Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Sarfaraz Ali

Sarfaraz Ali

Liyuan Fan

Liyuan Fan

George Vamvounis

George Vamvounis

Murray Davies

Murray Davies

Michael Oelgemoeller

Michael Oelgemoeller

Peter Junk

Peter Junk

Zhifang Guo

Zhifang Guo

Phurpa Wangchuk

Phurpa Wangchuk

Yang Liu

Yang Liu

Michael Liddell

Michael Liddell

Advancing the chemistry of rare earths-an Australian resource (Old ID 27702)
Peter Junk
01 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2025
This project aims to advance knowledge of the synthesis, structures and reactivity of highly reactive rare earth metal-organic compounds. The project expects to build the knowledge and skills to underpin many developments of Australia's still under utilized rare earth resources to diversity from Chinese domination. The expected outcomes will be new synthetic and reaction chemistry including a demonstration of how size and electronic factors can be used to modify and advance rare earth chemistry and related heavy group 2 chemistry. This project should provide significant benefit such as are a better knowledge base in rare earth chemistry to underpin future applications in chemical manufacturing, new materials, catalysis and recycling.
Environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors (Old ID 25075)
Peter Junk
16 Jul 2018 - 15 Mar 2019
Corrosion is a multibillion dollar cost afflicting critical infrastructure in almost all major industries. This research project aims to translate the cutting edge of corrosion science and technology to advance the knowledge of corrosion and its inhibition for a practical industry application. JCU will collaborate with Prochem haulage to design a corrosion inhibitor formulation for water used in cleaning/washing of mining vehicles.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance facility for Northern Australia (Old ID 21541)
Peter Junk
26 Feb 2015 - 25 Feb 2016
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a fundamentally and critically important technique in the characterisation of organic, inorganic and biological compounds. The purchase of a state-of-the-art instrument at James Cook University and a lower resolution instrument at Charles Darwin University are required to support productive existing research projects, and nurture future projects, in organometallic chemistry and the development of new materials and analytical sensors; organic photochemistry as applied in synthesis and degradation; natural products, pharmaceutical, inorganic chemistry, where multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance is most important and applicable in drug design, development and delivery.
Mecaflavo - Understanding the Anti-inflammatory Structure-Activity Relationships of Flavonoid Analogues [Compréhension des relations structures-activités dans les MECanismes Anti-inflammatoires d’analogues de FLAVOnoïdes] – MECAFLAVO (Old ID 27204)
Michael Oelgemoeller
01 Jul 2021 - 31 Dec 2023
Flavonoids are a class of natural compounds with various phenolic structures that are widely distributed in plants, including fruits and vegetables, tea or wine. The project MECAFLAVO will synthesize and evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of pinocembrin and pinobanksin analogues in order to understand their mechanism of action, metabolism and therapeutic safety. Through derivatization it further aims to improve the therapeutic profile and applications of these semi-synthetic compounds.
Safeguarding New Caledonia from insect-borne diseases: sustainable production of insect repellent from native plants (Old ID 22661)
Michael Oelgemoeller
01 May 2016 - 31 Dec 2018
The public debate about climate change and pollution has seen some major shifts in community thinking in regards to sustainability and environmental resilience. These changes in public attitude have placed significant pressure on the chemical industry to move to using renewable energy sources and sustainable starting materials. The tropical region is rich in natural resources, especially biomass from tropical plants and sunlight. At the same time, insect-bone diseases such as dengue and malaria hamper the tropics, causing significant health, economic and social stresses. Following the 'prevention is better than cure' approach, this project will develop economically viable green manufacturing processes for potent insect repellents from local New Caledonian plants.
Oil Identification Aging (Old ID 23478)
George Vamvounis
17 May 2017 - 16 Oct 2017
A colourimetric array will be used to investigate crude oil samples, with the focus on the effect of aging.
Photochemical Optimization Study (Old ID 22803)
Michael Oelgemoeller
01 Jun 2016 - 30 Sep 2016
This project deals with the optimization of a known photochemical reaction of industrial interest. It will investigate the exploratory, validation and scale-up of the reaction.
Analysis of sheet metals cladding anti rust coatings. (Old ID 27127)
Peter Junk
01 Mar 2021 - 30 Apr 2021
Glencore are looking at replacing their minerals concentrate storage sheds with new colorbond materials and require testing on several materials so we can advise them on the most optimal materials to use to minimise corrosion for the future.
Advancing the chemistry of topical rare earth metals (Old ID 20618)
Peter Junk
05 Feb 2013 - 31 Dec 2017
With abundant, but until recently neglected, rare earth resources, Australia is positioned to become a major supplier of these strategic elements as the world faces a shortage created by a Chinese monopoly and much reduced exports. Advancing the chemistry of highly reactive rare earth metal-organic compounds including syntheses from the free metals and alloys will provide a knowledge base and breakthrough science to underpin future applications in chemical manufacture, catalysis, new materials and recycling. Steric and electronic manipulation of rare earth coordination behaviour will transform their syntheses and reactions.
Reactive metal-organics embracing the rare earth and alkaline earth metals (Old ID 21968)
Peter Junk
05 Feb 2016 - 30 Jun 2019
With abundant, but until recently neglected, rare earth resources, Australia is positioned to become a major supplier of these strategic elements as the world faces a shortage created by a Chinese monopoly and much reduced exports. Advancing the chemistry of highly reactive rare earth metal-organic compounds including syntheses from the free metals and alloys will provide a knowledge base and breakthrough science to underpin future applications in chemical manufacture, catalysis, new materials and recycling. Steric and electronic manipulation of rare earth coordination behaviour will transform their syntheses and reactions.

Aboriginal medicinal plants of Queensland: ethnopharmacological uses, species diversity, and biodiscovery pathways

Unexpected C-F activation during redox transmetallation with silver N,N '-bis(2,6-difluorophenyl)formamidinate

New Interventions by silicone grease in synthesis

Immunomodulatory and biological properties of helminth-derived small molecules: Potential applications in diagnostics and therapeutics

  • 2022
  • Frontiers
  • Researchers:Roland RuscherAlex LoukasPhurpa Wangchuk

Photo-induced 6π-electrocyclisation and cycloreversion of isolated dithienylethene anions

Synthesis, structure, and corrosion inhibiting properties of REIII 3-thiophenecarboxylate complexes

Drought reduces the growth and health of tropical rainforest understory plants

  • 2022
  • Elsevier
  • Researchers:Lucas CernusakMichael LiddellSusan Laurance

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Endemic Plants of the Australian Wet Tropics

  • 2022
  • MDPI
  • Researchers:Roland RuscherDarren CraynMichael LiddellPhurpa Wangchuk

Termite sensitivity to temperature affects global wood decay rates

Electrochemical sensing of oxalic acid using silver nanoparticles loaded nitrogen-doped graphene oxide

Title: Fellowship
Reseracher: Peter Junk (Distinguished Professor; Nevitt Professor of Chemistry)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
Title: KIT International Excellence Fellowship
Reseracher: Peter Junk (Distinguished Professor; Nevitt Professor of Chemistry)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
Title: JSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan
Reseracher: Peter Junk (Distinguished Professor; Nevitt Professor of Chemistry)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2019
Title: Guest Professorship
Reseracher: Peter Junk (Distinguished Professor; Nevitt Professor of Chemistry)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2018
Title: DAAD Guest Professorship
Reseracher: Peter Junk (Distinguished Professor; Nevitt Professor of Chemistry)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2002
Title: DAAD Guest Professorship
Reseracher: Peter Junk (Distinguished Professor; Nevitt Professor of Chemistry)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2000
Title: DAAD Guest Professorship
Reseracher: Peter Junk (Distinguished Professor; Nevitt Professor of Chemistry)
Start Date: 01 Jan 1998
Title: RACI
Reseracher: Michael Liddell (Associate Professor)
Title: Postdoc Researcher, James Cook University
Reseracher: Zhifang Guo (Postdoctoral Researcher)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
Title: Research Fellow, Monash University
Reseracher: Zhifang Guo (Postdoctoral Researcher)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2019
End Date: 01 Jan 2020