Nanotechnology in general and nanomaterials in particular promise to provide many solutions to environmental issues through sensing technologies to detect pollutants, photocatalysts and separation membranes to remove pollutants, catalysts to provide cleaner production processes and membranes for desalination. On the flipside, nanomaterials through their use and production provide a new range of potential environmental pollutants and toxicological agents.

The Environmental Technologies Program of the Centre addresses both sides of the issues related to the environment and nanotechnology. The program is very active in environmental remediation and detection technologies through research projects related to photocatalysis using titanium dioxide and uniquely functionalised titanium dioxide, volatile organic compound (VOC) removal using photocatalytically integrated membranes, desalination membranes and boron nitride and nanoparticle based sensing technologies. All these projects employ uniquely designed and modified nanomaterials developed by Centre staff.

Projects addressing the issues of nanomaterial toxicology and pollution are also prevalent with emphasis on the toxicity of nanoparticles towards mammalian cells and within the environment and through the establishment of an entire nanotexicology program for establishing standardised nanotoxicological tests as well as addressing the nanotoxicology of specific particles. The emphasis on the coexistence of nanomaterial development with nanotoxicological assessment makes the symbiosis of knowledge between these two directions the cornerstone of the Environmental Technologies Program.

 

This program currently runs the following projects:

Advanced oxidation processes for the removal of natural organic matter from raw water
(Amal, Lim, Chow, Fabris, Sanly)
This project seeks to improve the understanding of titanium dioxide mediation of natural organic matter (NOM) from raw water using complementary analytical techniques.

Biocatalytic removal of low methane concentrations from coal mine ventilation air
(Amal, Scott, Gunawan, Rosche, Limbri)
This project investigates the capacity of methanotrophic bacteria, loaded on a coal support, for converting methane in coal mine ventilation air (MVA) into carbon dioxide to reduce its greenhouse gas impact.

Development and optimisation of a novel optical fibre photoreactor for photocatalytic application
(Amal, Scott, Peng, Pareek, Denny)

Environmental toxicity of designer nanoparticles
(Amal, Gunawan, Teoh, Lifia)
This project aims to disclose the fundamental mechanism of toxicity exhibited by various commercially and industrially prominent nanoparticles through holistic cell proliferation inhibition as well as various microscopic studies with cultured cell lines.

 

Indoor air purification over non-precious metal nanocatalysts
(Amal, Kydd, Teoh, Scott)
The project involves the designing of non- precious metals catalysts for the abatement of indoor pollutants.

Integrated photocatalytic/filtration system for VOC removal in confined spaces
(Amal, Kydd, Teoh, Scott)
The project integrates photocatalytic and filtration technologies as one hybrid system.

Role of organic functional groups in TiO₂ photocatalysis
(Amal, Scott, Irawaty)
This project is investigating the manner by which hydroxyl groups affect the photocatalytic degradation of polyols and dicarboxylic acids.

Selective catalytic reduction of NOx over flame-made catalysts
(Amal, Zhang, Teoh, Kaliaguine)
The work investigates a range of flame-made composite catalysts for the applications in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx.

Toxicity of nanoparticles in mammalian cells
(Amal, Lim, Marquis, Tedja)
In this study, the toxicity of Degussa P25 in mammalian cells was assessed in vitro.

TiO2 nanorods for photocatalysis
(Jun Yu, Chen, Glushenkov, Zou, Amal)

BN nanotube sensing and DUV light emissions for environmental protection applications
(Li, Hua Chen, Liu, Ying Chen)
The PL results from BN nanotube films were carefully studied and a manuscript has been finished.

Nanomaterials in soils
(Wilson, Kannangara, Tran, Milev)

Nanotoxicology
(Martin, Musumeci, Schiller, Xu)
This project is part of broader efforts working towards a better understanding of biological interactions of a range of industrially-important nanomaterials. It has specifically focussed on nanoparticle synthesis, characterisation and effective (radio and fluoro) labelling strategies.

Desalination membranes
(Lu, Wang, Ladewig)
The key target of this work is to synthesise a new class of polymer-inorganic composite membranes suitable for an electrodialysis application to make drinking water from salt-rich water.