Environmental Projects

Environmental Projects

The environmental research in our group focus primarily upon aspects of air pollution abatement, water resource management and solid waste management. The projects addresses some of the most fundamental issues for society including:the provision of safe water supplies and sanitation, sustainable water resource development, removal of volatile organic compound to improve air quality and the management of wastes and their environmental impact.

 

Environmental Projects

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Life-cycle CO2 analysis of a novel process for extracting Mg compounds from bitterns and brines
This project aims to determine the CO2-equivalent emissions from the EcoMag process producing high purity MgO/Mg(OH)2 and of equivalent products produced by the two commercial technologies. The EcoMag process has been developed at the EcoMag-CNU laboratory in South Korea and patented since 2015. During the process, HMC is produced from precipitation of Mg values contained in bitterns or brines using Na2CO3 as a precipitant. The feed materials could be bitterns disposed from saltworks or brines discharged from potash operation after recovery of sulphate/muriate of potash (SOP/MOP). They are considered wastes or secondary materials after harvesting NaCl, SOP and MOP. In this study, modelling the carbon footprints of magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide (>99% purity) production based on technologies treating bischofite brines (e.g. Aman process) and serpentinite ores (e.g. Magnifin process) was performed. The result is published in Journal of Cleaner Production (2018). The project is in collaboration with EcoMag and supported by TechVoucher...Read more in published article
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Advanced Magnesium materials from the sea
The project will involve developing magnesium-based organic complexes from a high purity MgO source, which can be used as precursors to produce MgO aerogels as sorbents and/or catalyst supports for energy and environmental applications (such as for air purification applications). This work is to be conducted in collaboration with EcoMag and the CSIRO as part of UNSW's Industry PhD program. ..Watch this ...
Multi-scale Strategy to Manage Chloramine Decay and Nitrification in Water Distribution
Multi-scale Strategy to Manage Chloramine Decay and Nitrification in Water Distribution
The project seeks to develop multi-scale approaches towards the understanding and control of chloroamine and nitrification in drinking water supplies. ..Read more...
Development and Modelling of Advanced Coagulation and Oxidation Processes
Development and Modelling of Advanced Coagulation and Oxidation Processes
The proposed project aims to develop strategic and integrated approaches to address the impact of variability in water characteristics caused by climate change on Australian water treatment processes...Read more...
Volatile Organic Compound removal from indoor air environments by an integrated photocatalytic/filtration system
Volatile Organic Compound removal from indoor air environments by an integrated photocatalytic/filtration system
This project seeks to develop an integrated photocatalytic filtration unit for improving air quality in indoor environments, with an emphasis on aircraft cabins...Read more...
The effect of common bacterial growth media on zinc oxide thin films: identification of reaction products and implications for the toxicology of ZnO
The development of novel coating that will reduce/prevent the growth of biofilm in drinking water pipeline
Deterioration of drinking water quality during storage or in distribution systems remains one of the major difficulties experienced by potable water industries. While water produced in the treatment plant may be of high biological quality, bacterial numbers could increase during distribution. This could be due to introduction of bacteria from external sources, or internal regrowth of bacteria and biofilms. Biofilm development is a result of successful attachment and subsequent growth of microorganisms on a surface.It has been shown that bacteria within biofilms are 10,000 fold more resistant to disinfectants than free floating (planktonic) bacteria. This project will aim to synthesise novel coatings for water pipeline with a controlled morphology to reduce biofilm formation or remove established biofilms. ..Read more ...