Overview
Background
Biography:
Tom Rufford is an Associate Professor in the UQ School of Chemical Engineering and chief investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of CO2 (GETCO2). Tom completed his BE and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland in 2000 and 2009, respectively. Tom’s PhD thesis investigated the use of porous carbon materials derived from waste coffee grounds for energy storage via hydrogen or supercapacitors on board electric vehicles. From 2001 to 2005 he worked as a process engineer and technologist on the crude distillation columns, naptha reformers and hydrogen purification plant at Shell’s Geelong Oil Refinery. From 2010 to late 2012, Tom was a research fellow at the University of Western Australia working on natural gas processing and LNG production research projects with the UWA’s Chevron Chair in Gas Process Engineering, Prof. Eric May. He returned to UQ as a teaching and research academic in December 2012.
Dr Rufford is a chartered member of the IChemE and Engineers Australia (chemical engineering).
Dr Rufford has published more than 80 scientific papers in international journals and an edited book on carbon materials. He has been a visiting researcher at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Tsukuba, Japan, and an Endeavour Research Fellow visiting the Institute of Metals Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shenyang, China.
Research:
Associate Professor Rufford conducts research on gas processing and purification for cleaner energy production and utilization. His research interests include electrochemical processes including energy storage and CO2 reduction, natural gas process engineering, porous carbons, and solid-fluid interactions in coal seam gas reservoirs. Current and recent projects include studies on electrochemical CO2 reduction, development of gas diffusion electrode materials, helium recovery and nitrogen rejection from natural gas, low permeability coals, and the capture of methane emissions from liquefied natural gas (LNG) production plants.
Teaching and Learning:
Tom teaches into the BE and BE/ME chemical engineering programs at UQ. He's taught core chemical engineering courses such as heat and mass transfer, unit operations, and the capstone design project courses CHEE4001 and CHEE7103. In 2024 he is teaching into CHEE3004 Unit Operations in Semester 1 and CHEE7103 BE/ME Design Project in Semester 2.
Availability
- Professor Tom Rufford is:
- Not available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Engineering, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Member, Engineers Australia, Engineers Australia
- Member, Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)
- Member, International Society of Electrochemistry, International Society of Electrochemistry
Works
Search Professor Tom Rufford’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Conference Publication
Chlorine-modulated tin oxide as an efficient catalyst toward carbon dioxide electrochemical reduction
Zhao, Peiyao, Li, Mengran , Garg, Sahil , Tian, Xiaohe, Wang, Guoxiong and Rufford, Thomas E. (2019). Chlorine-modulated tin oxide as an efficient catalyst toward carbon dioxide electrochemical reduction. Chemeca 2019, Sydney, Australia, 29 September - 2 October 2019. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Institution of Chemical Engineers.
2019
Conference Publication
A bird's eye view over the CO2 storage and utilisation technologies
Li, Mengran, Garg, Sahil, Ge, Lei, Rufford, Thomas E., Li, Liye, Rudolph, Victor and Wang, Guoxiong (2019). A bird's eye view over the CO2 storage and utilisation technologies. The HBIS-UQ ICSS Symposium 2019, Shijiazhuang, China, 16-18 January 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Clean energy-driven electrocatalytic reactions towards sustainable manufacturing
Li, Mengran, Zhou, Wei, Garg, Sahil, Rufford, Thomas E, Rudolph, Victor, Zhu, Zhonghua and Wang, Guoxiong (2019). Clean energy-driven electrocatalytic reactions towards sustainable manufacturing. The 1st International Conference on Advanced Biomanufacturing, Nanjing, China, 11-13 January 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Investigating the Effect of Salinity on Counter-Current Two-Phase Flow Regimes in Annuli
Wu, Benjamin, Firouzi, Mahshid, Ribeiro, Ayrton S., Rufford, Thomas E. and Towler, Brian (2019). Investigating the Effect of Salinity on Counter-Current Two-Phase Flow Regimes in Annuli. Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTEC), Brisbane, QLD Australia, 18 - 19 November 2019. Tulsa, OK United States: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. doi: 10.15530/ap-urtec-2019-198228
2019
Conference Publication
Optimisation of dewatering rates to maximise coal seam gas production
Chawarwan, Khan, Dan, Kuznetsov, Thomas Rufford, Victor, Rudolph and Zhongwei, Chen (2019). Optimisation of dewatering rates to maximise coal seam gas production. SPE/AAPG/SEG Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 18-19 November 2019. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. doi: 10.15530/AP-URTEC-2019-198210
2019
Conference Publication
Emission characteristics of waste tallow and waste cooking oil based termary biodiesel fuels
Hazrat, M. A., Rasul, M. G., Khan, M. M.K., Ashwath, N. and Rufford, T. E. (2019). Emission characteristics of waste tallow and waste cooking oil based termary biodiesel fuels. 2nd International Conference on Energy and Power (ICEP2018), Sydney, NSW, Australia, 13-15 December 2018. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2019.02.149
2019
Conference Publication
A stochastic anisotropic coal permeability model using mercury intrusion porosimetry, MIP and stress-strain measurements
Raza, Syed Shabbar, Rudolph, Victor, Rufford, Tom and Chen, Zhongwei (2019). A stochastic anisotropic coal permeability model using mercury intrusion porosimetry, MIP and stress-strain measurements. SPE/AAPG/SEG Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 18-19 November 2019. Tulsa, OK, United States: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. doi: 10.15530/ap-urtec-2019-198260
2019
Conference Publication
Methods to control swelling of clays in coal bed methane wells
Rufford, Thomas E., Patel, Archana , Ge, Lei, Towler, Brian and Rudolph, Victor (2019). Methods to control swelling of clays in coal bed methane wells. 11th International Symposium on Nano and Supramolecular Chemistry and 3rd World Forum on Industrial Minerals, Qingyang, China, 12-16 October 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Catalyst-electrolyte interactions in aqueous reline solutions for highly selective electrochemical CO2 reduction
Garg, Sahil, Li, Mengran, Rufford, Thomas E., Ge, Lei, Rudolph, Victor, Knibbe, Ruth, Konarova, Muxina and Wang, Geoff (2019). Catalyst-electrolyte interactions in aqueous reline solutions for highly selective electrochemical CO2 reduction. 4th Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 November 2019.
2018
Journal Article
A preliminary study of oxidant stimulation for enhancing coal seam permeability: effects of sodium hypochlorite oxidation on subbituminous and bituminous Australian coals
Jing, Zhenhua, Mahoney, Shilo A., Rodrigues, Sandra, Balucan, Reydick D., Underschultz, Jim, Esterle, Joan S., Rufford, Thomas E. and Steel, Karen M. (2018). A preliminary study of oxidant stimulation for enhancing coal seam permeability: effects of sodium hypochlorite oxidation on subbituminous and bituminous Australian coals. International Journal of Coal Geology, 200, 36-44. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2018.10.006
2018
Other Outputs
CCSG1204 nanotechnologies to stabilise clays in coal seam gas producing wells
Rufford, Thomas, Patel, Archana, Giroy, Jose, Ge, Lei, Rudolph, Victor and Towler, Brian (2018). CCSG1204 nanotechnologies to stabilise clays in coal seam gas producing wells. University of Queensland: UQ School of Chemical Enigneering.
2018
Journal Article
Effect of rheological properties of mesophase pitch and coal mixtures on pore development in activated carbon discs with high compressive strength
Gao, Shuai, Hernandez, Byron S., Ge, Lei, Steel, Karen, Rufford, Thomas and Zhu, Zhonghua (2018). Effect of rheological properties of mesophase pitch and coal mixtures on pore development in activated carbon discs with high compressive strength. Fuel Processing Technology, 177, 219-227. doi: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2018.04.032
2018
Journal Article
Permeability enhancement of coal by chemical-free fracturing using high-voltage electrohydraulic discharge
Ren, Fei, Ge, Lei, Rufford, Thomas E., Xing, Huilin and Rudolph, Victor (2018). Permeability enhancement of coal by chemical-free fracturing using high-voltage electrohydraulic discharge. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 57, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jngse.2018.06.034
2018
Journal Article
A reduced graphene oxide-NiO composite electrode with a high and stable capacitance
Sun, Xiaoming, Lu, Hao, Liu, Peng, Rufford, Thomas E., Gaddam, Rohit R., Fan, Xin and Zhao, X. S. (2018). A reduced graphene oxide-NiO composite electrode with a high and stable capacitance. Sustainable Energy and Fuels, 2 (3), 673-678. doi: 10.1039/c7se00420f
2018
Conference Publication
Techno-economic evaluation of multistage membrane combinations using three different materials to recover helium from natural gas
Quader, M. Abdul, Smart, Simon and Rufford, Thomas E. (2018). Techno-economic evaluation of multistage membrane combinations using three different materials to recover helium from natural gas. 13th International Symposium on Process Systems Engineering – PSE 2018, San Diego, CA, United States, 1-5 July 2018. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-64241-7.50195-6
2018
Conference Publication
Critical review of the effects of electrolyser design and operating parameters on electrochemical CO2 reduction with Cu metal catalysts
Garg, Sahil , Li, Mengran , Ge, Lei , Wang, Geoff (GX) and Rufford, Thomas E. (2018). Critical review of the effects of electrolyser design and operating parameters on electrochemical CO2 reduction with Cu metal catalysts. Energy Future (EF3) Conference: Fundamental and Applied Science for Alternative Energy Technologies, Sydney, Australia, 5-7 February 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Membrane-based helium recovery from natural gas: a simulation and cost study
Quader, Md Abdul , Smart, Simon and Rufford, Thomas E. (2018). Membrane-based helium recovery from natural gas: a simulation and cost study. 2018 Membrane Society of Australasia Early Career Researcher Membrane Symposium, Sydney, Australia, 5-6 February 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Methane adsorption on pitch derived activated carbon monoliths
Rufford, Thomas E., Gao, Shuai , Arami-Niya, Arash , Villacorta, Byron S., Ge, Lei and Zhu, Zhonghua (2018). Methane adsorption on pitch derived activated carbon monoliths. 8th Pacific Basin Conference on Adsorption Science and Technology, Sapporo, Japan, 3-6 September 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Cost-optimal helium capture ratio from different natural gas sources by integrated membrane process designs
Quader, Md Abdul, Smart, Simon and Rufford, Thomas E. (2018). Cost-optimal helium capture ratio from different natural gas sources by integrated membrane process designs. 1st International Conference on Energy-efficient Separation (iEESEP2018), Melbourne, 23-27 January 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Electrochemical CO2 reduction for the iron and steel making industry
Rufford, Thomas E., Garg, Sahil , Li, Mengran , Li, Liye , Rudolph, Victor and Wang, Geoff (2018). Electrochemical CO2 reduction for the iron and steel making industry. HBIS-Northeastern University International Academic Conference, Shijiazhuang, China, 21-22 August 2018.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Tom Rufford is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Accelerated stress testing and degradation mechanisms in CO2 electrolysis cell
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Enhanced approaches to engineering the scale-up of CO2 electrolysers from bench to pilot scale
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Xiwang Zhang, Dr Mike Tebyetekerwa
-
Doctor Philosophy
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) as potential catalysts for Electrochemical CO2 reduction
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Simon Smart
-
Doctor Philosophy
Engineering porous solid electrolyte interfaces for enhanced electrochemical CO2 reduction efficiency and selectivity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Xiwang Zhang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Catalyst¿membrane interface engineering for durable CO¿ electrolyzers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ruth Knibbe
-
Doctor Philosophy
Controlling microenvironments to enable green fuels and scalable electrolysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Christopher Leonardi, Dr Travis Mitchell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Utilising co-products of water electrolysis in wastewater treatment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mike Tebyetekerwa, Professor Xiwang Zhang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing Efficient Hydrogen Storage Based on Hydrogen Gas Hydrate
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Muxina Konarova, Dr Ngoc Nguyen
-
Doctor Philosophy
Modelling of thermal engineering management for hydrogen ironmaking in shaft furnace
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Xiaodong Ma, Professor Geoff Wang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and Electronic Regulation of Porphyrin-Based Catalysts for Selective Hydrogen Peroxide Production via Oxygen Reduction
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Xiangkang Zeng
-
Doctor Philosophy
Advanced imaging of CO2 electrochemical conversion materials.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zhong Zheng, Professor Ruth Knibbe
-
Doctor Philosophy
Perception and uptake of novel CO2 transformation technologies: What can we do with the CO2?
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Kathy Witt, Honorary Professor Saleem Ali, Associate Professor Simon Smart
-
Doctor Philosophy
Low emission iron and steelmaking using hydrogen to pre-reduce lump ore
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Geoff Wang, Dr Xiaodong Ma
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of Graphene Assisted Heterojunction Photocatalysts for Conversion of CO2 to Methanol
Principal Advisor
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding interaction between ionomers, particles and solvents in catalyst ink formulation for CO2 electrolysis to multicarbon products
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tim Duignan
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of Electrolyte Flooding in a Carbon-based Gas Diffusion Electrode for CO2 Electrolysis to CO
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Geoff Wang
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Magnesium based clay stabilizers for swelling inhibition of smectites in coal seam gas reservoirs
Principal Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Optimizing Catalyst-electrolyte Interfaces for Selective Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to CO over Ag Electrodes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Geoff Wang
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Design and Techno-economic Evaluation of Multi-stage Membrane Processes for Helium Recovery from Natural Gas
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Simon Smart
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
The Effects of Surface Chemistry, Mineral Content and Effective Pressure on Relative Permeability using Artificial Australian Coal Cores
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Novel Adsorbents for Natural Gas Separation and Purification
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Greg Birkett, Professor John Zhu
-
2024
Master Philosophy
Optimization of structured cementitious composite for sustainability: Thermal properties and Mechanical properties
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Vinh Dao, Dr Shujian Chen
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Carbon Footprint Mapping & Modelling for an Ironmaking Blast Furnace
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Geoff Wang
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
The experimental study of counter-current two-phase flows in annuli
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Hon Assoc Professor Mahshid Firouzi
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Application of Electrohydraulic Discharge (EHD) Stimulation for Unconventional Reservoir Development
Associate Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Dynamics of anisotropic permeability in coal seam gas reservoirs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Zhu
-
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Foam structured carbon monoliths for gas adsorption
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Zhu
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
The Effect of Water Occlusion on Gas Production in Coal
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Karen Steel
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Design and Preparation of Novel Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Zhu
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials for Supercapacitors
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lianzhou Wang
-
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Mesoporous materials supported catalysts for removal of nitric oxide using carbon monoxide as reducing agent
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Zhu
Media
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