Chemical Engineering Research
Our chemical engineering research is conducted in extensive laboratories located in the Engineering North Building.
Our capability spans the following areas:
- Industrial waste management and valorisation, energy, sustainability, biofuels, biochar, activated carbon, reactor engineering, process design, flow-sheeting and optimisation
- Feedstocks, chemical demand, stakeholder life cycle assessment (LCA), chemical process system engineering, combustion, food waste valorisation, value supply chains
- Resource recovery and recycling ofspent lithium-ion battery
- Air and water treatment, nanotechnologyand catalysis, greenhouse gas mitigation
- Reaction engineering and kinetics, mathematical and process-based modelling, scale up/down
- Sustainable process design and optimisation, process intensification
- Materials processing, energy and sustainability, environment
- Scale-up, process integration, low carbon processing, techno-economic evaluation
- Hydrogen/hydrogen carrier production, utilisation, fuels, supply chains, waste management, elements of business development
- Low carbon emissions, environmental LCA, analytical methodology
Our Chemical Engineering discipline achieved the highest ranking (5; well above world standard) as evaluated by Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA).
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Research impact
We’re making an impact through the following research projects and breakthroughs.
- Commercialisation of Renewable Crude Oil Production, funded by the Australian Research Council
- Concentrated solar thermal, funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency
- Commercialisation of biochar and activated carbon production, funded by the Government of South Australia
- Using biochar to increase soil water holding capacity, organic matter, and carbon content, funded by Australian Government
- Green fertilisers and clean hydrogen, Roseworthy Solar Farm, University of Adelaide
- Process simulation and techno-economic analysis of various hydrogen production technologies, funded by the Future Fuels CRC
- Green remediation of water by smart micro-reactors, funded by the Australian Research Council
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Consulting services
We advise on, contribute to and lead, projects relating to:
- Research programs for national and state research-and-development schemes, such as Cooperative Research Centres and the Premier’s Science and Research Fund
- Process optimisation and innovation
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Our researchers
Our researchers are available to assist with research project supervision for Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy students.
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Fields of research codes
Our Chemical Engineering research strength covers the following Fields of Research (FoR) Codes: Chemical engineering design (400403), Chemical and thermal processes in energy and combustion (400402), Reaction engineering (excl. nuclear reactions; 400408), Separation technologies (400409), Wastewater treatment processes (400410), Water treatment processes (400411).
Higher degree by research opportunities
Be involved in engineering discovery, invention, and cutting-edge research through a higher degree by research. Join our Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy programs.