CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, has unveiled a $6.5 million investment in new research infrastructure that will deliver unprecedented analytical capability used in environmental and groundwater assessment and management.
The new facilities at CSIRO’s Waite Campus in Adelaide include two analytical labs that will support Australia’s critical water needs and help manage pollution and waste in the environment:
- The Ion Cyclotron Resonance (ICR) facility provides the gold standard for chemical analysis, capable of detecting up to tens of thousands of chemicals in a sample to manage contamination.
- The Tritium Facility via INgrowth (TRIFIN) can determine how quickly groundwater is replenished to help manage water resources and prevent communities running out of water.
Dr Dan Metcalfe, CSIRO Environment Research Director, said the technologies were the first of their kind in the Southern Hemisphere, focused on environmental research.
“Australia is one of the driest continents on Earth, and we are facing increasing challenges from climate change, drought and environmental contamination,” Dr Metcalfe said.
“These new lab facilities are a significant investment in research and analytical capabilities that will accelerate Australia’s ability to safeguard water security, manage resources sustainability, and protect the environment from forever chemicals.”
ICR: For generating chemical ‘fingerprints’
The $4 million ICR facility, funded by CSIRO, houses one of the most powerful mass spectrometry instruments in the world to analyse complex samples like PFAS, natural organic matter and environmental samples from water, soil, waste and food.
The ICR facility advances chemical detection and management for national benefit including:
- Early warning system for pollution detection, such as PFAS and pharmaceuticals
- Identifying the source of contamination, such as where chemical spills have come from
- Managing pollutants and their impacts in the environment, such as plastic waste and ash from bushfires; and
- Remediation solutions for the protection of human and environmental health.
Dr Robert Young, CSIRO Senior Research Scientist, likened the findings to a chemical ‘fingerprint’ that can provide incredibly detailed chemical profiles for the early discovery of contaminants and pollutants, carbon storage and carbon cycling.
“Our technology can reveal the fate and transport of contaminants in the environment, to inform remediation solutions,” Dr Young said.
“This can significantly help with identifying and managing environmental issues, such as chemical spills, toxins and waste management.
“Understanding carbon in soils can also help us better understand climate change and mitigation solutions to prevent impacts to the environment.”
TRIFIN: For determining groundwater age
The $2.5 million TRIFIN facility, supported by CSIRO and the Science and Industry Endowment Fund, is a groundbreaking analytical capability that will play a critical role in supporting Australia’s water needs:
- TRIFIN can detect tiny traces of tritium in groundwater, a rare and naturally occurring radioactive isotope of hydrogen. This tells us the age of groundwater and how quickly it is being replenished.
- TRIFIN allows us to fingerprint water samples faster than conventional techniques using an automated process, providing reliable data on whether groundwater has been replenished in the last 50 years.
- This informs sustainable groundwater use for irrigation, town water supplies, mining and energy resources.
Dr Dirk Mallants, CSIRO Senior Principal Research Scientist, said groundwater provides about 30 per cent of Australia’s total water consumption and is a vital resource for regional communities, industries and the environment.
“Groundwater can take years, decades, or even centuries to millennia to replenish. However, groundwater contained in aquifers that contains tritium is likely only years or decades old,” Dr Mallants said.
“Our technology can detect very low levels of tritium in groundwater to tell us how quickly it is being replenished.
“This new technology means Australia’s groundwater resources can be managed to build resilience against climate impacts, while supporting a net zero future for Australia across agriculture, hydrogen and critical minerals, through better management of groundwater resources.
CSIRO’s investment in these world-class technologies will deliver critical science for Australia.
It increases capabilities across environmental assessment and management, ensuring sustainable and responsible industries, prevents contamination legacies, and helps to protect human and environmental health.
