Algal systems can be used to decrease the concentration of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in wastewater to low levels, and hence reduce the harm of wastewater discharge and facilitate water reuse. This research contributed to the improvements of alginate-immobilised systems for wastewater treatment and demonstrated its technical feasibility for nutrient removal from different wastewaters. The findings can be used to guide how to best implement and integrate alginate-immobilised algae into new and existing wastewater treatment plants and can form the basis for viability assessment of its commercial application.

PhD Thesis completed by Matthew Kube in December 2019.

This project established unifying framework for the calculation of robustness metrics, which assists with understanding how robustness metrics work, when they should be used, and why they sometimes disagree. The framework categorizes the suitability of metrics to a decision-maker based on the decision-context, the decision-makers’s preferred level of risk aversion, and the decision-maker’s preference towards maximising performance or minimising variance. This conceptual framework describes when different robustness metrics are likely to agree and disagree.

PhD Thesis completed by Cameron McPhail in August 2020.

Cyanobacterial blooms are a concern for water utilities due to the potential production of cyanotoxins and taste and odours. Current detection methods are slow and may not capture changes in bloom density which can prevent utilities in rapidly adjusting their treatment process. This project investigated using in situ fluorometers as a tool for real-time cyanobacteria monitoring an treatment adjustment.

PhD Thesis completed by Florence Choo in 2019.

Conventional activated sludge (CAS) has been widely used for biological nutrient removal in the secondary treatment stage of the wastewater process for well over 100 years. Until recently, this technology has remained relatively unchanged until the emergence of aerobic granular sludge (AGS). This new technology has been identified as a potential replacement to the traditional microbial floc. AGS results in the biomass forming dense microbial granules with greater settling velocity, this can allow for greater volumes of wastewater to be treated by reducing the cycle times. This project will investigate several facets of the process  including impacts on water recycling (pathogen removal and tertiary disinfection), energy use or greenhouse gas emissions.

PhD Thesis completed by Benjamin John Thwaites in February 2021.

Viruses are responsible for more than 50% of all health-care associated gastroenteritis. Of those, norovirus is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis and adenovirus which  can cause a wide range of clinical diseases. Molecular surveillance of these viruses is essential to identifying prevalent strains that link to epidemics. This is the first Australian study to assess population-level epidemiology of norovirus and adneovirus, highlighting the benefits of using both clinical and environmental samples for surveillance of viruses circulation within the population. A better understanding of the viral strains’ distribution enhances the development of successful vaccines.

PhD Thesis completed by Jennifer Hoi Yin Lun in August 2018.

Detection of Algal and Cyanobacterial blooms have increased in lakes, rivers and reservoirs over the last two decades. This hampers drinking water treatment processes due to the high cell numbers and the release of algal organic matter that comprises toxins and taste and odour compounds. This project examined the in-depth potential of in situ fluorometers to improve early warning of bloom development via the analysis of fluorescent cell pigments to give an estimate of cell biovolume.

PhD Thesis completed by Sara Imran Khan in March 2019.

This project addressed major knowledge gaps regarding biological dynamics and solids behaviour in Als which lead to development of improved operating protocols, designed for efficient, stable and low-risk operation over the long term. Guidelines contributed to  low-cost treatment for domestic and industrial wastewaters whilst enabling recovery of renewable energy to further offset treatment costs.   A novel pilot-scale anaerobic lagoon reactor with sufficient height to replicate sludge and scum stratification that occurs in full-scale ALs was designed, built and commissioned to achieve these results.

PhD Thesis completed by Peter Wardop in 2021.

This project determined disinfection by product contribution from chlorination of algae.

Honours/PhD Thesis completed by Adam John Tomlinson in July 2018.

This research identified and validated the impacts of particle-pathogen association on the disinfection of various microorganisms in the treated wastewater effluents.

PhD Thesis completed by Charndeep Chahal in April 2020.

This project improved the knowledge of how algae species (population density, morphology and AOM concentration and character) and coagulation conditions (coagulant type, pH, polymer dose, and shear) impact algal floc properties in order to improve the C-F process and downstream separation treatment.

PhD Thesis completed by Andrea Del Pilar Gonzalez Torres in June 2018.