Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment
SA Water Centre for Water Management and Reuse

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Desalination, Membrane and Nanotechnology Research Group

 

The Desalination, Membrane and Nanotechnology Research Group, led by Associate Professor Linda Zou, was established in 2008. The group aims to conduct innovative research on using membrane and non-membrane alternative technologies in brackish water and seawater desalination, and develop novel nano-structured materials for efficient water and wastewater purification. The research outcomes of the group will make timely contributions to address the current and future “water crisis” caused by global climate change and unpredictable weather patterns in Australia.

Currently, the Group is working on three ARC grants during 2009-2011:

ARC Linkage Project title: High performance conductive mesoporous carbon electrodes: a low energy desalination alternative (A/Prof LY Zou; Dr GE Morris; Prof Dr H Song; Mr JT Martin)

Project Linkage Project Title: New nanocomposites of porous materials and visible light sensitive TiO₂ for efficient wastewater purification (A/Prof LY Zou; Dr L Wang; Mr N Corby)

Project Discovery Project Title: Designing the surface and structural properties of MFI zeolite membranes for low energy ion‑selective desalination (A/Prof MC Duke; A/Prof LY Zou; Dr AJ Hill; Prof JY Lin) 

The group has research expertise in the following areas:

• Low energy alternative desalination processes using electrosorptive carbon electrodes
• Membrane filtration for fit for purpose water reuse/recycle
• Nano-structured materials and composites for water purifications, such as TiO₂/SiO₂ for degrading trace organic matters
• Desalination brine waste treatment
• Combined advanced oxidation processes to treat wastewater for reuse

The group has established research collaborations with many external research institutions, including: 

• Australia National Centre of Excellence in Desalination
• Water Quality Research Australia
• UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology (New South Wales University)
• ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials (The University of Queensland)
• Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science
• Beijing University of Chemical Technology
• Korea National Centre for the Seawater Desalination Plant (SeaHERO Program)

 At present, there are several PhD students and a number of visiting researchers and exchange students in the Group. For potential applicants of PhD and Master’s research, or if you have any other enquiries, please contact A/Prof Linda Zou at: linda.zou@unisa.edu.au, or by phone: +61 8 8302 5489.

 

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