Using fertiliser as a draw solution for forward osmosis is one of 12 more research projects to be funded by Australia’s National Centre of Excellence in Desalination (NCED).
Announcing the NCED’s second round of funding worth nearly Aus$ 3 million (US$ 2.95 million), the parliamentary secretary for sustainability and urban water, Senator Don Farrell, said the projects were an important investment in securing future water supplies for all Australians.
The 12 projects include research into improving membrane performance, new types of desalination for remote areas, forward osmosis for simultaneous production of water and fertiliser, and solar powered desalination for rural communities.
Centre CEO Neil Palmer said, “The centre is delighted with the strong response of the Australian research and business communities to work together on projects that will make water supply in arid areas more reliable and economical.”
“Investing in research and development is crucial to developing a sustainable desalination industry in Australia,” Senator Farrell said. “We need to continue to improve the desalination process, in particular energy efficiency.”
NCED projects awarded in Funding Round 2:
Project Title – Project Leader – Other Research Participants
Development of Cleaning Guidelines for Desalination Membrane Users – Victoria University – Integrated Elements, Nalco Australia Pty Ltd
Non-Brittle Ceramic Hollow Fibre Membranes – Monash University – University of Queensland
Mitigation of Membrane Biofouling Using Natural Polysaccharide Surface Coating – CSIRO
Development of Universally Applicable Coatings and Additives for State-of-the-Art Reverse Osmosis and Pretreatment Membranes: Non-Leaching, Antimicrobial, Low Biofouling, Chlorine Resistant and Improved Compaction Properties – Flinders University – Siemens, SA Water, Wind Prospects
Real Time Detection and Management of Biofouling Conditioning Films in Seawater Reverse Osmosis – University of New South Wales – InPhaze Pty Ltd, SA Water, Sydney Water, University of South Australia
Fertilisers as Draw Solutes for Forward Osmosis Desalination: A Novel Approach for Fertigation in the Murray Darling Basin – University of Technology, Sydney – CSIRO, Korea University, NSW State Water Corp, Yale University
Optimising Low-Pressure Membrane Pretreatment for Desalination – University of New South Wales – Curtin University, Siemens Water Technologies Australia, Veolia Water Australia, Water Corporation
Silica Removal from Groundwater for Reverse Osmosis Water Recovery Enhancement and Waste Brine Volume Reduction – Victoria University – Hatch Associates, Origin Energy, Minara Resources, University of Texas, El Paso
Application of Capacitive Deionisation in Inland Brackish Water Desalination – University of South Australia – LT Green Energy, Power and Water Corporation, SA Water, Water Quality Research Australia
Control of Organic Membrane Fouling Through Limitation and Control of Extracellular Microbial Products – Murdoch University – Environmental Biotechnology Cooperative Research Centre, Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, University of California, Irvine, WA Chemistry Centre
Tjuntjunjarra Remote Inland Indigenous Community Solar/Waste Energy Groundwater Desalination Project – Murdoch University – Institute of Filtration and Techniques of Separation, France, memsysclearwater distribution Pte Ltd, Parsons Brinkerhoff, Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, University of Technology, Sydney, WA Department of Housing
Assessing and Mitigating Environmental Impacts of SWRO Outfalls on Key Benthic Marine Organisms – Deakin University – University of Western Australia
