Elsa Antunes
- elsa.antunes1@jcu.edu.au
- Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Engineering
Projects
9
Publications
59
Awards
6
Biography
Profile:
Elsa Antunes is a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering in the College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University. She obtained her PhD degree in Chemical Engineering from James Cook University in 2018. Elsa’s PhD was focused on understanding the impact of microwave pyrolysis conditions on biochar properties produced from diverse biomass. Before joining James Cook University, Elsa was Head of Advanced Ceramics Department capitalising more than 10 years employment within industry undertaking research projects.
Elsa’s research is focused in the field of materials engineering, developing new materials and fabrication techniques for biomedical implants, investigating smart materials fabrication, understanding production of value-added products from biomass pyrolysis, and using biochar for water purification and resource recovery.
Current Research Projects:
- Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
- 3D Printing of Advanced Ceramic Materials
- Sustainable Conversion of Biomass into Value-added products
- Advanced Technologies to Mitigate the Impact of Contaminants of Emerging Concern
Research
Research Interests
- Biomedical implants: new materials and fabrication methods
- Nanomaterials: design new materials for new applications
- Pyrolysis: production of value-added products while mitigating the environmental impact of biomass
- Biochar applications: water purification and other value-added applications
Projects
Development of multi-layered scaffolds to promote bone healing responses in non-union fractures
01 Feb 2024 - 31 Dec 2025
INVESTIGATION OF SLURRY PROPERTIES TO ENHANCE GOLD LEACHING (Old ID 30053)
01 Jun 2023 - 31 Mar 2024
High shear fluid flow driving carbon foundry for advanced manufacturing (Old ID 28965)
01 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2025
OPTIMISATION OF THE PROCESSING PLANT FOR GOLD EXTRACTION. (Old ID 27575)
21 Feb 2022 - 30 Nov 2022
MINJAR GOLD - INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF CLAY ON GOLD EXTRACTION (Old ID 27376)
22 Feb 2021 - 30 Nov 2021
RRAP CAD-01: Coral propagation and deployment (Old ID 27237)
01 Oct 2020 - 30 Jun 2025
Development of Customised Hospital Waste Processing Technology (Old ID 26326)
25 Feb 2019 - 31 Mar 2020
Teaching
Research Advisor Accreditation
Advisor Type
Mentor
Taught Modules
[ME3515] Advanced Manufacturing EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer
2024
[ME3515] Advanced Manufacturing EngineeringCoordinator, Lecturer
2023
[EG4011] Thesis Part 1 of 2Lecturer
2024
[EG4011] Thesis Part 1 of 2Lecturer
2023
Current JCU Research Students
Optimising the conversion of sugarcane biomass to carbon-based materials
Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)
Monolithic and multi-ceramic sandwich structures with functionally graded TPMS lattice-core topology for ultra-high temperature applications
Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)
Biomass-derived Carbon Dots for the Detection of Heavy Metal Ions in Drinking Water
Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)
Investigation of Biomass Derived Biochar for Mitigation of Pharmaceuticals Pollution
Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)
Investigation of antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of gold nanoparticles
Master of Philosophy (Health)
Graphene based supercapacitors from renewable sources
Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)
Activities
Awards
Sandpit to Seed
2020
Employment
PhD, James Cook University
2014 - 2018
Media
Committees
Output
Islam, Md Anwarul; Parvin, Mst Irin; Dada, Tewodros Kassa; Kumar, Ravinder; Antunes, Elsa (2024) Silver adsorption on biochar produced from spent coffee grounds: validation by kinetic and isothermal modelling. [DOI]
Mele, Mahmuda Akter; Kumar, Ravinder; Dada, Tewodros Dada; Heydari, Amir; Antunes, Elsa (2024) Investigation of gold adsorption by ironbark biochar using response surface methodology and artificial neural network modelling. [DOI]
Premchand, Premchand; Fino, Debora; Demichelis, Francesca; Bensaid, Samir; Chiaramonti, David; O'Connell, George; Scott, Jason; Antunes, Elsa (2024) Synthesis of metal-free heteroatom (N, P, O, and B) doped biochar catalysts for enhanced catalytic co-pyrolysis of walnut shells and palm oil fatty acid distillate to produce high-quality bio-oil. [DOI]
Fong, Jenny; Jackson, Timothy L; Flores, Florita; Antunes, Elsa; Abdul Wahab, Muhammad Azmi; Negri, Andrew P.; Diaz-Pulido, Guillermo (2024) The interplay of temperature, light, and substrate type in driving growth and reproduction of an important tropical crustose coralline alga. [DOI]
Waste Palm Leaves-Based Hydrochar Support Catalytic Esterification of Palm Fatty Acid Distillate
2024
Aliyu, Muhammad; Rashid, Umer; Ghani, Wan Azlina Wan Ab Karim; Salleh, Mohamad Amran Mohd; Hazmi, Balkis; Alharthi, Fahad A.; Antunes, Elsa; Yu, Jianglong (2024) Waste Palm Leaves-Based Hydrochar Support Catalytic Esterification of Palm Fatty Acid Distillate. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Dada, Tewodros Kassa; Kumar, Ravinder; Rashid, Umer; Somasundaram, Murugavelh; Antunes, Elsa (2024) Enhanced catalytic activity of Sm/CeO2 to produce gasoline-range hydrocarbons from pyrolysis of spent coffee grounds. [DOI]
Fong, Jenny; Ramsby, Blake D.; Flores, Florita; Dada, Tewodros; Antunes, Elsa; Abdul Wahab, Muhammad Azmi; Severati, Andrea; Negri, Andrew P.; Diaz-Pulido, Guillermo (2024) Effects of material type and surface roughness of settlement tiles on macroalgal colonisation and early coral recruitment success. [DOI]
Internal and surface temperature profiles of spherical biosolids particles during convective drying
2024
Nylen, Julian; Sheehan, Madoc; Whelan, Anna; Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa (2024) Internal and surface temperature profiles of spherical biosolids particles during convective drying. [DOI]
Dada, Tewodros Kassa; Sheehan, Madoc; Murugavelh, S.; Antunes, Elsa (2023) A review on catalytic pyrolysis for high-quality bio-oil
production from biomass. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Douglas, Joshua; Dada, Tewodros Kassa; Duan, Alex Xiaofei; Antunes, Elsa (2023) Sugarcane bagasse pyrolysis for green energy production. Mackay, QLD, Australia:
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Sasidhar, K.B.; Somasundaram, Murugavelh; Yesuraj, K.; Hariharan, S.; Antunes, Elsa; Ekambaram, Porpatham; Kumar Arumugam, Senthil (2023) Optimization and production of renewable fuels from waste cooking oil and low-density polyethylene: Evaluating fuel properties and techno-economic feasibility of diesel replacement. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Kumar, Ravinder; Whelan, Anna; Cannon, Patrick; Sheehan, Madoc; Reeves, Louise; Antunes, Elsa (2023) Occurrence of emerging contaminants in biosolids in northern Queensland, Australia. [DOI]
Vuppaladadiyam, Arun Krishna; Vuppaladadiyam, Sai Sree Varsha; Sahoo, Abhisek; Murugavelh, S.; Anthony, Edward; Bhashkar, Thallada; Zheng, Ying; Zhao, Ming; Duan, Huabo; Zhao, Yan; Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa; Sarmah, Ajit K.; Leu, Shao Yuan (2023) Bio-oil and biochar from the pyrolytic conversion of biomass: A current and future perspective on the trade-off between economic, environmental, and technical indicators. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds: Function of Multi-Material Hierarchically Structured Scaffolds
2023
Koushik, Tejas M.; Miller, Catherine M.; Antunes, Elsa (2023) Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds: Function of Multi-Material Hierarchically Structured Scaffolds. [DOI]
Koushik, Tejas M.; Miller, Catherine M.; Antunes, Elsa (2023) Optimisation of two-step sintering parameters to produce bioactive and dense zirconia-hydroxyapatite composite ceramics. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Kumar, Ravinder; Dada, Tewodros Kassa; Whelan, Anna; Cannon, Patrick; Sheehan, Madoc; Reeves, Louise; Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa (2023) Microbial and thermal treatment techniques for degradation of PFAS in biosolids: A focus on degradation mechanisms and pathways. [DOI]
Tan, Nathan chinag Ping; Miller, Catherine M.; Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa; Sharma, Dileep (2022) Impact of physical decontamination methods on zirconia implant surface and subsequent bacterial adhesion: an in-vitro study. [DOI]
Kováčik, Jozef; Dresler, Sławomir; Sowa, Ireneusz; Babula, Petr; Antunes, Elsa (2022) Calcium-enriched biochar modulates cadmium uptake depending on external cadmium dose. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Islam, Md Anwarul; Dada, Tewodros Kassa; Parvin, Mst Irin; Vuppaladadiyam, Arun K.; Kumar, Ravinder; Antunes, Elsa (2022) Silver ions and silver nanoparticles removal by coffee derived biochar using a continuous fixed-bed adsorption column. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Dada, Tewodros Kassa; Vuppaladadiyam, Arun; Duan, Alex Xiaofei; Kumar, Ravinder; Antunes, Elsa (2022) Probing the effect of Cu-SrO loading on catalyst supports (ZSM-5, Y-zeolite, activated carbon, Al2O3, and ZrO2) for aromatics production during catalytic co-pyrolysis of biomass and waste cooking oil. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Dada, Tewodros Kassa; Islam, Md Anwarul; Kumar, Ravinder; Scott, Jason; Antunes, Elsa (2022) Catalytic co-pyrolysis of ironbark and waste cooking oil using strontium oxide-modified Y-zeolite for high-quality bio-oil production. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Dada, Tewodros Kassa; Islam, Md Anwarul; Duan, Alex Xiaofei; Antunes, Elsa (2022) Catalytic co-pyrolysis of ironbark and waste cooking oil using X-strontium /Y-zeolite (X= Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, and Fe). [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Kumar, Ravinder; Vuppaladadiyam, Arun K.; Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa; Whelan, Anna; Fearon, Rob; Sheehan, Madoc; Reeves, Louise (2022) Emerging contaminants in biosolids: presence, fate and analytical techniques. [DOI]
Vuppaladadiyam, Arun K.; Vuppaladadiyam, Varsha S.S.; Antunes, Elsa; Baig, Zenab; Rehman, Shazia; Murugavelh, S.; Leu, Shao-Yaun; Sarmah, Ajit K. (2022) Pyrolysis of anaerobic digested residues in the presence of catalyst-sorbent bifunctional material: Pyrolysis characteristics, kinetics and evolved gas analysis. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Dharma Patria, Raffel; Rehman, Shazia; Vuppaladadiyam, Arun K.; Wang, Huaimin; Lin, Carol Sze Ki; Antunes, Elsa; Leu, Shao-Yuan (2022) Bioconversion of food and lignocellulosic wastes employing sugar platform: A review of enzymatic hydrolysis and kinetics. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
The influence of moisture content on dust generation in falling curtains of sugarcane bagasse fiber
2022
Sheehan, M.; Antunes, E.; Seligmann, B.; Weight, C. (2022) The influence of moisture content on dust generation in falling curtains of sugarcane bagasse fiber. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Vuppaladadiyam, Arun K.; Antunes, Elsa; Vuppaladadiyam, Varsha S.S.; Shehzad, Farrukh; Somasundaram, Murugavelh; Memon, Muhammad Z.; Song, Qingbin; Dong, Weiguo; Duan, Hubao (2022) Discernment of synergy during the co-pyrolysis of lipid-extracted microalgae and digested municipal solid waste: a thermogravimetric–mass spectrometric study. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa; Vuppaladadiyam, Arun; Kumar, Ravinder; Vuppaladadiyam, Varsha; Sarmah, Ajit; Islam, Md Anwarul; Dada, Tewodros Kassa (2022) A circular economy approach for phosphorus removal using algae biochar. [DOI]
Vuppaladadiyam, Arun Krishna; Antunes, Elsa; Vuppaladadiyam, Sai Sree; Baig, Zenab Tariq; Subiantoro, Alison; Lei, Guoyuan; Leu, Shao-Yuan; Sarmah, Ajit K.; Duan, Huabo (2022) Progress in the development and use of refrigerants and unintended environmental consequences. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Timbs, Kalen; Khatamifar, Mehdi; Antunes, Elsa; Lin, Wenxian (2021) Experimental study on the heat dissipation performance of straight and oblique fin heat sinks made of thermal conductive composite polymers. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Islam, Md Anwarul; Jacob, Mohan V.; Antunes, Elsa (2021) A critical review on silver nanoparticles: from synthesis and applications to its mitigation through low-cost adsorption by biochar. [DOI]
Varsha, S.S.V.; Vuppaladadiyam, Arun K.; Shehzad, Farrukh; Ghaedi, Hosein; Murugavelh, S.; Dong, Weiguo; Antunes, Elsa (2021) Co-pyrolysis of microalgae and municipal solid waste: a thermogravimetric study to discern synergy during co-pyrolysis process. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Vuppaladadiyam, Arun K.; Antunes, Elsa; Sanchez, Paula Blanco; Duan, Huabo; Zhao, Ming (2021) Influence of microalgae on synergism during co-pyrolysis with organic waste biomass: a thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Siddique, Istiaq Jamil; Salema, Arshad Adam; Antunes, Elsa; Vinu, Ravikrishnan (2021) Technical challenges in scaling up the microwave technology for biomass processing. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
The effects of physical decontamination methods on zirconia implant surfaces: a systematic review
2021
Tan, Nathan Chiang Ping; Khan, Ahsen; Antunes, Elsa; Miller, Catherine M.; Sharma, Dileep (2021) The effects of physical decontamination methods on zirconia implant surfaces: a systematic review. [DOI]
Dada, Tewodros Kassa; Islam, Md Anwarul; Vuppaladadiyam, Arun K.; Antunes, Elsa (2021) Thermo-catalytic co-pyrolysis of ironbark sawdust and plastic waste over strontium loaded hierarchical Y-zeolite. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Munro, Thomas; Miller, Catherine M.; Antunes, Elsa; Sharma, Dileep (2020) Interactions of osteoprogenitor cells with a novel
zirconia implant surface. [DOI]
Walker, Craig; Cole, Andrew; Antunes, Elsa; Sheehan, Madoc (2020) Equilibrium moisture and drying kinetics modelling of macroalgae species Ulva ohnoi and Oedogonium intermedium. [DOI]
Kabir, Humayun; Khan, Mohammad Jamal; Brodie, Graham; Gupta, Dorin; Pang, Alexis; Jacob, Mohan V.; Antunes, Elsa (2020) Measurement and modelling of soil dielectric properties as a function of soil class and moisture content. [DOI]
Varsha, S. S. V.; Soomro, Abdul F.; Baig, Zenab T.; Vuppaladadiyam, Arun K.; Murugavelh, S.; Antunes, Elsa (2020) Methane production from anaerobic mono- and co-digestion
of kitchen waste and sewage sludge: synergy study on cumulative methane production and biodegradability. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Grech, Jonathan; Antunes, Elsa (2020) Optimization of two-step sintering conditions of zirconia blanks for dental restorations. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Grech, Jonathan; Antunes, Elsa (2019) Zirconia in dental prosthetics: a literature review. [DOI]
McFarland, Mitchell; Antunes, Elsa (2019) Small-scale static fire tests of 3D printing hybrid rocket fuel grains produced from different materials. [DOI]
Antunes, Elsa; Jacob, Mohan V.; Brodie, Graham; Schneider, Philip A. (2018) Isotherms, kinetics and mechanism analysis of phosphorus recovery from aqueous solution by calcium-rich biochar produced from biosolids via microwave pyrolysis. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Antunes, Elsa; Jacob, Mohan V.; Brodie, Graham; Schneider, Philip A. (2018) Microwave pyrolysis of sewage biosolids: dielectric properties, microwave susceptor role and its impact on biochar properties. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Taheri, Saeedeh; Brodie, Graham; Jacob, Mohan V.; Antunes, Elsa (2018) Dielectric properties of chickpea, red and green lentil in the microwave frequency range as a function of temperature and moisture content. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa Marisa (2017) Investigations on biochar production from biosolids via microwave assisted pyrolysis and its potential applications. [Thesis] [DOI]
Silver removal from aqueous solution by biochar produced from biosolids via microwave pyrolysis
2017
Antunes, Elsa; Jacob, Mohan V.; Brodie, Graham; Schneider, Philip A. (2017) Silver removal from aqueous solution by biochar produced from biosolids via microwave pyrolysis. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Antunes, Elsa; Schumann, James; Brodie, Graham; Jacob, Mohan V.; Schneider, Philip A. (2017) Biochar produced from biosolids using a single-mode microwave: characterisation and its potential for phosphorus removal. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Carvalho, T.; Antunes, E.; Calado, J.; Figueiredo, F.M.; Frade, J.R. (2012) Lanthanum oxide as a scavenging agent for zirconia electrolytes. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Neves, Nuno; Barros, Raquel; Antunes, Elsa; Ferreira, Isabel; Calado, João; Fortunato, Elvira; Martins, Rodrigo (2012) Sintering behavior of nano- and micro-Sized ZnO powder targets for rf magnetron sputtering applications. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Neves, Nuno; Barros, Raquel; Antunes, Elsa; Calado, Joao; Fortunato, Elvira; Martins, Rodrigo; Ferreira, Isabel (2012) Aluminum doped zinc oxide sputtering targets obtained from nanostructured powders: processing and application. [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Maharaj, D.S.; Maharaj, H.; Antunes, E.M.; Maree, D.M.; Nyokong, T.; Glass, B.D.; Daya, S. (2005) 6-Hydroxymelatonin protects against quinolinic-acid-induced oxidative neurotoxicity in the rat hippocampus. London, United Kingdom: [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Maharaj, D.S.; Molell, H.; Antunes, E.M.; Maharaj, H.; Maree, D.M.; Nyokong, T.; Glass, B.D.; Daya, S. (2005) Melatonin generates singlet oxygen on laser irradiation but acts as a quencher when irradiated by lamp photolysis. Copenhagen, Denmark: [DOI]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Munro, Thomas; Sharma, Dileep; Miller, Catherine; Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa (2020) 98th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR/49th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the AADR Interactions of osteoprogenitor cells with a novel zirconia implant surface Washington, D.C., USA, .
Conference Contribution
ResearchOnline@JCU
Experimental study on the thermal performance of straight and oblique finned, polymer heat sinks
2020
Timbs, K.; Khatamifar, M.; Lin, W.; Antunes, E. (2020) AFMC2020: 22nd Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference Experimental study on the thermal performance of straight and oblique finned, polymer heat sinks Brisbane, QLD, Australia, . [DOI]
Sharma, Chakrabhavi Gundurao Dileep; Miller, Catherine; Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa (2020) 98th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR/49th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the AADR Modifications of novel zirconia surface and its effects on cellular interaction of human osteoblasts: an in vitro study Washington, D.C., USA, .
Conference Contribution
ResearchOnline@JCU
Mahesh Koushik, Tejas; Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa (2023) 'Ceramic three-dimensional printing' In: Mahesh Koushik, Tejas, and Dos Santos Antunes, Elsa (2023) Ceramic three-dimensional printing. In: Gupta, Ram K., Behera, Ajit, Farhad, Siamak, and Nguyen, Tuan Anh, (eds.) Advanced Flexible Ceramics: Design, Properties, Manufacturing, and Emerging Applications. Advanced Ceramic Materials . Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands, pp. 193-214(Eds.). Advanced Flexible Ceramics: Design, Properties, Manufacturing, and Emerging Applications. Amsterdam, Netherlands : Elsevier. [DOI]
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU
Antunes, Elsa; Vuppaladadiyam, Arun; Sarmah, Ajit K.; Varsha, S.S.V.; Pant, Kamal K.; Tiwari, Bhagyashree; Pandey, Ashish (2021) 'Application of biochar for emerging contaminant mitigation' In: Antunes, Elsa, Vuppaladadiyam, Arun, Sarmah, Ajit K., Varsha, S.S.V., Pant, Kamal K., Tiwari, Bhagyashree, and Pandey, Ashish (2021) Application of biochar for emerging contaminant mitigation. In: Sarmah, Ajit K., (ed.) Biochar: fundamentals and applications in environmental science and remediation technologies. Advances in Chemical Pollution, Environmental Management and Protection, 7 . Elsevier, Cambridge, USA, pp. 65-91(Eds.). Biochar: fundamentals and applications in environmental science and remediation technologies. Cambridge, USA : Elsevier. [DOI]
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU