Advanced Water Management Centre · Advanced Water Management Centre Annual Report 2007 ... PROF...

Advanced Water Management Centre

Annual Report2007

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Partners

Director’s Report

AWMC Advisory Board

Scientific and Technical Expert Committee

Research Snapshot

International Collaborations

The AWMC Team

AWMC Achievements

AWMC Student Program

AWMC Courses

Conference Participation

Financial Information

Current and New Research Grants

Publications List

Advanced Water Management Centre

Annual Report2007

VISION‘To be an international centre of excellence in innovative water technologies and management through expertise in education,

research and consulting’

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PartnersWe wish to acknowledge all of our research, association and collaboration partners.

Research and Collaboration Partners

Association Partners

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Director’s Report

We are proudly looking back at 2007 as our most successful year since the inception of the Advanced Water Management Centre in 1996. The progress and success achieved over the last 12 months has simply been outstanding. Some of the key highlights include:

Over $12m in new •project funding, doubling our annual budget for 2008;

Successful completion of major projects leading to •large follow-up projects;

Water recycling established as a major new •research initiative;

Strong publication outcomes and PhD completions; •and

Highly successful 11th IWA World Congress on •Anaerobic Digestion (AD11) hosted by AWMC and IWA Australia.

While many of these aspects are further detailed in this annual report, I would like to pick out a few major achievements that demonstrate the quality and diversity of our research and development work in the water industry. An outstanding success was the largest ARC Linkage project awarded in 2007, which was initiated and led by our team at the AWMC and includes four universities and eight industry partners. This project will focus on optimal odour and corrosion management of urban sewer systems and has a total budget of $20m. Two leading industry partners in the new project (Sydney Water Corporation and Gold Coast Water) were also involved in a similar ARC Linkage project completed in 2007 clearly demonstrating the substantial value that the industry partners have gained from the close collaboration with our research team. While such an achievement is only possible through the strong input from many partners, I would like to highlight the outstanding contribution made by Prof Zhiguo Yuan as the project leader on the previous project and the leading chief investigator in the new project. He has put in a tremendous effort in completing the previous project while at the same time also developing the successful new research proposal (including presentation to the ARC). This clearly requires not only an excellent technical understanding but also a high level of diplomatic skills!

Another outstanding achievement in 2007 was the initiation of a new research direction focussing on Water Recycling. This has been made possible through the generous support from Veolia Water and the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, as well as the University of Queensland. Through this close collaboration a new Chair in Water Recycling will be established, together with a research team of four postdoctoral and academic researchers as well as additional PhD students. A further

three postdoctoral researchers will be funded through the South East Queensland Water Security Research Alliance (funded by Queensland Government). Overall, this initiative will build up a major research capacity in this highly relevant and rapidly growing research area of water recycling. Given that one of the largest water recycling schemes worldwide will be commissioned locally in 2008 (operated by Veolia Water), which also includes theintroductionofpurifiedrecycledwaterintoourwatersupply dam, this exceptional research capacity will be of majorbenefittothelocalandnationalwaterindustrytohelpestablishandfurtheradvancethisnewindustryfieldin Australia and beyond.

As outlined in the previous report, the AWMC is focused on the development of the resource recovery concept from wastewater, including water reclamation, energy recovery and nutrient recycling. Beside the new water recycling initiative, the success of the 11th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion with over 340 delegates from 40 countries is further evidence of the increasing strength of this new paradigm in water management. This is also supported by the ongoing expansion of our bio-energy research both into biogas production and microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this context, the establishment of the world’sfirstpilot-scaleMFCplantbytheAWMCteamisanother key milestone in the development of the novel and highly exciting area of bio-electrochemical processes. While still at the research stage, the expanding range of options for such processes will certainly impact on various areas of environmental biotechnology, including wastewater treatment, in the future.

While we continue to expand and strengthen our research team in many areas, we also have to acknowledge the contributions made by our core academic staff members. The microbial ecology expertise of Prof Linda Blackall, one of the “founding” members of the AWMC, has helped us to gain a strong reputation as a leading collaborative research team at the interface of biological science and engineering. After 16 years at the University of Queensland, Linda has decided to move her research focus to her other passion, marine microbiology, and has taken up a research leadership position at the Australian Institute for Marine Science in Townsville. We wish her all the best in the new position and thank her for the great contributions made to the AWMC over many years.

As you can see from these new developments and initiatives, 2008 will be a highly exciting year, but also a very challenging one. We will manage a massive expansion of our research activities with our overall budget reaching over $8m, more than double the amount in 2007. This offers tremendous opportunities and we will work hard to ensure we can successfully capture these to strengthen our long-term future as a world-leading research centre for the water industry. Stay tuned for more to come!

Jurg Keller

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AWMC Advisory Board

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PROF STEPHEN WALKER (CHAIR)Executive Dean for Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture, The University of Queensland

Prof Walker has extensive experience in collaborative research in conjunction with Government agencies, utilities and private industry.

ADJUNCT PROF SHAUN COXManaging Director, Gold Coast Water.

Adj/Prof Cox leads an organisation which has developed a range of novel and highly successful initiatives in integrated water management, wastewater treatment and biosolids handling. In 2008 Shaun will take up the position of Managing Director of South East Water, in Melbourne, but will continue his involvement on our Advisory Board.

DR DAVID GARMANExecutive Director of the Environmental Biotechnology CRC

Dr Garman has expertise in environmental R & D, commercial application and extensive experience in environmental and resource management.

PROF PETER GRAYDirector, Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland.

Prof Gray has held academic positions in the United Kingdom, United States of America and New South Wales, as well as with commercial companies in the USA. He was a founder of the Australian Biotechnology Association (Ausbiotech). His areas of expertise include biotechnology, bioengineering of cell cultures, and technical and economic assessment of projects.

PROF PAUL F. GREENFIELDSenior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, The University of Queensland

Prof Greenfield has over 30 years experience in biotechnology and environmental management and senior research management expertise. Paul resigned from the AWMC board in December 2007, due to his new position as Vice Chancellor of The University of Queensland.

MR ROBIN LEWISManager Production Brisbane Water, Brisbane City Council.

Robin Lewis has worked extensively in the United Kingdom and New Zealand prior to taking up his current role. He has extensive experience in the management, operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment plants. Robin resigned from the AWMC board in November 2007.

DR HUNG V. NGUYENCorporate Technology Development Manager and Research & Technology Manager, Orica (Till August 07) . Managing Director, MQC Management Pty Ltd

Dr Nguyen has a chemical engineering background, commercial technology development and management expertise.

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Scientific and Technical Expert Committee

ADJUNCT PROF KEN HARTLEYPrincipal, Ken Hartley Pty Ltd

Adj/Prof Hartley has worked for major organisations, authored technical publications, and is now an independent consultant working in the wastewater treatment field. He is one of Australia’s most experienced engineers in the field of biological nutrient removal process design and operations.

ADJUNCT PROF IAN LAWCEO, Ian B.Law – trading as IBL Solutions

Adj/Prof Law’s expertise is in water and wastewater treatment and management. He specialises in the areas of industrial and municipal water and wastewater treatment, particularly advanced forms of reuse and biological nutrient removal.

PROF GUSTAF OLSSONProfessor of Industrial Automation, Lund University, Sweden.

Prof Olsson is Editor-in-Chief of Water Science and Technology (IWA Publishing). His interests include automation and control applied to environmental systems, power systems and industrial systems.

PROF MARK VAN LOOSDRECHTProfessor in Environmental Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands.

Prof van Loosdrecht is editor of Water Research, the leading international journal in water related R&D. He has a strong interest in wastewater treatment and resource recovery technologies.

PROF PETER VANROLLEGHEMCanada Research Chair in Water Quality Modelling, modelEAU, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

Prof Vanrolleghem is a process simulation and control expert. He is Chair of the IWA specialist group on System Analysis and Integrated Assessment.

PROF WILLY VERSTRAETEDepartment of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Belgium.Honorary Professor at AWMC, The University of Queensland.

Prof Verstraete is an expert in anaerobic processes, nitrogen removal and environmental biotechnology. He has extended his Honorary Professorship at AWMC until December 2008.

PROF PETER A. WILDEREREmeritus Professor on Water Quality and Waste Management, Technical University of Munich, Germany. Director, Institute of Advanced Studies on Sustainability (European Academy of Science and Arts). Honorary Professor at AWMC, The University of Queensland

Prof Wilderer is the 2003 Winner Stockholm Water Prize and highly regarded as one of the visionaries in the global water industry.

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Research Snapshot

MODELS PROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO SMELLY PROBLEMSModel-Based Investigation of Options for Sulfide Control in Sewer

Hydrogensulfide(H2S)generatedbybacteria,growinginbiofilmsontheinternalwallsofsewers,causes corrosion and odour problems.Anumberofstrategiesareavailableforthecontrolofsulfidegeneration in sewers, the most common strategy being the dosing of chemicals. This is expensive, typicallyintheorderof$30to$100orevenhigherperMLofflow,aboutone-sixthtoone-thirdoftheoperating cost of sewage treatment plants. In addition to the higher costs, the effectiveness of these chemicals is questionable. Since the dynamics of H2S generation in sewer systems (which is greatly influencedbysewerhydraulicsandgeometry)isignoredinconventionalapproaches,theimplementedstrategies in most of the cases fail to achieve the targeted control levels.

Themajorconsiderationsforeffectivesulfidecontrolare:(1)whatchemicalshouldbeadded;(2)where it should be added; and (3) how much should be added. An option for determining this would

belong-termmonitoringofthesewersystemtocollectsufficientdatatorepresent the effectiveness of chemical addition under different scenarios. Tremendouseffortandinvestmentwouldbeneededtoconductsuchfieldstudies, and consequently it is almost impossible to perform such a study on all sewer systems of concern.

At the AWMC our sewer systems research group have provided guidelines on implementing appropriate and cost-effective chemical dosing strategies for industry. We have done this by developing dynamic models to characterisetheeffectsofchemicaladditionsandbyperformingafinancialanalysis of options for the rising main system.

The impact of chemical additions to the sulfate reducing activities of sewer biofilmswasintensivelystudiedusingthelaboratorysewersystem,aswellasfielddatacollection.Asewernetworkmodelbaseduponthesefindingswas developed and implemented for the Tugun Elanora network on the Gold Coast (rising main system consisting of 13 major pump stations, and having14kmpipelengthanddryweatherflowof14ML/day).Thismodelwasthenusedtopredictthechemicaldosesrequiredtominimizesulfidedischarge at the Elanora wastewater treatment plant.

The appropriate chemical dosing and optimal dosing locations were determinedthroughtheresultsofseveralmodelsimulations.Afinancialanalysis was done for the cost comparison of the different options, see table below. The results show that oxygen is the most cost effective

chemical for this particular sewer network, while calcium nitrate is most expensive. The analysis also showed that the actual chemical consumption will be critical in choosing the most cost-effective chemical.

Thesefindingshavedemonstratedthatmodellingcanserveasavaluabletoolforformulatingappropriateandcosteffectivesulfidecontrolstrategies,therebyfacilitatingoptimalmanagementofsewer networks.

Results of financial analysis

Chemical Dosed Associated Capital Cost

Operating Costs (per year)

Net Present value over 30 years (at 7% discount rate)

Oxygen injection $293,000 $161,700 $2,440,000

Magnesium hydroxide dosing $196,000 $418,800 $5,841,000

Ferrous chloride dosing $357,000 $247,900 $3,634,000

Calcium nitrate $196,000 $492,300 $6,859,000

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REDUCING THE FOOTPRINT OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIESAre granules the future for BNR processes?

The area of biological nutrient removal has been extensively studied over thelast50years,andthemostcommonpracticeistheuseoffloccularactivatedsludgesystems.Thesuspendedactivatedsludgeflocsareacomplex mix of Bacteria, Archaea, algae and fungi. One of the drawbacks of usingtheseflocsistherequirementforlongsettlingtimestoproducetreatedwastewater.

This can be overcome by the use of another type of biomass, granules. At the AWMC we have been focusing on the treatment of wastewater using granules. Aerobic granules are densely packed microbial aggregates of different bacterial species with an approximately spherical outer shape. Comparedwithconventionalfloccularsystems,aerobicgranularsludge

presents a better sludge settleability, allowing more biomass to be maintained in a relatively small reactor volume and higher loadings of wastewater to be treated.

However, there is a distinct lack of fundamental knowledge and information on aerobic granule formation, structure and stability, and the reasons behind its formation are still unclear. At the AWMC, research is being conductedtoimproveourfundamentalunderstandingofthemicrobiologysignificantforgranularsludgeandtoobtain information essential for optimising aerobic granular formation and stability.

Highlight for 2007 include:

At the AWMC researchers have been developing methods to use microsensors (probes only micrometre’s in •size)tomeasureionprofilesthroughthegranules.

We have learnt that aerobic wastewater granules stay morphologically intact over a month long period at •storage conditions (without wastewater supply).

Aerobic granules decrease their nitrifying and phosphate accumulating activity during a month long period •ofstarvationconditionsandrecovertopre-experimentalnitrificationandphosphateaccumulationrateswithin 2 weeks.

We have observed that there is no community change detectable for phosphate accumulating organisms •and ammonia oxidising bacteria after 1 month long period of starvation.

The AWMC has established laboratory reactors for activated sludge Enhanced Biological Phosphorous •Removal(EBPR).Thesearebeingusedtotransitionthesludgebetweentheflocculantandthegranularstates, while maintaining EBPR performance, and to compare the microbial activities.

Wehaveestablishedtechniquesforextractionofvariouscomponentsfromthefloccularandgranular•sludges. This includes extraction of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), DNA, and mRNA. The sludges will be interrogated by the novel approaches of mixed community proteomics and transcriptomics todiscoveractivitiesthatarespecificforaerobicgranules.

In conjunction with colleagues from University of NSW, strains of the Bacterium • Xanthomonas are being examined for differential aggregation capabilities. The AWMC has observed that stalked ciliates (Protozoa) may play an important role in granule formation.

Through the combination of molecular methods and process engineering this research will reduce the footprints ofwastewatertreatmentplantsbyincreasingtheefficiencyoftheprocessandultimatelyprovideahigherqualityproducts to consumers.

Funding for this project is provided by the Environmental Biotechnology CRC, and the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Technology’s International Science Linkages Program.

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Research Snapshot

MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS: ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION AND BEYOND

Overthelast3yearstheAWMChasdevelopedanextensiveresearchprograminthefieldofmicrobialfuelcell(MFC) technology. MFCs are capable of producing energy from wastewater, while simultaneously also treating it. MFCs achieve this by employing electrochemically active bacteria. While oxidizing the contaminants in wastewater, these bacteria transfer electrons to an electrode. Such an electrode is referred to as a biological anode. By electrically coupling this biological anode to an oxygen reducing cathode, electricity can be produced in a single step from almost any kind of wastewater.

The AWMC research program covers the complete range of MFC development: from fundamental research into extracellular electron transfer to pilot scale testing. Whereas the initial MFC research program of the AWMC was predominantly aimed at electricity production from wastewaters, the MFC research program is now rapidly broadening towards wider range of (bio)electrochemical applications. Therefore, the AWMC has started to refer to these systems as bio-electrochemical systems (BESs). Future applications of BESs include the production of valueaddedchemicalsandtheelectrochemicaloxidation/reductionofpersistentorganicpollutants.CurrentlytheAMWC is redesigning MFC systems to become suitable for these novel applications.

2007 HIGHLIGHTS:

AWMCresearchersforthefirsttimetracedthefluxesofcarbonandelectronsinMFCsystems,which•provided valuable information on the fate of the organic substrates in MFC systems (that is, growth, electricity production, storage). This information will be of great use for further optimisation of performance.

Nitrogen removal was demonstrated using a biological cathode and a loop based system. Thus, MFC •systems can now be used for the simultaneous removal of organics and nitrogen. Furthermore, this can be achievedatmuchlowerCOD/Nratiosthaniscommonforactivatedsludgeplants.

AWMC researchers developed an electrochemical technique for sulfur removal from wastewaters, which •has applications in the prevention of odour, SOx emissions, and corrosion.

A microbial biocathode for oxygen reduction was developed as a replacement for expensive and fragile •platinumcathodes.ThissignificantlyimprovestheeconomyofwastewatertreatmentwithMFCs.

TheAWMCsuccessfullycommissionedtheworld’sfirstMFCpilotplantatabrewerynearBrisbane.•This pilot plant (>1 m3) has already resulted in many new insights that would not easily have come out of laboratory experiments.

The AWMC launched the now common term “Bio-Electrochemical Systems” in the Winogradsky review of •thefirstissueofTheISMEJournal(NaturePublishingGroup).

Funding totalling over $3 million: Australian Research Council Discovery Grants (2), Environmental Protection Agency-QSEIF, Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Technology’s International Science Linkages Program, Australian Research Council Linkage Grant, UQ internal schemes, Queensland Government Smart State Initiatives, and COMET

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SAFE WATER REUSE TO AVOID AN UNCERTAIN DRY FUTURE

In recent times the coalescence of many different pressures - population growth, increasing urbanization, drought, reduced run-off - has put a major strain on water storage infrastructure in Australia. The level of infrastructure is reaching its natural limits and this calls for a dramatic shift in our water utilization concepts. The traditional “linear society” is not a sustainable solution and the “circular society” has to become the new standard. Recycled water is already applied for non-potable reuse in industry and agriculture. However, supplying residential users has proventobedifficultanddangerousduetotheexpenseofimplementingdualreticulationsystemsandpotentialcross-contaminationofpotablesupply.Therefore,householdshavetobesuppliedwithpurifiedrecycledwaterofa quality as good as, or better, than the existing supply.

Recently, the Queensland government has initiated a 9 billion dollar project to ensure sustainable supply of drinking water in Southeast Queensland. This includes the construction of three advanced water treatment plantstoproducepurifiedrecycledwaterthatwillbepumpedbacktotheWivenhoedam.Thetechnologyusedinthesewaterrecyclingplantsreliesonmembranefiltrationcombiningmicrofiltrationandreverseosmosis(MF/RO)followedbyadvancedoxidationprocesses.Thishasproventobeeffectiveandreliableinproducingpurifiedrecycled water. Nevertheless, there are still issues of concern:

fouling is a major drawback of membrane technology and has to be controlled to maximize •process performances;

reverse osmosis produces 10 to 15% of waste stream that has to be treated and discarded;•

membranefiltrationisacomplexand“hightech”processthatmightnotbesuitableforsmall•to medium plants;

the fate and effects of micropollutants such as endocrine disruptors and pharmaceuticals are •still largely unknown.

The Queensland government has initiated a cooperative funding and research alliance between the State Government,CSIRO,UniversityofQueenslandandGriffithUniversity:theSoutheastQueenslandUrbanWaterSecurity Research Alliance. The alliance has a budget of 50 million dollars over 5 years and deals with a wide variety of recycled water related issues ranging from technology to social acceptance. As a member of the alliance, the AWMC will deal with source control, alternative technologies to membrane treatment and NDMA (a harmful chemical) formation potential. The AWMC is also undertaking a research project with Veolia that will operate the advanced water treatment plants in Southeast Queensland. The research will aim to maximise the plant’s performances by limiting membrane fouling; assessing the micropollutants fate during the treatment processesandtreating/managingthereverseosmosis(RO)concentrates.

TheAWMC’sinvolvementinwaterreuseresearchcontributestoamajorfieldinthefutureofwatersupplyandwillprovide cutting-edge research to the growing network of professionals tackling the challenge of a dry future.

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REGIONAL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES TO BENEFIT FROM NEW GREEN ELECTRICITY FROM BIOSOLIDS

New technology to produce green electricity from sewage and food processing residuals, that currently go towaste,willbenefitsmallandmediumscalebiosolidsproducers, including food processing industries and communities of less than 100,000 persons. The new technology is based on the latest advances in environmentalbiotechnology.Itwilloffersignificantcost

savings in comparison to existing technology options for smaller or medium scale treatment systems. Current systems are relatively expensive in terms of capital and operating costs and they are energy intensive, especially at smaller scales. This technology will produce energy rather than consume it. Biosolids are an abundant and valuableresource,andofferthepotentialtogeneraterenewableelectricity,withasanitizedfinalfertiliserproductwhich is superior to chemical fertilisers in terms of environmental impact, cost, and plant nutrition.

Researchers at the AWMC are developing a treatment plant that can be used to sanitise, reduce and utilise organic solids. It will have an input of biosolids and an output of renewable electricity and Class A solid organic fertiliserthatmeetsregulatoryrequirements.Itwillreducetheamountoforganicmaterialendingupinlandfill,and leverage existing resources. It will allow local council and industries an approach to reduce energy use, and greenhousegasemissions,whilereducingandfixingbiosolidshandlingcosts.

Thetechnologysignificantlyreducestheenvironmentalfootprintofsmalltomediumscalewastewatertreatment.Current treatment methods emit greenhouse gases at 40 kg of carbon dioxide per tonne of biosolids treated. The new technology will produce renewable energy, worth 40 kg of carbon dioxide emissions offsets. It will therefore resultinanetreductionof80kgofcarbondioxidepertonnetreated.Whenbiosolidsaredisposedofinlandfill,they can produce upwards of 290kg of carbon dioxide equivalents per tonne in methane emissions.

Energy is from methane produced in the second anaerobic stage. This will produce electricity and heat that can supplyuptohalfoftheelectricityneededtoruntheparentplant.Therenewableenergycertificatescaneitherbeused directly by the council, or sold externally.

The technology will also make agricultural industries more affordable as it decreases the cost burden associated with small-scale food processing and replaces substantial amounts of mineral fertilisers, especially in regional Australia. The initial phase of the project involves research into the mechanism of enhanced biosolids stabilisation. The demonstration phase will involve design, construction and operation of a pilot-scale demonstration facility (30-50 kW).

This research at the AWMC is supported by the Environmental Biotechnology Cooperative Research Centre (EBCRC), who are also commercialising the technology. EBCRC participation is strongly leveraged by a generous grant from the Queensland State Government (Smart State RIPP Scheme). Industry members Meat & Livestock Australia Limited (MLA), and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) are facilitating the technology to agricultural end-users.

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THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRADE-OFFS OF ADVANCED WASTEWATER TREATMENT A quantitative analysis by life cycle assessment

The current regulatory paradigm for wastewater treatment systems focuses almost entirely on the improvement of local water quality (e.g. Queensland Water Quality Guidelines). However, increasingly sophisticated means of nutrient removal come at the cost of higher resource consumption (e.g. energy, chemicals, infrastructure, biosolids disposal, etc.) and elevated environmental emissions, such as greenhouse gases. To date, these additional environmental burdens have been largely unrecognised in the regulatory push for cleaner local waterways.

This PhD project uses Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantitatively assess these global environmental trade-offs,soastobetterinformpolicymakersandstrategicplannersofthewiderenvironmentalbenefitsandburdensassociated with wastewater treatment.

Specifically,therearethreemainaimsforthisproject:Foraspecificreceivingenvironment(e.g.MoretonBay),identifytheoptimumwastewatertreatmentsystem1. thatminimiseswhole-of-lifeenvironmentalburdens.Thesystemconfigurationisdefinedbysuchelementsastreatmenttechnology,effluentnutrientdischargelimits,sludgestabilisationmethods,andbiosolidsdisposal practice. Quantify the fugitive emissions of methane (both gaseous and dissolved methane) from low-strength 2. anaerobic wastewater systems, such as sewers, lagoons, reactors and digesters. Quantify the fugitive emissions of nitrous oxide from different biological nitrogen removal wastewater 3. treatment plants, under various process conditions.

Thelasttwoaimsrepresentasignificantareaofuncertaintyforthewaterindustry,asitgrappleswiththecost implications of the emerging Australian Emissions Trading Scheme (AETS), the reporting obligations of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System (NGERS) and the increasingly popular (and largely misunderstood) managerial commitments to “carbon neutrality”.

A recent report completed by the AWMC for the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) reviewed the existing knowledge on production of methane and nitrous oxide in wastewater systems (article available on-line) anddefinedtheirrelativeimportancecomparedtoemissionsfromenergyusageinbothwastewatersystemsand other economic sectors (refer below). Based on the outcomes of this study, the AWMC developed a more accurate and comprehensive methodology for estimating fugitive greenhouse gas emissions in Australian wastewater systems. Further research, in partnership with WSAA and member organisations, will continue on this topic throughout 2008.

Funding: Queensland Government Growing the Smart State PhD Funding Program and Water Services Association of Australia

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Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions 2005 by economic sector


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International Collaborations

TheAWMChasbecomeaninternationallyrecognisedcentreofexcellenceinthefieldofinnovativewater and waste technology and management. Our strong international reputation is enhanced by continuing recognition in awards and international conferences. We have a strong visiting academic and student program and encourage all to visit the AWMC.

Visiting Academics

Dr Dores Cirne September 2007 – October 2008 Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal

Dr Albert Guisasola Canudas September 2006 - June 2007 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain

Dr Donghee Park September 2007 – September 2008 Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea

Prof Peter Jones April – July 2007 University of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

Dr Jorge Rodriguez October 2007 University of Glamorgan, Wales, UK

INTERNATIONAL PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

INNOWATECH Novel microbial technologies for improved treatment of industrial wastewater.

The AWMC has developed extensive knowledge in the development of aerobic granular sludge systems to treat wastewater. The advantage of these systems is a 25% reduction in wastewater treatment plant space required for conventional sludge systems. This project will develop and demonstrate innovative granular sludge systems and molecular biological diagnostic procedures to provide economical, streamlined industrial wastewater processors. The project allows for a major nutrient producer (wastewater from abattoir processors) to take advantage of granular sludge operation for their wastewater treatment.

The project focuses on three areas; bioreactor operation at lab scale, the implementation of reactors at pilot scale, and state-of-the-art molecular biology methods, to determine the function of microorganisms in granules. The AWMC is a major partner in this project and will cooperate with two leading EU organizations; Instituto di Ricerca Sulla Acque (IRSA), Rome Italy and the Technical University Delft, Netherlands. The EU research partners each work on different aspects of the project. Furthermore the AWMC works with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and collaborates with the Environmental Biotechnology CRC.

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International Visiting StudentsPeter Aelterman Apr – Jun 07 Ghent University, Belgium

Monica Arcos Oct 06 – Mar 07 Institute de Ingeniería (UNAM), Mexico

Francois Chantret Feb – Jul 07 ENSAR, France

Peter Clauwaert Sep 07 Ghent University, Belgium

Coen van Gennep Mar - Aug 07 Val Hall Institute, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

Osman Gormez Feb – Jun 07 Technical University of Denmark, Denmark

Romain Gulot Apr - Sep 07 INSA de Lyon, France

Alexander Leib Jul 07 – Feb 08 University of Applied Science, Esslingen, Germany

Margot Loubalie Apr – Oct 07 INSA de Lyon, France

Raphaela Schoon Oct - Nov 07 MPI Bremen, Germany

Huma Shahzadi Feb – Jun 07 Technical University of Denmark, Denmark

Lea Aster Such Apr – Sep 07 INSA de Lyon, France

Jelmer Tamis Mar – Oct 07 Technical University of Delft, The Netherlands

Aravinthan Vijayaragavan Feb – Jun 07 University of Newcastle, UK

Xiaonlian Wang Apr 06 – Apr 07 Beijing University of Technology, China

Erugun Yucesoy Feb – Aug 07 University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany

Hang Zheng Feb 07 – Feb 08 Technical University of Denmark, Denmark

INTERNATIONAL PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

NEPTUNENew Sustainable Concepts and Processes for Optimisation and Upgrading Municipal Wastewater and Sludge Treatment

AWMC’s recognition that wastewater treatment is undergoing a shift in focus to resource recovery has led to us being invited to join Project Neptune: a European Commission sponsored project with funding of over A$7m and involving partners from Australia, Canada and no less than 11 European countries. Financial support for our activities is from the Australian Department of Education, Science and Technology (DEST). Thisfundingisspecificallyforinvestigating‘noveltechnologytoproducebiodegradable polymer and electrical energy from sewage treatment biosolids’. Our objectives are: 1. Optimise and model fermentation of biosolids 2. Produce biopolymer from fermented biosolids, and 3. Produce electrical energy via microbial fuel cells using fermented

biosolids.

Biosolids are associated with high disposal costs, large production volumes, and are consistent around the world, so utilisation of biosolids as a reliable high volume feed for renewable energy and biopolymer production represents an exciting opportunity.

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The AWMC Team

Academic StaffDIRECTORProf Jürg KellerDipl (Chem Eng) PhD (ETH Zurich)

Biochemical and •environmental engineeringEnvironmental biotechnology•Chair of IWA Australia•

DEPUTY DIRECTORProf Zhiguo YuanB Eng (BUAA), PhD (BUAA)

Biological nutrient removal•Process modelling, simulation •and controlSewer management•Chair of IWA SG on ICA•

SCIENTIFIC DIRECTORProf Linda BlackallBSc (Hons) (UQ), PhD (UQ)

Microbial ecology•Wastewater and environmental •microbiology

Prof Blackall will move on to a new position at the Australian Institute for Marine Science in 2008

Assoc Prof Paul LantM Eng PhD (Newcastle, UK) MBA (UQ)

Biological wastewater treatment•Wastewater and greenhouse •gas interactionsSustainable urban water •systems

Dr Damien BatstoneB ChemEng (Hons) (UQ), PhD ChemEng (UQ)

Anaerobic Digestion•Instrumentation, Modelling, and •Controlndustrial Wastewater Treatment•

Dr Phil BondBSc (Hons)(Uni of Melbourne), PhD ChemEng (UQ)

Wastewater and environmental •microbiologyMicrobial community function •analyses

Research Staff

Dr Markus BillerbeckDiploma (Biology) Hons (University of Rostock, Germany), PhD (MPI, University of Bremen, Germany)

ResearchOfficer•Aquatic Biogeochemitry•

Ms Simone BützerMEnv Engineering (ETH, Switzerland)

Design and construction of •small – pilot scale reactorsProcess Maintenance•

Dr David de HaasBSc (Hons) (Uni of Natal, South Africa), MSc (Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa), PhD (University of Cape Town, South Africa)

SeniorResearchOfficer•Biological Nutrient Removal •and Sewer Modelling

Dr Oriol Gutierrez Garcia- MorenoB Sc, PhD (UdG, Universitat of Girona, Spain)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow•Biotransformation processes in •a sewer system

Dr Sandra HallBApplSc (Biotechnology (Hons), PhD (UQ), MASM

ResearchOfficer-50%•secondment to the EBCRC until Nov07 and the International Society for Microbial EcologyMicrobialidentificationtools•

Dr Beatrice Keller-LehmannDipl. (Chem), PhD (ETH Zurich)

Environmental and water •analysis techniquesAWMC Lab Manager•

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Mr Romain LemaireResearch Diploma, MPhil in Environmental Engineering, Industrial processes and environmental engineering degree (INSA de Toulouse, France)

High strength wastewater•Process engineering•

Ms Kar Man LeungB Biotechnology (Hons) (University of NSW)

Laboratory Assistant•

Dr Thomas LoetscherBSc (Zoology) Hons (University of Zurich, Switzerland), PhD (UQ)

Water Recycling•Website development•

Ms Jianguang LiLaboratory Assistant•

Dr Yang MuBS Appl Chemistry, MSc, PhD (University of Science and Technology, China)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow•Wastewater and microbial fuel •cells research

Dr Maite Pijuan VilaltaB EnvSc (University de Girona, Spain), M EnvSc, PhD ChemEng (University Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain)

EBCRC Project Leader•Nutrient removal and granular •sludge

Dr Steven PrattBEng (Chemical) Hons, PhD (UQ).

Biotechnology for ‘Products •from Wastes’Project Manager: Neptune•

Dr Korneel RabaeyBioEng, PhD (Ghent University, Belgium)

UQ Postdoctoral Research •FellowshipAustralian Research Council •– Discovery projects, QSEIF (EPA), Neptune

Dr Keshab SharmaB Eng (Nagpur University, India),PhD (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

Process modelling and •simulationPostdoctoral Research Fellow •

Dr Stephan TaitBEng (Chemical), PhD (UQ)

Anaerobic digestion and •aqueous chemistryARC linkage funded research •associate

Mr Shane WattsB Appl Sc (Hons) (UQ)

Pilot plant design and operation•Anaerobic solids digestion and •biological nutrient removal

Dr Ursula WernerBSc (University of Bonn, Germany), MSc (University of Bremen, Germany), PhD (Max Planck Institute of Marine Microbiology, Germany)

EBCRC Postdoctoral Fellow •Microsensors•

Dr Raymond ZengBEng (South China University of Technology, China), PhD (UQ)

Research Fellow•Methanedrivendenitrification•and anaerobic fermentation

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IT Support Staff

Mr Ampon ChumpiaBSc (Kasetsart Uni, Thailand), MSc (Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand), ME (USQ)

IT Support for AWMC •personnel

Administration Staff

Mrs Wendy MahonCentre Administrator

Mrs Vivienne ClaytonAdministration AssistantPosition Start April 07

Ms Michaela LacknerAdministration AssistantPosition Start May 07

Ms Anna Gallard Administration Assistant Casual Appointment Sep 07-Jan 08

Mrs Jan Phillips Administration Assistant Resigned her position in Sep 07

Ms Chris Alexander Administration Assistant Resigned her position in Mar 07

AWMC Staff Achievements

AwardsLinda BlackallwonaSmartWomen-SmartStateAward2007intheCommunity/PublicSector-SciencePrizefor her contribution to research on wastewater management.

Dr Korneel Rabaeywasafinalistinthe2007AustralianMuseumEurekaPrizesinthecategoryofYoungLeadersin Environmental Issues and Climate Change. This is in recognition of Korneel’s pioneering work on sustainable wastewater treatment involving the development of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), a novel technology to generate energy during wastewater treatment.

Prof Linda Blackall won the Women In Technology, University of Queensland Sponsored Biotech Researchers AwardinrecognitionofherlifetimecontributiontothefieldofBiotechnology.

GrantsThe AWMC and Environmental Biotechnology CRC team linked with leading European researchers to advance a revolutionary “fast sludge” process after receiving $823,500 from the International Science Linkages program of the Federal Government’s Department of Education, Science and Training.

Veolia Water France, one of the world’s leading water infrastructure companies, funded a $2.5 million Chair in Water Recycling at the AWMC

Dr Damien Batstone received $619,000 to develop better technology for organic solids handling from the Queensland Government’s $200 million Smart State Innovation Funding Program

A joint project between the AWMC and Foster’s to turn beer wastewater into electricity won $140,000 from the Queensland Government’s Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund.

Zhiguo Yuan, Jurg Keller, and colleagues from domestic and foreign universities, and water utilities across the country, won a $4.66 million Australian Research Council Linkage grant to undertake the largest project yet to tackle odour and concrete pipe corrosion in the sewerage system. This is the largest ARC Linkage ever awarded.

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The AWMC students form a diverse and energetic community of the centre. Over the coming years we expect the postgraduate numbers in the AWMC to double. The AWMC is committed to providing professional development for all of our postgraduate students and continue to provide the necessary opportunities to produce the highest calibre and most desired of graduates in the University.

Arseto Bagastyo PhD AusAID

Aluminium sulfate coagulation for the treatment of reverse osmosis concentrates

Supervisors: Dr Damien Batstone and Prof Jurg Keller

Jeremy BarrEBCRC PhD Scholar

Fundamental microbial investigations into extracellular polymeric substances from aerobic granular sludge

Supervisors: Dr Phil Bond and Dr Amanda Mabbett (SMMS, UQ)

Luke BurowEBCRC PhD ScholarSubmitted November 2007

Investigation of microorganisms critical to enhanced biological phosphorous removal

Supervisors: Prof Linda Blackall and Dr Amanda Mabbett (SMMS, UQ)

Nicole DiatloffPhD, Part-time

Effluentmanagementatacatchmentscale:astrategicintergrated approach to small scale wastewater management

Supervisors: Prof Jurg Keller, Dr Roger Shaw (Previously CEO, CRC for Costal Zone and Estuary Waterways Management)

Paritam Kumar DuttaPhD

Investigation of sulfur removal, recovery and control by microbial fuel cells

Supervisors: Prof Jurg Keller, Prof Zhiguo Yuan and Dr Korneel Rabaey

Jason DwyerPhD

Determination of the fate of dissolved organic nitrogen in biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes and development of appropriate treatment technologies

Supervisors:A/ProfPaulLant

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Jeff FoleyPhD

Life cycle assessment of wastewater treatment systems

Supervisors:A/ProfPaulLant,DrDaviddeHaasand Adj/ProfKenHartley

Stefano FreguiaPhD

Fundamental studies of anodic and cathodic processes in microbial fuel cells

Supervisors: Prof Jurg Keller, and Prof Zhiguo Yuan

Huoqing GeEBCRC PhD Scholar

Small-medium scale organic solids stabilisation

Supervisors: Dr Damien Batstone and Dr Phil Bond

Nicholas GurieffPhD

Production of biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers using advanced wastewater treatment process technology

Supervisors:A/ProfPaulLantandProfJurgKeller

Shihu HuPhD

A fundamental understanding of methane driven denitrification

Supervisors:ProfZhiguoYuan,A/ProfPaulLantand Dr Raymond Zeng

Guangming JiangPhD

Metabolisms of sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogens in sewers under oxic and anoxic conditions

Supervisors: Prof Zhiguo Yuan, Dr Keshab Sharma and Prof Jurg Keller

Romain LemaireEBCRC PhD ScholarCompleted Oct 07

Development and optimisation of sequencing batch reactor operations for phosphorous and nitrogen biological removal from high strength wastewater

Supervisors: Prof Zhiguo Yuan, Prof Jurg Keller and Dr Nicolas Bernet (LBE-Narbonne, France)

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Huabing LuPhDCompleted Jun 07

The endogenous processes of polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms in activated sludge

Supervisors: Prof Zhiguo Yuan, Prof Jurg Keller and Dr Raymond Zeng

Scott McMurrayPhD

EnhancingBiologicaldenitrificationbyadditionofexternalcarbon sources: process optimisation though kinetic studies and mathematical modelling

Supervisors: Prof Jurg Keller and Prof Zhiguo Yuan

Janani MohanakrishnanPhD

Theroleofbiofilmsinsewerbiotransformations

Supervisors: Prof Zhiguo Yuan, Prof Jurg Keller and Dr Rikke Meyer (University of Aarhaus, Denmark)

Jason PaxmanPhDCompleted Dec 07

Enhancingbiologicaldenitrificationbyadditionofexternalcarbon sources: the impact of external carbon sources on thedenitrificationcommunitystructureandproperties

Supervisors: Prof Zhiguo Yuan, Prof Jurg Keller and Prof Linda Blackall

Hasina PervinEBCRC PhD Scholar

Microbial community and function analysis during optimisation of small to medium scale organic solids stablisation

Supervisors: Dr Phil Bond and Dr Damien Batstone

Christopher Pipe-MartinMPhil, Part-time

Biological processes for dissolved organic carbon removal

Supersivors: Prof Jurg Keller and Dr Damien Batstone

Pahvai RaveenthiranPhDWithdrawn Sep 07

Sustainable biological nitrogen removal in anaerobic treatment of domestic waste

Supervisors:A/ProfPaulLant


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Sue ReadPhD

Microbial ecology of extracellular electron transfer (EET)

Supervisors: Prof Jurg Keller, Dr Phil Bond and Dr Korneel Rabaey

Thomas SeviourPhD

Macromolecular associations in aerobic sludge granule derived extra-cellular polymeric substances

Supervisors: Prof Zhiguo Yuan, Dr Maite Pijuan and Prof Jurg Keller

Nishanthi SiyambalapitiyaPhDSubmitted Nov 07

Theinvestigationofbiologicalmechanismsinfluencingtheactivatedsludgeflocculationprocess

Supervisors: Prof Linda Blackall and A/ProfPaulLant

Bernardino VirdisPhD

Nitrogen removal in microbial fuel cells

Supervisors: Prof Jurg Keller, Dr Korneel Rabaey, Prof Zhiguo Yuan, and Prof Alessandra Carucci (University of Cagliari, Italy)

Lishan ZhangPhD

Understanding the biotransformation processes in a sewer system to achieve optimal management

Supervisors: Prof Jurg Keller, Prof Zhiguo Yuan and Dr David de Haas

Yan ZhouPhD

Development of a 2-sludge, 3-stage process for nitrogen and phosphorous removal from high strength wastewater

Supervisors: Prof Zhiguo Yuan, Dr Maite Pijuan and Dr Raymond Zeng


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Honours StudentDavid Tran Granular formation during wastewater treatment EBCRC Scholarship processes. Supervisors: Dr Phil Bond and Dr Maite Pijuan

Summer Vacation Student Rachael Slade Comparison of three EPS extraction methods using 06/07Summer proteins,carbohydratesandDNAasEPSquantification Vacation Supervisors: Dr Phil Bond

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Student Achievements

Luke Burow won the Best Student Paper 2007 Award at the Annual Conference of the Environmental Biotechnology CRC

Luke Burow was awarded the Becton Dickinson PhD Student Award – Australian Society for Microbiology (2007), the most prestigious prize in Microbiology in Queensland

Sue Read was awarded a Smart State fellowship to conduct her studies on the Microbial Ecology of Microbial Fuel Cells

Paritam Kumar Duta and Stefano Freguia both won Best poster and paper awards (respectively) at the 11th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion

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AWMC CoursesIWESDirectedbyA/ProfPaulLant,IWESistheleadingproviderofshortcoursesforenvironmentprofessionalsinAustralia. The program covers most facets of water management. In 2007, IWES ran events in Sydney (Feb), Gold Coast(Jul)andforthefirsttimeinPerth,WA(Nov).The2007GoldCoastcoursewasthebiggestyetconsistingof13 courses in water and wastewater treatment and environmental management with 280 participants. Many of the AWMC staff and students participate in the IWES course by either teaching or by providing the latest research for the course contents.

Master of Integrated Water ManagementThis masters program is offered by the International Water Centre (IWC). It aims to improve the capacity of future leaders in water resource management, with an emphasis on professionals working in developing countries. At the forefront of current and evolving practice, the program equips students with interdisciplinary skills and practicalapproachestoprovidingcleanwatersolutionsfromcatchmenttocoast.A/ProfPaulLantistheDirectorof Education and Training for the International Water Centre (IWC), a joint venture between The University of Queensland,GriffithUniversity,MonashUniversityandTheUniversityofWesternAustralia.

ARB CourseThis course teaches participants to use the software package ARB to explain the phylogenetic relationships of organismsincomplexmicrobialcommunities.ThefirstARBcoursewasheld11-13Aprilforaselloutcourseof15 participants.

FISH CourseThis course teaches the use of rRNA-targeted Fluorescence in situ Hybridisation (FISH), which is now widely accepted as the least biased method for identifying and enumerating populations of microorganisms within a large variety of environmental samples - including sludge, seawater, freshwater,intestinal/skinflora,plantroot/leafepiphytes,andrumen. The AWMC has run the FISH course annually since 2001.The2007coursewasheldforfirsttimeimmediatelyfollowing the ARB course in April, which allowed participants to afullunderstandingofMicrobialidentificationandenumerationtechniques.

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Conference Participation

2007 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS ATTENDED BY AWMC STAFF AND STUDENTS

Australian Water Association OzWater 2007 Convention and Exhibition, March 4-8, Sydney, Australia.

Nutrient Removal 2007: The State of the Art, March 4-7, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

TheAmericanSocietyforMicrobiologyBiofilmconference,March23–28,QuebecCity,Canada

Universite de Laval, Geau, March 29, Quebec City, Canada

Annual Cooperative Research Centre Association Meeting, May 15-18, Perth, Australia

International Meeting of the Federation of Korean Microbiological Societies, June 2-8, Seoul, Korea

4th International Water Association Leading Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technology, June 3-6, Singapore

Transformational biology workshop, June 18-20 2007, Canberra, Australia

2007AnnualScientificmeetingoftheAustralianSocietyforMicrobiology,July9-13,Adelaide,Australia

Gordon Conference on Applied and Environmental Microbiology, July 16-20, Mount Holyoke, MA, USA

3rd Australian Water Association Water Reuse and Recycling Conference, July 16-18, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

International Water Association Conference on Sewer Processes and Networks, August 28-31, 2007, Delft, The Netherlands

10th International Riversymposium, September 3-6, Brisbane, Australia

2nd International Water Association Conference on Automation in Water Quality Monitoring (AutMoNet), September 5 -7, Gent, Belgium

11th International Water Association World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, September 23-27, Brisbane Australia

NSI2007 - Queensland Branch of the Australian Society for Microbiology annual North Stradbroke Island Meeting, October 27, Stradbroke Island, Australia

2nd International Water Association Asia-Pacificregionalgroupconference& exhibition (ASPIRE), October 28 - November 1, Perth, Australia.

Environmental Biotechnology Cooperative Research Centre Annual Conference, November 19-21, Perth Australia

Annual AWMC Research Showcase, November 27, The University of Queensland, Australia

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Financial Information

INCOME FOR 2007

University Income Postgraduate Supervision plus Research Quantum $ 231,404 Postgraduate Tuition Fee Income $ 28,933 Payment for Teaching $ 123,618 Chair in Water Recycling $ 50,000 Research Start Up Fund $ 37,550 Early Career Research $ 65,575 $ 537,080

Salary Support School of Engineering $ 134,572 Environmental Biotechnology CRC Project Staff $ 334,512 Environmental Biotechnology CRC Project Management $ 51,934 Other Projects & Research Fellowships $ 179,151 ARC Postdoctoral Fellowships $ 381,819 $1,081,988

Scholarship Support Scholarships & Tuition Fee Support $ 64,792 CommonwealthScholarships-APA/APAI/ARC $186,123Environmental Biotechnology CRC Scholarships $ 104,367 External Scholarships $ 37,500 $ 392,782

Grants and Collaborative Research (excluding Salaries & Scholarship) Environmental Biotechnology CRC $ 123,774 ARC Discovery: Novel Concept for Water with Integrated Power $ 14,791 ARCDiscovery:FundamentalMethaneDrivenDenitrification $31,448ARC Discovery - Metagenomics and the Genetic Basis of $ 167,683 Ecology and Evolution SEQ Urban Water Security Alliance $ 254,000 ARC Linkage: Biotransformation Processes in Sewer Systems $ 151,000 DEST ISL Novel Technology to Produce Biodegradable - Neptune $ 262,420 DEST ISL Novel Microbial Technology - Innowatech $ 120,000 Australian Rain Corporation $ 225,000 Other projects $ 81,593 AWMC - Analytical Service $ 189,081 $1,620,790

Total Income $3,632,640

EXPENDITURE FOR 2007

Expenses 2005 2006 2007 % of expenditure

Academic and Research Salaries $1,223,144 $1,321,893 $1,779,285 46% General Salaries $ 336,219 $ 324,194 $ 315,782 8% Scholarships $ 492,430 $ 459,976 $ 243,746 6% Appointment Expenses $ 18,313 1% Consumables $ 379,540 $ 798,613 $1,133,446 29% Equipment $ 148,304 $ 127,290 $ 147,671 4% Travel $ 48,075 $ 126,364 $ 232,266 6% Total $2,627,712 $3,158,330 $3,870,510 100%

APA - Australian Postgraduate Award, APAI - Australian Postgraduate Award for Industry, ARC - Australian Research Council, CRC - Cooperative Research Centre, DEST - Department of Education Science and Training, ISL - International Science Linkage, SEQ - South East Queensland

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Duration TitleChief Investigators& Partners

Funding Source & Project Partners

Funding amount

2004-2006 Extended to 2008

Understanding the Biotransformation Processes in a Sewer System to Achieve Optimal Management

Zhiguo YuanJurg KellerThorkild Hvitved-Jacobsen

ARC Linkage Gold Coast WaterSydney WaterUniversity of Aalborg (Denmark)

$708,000$786,000from partners

2005-2007Community-level selection: Empirical tests in a microbial system

Craig JohnsonLinda Blackall

ARC DiscoveryUniversity of Tasmania

$260,000

2006 - 2008A Fundamental Understanding of Methane-DrivenDenitrification

Zhiguo YuanPaul LantJurg Keller

ARC Discovery $560,000

2006-2010Novel Concept for Wastewater Treatment with Integrated Power Production based on Microbial Fuel Cells

Jurg KellerZhiguo YuanWilly Verstraete

ARC DiscoveryGhent University, Belgium

$1,300,000

2005-2007Biological Processes for Dissolved Or-ganic Carbon (DOC) Removal

Jurg Keller CRC for Water Quality and Treatment

$232,870

2006-2007Optimal Biological Nutrient Removal from Abattoir Wastewater

Zhiguo Yuan

Environmental Biotechnology CRCMeat and Livestock Australia

$250,000

2005-2008

An Optimally Integrated Treatment Process for Food Waste and Wastewater to Maximise Sustainability in a Decentralised Treatment Plant

Jurg KellerBill Clarke

ARC Linkage $544,000

2007Acid-sulfate and excess leachate treatment

Damien BatstoneEnvironmental Biotechnology CRC

$88,200

2007-2009

Metagenomics and the genetic basis of ecology and evolution of communities-complex microbial communities in industrial processes as excellent paradigms

Linda BlackallPhil BondCraig Johnson

ARC DiscoveryUniversity of Tasmania

$325,000

2007Western Treatment Plant Investigation of Biogas Production Issues

Damien BatstoneMelbourne WaterGHD

$30,000

2007Anaerobic Digestion of Spent Bedding from Deep Litter

Damien BatstoneAustralian Pork LtdGHD

$65,000

2007-2008 PurifiedRecycledWaterJurg KellerPaul Lant

SEQ Urban Water Security Research AllianceCSIROGriffithUniversity

$199,024

2007-2008Life Cycle Analysis and Integrated Modelling

Jurg KellerPaul Lant

SEQ Urban Water Security Research AllianceCSIROGriffithUniversity

$23,700

2007-2008 Enhanced Treatment Jurg KellerPaul Lant

SEQ Urban Water Security Research AllianceCSIRO

$150,276

2007-2008SEQ Urban Water Security Alliance - NDMA Formation Potential

Jurg KellerPaul Lant

SEQ Urban Water Security Research Alliance

$33,750

2007-2008Microbial Fuel cell for Treating Brewery Waste

Jurg Keller Korneel Rabaey

Environmental Protection Agency -QLD, QSEIF ProgramFoster’s Group

$140,000


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Duration TitleChief Investigators& Partners

Funding Source & Project Partners

Funding amount

2007-2008 Advanced Aerobic GranulationMaite PijuanZhiguo YuanJurg Keller

Environmental Biotechnology CRCUniversity of NSW

$290,000

2007-2009Advanced Stability Sensor for Anaerobic Digestion

Damien BatstoneARC Linkage Gold Coast WaterBrisbane Water

$264,000

2007-2010

Novel Technology to Produce Biodegradable Polymer and Electrical Energy from Sewage Treatments Biosolids

Paul LantJurg KellerDamien BatstoneKorneel Rabaey

DEST International Science Linkages GrantsEU Project: NEPTUNE

$837,159

2007-2009Advanced Stability Sensor for Anaerobic Digestion

Damien BatstoneARC Linkage Gold Coast WaterBrisbane Water

$264,000

2007-2010Novel Microbial Technologies for Improved Treatment of Industrial Wastewater

Linda BlackallJurg KellerZhiguo YuanPhil Bond

DEST International Science Linkages GrantsEU Project: INNOWATECH

$823,633

2007-2008Small Medium Scale Organic Solids Stabilisation

Damien Batstone

QLD State Government Smart State FundingEnvironmental Biotechnology CRCMeat and Livestock Australia

$126,000

2008-2011Extracellular Electron Transfer in Bioelectrochemical Systems

Korneel RabaeyPhil BondKenneth NealsonNico BoonFranz Pichler

ARC DiscoveryUniversity of Southern California, USAGhent University, Belgium

$484,829

2008-2012Optimal Management of Corrosion and Odour Problems in Sewer Systems

Zhiguo YuanJurg KellerPhil Bondand others from Partner organisations

ARC Linkage Gold Coast WaterBrisbane WaterCH2MHill, SA WaterSouth East Water LtdSydney Water CorpUnited Water, Water CorpUNSW, USYD UNewcastle

$4,656,803$3,325,000 from partners

2007-2008Meteorological Assessments of Rainfall Enhancements

Jurg KellerHamish McGowan

National Water Commission

$360,000

2008Detection of Trace Concentrations of Chemical Contaminants in Urban Water Systems

Jurg KellerKorneel RabaeyPhil BondDamien Batstone and others from Partner organisations

ARC LIEFUniversity of Technology, SydneyUniversity of NSW

$430,000

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Theses

Lu, H. (2007) Metabolic characterisation of a highly enriched culture of candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis under various conditions.

Paxman, J. (2007) Effects of various carbon sources on the performance and properties of denitrifying sludge.

Lemaire, R. (2007) Development and Fundamental Investigations of Innovative Technologies for Biological Nutrient Removal from Abattoir Wastewater.

Publications

Allen D. E., Dalal R. C., Rennenberg H., Meyer R. L., Reeves S., and Schmidt S. (2007) Spatial and temporal variation of nitrous oxide andmethanefluxbetweensubtropicalmangrovesedimentsandtheatmosphere. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 39: 622-631

Batstone, DJ, Steyer, JP (2007) Use of Modelling to Evaluate Best Control Practice for Winery-type Wastewaters. Water Science and Technology, 56(2): 147-152

Blackburne, R., Vadivelu, V. M., Yuan, Z. and Keller, J. (2007) Determination of growth rate and yield of nitrifying bacteria by measuring carbon dioxide uptake rate. Water Environment Research, 79(12): 2437-2445.

Blackburne, R., Vadivelu V. M., Yuan, Z. and Keller, J. (2007) Kinetic characterisation of an enriched Nitrospira culture with comparison to Nitrobacter. Water Research, 41 (14): 3033-3042.

Boe, K. Batstone, D.K., Angelidaki, I. (2007) An innovative online VFA monitoring system for the anaerobic process, based on headspace gas chromatography. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 96 (4): 712-721

Burow, L.C., Kong, Y.H., Nielsen, J.L., Blackall, L.L. and Nielsen, P.H. (2007) Abundance and Ecophysiology of Defluviicoccus spp., Glycogen-Accumulating Organisms in Full-Scale Wastewater Treatment Processes. Microbiology-SGM, 153: 178-185

Clauwaert P, Rabaey K, Aelterman P, De Schamphelaire L, The Pham H, Boeckx P, Boon N, and VerstraeteW.(2007)Biologicaldenitrificationdrivenbymicrobialfuelcells.Environmental Science and Technology 41(9):3354-3360.

Clauwaert, P., van der Ha, D., Boon, N., Verbeken, K., Verhaege, M., Rabaey, K. and Verstraete, W. 2007. Open air biocathode enables effective electricity generation with Microbial fuel cells. Environmental Science and Technology. 41(21):7564-7569.

Dai, Y., Yuan, Z., Jack, K., and Keller, J. (2007) Production of Targeted Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) Copolymers by Glycogen Accumulating Organisms Using Acetate as Sole Carbon Source. Journal of Biotechnology, 129 (3): 489-497.

Publications List

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Publications List

Dai, Y., Yuan, Z., Wang, X. and Keller, J (2007) Anaerobic Metabolism of Defluviicoccus vanus Related Glycogen Accumulating Organisms (GAOs) with Acetate and Propionate as Carbon Sources, Water Research, 41(9): 1885-1896.

De Schamphelaire, L., Rabaey, K., Boeckx, P., Boon, N. and Verstraete, W. (2007) The potential of enhanced manganese redox cycling for sediment oxidation. Geomicrobiology Journal, 24(7-8):547-558.

Freguia, S., Rabaey, K., Yuan, Z. and Keller, J. (2007) Non-catalyzed cathodic oxygen reduction at graphite granules in microbial fuel cells, Electrochimica ACTA 53 (2): 598-603.

Freguia, S., Rabaey, K., Yuan, Z., and Keller, J. (2007) Electron and carbon balances in microbial fuel cells reveal temporary bacterial storage behaviour during electricity generation. Environmental Science and Technology, 41 (8): 2915-2921.

Lemos, P., C., Dai, Y., Yuan, Z., Santos, H., Keller, J., Reis, M. A. M. (2007) Elucidation of Metabolic Pathways of Glycogen Accumulating Organisms with in vivo 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Environmental Microbiology, 9(11): 2694-2706.

Lu, H., Keller, J. and Yuan, Z. (2007) Endogenous metabolism of Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis under various starvation conditions. Water Research. 41(20): 4646-4656.

Oehmen, A., Lemos, P. C., Carvalho, G., Yuan, Z., Keller, J., Blackall, L. L, Reis, M. A. M. (2007) Advances in enhanced biological phosphorus removal: from micro to macro scale. Water Research, 41: 2271-2300.

Pratt, S. and Yuan, Z.(2007)QuantificationoftheeffectofCO2 transfer on titrimetric techniques used for the study of biological wastewater treatment processes. Water SA. 33(1): 117-121.

Rabaey, K., Rodriguez, J., Blackall, L.L., Keller, J. Gross, P. Batstone, D., Verstraete. W. and Nealson, K.H. (2007). Microbial ecology meets electrochemistry: electricity-driven and driving communities. ISME Journal 1(1): 9-18.

Vadivelu, V., M., Keller, J. and Yuan, Z. (2007) Free Ammonia and Free Nitrous Acid Inhibition on the Anabolic and Catabolic Processes of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. Water Science and Technology. 56(7):89-97.

Vadivelu, V. M., Keller, J. and Yuan, Z. (2007) Effect of free ammonia on the respiration and growth processes of an enriched Nitrobacter culture. Water Research 41(4): 826-834.

Yilmaz, G., Lemaire, R., Keller, J. and Yuan, Z. (2007) Effectiveness of an Alternating Aerobic, Anoxic/AnaerobicStrategyforMaintainingBiomassActivityofBNRSludgeduringLong-termStarvation. Water Research, 41(12): 2590-2598.

Zhou, Y., Pijuan, M. and Yuan, Z. (2007) Free Nitrous Acid Inhibition on Anoxic Phosphorus UptakeandDenitrificationbyPoly-phosphateAccumulatingorganisms.Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 98(4): 903-912.

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Conferences

Batstone, DJ., Balthes, C., and Barr, K. (2007) Model Assisted Startup of Anaerobic Digesters Fed with Thermally Hydrolysed Activated Sludge. 11th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, 23-27 September 2007, Brisbane, Australia. Keynote presentation.

Blackall, L.L. and Burow, L.C. (2007). Exploitation of the genome sequence of Accumulibacter phosphatis (a Key Polyphosphate Accumulating Organism - PAO) obtained from a metagenomic study for functional studies in wastewater treatment. International Meeting of the Federation of Korean Microbiological Societies, 2-8 June, 2007, Seoul, Korea.

Burow, L.C., Bond, P.L., McEwan, A.G., Mabbett, A.N. and Blackall, L.L. (2007). Biological Models for Acetate and Phosphate Transport in Bacteria Important in Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal. Annual Scientific meeting of the Australian Society for Microbiology, 9 - 13 July, 2007, Adelaide, Australia.

Butzer S, Rabaey K, Freguia S, Chumpia A and Keller, J (2007). Design and construction of a pilot scale microbial fuel cell running on brewery wastewater. 11th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, 23-27 September 2007, Brisbane, Australia.

De Hass, D., Sharma, K. and Yuan, Z.(2007)Applicationofanewmodelforpredictinghydrogensulfideformation in sewer systems. Australian Water Association OzWater 2007 Convention and Exhibition, March 4-8, 2007, Sydney, Australia.

Dutta, P. K., Rabaey, K., Yuan, Z. and Keller, J.(2007)RemovalandFateofSulfideinanElectrochemicalFuel Cell. 11th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, 23-27 September 2007, Brisbane, Australia.

Foley J., Batstone, DJ, and Keller, J. (2007) The Challenges of Water Recycling – Technical and Environmental Horizons. Reuse 2007, 3rd Australian Water Association Water Reuse and Recycling Conference, July 16-18, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Freguia, S., Rabaey, K., Yuan, Z. and Keller J (2007) Fermentation and electricity generation at microbial fuel cell anodes. 11th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, 23-27 September 2007, Brisbane, Australia.

Publications List

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Publications List

Lemos, P. C., Dai, Y., Yuan, Z., Santos, H., Keller, J., Reis, M. A. M. (2007) Elucidation of Metabolic Pathways of Glycogen Accumulating Organisms with in vivo 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. 4th International Water Association Leading-Edge Conference & Exhibition on Water and Wastewater Technologies, 3-6 June 2007, Singapore.

Mohanakrishnan, J., Sharma, K., R., Meyer, R. L., Keller, J. and Yuan, Z.(2007)Variationinbiofilmstructure and activity along a rising sewer main. International Water Association Conference on Sewer Processes and Networks, 28-31 August 2007, Delft, The Netherlands.

Oehmen, A., Zeng, R. J., Keller, J. and Yuan, Z. (2007) Model for the Aerobic Metabolisms of Polyphosphate Accumulating Organisms with a Propionate Carbon Source. Nutrient Removal 2007: The State of the Art, March 4 - 7, 2007, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Pijuan, M. and Yuan, Z. (2007) Inhibition of Free Nitrous Acid on Aerobic P-uptake by Poly-phosphate Accumulating Organisms. 2nd International Water Association Asia-pacific regional group conference & exhibition, 28 October - 1 November 2007, Perth, Australia.

Rabaey, K. and Keller, J. (2007). From microbial fuel cells to Bio-Electrochemical Systems. 11th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, September 23-27, Brisbane, Australia. Plenary lecture

Rabaey, K. (2007). Electricity driving and driven communities: From extracellular electron transfer to engineering. Gordon Conference on Applied and Environmental Microbiology, July 16-20, Mount Holyoke, MA, USA. Invited presentation

Rabaey, K., Virdis, B., Clauwaert, P. and Keller, J. (2007). Nitrogen removal in Microbial Fuel Cells. 4th International Water Association Leading-Edge Conference & Exhibition on Water and Wastewater Technologies, 3-6 June 2007, Singapore.

Rabaey, K. (2007). Electricity driving and driven communities: en route towards a New environmental biotechnology? Transformational biology workshop, June 18-20, Canberra, Australia. Invited talk

Rabaey, K., Rodriguez, J., Clauwaert, P., Virdis, B., The Pham, H., Aelterman, P., Freguia, S., Blackall, L.L., Verstraete, W. and Keller, J. (2007). Communities driving electricity support communities thriving on electricity. The Amercian Society for Microbiology Biofilm conference, March 23rd – 28th 2007, Quebec City, Canada. Invited talk

Rabaey, K.(2007).Microbialfuelcells:fromenergyefficientwastewatertreatmenttosustainableenergygeneration (and beyond). Universite de Laval, Geau, March 29th 2007, Quebec City, Canada. Invited talk

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Publications List

Rabaey, K., Virdis, B., Clauwaert, P., Kumar Dutta, P. and Keller, J. Microbial fuel cells: from energy generation to nutrient removal. Australian Water Association OzWater 2007 Convention and Exhibition, March 4-8, 2007, Sydney, Australia.

Rodríguez, J., Batstone, D. J., Yuan, Z. and Rabaey, K. (2007) A comprehensive model to investigate microbial fuel cells. 11th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, 23-27 September 2007, Brisbane, Australia.

Sutherland-Stacey, L., Corrie, S., Neethling, Al., Johnson, I., Gutierrez, O., Dexter, R., Yuan, Z., Keller, J.andHamilton,G.(2007)In-situContinuousMonitoringofSulfideinSewerSystems.2nd International Water Association Conference on Automation in Water Quality Monitoring (AutMoNet), 5 -7 September 2007. Gent, Belgium 2007, oral presentation.

Sutherland-Stacey, L., Corrie, S., Neethling, Al., Johnson, I., Gutierrez, O., Dexter, R., Yuan, Z., Keller, J. and Hamilton, G. (2007) In Situ Continuous Monitoring of Dissolved Sulphide in Sewer Systems. Australian Water Association OzWater 2007 Convention and Exhibition, March 4-8, 2007, Sydney, Australia.

Tamis, J., Tait, S. and Batstone, D.J. (2007) “Evaluation of the methanogenic activity on different substrates. 11th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, 23-27 September 2007, Brisbane, Australia.

Vadivelu, V., M., Keller, J. and Yuan, Z. (2007) Free Ammonia and Free Nitrous Acid Inhibition on the Anabolic and Catabolic Processes of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. 4th International Water Association Leading-Edge Conference & Exhibition on Water and Wastewater Technologies, 3-6 June 2007, Singapore.

Virdis B, Rabaey K and Keller J (2007). Simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal in a microbial fuel cell-based system. 11th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, 23-27 September 2007, Brisbane, Australia.

Yilmaz, G., Lemaire, R., Keller, J. and Yuan, Z. (2007) Biological Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal using Granular Sludge from Anaerobically Pre-treated Abattoir Wastewater. Australian Water Association OzWater 2007 Convention and Exhibition, March 4-8, 2007, Sydney, Australia.

Zhou, Y., Pijuan, M. and Yuan, Z. (2007) Development of a 2-Sludge, 3-Stage System for Nitrogen and PhosphorousRemovalfromHigh-strengthWastewaterUsingGranularSludgeandBiofilms.Nutrient Removal 2007: The State of the Art, March 4 - 7, 2007, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.


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Notes



Advanced Water Management CentreLevel 4 Gehrmann Laboratories, Building 60

Research Road, St. Lucia CampusThe University of QueenslandBrisbane QLD 4072, Australia

Telephone: +61 7 3365 4730 Facsimile: +61 7 3365 4726Website: www.awmc.uq.edu.auEmail: [email protected]

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