Charles Darwin University (CDU) is turning up the heat on innovative, eco-friendly solutions with their latest project aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of fluorine-free firefighting foams (F3). As global efforts intensify to phase out PFAS-based foams—dubbed ‘forever chemicals’ for their environmental persistence—CDU’s initiative, supported by the United States Department of Defense, aims to create safer…
A novel electrified reactor developed by Monash University researchers could offer a lower-temperature, lower-cost and environmentally gentler alternative to chemical manufacturers using methane reforming to make syngas, according to the university. In a statement on Wednesday, Monash said the reactor for dry reforming of methane (DRM) could cut emissions by up to 60 per cent…
UNSW researchers have developed a new recycling method that can work on a variety of plastics and uses sunlight, air and a cheap, common chemical. According to a statement from the university, the process could break down seven different types of polymers by 90 per cent in under 30 minutes (and 97 per cent after…
By Tianyi Ma, RMIT University Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are vital tools to help us make cuts to the 36 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases we emit each year. But renewables alone can’t get us to net zero. Sectors such as cement, steel and chemical manufacturing produce significant carbon dioxide emissions…
Monash University researchers have developed a new family of materials claimed to be “relatively easily” and affordably made and able to capture excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. According to a statement from the university on Thursday, “meso-macroporous melamine formaldehyde (MF)” is a promising base for direct air capture (DAC) of CO2. MF is made…
UNSW Sydney chemical engineering researchers have developed a way to create synthetic methane from sunlight and carbon dioxide, which they say could lessen reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to a statement from the university on Wednesday, the team’s process uses light and heat to induce a reaction which produces synthetic…
The second stop on our adventure to unearth Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers is at Scimita Ventures. Founder Dr Mobin Nomvar tells Brent Balinski about his work commercialising energy, materials, and circular economy research. Ask anybody who has taken scientific research and turned it into a commercial output and they’ll likely tell you that it’s…
