Funded Projects

Flotation is the most widely used process for extracting minerals from their ores and uses water to either repel or attract minerals. This project aims to improve on the current flotation metal recovery process, which is crucial to significantly reduce processing time and metal loss. Importantly, improving flotation methods is important for products like rare earth elements which can have very low mineral concentrations. The project is expected to yield increased flotation recovery and product grade, providing valuable knowledge for full-scale design and potentially boosting production and export income from license fees.

This project aims to continue to build on and improve Australia’s solar cell industry by creating a manufacturing process that is both sustainable and efficient. It seeks to tackle the challenges of solvent toxicity and the cost and availability of critical materials, which are significant hurdles in the production of next-generation solar cells. By addressing these issues, the project intends to produce solar cells that are not only more efficient and cost-effective but also environmentally friendly, aligning with the global shift towards renewable energy sources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

This project is focused on advancing lithium-ion battery recycling and reclamation. Lithium-ion batteries are essential in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles, and as the world transitions to net zero their demand will only increase. Australia's development of on-shore capabilities to ensure the battery’s components can be reintegrated into the battery supply chain or repurposed across various industries, preventing harmful chemicals being released into the environment through landfill is crucial.

This project is pioneering a new CO2 capture technology for use in new low-emission concrete masonry. This project aims to create a new market for captured CO2 from industry sectors with hard-to-abate emissions. The captured CO2 will be used to make a new low-emission concrete masonry. This project aims to support a more sustainable construction industry, reducing the carbon emissions that come from making one of the most common building materials.

This project aims to design and manufacture slow-release fertilisers (SRFs) characterised with high efficiency and sustained slow-release of nutrients. The project's goal is to design and manufacture these SRFs without the use of polymers, which are traditionally used in such fertilisers to control nutrient release rates. There are environmental benefits in retaining more nitrogen in soil for a longer period as nitrogen losses and run off is a pressing issue in agriculture. Using lignite as ‘scaffolding’ may allow the plants to access more of the nitrogen in the SRF.

Battery storage is essential for Australia to shift to lower emissions electricity systems. Despite being well endowed with world-class battery minerals Australia’s battery industry is at the low end of the battery value chain. This project aims to bring a new type of rechargeable battery to the market. By leveraging a patented graphene processing technique developed at The University of Queensland, the project seeks to create aluminium batteries that are not only rechargeable but also more efficient and potentially cheaper than current options.

This project aims to conduct the first underground survey using muon tomographic at a mine site using Australian-developed technology. Muons are elementary particles generated through cosmic rays and used to peer inside dense or dangerous objects and environments. This groundbreaking survey method will significantly enhance site exploration and safety management by providing detailed 3D density maps of underground structures. The generation of 3D modelling at mine sites will allow industry to identify mineral deposits and oil reservoirs without the need to enter the spaces physically.

This project aims to develop a technology known as the NanoVibeH2, which uses high frequency sound waves to efficiently produce green hydrogen. Electrolysis involves electricity running through water with two electrodes to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen gases, which appear as bubbles. This technology offers a promising way to tap into a plentiful supply of cheap hydrogen fuel for transportation and other sectors, which could radically reduce carbon emissions and help fight climate change.

Olives are a healthy product due to the presence of anti-oxidants, vitamins and anti-cancer compounds. Current commercial methods to reduce the bitterness of olives use lye and/or fermentation whereolives are stored in an acidic brine solution. These industrial processes result in much wastewater, and produce olives high in salt that is devoid of natural flavours. This project is focused on developing a new style of olive using a patented and novel process. to remove bitterness from olives quickly and effectively whilst maintaining high quality. The goal is to provide consumers with a healthy table olive that contains less salt whilst preserving the natural fresh flavours and healthy compounds. The process also offers the possibility of using the olive brine extracts for a range of health-related products, such as nutraceuticals or new food ingredients.

This project aims to advance clean hydrogen production technology via photocatalysis, which is a method of harnessing sunlight to drive chemical reactions. Green hydrogen is a clean fuel, and its production through such innovative means is crucial for Australia's energy future and the global shift towards sustainable energy sources. The project is expected to fast-track the technology from lab-scale to a beta prototype-scale reactor tested in real sun conditions, moving it closer to meeting the demand for green hydrogen from industries that are hard to decarbonise.