This project will develop a Novel Phycoremediation technology “phycosol” for winery process effluent with simultaneously generation of biomass for biofuels and other beneficial products enhancing the circular economy.

PhD Thesis underway by Praveen Kuppan.

Petroleum hydrocarbon is one of the most common soil contaminants in many countries. Considering the magnitude and impact of this problem, remediating contaminated soils are inevitable. Several methods have been used to remediate hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, however, some of the methods are not cost effective or environment friendly. Biochar, a low cost carbonaceous product, has gained relevance for remediation of contaminated soil.

In my research, I am using biosolids as a source of biochar production. The use of biosolids in production of biochar and its subsequent application in remediation provides an opportunity to re-purpose waste from the water industry for valuable use.

Thesis underway.

Management of sewage sludge is an issue for Industry. Hydrothermal processing can be used to hydrothermally treat different kinds of sewage sludge such as primary, activated, and digested sludge and convert them into value added products such as hydrochar, biooil, aqueous phase and gas. This process will also be trialled on alum sludge and food and organic garden waste (FOGO). PFAS (Per and polyfluoro alkyl substances), another major concern of the water industry will be trialled to see if co-hydrothermal treatment can potentially degrade this emerging compound. This research will also investigate the techno commercial viability assessment of co-hydrothermal process.

PhD Thesis underway by Kamrun Nahar.

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.

Chicken Manure represents one of the largest organic waste streams in Australia. Anaerobic Digestion is an alternative waste treatment method that carries the advantage of biomethane production. The use of chicken manure as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion can generate not only biogas, but a digestate rich in nutrients that can be used as a biofertilizer, creating a circular economy. However, the use of chicken manure as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion can be challenging due to its high nitrogen content. In this project, the addition of biochar, a cost-effective carbonaceous material made from the pyrylosis of biomass, to mitigate the ammonia stress that accompanies the anaerobic digestion of chicken manure. Ultimately, the use of biochar can improve biomethane production.

PhD Thesis underway by Tien Ngo.

To face the mounting pressures of increasing demands on depleting fresh water supplies, the water industries are compelled to explore alternative water supplies such as desalination, water recycling (Indirect and Direct Potable Reuse), and storm water reuse, among others. However, community attitudes to such alternative sources and technologies remain a critical barrier to be overcome in most contexts.  This research will explore community attitudes to different sources of water, particularly in relation to trust (both in the relevant technology, and trust in the administrating water utility), the perceived need for alternatives in light of climate change, and the so-called ‘yuck factor’, which is often cited in the water literature as a key cause of negative attitudes to alternative water sources.

PhD Thesis underway by Christina Semasingha.

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.