Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology - … · 2018. 8. 7. · technology at a range of wastewater treatment plant sizes through a mass ... process flowsheeting

School of Chemical Engineering UQ Summer Research Project Description

Project title: Economic Assessment of a Retrofitting Process Solution to Achieve Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal from Wastewater

Project duration: 10 weeks

Description: Phosphorus (P) is a key nutrient that stimulates the growth of toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and must be removed from wastewater to avoid causing pollution of marine systems. Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is a cost-effective and sustainable biological wastewater treatment process (WWTP) that removes high levels of phosphorus without the need for costly chemical precipitation. Nevertheless, EBPR is a challenging process in high-temperature regions (e.g. Queensland) due to microbial competition with organisms that do not remove phosphorus. The aim of this project will be to assess the economic feasibility of a side-stream process that can achieve high-temperature EBPR through retrofitting existing WWTP facilities. This project will involve an assessment of the capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating expenses (OPEX) associated with the side-stream EBPR technology at a range of wastewater treatment plant sizes through a mass balance approach. This will provide an economic basis regarding the potential for a wastewater treatment plant to implement side-stream EBPR as opposed to chemical precipitation for P removal. This study could impact the economic efficiency and environmental sustainability of numerous wastewater treatment facilities in warm climates such as Queensland.

Expected outcomes and deliverables:

In addition to expanding their knowledge relative to economic assessment and wastewater treatment processes, students will have the opportunity to generate a publication from their research. Furthermore, their work will involve direct contact with members of the wastewater treatment industry and may lead to impacts benefitting industrial practice in the region. Students will be asked to generate a draft of a scientific publication related to their work by the end of the project.

Suitable for: This project is open to applications from UQ students enrolled in Chemical Engineering, 2-4 year students.

Supervisors:

Dr. Adrian Oehmen and Dr Liu Ye

Further info: For further information, please contact [email protected] or phone 3365 3729.

mailto:[email protected]

UQ Summer Research Project Description

Project title: Characterising starches for improved mineral separation efficiency


Description: Students will be supporting research scientists and chemical engineers

in identifying modified starches suitable for mineral processing applications.

The project will include a literature search, design of an experimental program, and performing the required experiments.

Under the direction of research chemists and chemical engineers, the student will be responsible for their own research investigation into characterizing novel modified starch polymers.


The student will be expected to capture their work in a written report and to make an oral presentation to the research project group.

Suitable for: Completed 2nd year of their degree program and be studying Chemical

Engineering (or equivalent).

Must have strong core skills in chemical engineering. Background in biopolymers/biomaterials/bioprocess engineering is valued.

Research skills experience such as writing literature reviews, performing patent searches, or other research experience is of value in this role.

Good communication skills are essential. Must be equally able to work independently on own projects and as part of research team.

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Brenton Fletcher

Further info: Please contact Dr Brenton Fletcher ([email protected]) for further details.



Project title: 3D printing of heterogeneous catalysts for conversion of CO2 into fuels


Description: Background: Numerous studies have shown strong evidence for a significant impact of CO2 to our ecosystem. Efficient process that converts CO2 into fuels or other chemical compounds is needed to reduce CO2 levels. Aim: To explore catalyst formulations for the CO2 hydrogenation reaction and conduct catalytic tests with optimized catalysts. Compare catalytic properties of 3D printed with conventional (pellets) catalysts for conversion of CO2 into fuels


Outcomes: To learn working with 3D printing and generate CAD files for various channel structure; To conduct catalytic reactions using structured catalysts (3D printed monolith); To collect reaction data and analyse gas and liquid products with GC (FID,TCD); Present data (oral presentation) and publish the results at the end of the project.

Suitable for: For students 3-4th Year chemical engineering and materials engineering students

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Muxina Konarova

Further info: Please contact via email if students have further queries: ([email protected])



Project title: Modelling Liquid Metal Membranes for membrane reactors


Description: This project focuses on a membrane reactor system which combines product separation with reaction in order to shift the equilibrium of the process to higher conversion. Additional benefits include reduced downstream separation and smaller plant footprint. In this project we intend to use liquid metal membranes in a molten metal bath to remove hydrogen as it is produced. This should enhance hydrogen production from methane pyrolysis and/or product yield from the dehydrogenation of alkanes.


Students are expected to produce a working process model for the membrane reactor system. The model will then be used to explore the technoeconomic feasibility of such a system. Students will gain insight into reactor modelling, membrane operation, process flowsheeting and economics.

Suitable for: This project is suitable for chemical engineering students who have completed 3rd Year (esp. CHEE3007, CHEE3005, CHEE3020). Students who do not have experience with Aspen

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Simon Smart

Further info: Please contact Dr Simon Smart ([email protected]) for further information



Project title: Co-Production of chemicals and magnesium


Description: The Australian magnesium process involves the electrolysis of anhydrous magnesium chloride to produce magnesium and chlorine. The chlorine is then reacted with hydrogen to regenerate the hydrochloric acid which is used to produce magnesium chloride by leaching the magnesium ore. Chlorine is a valuable feedstock for hydrocarbon chemistry and with the right process it would be possible to both regenerate the HCl and produce an upgraded hydrocarbon product. An example exists from previous work in the Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation for using the Cl2 to convert propane to propylene. This project will extend that analysis, to consider various configurations and feed stocks. The intention is to convert the work into a journal paper.


Students will gain insight into the integration of new elements into an existing process flowsheet. They will also gain experience in technoeconomic analysis and journal paper writing. Students will be expected to extend an existing analysis to a wider set of case studies and perform more sensitivity analyses. They are also expected to help in the drafting of a journal paper that will arise from the work.

Suitable for: This project is suitable for 3rd and 4th year engineering students who excelled at CHEE3020. It focuses on process flowsheeting and process economics.

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Simon Smart

Further info: Please contact Dr Simon Smart ([email protected]) for further information



Project title: Using computer simulation to understand the performance of carbon electrodes in supercapacitors.


Description: Background: Developing improved energy storage technologies is a central scientific challenge in the fight against climate change. Super-capacitors are an exciting energy storage technology due to their long lives and fast charging. These devices almost always rely on carbon based materials due to their high surface area. However, experiments show that the charge storage ability of carbon materials is far lower than expected and the reason for this is still debated. Hypothesis: Experimental work in the last few years has demonstrated that organic contaminants adsorbing to the surface of the carbon play an important role in this reduction. However, a full understanding of the importance of this effect is still missing. Aim: The aim of this project is to understand how much of the diminished performance of carbon based materials in super-capacitors is attributable to organic contaminants and to identify techniques that could reduce this effect. Approach: This project will use molecular dynamics simulation and modeling to study the effect of organic contaminants on the energy storage ability of carbon-based materials in super-capacitors. Simple simulations of organic molecules in water on graphite will be the first step, then more sophisticated simulations to account for the role of surface charge, surface roughness and dopants will be attempted.


Applicants can expect to learn the fundamental basis and practical implementation of molecular dynamics simulation. As well as an understanding of the challenges in the field of energy storage and theoretical approaches used to overcome these challenges. Applicants will be asked to produce a short report detailing their work at the end of their project, the work will be incorporated into future peer reviewed publications.

Suitable for: Students who have studied physical chemistry and experience working with computer software for simulation would be preferable.

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Timothy Duignan

Further info: Please contact Dr Timothy Duignan ([email protected]) for further information



Project title: Tribology of model particle systems for understanding lubrication in chocolate


Description: Texture plays a key role in determining consumer appreciation of various food products and is related to the physical changes that occur to food structure during chewing. Tribology provides a means for understanding the physical mechanisms that may occur in-mouth, and is fast emerging as a tool to relate perceived mouthfeel attributes to instrumental measurements. Several foods are composed of particles which vary in volume, size and hardness, e.g. hard sugar crystals in chocolate, soft fat particles in milk. Previous work on the tribology of suspensions have indicated that phase volume influences friction coefficient by determining the extent of particle entrainment into the contact zone. This project aims to analyse the relationship between particle hardness, phase volume and friction coefficient in more detail, identify the mechanisms by which particles influence friction between sliding surfaces and whether this mechanism changes with particle hardness. The findings from this work will contribute towards a fundamental understanding of the factors that govern lubrication in particle suspensions, and can be applied to a range of systems.


Students will gain practical research skills in planning and conducting experiments, collecting and analysing data, and interpreting the results. The work conducted by the student may also have the opportunity to be published. Students will be asked to deliver a report or oral presentation at the end of their project.

Suitable for: Students with a background in chemical engineering, interest in tribology and/or food. Good attention to detail is a must!

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Sophia Rodrigues

Further info: Contact: [email protected] Alternative: [email protected]




Project title: Effect of crosslinking on the lubrication of engineered polysaccharides/mucin multilayers.


Description: This project aims at creating lubricating surfaces inspired by saliva lubrication. Saliva is a very good lubricant thanks to the presence of a group of glycoproteins called mucins. However, mucin alone cannot reproduce saliva lubricating properties in vitro and we believe that the presence of polysaccharides on surfaces can help mucin form better lubricating films. We have previously grafted polysaccharides onto surfaces in order to mimic the base layer of the salivary film. We now want to investigate the interactions of mucin with this polysaccharide layer. In particular this project will focus on investigating the role of crosslinking on the lubrication of the polysaccharide/mucin assembly. It is expected that crosslinking will reinforce the interactions between the polysaccharides and mucin and increase the wear resistance of the films. To study this engineered multilayered film, the student will first functionalise some surfaces with polysaccharides and will then perform a crosslinking reaction with mucin under varying conditions. They will then use a tribometer to measure the lubrication properties of the new films.


Expected outcomes: - Gain knowledge in the areas of polysaccharide physico-chemistry, tribology, rheology. - Lab experience, including data collection and operation of complex equipment

(tribometer, rheometer) - Analysis of data - Exposure to a dynamic research environment with regular scientific seminars and

discussions.

Deliverables: - Oral presentations at the start and end of project - Written report at the end of project

Suitable for: 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students with a background in chemistry (ability to perform simple chemical reactions) and an interest in bio-inspired materials.

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Clementine Pradal

Further info: Dr Clementine Pradal [email protected] Prof Jason Stokes [email protected]




Project title: Engineering superior biolubricating films


Description: This project will develop the potential for use of low gel strength gelatine. This will be achieved through systematic investigation of lubrication properties as a function of gelatine properties, ionic strength and pH. The aim is to use gelatine, which has similarities to one component of human saliva, to mimic the exceptional lubricating properties of whole human saliva. A highly lubricating saliva mimic is essential to oral health and food texture and taste perception.


Students will gain practical research skills in planning and conducting

experiments, collecting and analysing data, and interpreting the results.

The work conducted by the student may also have the opportunity to be

published. Students will be asked to deliver a report or oral presentation at

the end of their project.

Suitable for: Students with a background in chemical engineering, interest in rheology

and tribology, and good attention to detail.

Students who are engaged by industrially relevant real world applications of fundamental science and engineering.

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Heather Shewan

Further info: Contact: [email protected] ; Alternative: [email protected]




Project title: Liquid crystallinity of colloidal cellulose suspension


Description: Colloidal biopolymers, like DNA, peptides and polysaccharides, spontaneously form liquid crystal phase in aqueous conditions, primarily with nematic or chiral nematic ordering. The liquid crystallinity of these systems are important to enable unique biological and mechanical functions e.g. mass transfer, light transmission or lubrication. Cellulose, a most abundant polymer material in nature, has the ability to form ordered phase both in plant and in aqueous dispersion of colloidal cellulose. The aim of this project is to collect some ground information of liquid crystallinity of aqueous suspension of colloidal cellulose with the solution ionic strength adjusted by different types of electrolytes. The student will be encouraged to investigate the effect of solution ionic strength and ion specificities on the liquid crystallinity of colloidal cellulose suspension. Student is supposed to document a literature review and conduct experimental works under supervision of a qualified lab user. Experimental work including polarizing graph/microscopy and rheology measurement will be completed in “Rheology, Tribology and Bio-interfaces Laboratory” led by Prof. Jason Stokes.


Students may gain skill/knowledge in rheology concept and measurement, liquid crystallinity and colloidal science, and general data collecting and analysis techniques. A written report and an oral presentation is required at the end of the project. Results from this project may contribute or partly contribute to a publication. Therefore, there may be an opportunity of an authorship or co-authorship of a general paper.

Suitable for: 2nd to 4th year undergraduate student or course work post-graduate student majored in Chemical Engineering or its varieties. It is expected that undergraduate applicants have finished all compulsory courses listed for their program up to the year of their study. Exchange students who have studied in UQ for at least 2 semesters are also suitable for this project.

Primary Supervisor:

Yuan Xu Professor Jason Stokes

Further info: Contact: [email protected] Alternative: [email protected]



Project title: Fluid dynamic studies for the copper converting furnace


Description: The project is aiming to study the fluid dynamic behaviours in the copper converting furnace. The present project is to use water model to simulate the copper converting furnace and quantify the fluid dynamic behaviours as function of bath height, gas flowrate and pressure.


The experiments will be conducted in the model furnace using water and silicon oil to simulate the melt in the converting furnace. The mixing time and wave will be measured in the furnace with one or multiple lances at different flow rates. A report is expected at the end of the project and a publication may be produced from the results.

Suitable for: This project is suitable for the students from relevant majors in engineering who have completed at least two years undergraduate study.

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Mao Chen Prof Baojun Zhao

Further info: [email protected]



Project title: High-Temperature Processing of Deep-Sea Nodules


Description: The manganese and iron concretions knowns as manganese nodules or polymetallic sea nodules contain many valuable metals like Cu, Ni, and Co besides trace amount of Mo, V, Zn, Ti, Pt, Ag etc. As the land-based resources for Mn, Cu, Ni, and Co are depleting very fast, the exploration and exploitation of manganese nodules are essential to meet the future demands of Cu, Ni, Co and Mn in the world. This project will be focused on the extraction of valuable metals from sea nodules by the high-temperature carbothermic reduction processing. The high-temperature processing parameters such as the smelting temperature, reductant, and reduced alloy grade will be optimised.


The successful applicant can gain independent research skills including literature review, high-temperature experiment, sample preparation and examination. The student will also be asked to produce a report or oral presentation at the end of the project. A publication may be generated depending on the research outcomes.

Suitable for: This project is open to applications from students with a background in chemical engineering, 3-4 year undergraduate students or master course students, UQ enrolled students only.

Primary Supervisor:

Dr. Xiaodong Ma Prof. Baojun Zhao

Further info: For any inquiries about the project, please contact [email protected]



Project title: Synthesis of adsorption materials from mining tailings for heavy metal removal from aqueous/soil environment


Description: Currently, most clay minerals in the mining tailings or low-quality clay ores is perceived as the waste due to high-cost process and limited market. Recently, we have developed a sustainable way with low cost to utilise these clay minerals. By manipulating kinetics and crystallization process, various types of zeolite-like adsorption materials can be synthesized which can be used as high-performance absorbents for the heavy metal removal in the aqueous/soil environment. This project followed on the previous research project on synthesis of zeolites from pure kaolinite for heavy metal removal between 2017 and 2018. In this study, we will utilise the mud stone which is the tailings from raw building materials as the original source. We aims to conduct proof-of -concept study on synthesis the various types of zeolites from this mud stone. Then, these zeolites will be tested for the heavy metal adsorption in contaminated aqueous/soil. This project is supported by Advance Queensland Research Fellowship (http://www.chemeng.uq.edu.au/rt/)


The student will gain skills in experimental skills in sample sintering and alkaline leaching. There will likely be liquid and solid sample characterisation by ICP, XRD and SEM. The student will present project outcomes to the hydrometallurgy research group. The deliverable will be a functioning mass and energy balance model for the process and outcomes of the sensitivity analysis.

Suitable for: This project is most suited to metallurgical/chemical engineering students with an interest in the environmental science and industry crystallization.

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Hong Peng ([email protected])

Further info: If you are interested, please meet with Dr Hong Peng ([email protected]) to discuss this project.


Project title: Effect of impurities on gibbsite nucleation and crystallisation by in-situ characterisation facility


Description: Alumina (Al2O3), is the key intermediate commercial product for producing aluminium metal. Australia currently produces 20% of the world’s alumina, which represents a contribution of $7.1 billion per annum to the domestic economy. The production of alumina using the Bayer process, which is used to convert bauxite ore to alumina. In the Bayer process, alumina is recovered from aqueous alkaline aluminate solution by the crystallization of gibbsite (α-Al(OH)3). Gibbsite nucleation and crystal growth are extremely slow. Despite a long history of investigations regarding on gibbsite nucleation and growth, the slow precipitation rate and associated difficulties in process control remain a significant challenges for the alumina industry. This project followed on the previous research project on effect of impurities on DSP formation. In this study, we will utilise cutting edge in-situ XRD and AFM to monitor the anions, organic and DSPs on nucleation and crystal growth of gibbsite in the synthetic Bayer liquor. This project is supported by Advance Queensland Research Fellowship (http://www.chemeng.uq.edu.au/rt/)


The student will gain skills in experimental skills in sample preparation and crystal growth. There will likely be liquid and solid sample characterisation by ICP, XRD, AFM and SEM. The student will present project outcomes to the hydrometallurgy research group. The deliverable will be a functioning mass and energy balance model for the process and outcomes of the sensitivity analysis.

Suitable for: This project is most suited to metallurgical/chemical engineering students with an interest in the industry crystallization.

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Hong Peng ([email protected]) Dr James Vaughan ([email protected])

Further info: If you are interested, please meet with Dr Hong Peng ([email protected]) to discuss this project.



Project title: Surface chemistry of clay minerals in dewatering of fine coal rejects


Description: Clay minerals are widely present in all coal deposits as potential gangue minerals. The processing of high-clay-content deposits is becoming a significant challenge for the coal industry. Different clay minerals expose different faces that their response to water and dewatering aids will be different. Accordingly, dewatering difficulty for various clay minerals types will be different, and applied dewatering aids should be modified based on the change of the clay minerals type in the feed. The project aims to study surface chemistry of clay minerals using microelectrophoresis, XRD, XPS and AFM. Then, their dewatering behaviour using a single leaf filter unit will be investigated.


Scholars will obtain important knowledge on clay minerals surface chemistry and understand how it affects their dewatering behaviour. There will be an opportunity to have publications.

Suitable for: This project is open to applications from students with a background in Chemical Engineering, 3-4 year students, and UQ enrolled students.

Primary Supervisor:

Professor Anh Nguyen & Dr Majid Ejtemaei

Further info: Email contact for further details: [email protected]


UQ Summer Research Project Description Project title: Production of high purity nickel and cobalt salts

Project duration: 10 weeks (up to 3 projects)

Description: Australia is positioned to be a leading supplier of materials for emerging battery markets. New feed of cobalt, nickel and lithium are required in large quantities to meet this demand. A relatively recent intermediate product in primary nickel production is a crude mixed nickel-cobalt hydroxide, which needs to be refined further to obtain high purity battery precursor materials. These MEng research projects will focus on developing flowsheet options for refining mixed nickel-cobalt hydroxide to final products. The projects will involve the application of mass and energy balancing principles, analysis of the systems considering the process chemical thermodynamic. Also, certain aspects of the processes may be trialled in the hydrometallurgy laboratories, such as precipitation, crystallisation and ion exchange, to measure the reaction extents and impurity deportment.


The students will summarise the outcomes of the experimental studies in spreadsheet format along with a short report and presentation to the group.

Suitable for: This project is most suitable for students with a background in chemical-metallurgical engineering, chemical engineering, materials engineering, or chemistry.

Primary Supervisor:

James Vaughan

Further info: If interested, please discuss with James Vaughan or William Hawker ([email protected] / [email protected])




Project title: Development of novel perovskite materials for oxygen evolution

reaction


Description: Development of cost-effective and highly active catalysts for energy

conversion and storage devices plays a critical role in metal−air

batteries and electrochemical water splitting systems. This is because

the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a vital reaction for the

operation, is substantially sluggish even with precious metals-based

catalysts. Perovskite oxides represent one category of efficient

catalysts for the OER. Here, we design the novel perovskite as a

highly active and durable electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution

reaction.


Students may gain skills in data collection, or have an

opportunity to generate publications from their research.

Students may also be asked to produce a report or oral

presentation at the end of their project.

Suitable for: UQ enrolled students only.

Candidates with a background in chemical engineering

4-year students or master students only

Candidates must have the lab experience before.

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Xiaoyong Xu and Prof. John Zhu

Further info: For further information about the project and the expression of

interest process described above, please contact Dr Xiaoyong Xu

([email protected]) and Prof. John Zhu ([email protected])



Project title: Effect of Desilication product type on sintering performance


Description: With the alumina processing industry, increasing amounts of desilication product (DSP) formation due to reactive silica is one of the major challenges. DSP incorporates valuable alumina and caustic soda which carries economic penalties. A sintering process has been shown to be capable of reprocessing DSP to recover this valuable material. Throughout the work completed within our research group, several types of DSP have been identified as being able to form during processing conditions. Currently no work has investigated the impact of DSP type on sintering performance. The successful student will aid in the synthesis and characterisation of several types of DSP. Once a variety of DSP materials have been created the student will be help to sinter the material and assess the performance of each DSP type in terms of metals recovery.


The major outcomes will be the data gathered throughout the testing. In addition to this the physical samples will also be of importance. Depending on the success of these tests, this data will go on to form part of a PhD thesis with potential for publication in a journal. Students will gain hands on lab experience with advanced techniques and procedures not normally experienced through coursework. They will learn how to produce and characterise materials. In addition to this they will learn about major minerals processing operations as well as how research can link with industry. Students will be expected to take meticulous notes to allow for following of what occurred after they have left. In addition to the lab work a detailed and clear excel document containing all experimental data will be the primary output. As part of our research group students will also give a short oral presentation to summarize their results and explain what they have learnt.

Suitable for: Project will be based at long pocket campus. Student should have a background in chemical engineering. Interest in research fields is a plus.

Primary Supervisor:

Harrison Hodge

Further info: [email protected], contact with any questions



Project title: Environmental impacts of surfboard wax: are soy-based and bees

wax products better than petroleum-derived board waxes?


Description: To get a grip on their surfing boards/devices surfers around the world

use and discard something like 6 million bars of surfboard wax each

year. Almost all of these surfboard wax products consist of

petrochemicals derived from crude oils. However, a range of new

surfboard wax products including soy-based and bees wax are now

available, and marketed as "green" alternatives to petrochemical

waxes. But, there is very little scientific information available to

verify the "green" marketing claims.

This project aims to (1) review the literature on environmental

impacts (both marine impacts of wax particles, and broader impacts

of production processes), (2) identify a set of criteria to assess the

relative impacts of surfboard wax, and (3) design an experimental

study to evaluate a set of surfboard wax products and complete some

preliminary experiments.


Students will gain skills in literature survey, impact

assessments, and developing a research project.

Students will gain skills in data collection and laboratory

work, or have an opportunity to generate publications from

their research.

Students will be asked to produce a report or oral presentation

at the end of their project.

Suitable for: UQ enrolled students only.

Candidates with a background in chemical engineering and/or

environmental engineering.

4-year students or master students only

Primary Supervisor:

Dr Tom Rufford

Further info: For further information about the project and the expression of

interest process described above, please contact [email protected]


Documents

Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology - … · 2018. 8. 7. · technology at a range of wastewater treatment plant sizes through a mass ... process flowsheeting