Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­

Professor Jochen Muelle
Professor Jochen Mueller's project has been awarded $1.225 million.
10 August 2018

Efforts to rehabilitate contaminated environments have netted University of Queensland researchers more than $3.6 million, with Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ being awarded four out of nine grants funded through an (ARC) Special Research Initiative.

The grants focus on the remediation of PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) chemicals once used in many household products and firefighting foams.

Rehabilitating areas where PFAS has been used have become a priority as scientists learn of the damaging effects of the chemicals on humans, animals and the environment.

Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ scientists will work with other research and industry partners to tackle the problem via a range of innovative methods.

said the projects showed the real-world applications of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­’s research excellence.

“To gain four out of the nine available grants – more than any other university – demonstrates the expertise and value of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ researchers,” he said.

“Researchers will partner with international organisations, including respected research institutes, to tackle this problem in inventive new ways.

“I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this world-changing research.”

The four successful project leaders are:

  • , from Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­’s , will work on a cost-effective soil washing treatment plan for PFAS-contaminated soil. The project was awarded $1.225 million, the most in Australia.
     
  • , from the , will develop a skid-based transportable plant that can be used to convert toxins into safe products: mainly carbon dioxide and harmless salts. The project received $880,187.
     
  • , from the , will lead a project that aims to use electrochemistry to remove and destroy PFAS from water sources. The project received more than $1 million.
  • from the , will focus on removing PFAS from urban wastewater via magnetite nanoparticles, which absorb PFAS compounds. The project received $381,468.

The latest ARC funding follows on Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­’s earlier success, with the University awarded a record-breaking six ARC Australian Laureate Fellows this month.

A full list of funded projects is available at the

Media: Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Communications; communications@uq.edu.au; (07) 3365 3439 or +61 (0) 429 056 139.