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Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable, macroscopically isotropic mixtures of at least two immiscible components and a surfactant. Their general features, i.e. the complex phase behavior, the ultralow interfacial tensions, and the multifarious nanostructure, have been systematically elucidated in the last century. However, the efficient solubilization of long-chain n-alkanes and waxes, which plays a significant role in enhanced oil recovery, washing, and cosmetics, remains a challenge. Thus, in this work the influence of the n-alkane chain length k on the phase behavior of ternary (symmetric) microemulsions containing equal volumes of water and oil was studied. Using n-alkanes ranging from n-dodecane (C12H26)ton-dotriacontane (C32H66) and pure n-alkyl polyglycol ether (CiEj) surfactants, we found that the efficiency of the respective surfactant decreases linearly with increasing k, while the phase inversion temperature (PIT) shows a logarithmic dependence. The influence of a technical wax on the phase behavior was studied by means of the systems H2O−SASOLWAX 5805 (Sasol)−C16E6 yielding an equivalent alkane carbon number (EACN (SASOLWAX 5805)) of 30.8. Finally, the pure CiEj surfactants were replaced with technical grade counterparts of the Genapol series (Clariant) finding that the solubilization efficiency of the long-chain Genapol O 080 is comparable to the pure C16E6 surfactant. Using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) the microstructure of the formulated microemulsions was studied near the so-called optimum (X̃ ) point. The scattering curves prove that microemulsions containing long-chain n-alkanes and waxes are also bicontinuously structured at the phase inversion temperature (PIT). Interestingly, a high degree of structural ordering is found reflected by values of the amphiphilicity factor fa ranging between −0.83 and −0.87.

In this work, we report on air/N2 gasification of a byproduct stream from an industrial fermenter in a tubular microwave plasma reactor to investigate the feasibility of the technology for organic compounds valorization, given the limited number of relevant works in the literature. In this context, an operating window regarding air/N2/biomass flow rates and power input has been identified to enable stable and efficient operation. Up to 89% carbon conversion efficiency and 41% cold gas efficiency have been attained with syngas product composition H2:CO:CO2 = 41:53:6 on molar basis, fairly close to the calculated equilibrium composition values in the temperature range 973 K to 2173 K.

As the world is becoming increasingly urbanized there is a need for more sustainability-oriented planning of our cities. Policy and decision-makers are interested in the use of evidenced based approaches and tools that will support collaborative planning. There are a number of tools in the domain of spatial planning and decision support systems that have been built over the last few decades but the uptake and use of these tools is somewhat limited. In the context of Australia there is significant urban growth occurring across the major cities and a need to provision planners and developers with precinct planning tools to assist in managing infill and the densification of the existing urban fabric in a carbon constrained economy. In this paper we describe the development of a new precinct planning tool known as the Envision Scenario Planner (ESP), which is being applied initially in two cities, Melbourne and Perth to assist in the urban design and planning of Greyfield sites. To set the scene in this paper we firstly provide a brief review of the existing state of play of visualization and modelling tools available to urban planners in Australia. The focus on the paper will be to introduce an iterative co-design prototyping approach for developing a best practice precinct planning support tool (ESP) from an earlier tool known as ENVISION. The first step of the approach is an exposure workshop with experts to refine the proposed tool workflow and its functionality. Subsequent iterations of the prototype are then exposed to larger audiences for validation and testing. In this paper we will describe the process and the preliminary findings in implementing the first phase of this iterative co-design prototype approach.

Designing sustainable urban development is a multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary challenge that can benefit from next-generation modelling tools to achieve high performance outcomes and integrated assessments. This chapter presents and demonstrates the use of ‘MUtopia’, an information modelling platform for assessing alternative urban development scenarios. The use of the platform is illustrated through the application to a peri-urban development in the city of Melbourne, Australia. The modelling platform allows simulation of various transition and future scenarios at the precinct level. The platform is capable of extracting data to assist in developing and assessing the performance of different components (land use, individual buildings and infrastructure related to energy and water supply and use, waste management and transport systems) by taking advantage of the platform’s unique scalability. The selected case study is a 31.5 ha Parcel of land, a typical peri-urban development in Melbourne’s fringe located in West Cranbourne. A key aspect of the development is the design of a sustainable precinct that is affordable, provides a greater level of amenity and incorporates biolink corridors and natural open spaces critical to the preservation of native biodiversity. As a low rise suburban development this project presents a unique opportunity for the application of the MUtopia platform and to demonstrate how the tool can lead to optimum design parameters for achieving sustainable development. This chapter also describes how MUtopia can be used to optimise the selection and design of sustainable and resilient energy, water and waste infrastructure and its integration with existing infrastructure.

We have developed an integrated microfluidic platform for producing 2-[(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) in continuous flow from a single bolus of radioactive isotope solution, with constant product yields achieved throughout the operation that were comparable to those reported for commercially available vessel-based synthesisers (40-80%). The system would allow researchers to obtain radiopharmaceuticals in a dose-on-demand setting within a few minutes. The flexible architecture of the platform, based on a modular design, can potentially be applied to the synthesis of other radiotracers that require a two-step synthetic approach, and may be adaptable to more complex synthetic routes by implementing additional modules. It can therefore be employed for standard synthesis protocols as well as for research and development of new radiopharmaceuticals.

In this work we demonstrate a continuously operating microfluidic device for solvent removal and exchange for chemical syntheses by means of a supporting gas. The glass device consists of three sections: (i) three merging microchannels to create an annular gas–liquid stream; (ii) a serpentine channel with a heater underneath to allow efficient evaporation of the volatile solvent; (iii) a section with side capillaries to separate the liquid from the gas phase. We demonstrate the performance of the device for the removal of acetonitrile from an acetonitrile–water mixture. We achieved efficient removal of acetonitrile within a few seconds for flow rates of 20–30 µL min-1 and a nitrogen pressure of 1.2 bar. In three steps, acetonitrile was reduced from 50 wt% in the feed solution to 1 wt% in the final solution. We believe that the device can be easily applied to other solvent mixtures.