Sequential Inject Analysis (SIA) For Industrial Control

Overview

High-purity alumina (HPA) has been earmarked as a critical mineral commodity due to its use in LEDs, batteries and scratch-resistant sensor coverings. QUT has partnered with Lavablue to create an alumina mini plant at Redlands as a testing ground for new technologies related to alumina.
When producing chemicals such as HPA, analysis of final and intermediate products is needed. In this project, a Sequential injection analysis instrumentation will be developed to serve the QUT/Lavablue mini-plant.

Research engagement

A successful applicant will perform lab-based work to build and validate an automated SIA instrument which will subsequently
as part of the project, you will:
- learn machine control and instrument automation
- learn validation and calibration
- learn ICP-OES/MS
- develop and optimise parameters of an SIA
- apply analytical chemistry to real-world chemical plants
- get the satisfaction of seeing your work applied in a chemical factory

Research activities

ICP-OES/MS
sample preparation
wet chemical analysis
Method development of SIA techniques.

Outcomes

At the end of this project, a fully automated SIA system is expected to be installed and operated at the Lavablue HPA plant.

Skills and experience

Analytical chemistry skills, some coding knowledge would be a plus

Start date

1 December, 2024

End date

28 February, 2025

Location

E411

Keywords

• SIA
• Analytical chemistry

Contact

Wayde Martens, w.martens@qut.edu.au