Projects

◈ ARC Research Hub for Energy-efficient Separation

The Hub aims to develop advanced separation materials, innovative products and smart processes to reduce the energy consumption of separation processes which underpin Australian industry. The Hub focuses on the development, synthesis, characterisation and integration of advanced materials (membranes, adsorbents and resins), across scales to enable novel products. The intended research outcomes allow the majority of Australian industry to become more energy-efficient and cost-competitive in a global economy. The Hub also aims to develop a highly-trained, industry-ready workforce and advance Australia’s capability as a world-leading technology provider in manufacturing advanced separation materials and equipment.

◈ Pyrolysis of low-rank coal, biomass and scrap tyre for the production of multiple value-added products

This project aims to deploy the pyrolysis technology for a variety of feedstock including coal, biomass and scrap tyre in pilot-scale and even larger scale for the production of three key value-added products. The project is led by Cleantech Energy Australia and supported by the Department of Industry and Science under its AusIndustry Ruling Scheme. This project will focus on acquiring the fundamental knowledge required to develop a novel technology for the pyrolysis of Victorian brown coal (VBC) and other low-quality feedstocks to produce a high-quality solid semi-coke and a tar-free hydrogen-rich gas. While the resultant solid char aims to meet the quality requirements to be exported as a fuel in a blast furnace, the gas can be used for the synthesis of chemicals and liquid fuels with no wastewater effluent to contaminate the environment.

◈ Mixing of Lignite and high-ash-melting bituminous coal for slagging-type gasification

The lean ash and high iron content in Victorian brown coal (VBC) brings troubles for slagging in entrained flow gasification. This paper aims to improve VBC entrained flow gasification through experimental and modelling approaches. An industrially pyrolysed VBC char and a silica rich bituminous coal, as well as VBC char with black coal char (BCC) blends, are selected for high-temperature gasification investigation in a lab-scale drop tube furnace (DTF) from 1000-1300 ^°C with different CO₂ volume fractions.

◈ ARC Research Hub for nanoscience based construction material manufacturing

The research Hub will develop novel construction materials including binders, cement additives, high performance concrete materials, concrete structural systems, polymer composites, and pavement materials. The multidisciplinary Hub provides a centralised platform to transform construction materials industry into an advanced manufacturing sector delivering sustainable and resilient infrastructure assets. The Hub will deeply drive advances in nanotechnology, cement chemistry, concrete technology and develop extreme engineering solutions. The Hub will train the next generation of skilled workforce, re-positioning Australian industry competitiveness and global market leadership to capture international infrastructure development opportunities.

◈ Hydrometallurgical extraction of brown coal fly ash and spent lithium batteries (SLBs) and the manufacturing of nano-sized materials

A closed-loop multi-step process which allows leaching and precipitation of magnesium and calcium as carbonate from Victorian brown coal fly ash has been examined. Victorian brown coal fly ash has a distinctively high concentration of alkaline earth metals and low amounts of aluminum and silica. The main objective here is to clarify the dissolution kinetics of magnesium and calcium in regenerative ammonium chloride and subsequent carbonation of dissolved cations. Instead of a once-through test with fresh ammonium chloride, multiple locked circuits were adopted to assess the leaching capability of regenerated ammonium salt, as well as the accumulation of impurities upon the recycling and reuse of the leaching agent. Besides, we are also conducting researches about producing nano-sized materials using Mg/Fe leached from fly ash.

◈ In-situ catalytic upgrading of bio-oil using scrap tyre char

This project aims to develop advanced, cost-competitive catalysts based on scrap tyre char, an otherwise low-value by-product. These catalysts will be optimised for use in upgrading bio-oil derived from the pyrolysis of woody eucalyptus, an abundant biomass resource across Australia. The project is expected to promote the commercialization of bio-oil production and enhance the valorization of scrap tyre char. This is expected to reduce the carbon footprint from Australian industry and promote the recycling and reuse of waste scrap tyres.