Centre for Transformational Environmental Technologies (CTET)

 

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Expertise in environmental technologies

CTET is an R&D centre established in December 2017, focusing on the development and commercialisation of innovative environmental technologies. Co-funded by UNSW Sydney and the Yixing Industrial Park for Environmental Science and Technology (ES&TP), the Centre is located in the Jiangsu Innovation Centre of Industrial Technology for Environmental Protection Equipment in Yixing, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.

We currently have more than 20 staff from various cultural backgrounds, with a variety of expertise across water, air and soil. The Centre also houses a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities, enabling the development of cutting-edge technologies and commercialisation.

Vision and mission

We bring innovative ideas to reality to make our planet a better place to live.

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To showcase UNSW's research strengths in environmental areas through strategic collaboration with China's largest high-tech zone on environmental protection.

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To bring innovative environmental technologies to practice, facilitate knowledge exchange, and enhance UNSW’s social and global impact.

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To explore and enable technology transfer and commercialisation.

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Development of R&D projects with activities undertaken at both UNSW Sydney and CTET (Yixing).

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Provision of technical solutions/support to industries in China, Australia and, potentially, other countries.

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Implementation of national and international scale projects.

Research capabilities

We focus on developing long-term strategic partnerships with high-quality research organisations, researchers and industry, and invest in areas where we believe we can make the most difference.
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Water and wastewater treatment

The CTET team has extensive experience in the design and optimisation of both membrane and electrochemical technologies for the treatment of waters and wastewaters. These include membrane capacitive deionisation (MCDI) for desalination of brackish waters and reverse osmosis (RO) for desalination of more saline streams. The team also has wide experience in many aspects of membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment of wastewaters including optimising coagulant addition, fouling management and energy use minimisation. Innovation in design and operation of advanced oxidation processes (AOP) such as electrochemically-assisted Fenton (E-Fenton) and catalytic ozonation are other areas in which the CTET team are leaders.
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Resource recovery

Recovery of valuable resources from wastewaters and waste solids represents a critical area in need of innovation. CTET, in close collaboration with UNSW Sydney researchers, is involved in early-stage research on use of flow capacitive deionisation (FCDI) for recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewaters and redox flow battery (RFB) systems for recovery of rare earth elements from wastes. While in the early stages of development, the CTET team are focussed on scale-up of these innovative technologies.
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Air quality, human health and treatment

Inhalation of airborne contaminants is of concern to all, whether in polluted urban environments or exposed to toxic particulates in the work environment. The CTET team, supported by researchers at UNSW, are developing improved methods to assess the toxicity of respirable particulates high in crystalline silica and bioavailable iron. The CTET team is also developing catalysts for use in household air treatment devices that will ensure the removal of both chemical and biological contaminants.
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Contaminated site characterisation and management

Land contamination as a result of both agricultural and industrial activities is a major issue that is being addressed by CTET with support from UNSW Sydney researchers. In particular, R&D on understanding the rate and extent of generation of acidity as a consequence of disturbance of sulfidic soils and sediments as a result of agricultural and mining activities is underway. The CTET team is also examining methods of enhancing the natural attenuation of legacy contaminants present in subsurface environments as a consequence of previous poor industry and waste management practices.
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Digital water technologies

CTET is very involved in developing AI-based technologies for application in the environmental area. Examples include the development of Digital Twins of our water and wastewater treatment technologies which, when coupled to augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) devices, provide interactive methods to facilitate training of personnel and the development of Smart Twins that incorporate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and chemical kinetic models. We are also developing machine learning to assist in the design and operation of membrane bioreactors and reverse osmosis plants, particularly in relation to managing fouling and minimising energy consumption. Through our close links with UNSW researchers, we are also using deep learning coupled to X-ray microtomography for 3D mineral characterisation with this information critical to our R&D on acid mine drainage and natural hydrogen generation.

Our partners

Partners

Advice and services

Diagnosis of failure of water treatment plants

Diagnosis of failure of water treatment plants

Membranes are increasingly applied in a variety of industries, including water and wastewater treatment, food and beverage production and gas refinement, where high throughput and reliable separation are required. Membrane autopsies are an important tool for determining causes of fouling events in membrane systems. When conducting an autopsy it is usually on the premise that the fouling management process has failed and the aim of the autopsy is to identify the root cause of the fouling event and provide some recommendation on how to correct or manage it.

More information
Process Design and Optimization

Process design & optimisation

We use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) together with other process simulation tools and advanced experimental characterisation techniques to optimise the design of membrane module and large scale water and wastewater treatment plants for our clients. We can help with:

  • Design of large scale bioreactors for wastewater treatment.
  • Design of membrane modules (MF/UF/NF/RO).
  • Design and optimisation for brackish and seawater desalination.
  • Predicting operational failure of advanced water treatment plants.
Consulting and training

Consulting & training

We leverage the support of researchers and scientists from UNSW Sydney, who have more than 30 years of experience in water purification and wastewater treatment technologies and a comprehensive understanding of the water and wastewater industry.
Our specialised team will help our clients address new environmental challenges and develop cost-effective, long-term, sustainable solutions by offering customised consulting and training services. This training may include short courses in state-of-the-art environmental technologies, process optimisation and modelling, process operator training, and treatment plant operator training.

Become a partner today

Through knowledge exchange, collaboration and cultivating mutually rewarding partnerships, we can improve the impact of research to create a better future.

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