The sustainable application of biosolids to agricultural land is being limited by many contaminants such as microbial pathogens, PFAS, microplastics, and heavy metals. The thermal treatment of biosolids via pyrolysis can destroy the microbial and organic contaminants; however, heavy metals remain a persistent problem with biosolids and its thermally derived products. Therefore, pyrolysis alone may not satisfactorily deal with the limiting problem of heavy metals in biosolids and biochar. This work is developing an integrated acid extraction and pyrolysis process to reduce the heavy metals load in biosolids and convert the pre-treated biosolids to useful carbon and nutrient rich biochar and valuable chemicals.

PhD Thesis underway by Ibrahim Hakeem.

This project has four specific objectives: (1) To identify ways to prevent or reduce the incidence of foaming during anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge; (2) to identify the core microbiome associated with efficient digestor performance during stabilisation of sewage sludge; (3) to assess how changes in the reactor environment affect contaminant transformations; (4) to assess the impacts of biosolid post-treatments on the metabolic capacity of the microbial community, pathogen-survival, contaminant-transformations and ecotoxicology of final products.

PhD Thesis underway by Timothy Micallef.

Waterborne pathogens cause millions of people to be sick each year globally, putting a burden on hospitals and having financial implications. This research aims to identify the waterborne pathogens at the point of need, sample collection sites, water plants, treatment plants, water quality check points and drinking water quality assurance etc. The research outcomes will inform best practice for clean drinking water supply to the community thus improving public health and wellbeing.

PhD Thesis underway by Alka Rani.

This project investigated Metabolomics-based applications (LC-MS and GC-MS) to advance cyanobacterial toxin detection and analysis in water to:
• Understand the biochemical triggers for cyanobacterial blooms.
• Identification of any new potential toxins produced from blooms.
• Assess the application of metabolomics  for the rapid detection of cyanobacterial toxins and identification of unknown toxins.
• Asses the cost effectiveness and time efficient technique.
• Characterise the biomolecules present in bloom as toxins are produced.

Thesis underway.

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.

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.

Growing populations and climate change place increased pressures on our water supplies. Stormwater harvesting and reuse offers a potential option to augment traditional water resources. Before it can be utilised within a given context, however, its safety must be established. This project developed a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) model representing pathogen sources and treatment barriers within a proposed stormwater harvesting scheme. The BBN can utilise a range of data sources and be constantly updated to assist managers to engage effectively with stakeholders and identify the most appropriate combination of risk management strategies available to them.

Honours Thesis completed by Dean Albert Mensinga in October 2019.

Anabaena circinalis, is a commonly occurring cyanobacterial species in Australian source waters. Its presence poses a number of health and aesthetic issues for drinking water quality due to its production of secondary metabolites. This project isolated and characterised a novel toxic fraction from the Anabaena culture.

Honours Thesis completed by Stefania Sotora in November 2012.

This project addressed the removal rate of ammonia by microorganisms and designed a pathogen survey to establish the level of contaminants present within influent water at the Aquifer storage and recovery site at the Aldinga Aquifer.

Honours Thesis completed by Kimberly A. Sieburn in November 2011.

This project determined the decay rates of E. coli, S. typhimurium, bacteriophage (MS2) and adenovirus in biosolids-amended soil used in agriculture. The die off rates of these pathogens were tested over the duration of the growing season in a wheat crop at sites in the central wheatbelt of Western Australia and in South Australia.

PhD Thesis completed by Karen Rosemary Schwarz in March 2012.