Some of Australia’s best scientists and researchers will start ground-breaking work to address PFAS contamination in the environment, thanks to new research projects announced by the Federal Government.
The nine research projects will share in $8.2 million in funding under the first round of the Australian Research Council’s Special Research Initiative PFAS Remediation Research Program.
The projects will focus on the development of new technologies and remediation solutions to minimise and remove PFAS from contaminated areas in soil, groundwater, waterways and marine systems.
It’s expected researchers will work closely with industry and business partners to develop and refine solutions for tackling PFAS that can be applied in the field across Australia.
The successful research projects include:
- $999,082 to researchers at Deakin University to create a waste-to-resource remediation strategy for PFAS contamination, including inexpensive and effective treatment of PFAS-contaminated sites and a mechanism to turn waste products into valuable resources.
- $880,187 to researchers at the University of Queensland to develop a self-contained and portable system for the onsite destruction of PFAS at contaminated sites.
- $940,000 to researchers at the University of Newcastle to develop new technology to allow for the catalytic destruction of PFAS reactions at elevated temperatures.
- $1,103,883 to researchers at The University of New South Wales for a new treatment technology to defluorinate PFAS in contaminated water.
The Program builds on the Government’s investment of more than $120 million in responding to PFAS contamination, including investigations, community support, remediation and research.
A second round of the PFAS Remediation Research Program will open to eligible organisations in the coming months, inviting new grant applications for funding between $50,000 to $1 million per year for one to three years.
The PFAS Remediation Research Program is funded through the ARC Special Research Initiatives (SRI) scheme. The ARC SRI scheme provides funding for new and emerging fields of research and builds capacity in strategically important areas.
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Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
