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July Research News
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Research Newsletter – July 2024
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Welcome to our July 2024 Research and Innovation Newsletter.
There are an army of researchers out there looking for solutions to make our economy more circular, find creative uses for our waste and provide a food grade product to our kitchen taps.
It is astonishing how much research they produce from month to month. This month is no exception. Read on to see what they have been up to.
If you’ve stumbled on this newsletter and would like to receive future editions please click here to subscribe.
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Industry Innovation and Resilience
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Updated Fact Sheet on PFAS in Drinking Water
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WSAA recently updated its fact sheet on per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The factsheet provides detailed background on the challenges for the water sector in managing PFAS.
While no public health and safety issues with PFAS have been identified from the overall dietary exposure for the general Australian population, the use of PFAS in everyday household items and consumer products is a challenge for wastewater systems and existing conventional treatment processes.
The most effective way to limit PFAS in wastewater is to reduce the potential sources of contamination before they enter the wastewater system.
Read more at WSAA
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QUT to lead ARC Research Hub in the IoT for Water
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The Australian Research Council has announced $5 million in funding for the ARC Research Hub in the Internet of Things for Water to be based at QUT.
The aim of the ARC Research Hub in the Internet of Things for Water include: developing new sensor technologies; developing advanced visualization and data analytics; and developing algorithms for real-time control of water systems, including water supply, wastewater and stormwater.
More information available at QUT
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Energy and the Circular Economy
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Sustainable Removal of Heavy Metal Contaminants from Groundwater
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Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science have developed a a novel remediation process for removing heavy metal contaminants such as arsenic from groundwater.
The three-step method, which is patent-pending, also ensures that the removed heavy metals are disposed of in an environment-friendly and sustainable manner.
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Enzymes Break Down Microplastics in Wastewater
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Researchers led by Cornell University have successfully engineered a new enzyme capable of breaking down plastic in the complex conditions found in sewage sludge.
The enzyme was first discovered by a team of Japanese researchers outside a landfill and reported in Science in 2016. Since then, researchers have been scrambling to discover and engineer similar enzymes that can biodegrade plastics more quickly and under a range of conditions.
The goal of this research is to engineer enzymes that can break down microplastics into small products that can be used as energy sources for bacteria used in the wastewater treatment process.
Read more at PhysOrg
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Desalination Breakthrough Uses Sun, Not Electricity
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Researchers at the Australian National University have developed a new approach for desalinating water that does not use electricity.
The method uses solar energy and can be deployed in remote locations, even in low-income countries.
Read more at Interesting Engineering
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New Behaviour of Membranes that Could Lead to Improved Separations
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Researchers at Argonne and the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago have been investigating the properties of isoporous membranes, which are membranes in which all the pores are the same size.
Previously, researchers had believed there was a limit to the sharpness of the separations that they could achieve at the nanoscale, not only because of variations in pore size, but also a phenomenon called “hindered transport.”
The new understanding of how isoporous membranes operate offers tantalising hope for a range of new and more effective separations that can impact across numerous sectors of the economy.
Read more at WaterOnline
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Potential Microbes and Genes that Impact PFAS Identified
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Researchers from Cornell University have identified microbes that may play important roles in breaking down harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
People began using PFAS chemicals less than 100 years ago. Since then, exposure to the chemicals may have given microbes opportunities to adapt and develop pathways for transforming them.
This study examined communities of microbes that have been exposed to PFAS and determined that the microbes appear to be working in teams.
Read more ath WaterOnline
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New Method to Degrade PFAS in the Lab
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Researchers from UNSW’s School of Chemistry have designed a catalyst system that can activate a reaction to break down common types of branched PFAS.
The method is a type of reductive defluorination, which decreases the toxicity of PFAS by breaking the strong C–F bonds of branched PFAS.
The researchers claim that the new method holds promise for more efficient and sustainable PFAS remediation in the future.
Read more at PhysOrg
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Nanoconfined Materials Developed for Efficient Fluoride Removal from Water
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Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed an innovative material for the efficient removal of fluoride ions from water.
The new material is called a La-Mg LDH/Ti3C2TX adsorption membrane and uses the nano confinement effect to enhance its performance.
If you’re still not sure what it does, find out more on this link at PhysOrg.
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Dry Air Creates Drinking Water
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US researchers have successfully demonstrated the use of adsorbent fins to harvest water from the air. The approach is more efficient than water harvesting tech tested before and may help secure water in dry and arid regions.
The researchers used a novel fin design for water adsorption by sandwiching thin copper sheets between copper foam coated in a zeolite material.
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Water Velocity Measurement Using Optical Fiber Sensor
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Researchers from Spain have developed a novel method for measuring water velocity in open channels and rivers using optical fibre sensors based on fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs).
The researchers claim that the new FBG sensors, offer precise, nonintrusive, and effective water flow monitoring in various applications.
Read more at Azooptics.com
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WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY
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Green Sorbents from Agricultural Wastes: A Review
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Researchers from the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology have thoroughly examined the potential cost-effectiveness of natural biosorbents as a wastewater treatment solution.
The paper provides a comprehensive review of the fundamentals of biosorption and strategies to improve the efficiency of biosorbents.
The paper also discusses developments in biosorbents derived from agricultural waste and their application to remove toxic elements.
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Electrodeionization Used to Capture Acid from Waste
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In interesting news, researchers at Pennsylvania State University have developed a new class of ion-exchange membrane wafer assemblies that significantly improves electrodeionizaton’s ability to capture p-coumaric acid from liquid mixtures while using less energy and saving money.
First commercialised to purify water, the process was applied, in this work, to a liquid stream fed through a stack of several ion-exchange membranes and resin wafers. When electricity was applied, the ions in the liquid move through the stack, and p-coumaric acid separates into a concentrated process stream.
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Researchers Make Smiling Robot with Living Skin
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Researchers from the University of Tokyo have used human cells to develop an equivalent to living skin that can be attached to robotic surfaces to flash a realistic smile.
The biohybrid robot specialists hope the technology will one day play a role in the invention of androids with human-like appearances and abilities.
Read more at PhysOrg
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Climate Change is Increasing Groundwater Temperatures
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Researchers from the University of Newcastle and Charles Darwin University have developed a model which aims to reveal the long-term implications of on-going shallow water groundwater warming caused by climate change.
The model projects the highest warming rates will be in Central Russia, Northern China and parts of North America and the Amazon rainforest, with Australian groundwater temperatures also expected to rise.
Read more at the University of Newcastle
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NSW State Conference
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Water the Key in Unlocking a Regional Sustainable Future
28 – 29 August 2024, Albury
Featuring a high-calibre line-up of international, national and local water industry professionals. This is a conference you will not want to miss. Expect to hear from local regional councils, the University of Sydney, Veolia and Sydney Water (just to name a few!).
Register here
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Voices from the Bush Conference 2024
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10 – 11 September 2024, Alice Springs
This conference has been created as a dedicated space for open dialogue on the pressing matters affecting regional and remote Australian communities. The focus is on sharing, connecting, and promoting thought leadership, acknowledging the particular significance and challenges relating to water in the lives and livelihoods of our rural and remote communities.
Read more here
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International Cleanup Conference – Adelaide 2024
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15 – 19 September 2024, Adelaide
The 10th International Contaminated Site Remediation Conference incorporating the 4th International PFAS Conference.
Join delegates from Australia and around the world to help build professional skills on PFAS management, human health risk assessment, bioremediation and more.
More Information Here
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Circular Economy for Climate and Environment
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Sep 29 – Oct 2, University of Technology Sydney
This conference aims to serve as a dynamic platform, bringing together researchers from academia, industries, government, and NGOs on a global scale.
The conference’s thematic scope extends across circular economy applications in water, energy, environment, waste, resource recovery, and climate change.
Read more here
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Global Nature Positive Summit
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8-10 October 2024, International Convention Centre, Sydney
Australia will host the first Global Nature Positive Summit at the International Convention Centre in Sydney on 8-10 October 2024.
The Summit will bring together delegates from around the world including ministers, environment groups, Aboriginal peoples, business, scientists and community leaders, to consider how to supercharge investment in projects that repair nature.
The Global Nature Positive Summit is an invitation-only event.
To register your interest in hearing more about the Summit, please go to: www.dcceew.gov.au/naturepositivesummit
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If you see any interesting articles, projects or news about new research that others might be interested in, please send to [email protected] – it could even make the next newsletter due in August 2024. |
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Research Data Australia
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Find, access, and re-use data from over one hundred Australian research organisations
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Australian Government – GrantConnect
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Forecast and current Australian Government grant opportunities
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