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UNSW Canberra

Water quality

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A sustainable solution to secure water supplies

As the world’s population continues to increaseÌýand the effects of climate change become more severe, stress on existing naturalÌýwater suppliesÌýwill escalate.ÌýWhilst water covers most ofÌýEarth’s surface, notÌýallÌýthe water available is fresh or drinkable. There are many parts of the world currently experiencingÌýwater shortagesÌýandÌýdroughtÌýconditionsÌýcombinedÌýwith water supplies that are unfit for human consumption.ÌýÌý

AlternativeÌýwater sourcesÌýare neededÌýto ensureÌýwater qualityÌýforÌýcommunities, industryÌýand agricultureÌýis sustainable.ÌýWater treatmentÌýandÌýseawater desalinationÌýcan provide an alternate source of drinkingÌýwaterÌýbyÌýreducingÌýwaterÌýcontamination andÌýremoving salt and impuritiesÌýto produce fresh water.

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Impact

Due to energy consumption, converting sea or brackish water into potable water is more costly than obtaining fresh water from surface water, water recyclingÌýor water conservation. However, these alternatives are not always available. Ìý

We are playing a key role in protecting and increasing one of Australia’s most valuable resources by developing several new treatment technologies that use renewable energy and are environmentally friendly and inexpensive, including techniques for:Ìý

  • seawater desalinationÌý
  • water treatment processes and wastewater sterilisationÌý
  • selective removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewaterÌý
  • efficient concentration of wastewater slimes to recycle waterÌý
  • the prevention of water cavitation to enableÌýmuch cheaper transport. Ìý

Other new techniques like high-temperature reactions achieved in low-temperature water and low energy desalination are also being developed.Ìý

Competitive advantageÌý

We've developed several new water technologies based on improved desalination processes and efficient wastewater treatment processes. We have also produced several international Patent Cooperation Treaty applications and submitted several provisional patent applications, which haveÌýled to the establishment of a new local company: ‘Breakthrough Water Technologies’.

We've also produced many international journal articles. During this time Professor Barry Ninham AO FAA, who works closely with our group, was awarded the Academy of Sciences’ 2017 Matthew Flinders Medal.ÌýÌý

Our researchers
Professor Richard Pashley
Richard Pashley
Professor
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Lecturer in Explosive Ordnance S.M.Parvez Mahbub
S.M.Parvez Mahbub
Lecturer in Explosive Ordnance
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Lecturer Adrian Garrido Sanchis
Adrian Garrido Sanchis
Lecturer
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    • Ìý
    • Ìý

    • R. Wei, R. M. Pashley,Ìý‘.’ÌýDesalinationÌý479, 114329 (2020).

    • M.ÌýTaseidifar, A. G. Sanchis, R. M. Pashley and B.W. Ninham,Ìý‘.’,ÌýSubstantiaÌý3(2), 11-17 (2019).

    • M.ÌýTaseidifar, M.ÌýZiaee, R. M. Pashley and B.W. Ninham,Ìý‘.’,ÌýJ. Environ. Chem. Eng. 7, 103263, (2019).

    • A. Garrido, R.M. Pashley and B.W. Ninham,Ìý‘.’Ìý,ÌýNPJ Clean WaterÌý(2:5, 2019).

    • F.ÌýMakavipour, R.M. Pashley and A.F.M.ÌýMokhlesurÌýRahman,Ìý‘.’,ÌýGlobal Challenges.Ìý3(3), 1-8 (2019).

    • R.M.ÌýPashley, J.ÌýJ. Antony and M.ÌýTaseidifar,Ìý‘The prevention of fluid cavitation’,ÌýPCT application Published 25 October 2018, WO 2018/191790 A1.

    • F.ÌýMakavipour, M.ÌýTaseidifar, R.M Pashley and Rahman A.F. M.ÌýMohklesur.,Ìý.’ PCT/AU2017/051145.

    • R.M. Pashley, A. S. Garrido and B.W. Ninham,Ìý‘Sterilization method’,ÌýPCT: Published: WO 2019/104383 A1.Ìý6 June 2019.

    • R.M. Pashley, M.ÌýTaseidifarÌýand T.ÌýGettongsong,Ìý‘Resin forÌýDesalinationÌýand Process of Regeneration’,ÌýPCT: WO 2020/118371 A1. 18 June 2020.
    • Heavy metal ion removal from mining wastewaterÌý
    • Improved ion-exchange desalination technology Ìý
    • Novel de-watering process for mining wastewater slime treatmentÌý
    • Propeller cavitation preventionÌý
    • Developing building coatings for protection against bushfire ember attackÌý
    • Hot CO2 bubbling for water sterilisationÌý
    • Novel solar array for high-temperature processes

    Ìý

  • We have several new technologies that are expected to have widespread applications for both community and industrial development in Australia and overseas including:Ìý

    • propeller cavitation prevention
    • copper ion removal from mining wastewater, funded by Newcrest Mining
    • carbon dioxide (CO2) industrial wastewater sterilisation applied to piggeries funded by Australia Pork Ltd.Ìý
    • fire suppressant coatings - using solar energy to produce carbon fibres and a new coating to prevent ember attack during bushfires
    • improved seawater desalination processes aimed at improving energy efficiency.Ìý

    We have successfully extended the hot air bubble process to a range of other gases, which are shown to offer a range of different properties. For example, CO2 can sterilise solutes (even viruses) even at low temperatures. Hot oxygen (O2) bubbles can oxidise solutes and can kill bacterial cells. We have also discovered hot helium (He) bubbles can reduce the hydrogen (H) bonding in seawater, enhancing vaporisation.ÌýÌý