a fundamental understanding of the role of certain metal ions such as cobalt and manganese in modifying the electrochemical and corrosion performance of lead alloy materials used as anodes in the electrowinning of base metals such as copper, zinc and nickel.
The development of improved anodes will be of major benefit to the industry in terms of anode cost and particularly energy consumption. This project will lead to a better understanding of the performance of these anodes and could result in the design of improved anode materials and/or operating strategies.Read moreRead less
High Efficiency Electrochemical Cells. This project will study a recently developed, energy efficient ‘capillary-fed’ electrochemical cell architecture in the facilitation of various electro-energy and electro-synthetic transformations. The new cell architecture will be examined as a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell and as a cell for extracting pure hydrogen from a 5-10% mixture of hydrogen in methane (natural gas), amongst others. The work seeks to improve upon the electrochemical performance of the b ....High Efficiency Electrochemical Cells. This project will study a recently developed, energy efficient ‘capillary-fed’ electrochemical cell architecture in the facilitation of various electro-energy and electro-synthetic transformations. The new cell architecture will be examined as a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell and as a cell for extracting pure hydrogen from a 5-10% mixture of hydrogen in methane (natural gas), amongst others. The work seeks to improve upon the electrochemical performance of the best commercial and academic cells of such types, if possible. In increasing the efficiency with which renewable electricity can be converted into renewable hydrogen and back, this project will support the national priority of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.Read moreRead less
Highly-efficient, reversible fuel cell. This project aims to develop a reversible fuel cell - electrolyser capable of storing electricity (in the form of hydrogen gas) with the same overall energy efficiency as the best present storage system, pumped hydro. Whereas pumped hydro requires large infrastructure like dams, the proposed cell will be extremely inexpensive and easily scalable.