Professor Tom Rufford
Professor

Tom Rufford

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54165

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:
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

Search Professor Tom Rufford’s works on UQ eSpace

189 works between 2006 and 2025
All (189) Journal Article (99) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (79) Book (1) Other Outputs (8)

141 - 160 of 189 works

2015

Conference Publication

Coal bed methane reservoir simulation study

Khan, Charwarwan, Ge, Lei, Mahoney, Shilo, Rufford, Tom, Rudolph, Victor, Steel, Karen, Towler, Brian and Honari, Vahab (2015). Coal bed methane reservoir simulation study. AAPG Opportunities and Advancements in Coal Bed Methane in the Asia Pacific, Brisbane / Brisbane Convention Centre, 12-13 February 2015. Tulsa, OK United States: Datapages.

Coal bed methane reservoir simulation study

2015

Conference Publication

High pressure adsorption measurement of helium and other gases on the type 4A zeolite

Arash Arami, Niya, Rufford, Thomas, Birkett, Greg and Zhu, Zhonghua (2015). High pressure adsorption measurement of helium and other gases on the type 4A zeolite. 7th Pacific Basin Conference on Adsorption Science and Technology, Xiamen, China, 24-27 September 2015.

High pressure adsorption measurement of helium and other gases on the type 4A zeolite

2015

Conference Publication

Mechanistic modelling of counter-current slug flows in vertical annuli

Firouzi,Mahshid, Towler, Brian and Rufford, Thomas (2015). Mechanistic modelling of counter-current slug flows in vertical annuli. SPE Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Conference and Exhibition, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 9-11 November 2015. Richardson, TX, United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). doi: 10.2118/176885-MS

Mechanistic modelling of counter-current slug flows in vertical annuli

2015

Book Chapter

Functionalization of carbon nanotubes for catalytic applications

Wang, Li, Ge, Lei, Rufford, Thomas and Zhu, Zhonghua (2015). Functionalization of carbon nanotubes for catalytic applications. Nanotubes and nanosheets: functionalization and applications of boron nitride and other nanomaterials. (pp. 409-439) edited by Ying (Ian) Chen. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b18073-20

Functionalization of carbon nanotubes for catalytic applications

2015

Conference Publication

Measurements of gas-liquid relative permeability of Queensland coals

Ge, Lei, Khan, Charwarwan, Rufford, Thomas E. and Rudolph, Victor (2015). Measurements of gas-liquid relative permeability of Queensland coals. AAPG Opportunities and Advancements in Coal Bed Methane in the Asia Pacific, Brisbane / Brisbane Convention Centre, 12-13 February 2015. Tulsa, OK United States: Datapages.

Measurements of gas-liquid relative permeability of Queensland coals

2015

Conference Publication

Capture of of low grade methane from nitrogen gas using dual-reflux pressure swing adsorption

Saleman, Thomas L., Li, Gang (Kevin), Rufford, Thomas, Stanwix, Paul and May, Eric F. (2015). Capture of of low grade methane from nitrogen gas using dual-reflux pressure swing adsorption. 7th Pacific Basin Conference on Adsorption Science and Technology, Xiamen, China, 24-27 September 2015.

Capture of of low grade methane from nitrogen gas using dual-reflux pressure swing adsorption

2015

Conference Publication

The effect of coal rank on wettability and capillary pressure in a single cleat

Mohoney, Shilo, Rufford, Thomas, Rudolph, Victor and Steel, Karen (2015). The effect of coal rank on wettability and capillary pressure in a single cleat. International Conference on Coal Science and Technology, Melbourme, Australia, 27 September - 1 October 2015.

The effect of coal rank on wettability and capillary pressure in a single cleat

2015

Conference Publication

Creation of micro channels in Bowen Basin coal using UV laser and reactive ion etching

Mahoney, Shilo, Rudolph, Victor, Rufford, Thomas E., Steel, Karen, Yu, Kai and Rodrigues, Sandra (2015). Creation of micro channels in Bowen Basin coal using UV laser and reactive ion etching. AAPG Opportunities and Advancements in Coal Bed Methane in the Asia Pacific, Brisbane / Brisbane Convention Centre, 12-13 February 2015. Tulsa, OK United States: Datapages.

Creation of micro channels in Bowen Basin coal using UV laser and reactive ion etching

2015

Journal Article

Comparison of melamine resin and melamine network as precursors for carbon electrodes

Fiset, Erika, Rufford, Thomas E., Seredych, Mykola, Bandosz, Teresa J. and Hulicova-Jurcakova, Denisa (2015). Comparison of melamine resin and melamine network as precursors for carbon electrodes. Carbon, 81 (1), 239-250. doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2014.09.055

Comparison of melamine resin and melamine network as precursors for carbon electrodes

2015

Conference Publication

The effect of rank and lithotype on coal wettability and its application to coal relative permeability models

Shilo Mohoney, Rufford, Thomas, Anastasia Dmyterko, Rudolph, Victor and Karen Steel (2015). The effect of rank and lithotype on coal wettability and its application to coal relative permeability models. SPE Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Conference and Exhibition, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 9-11 November 2015. Richardson, TX, United States: The Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/176870-MS

The effect of rank and lithotype on coal wettability and its application to coal relative permeability models

2014

Journal Article

Selective catalytic reduction of NO with CO using different metal-oxides incorporated in MCM-41

Patel,Archana, Shukla, Pradeep, Rufford, Thomas E., Rudolph, Victor and Zhu, Zhonghua (2014). Selective catalytic reduction of NO with CO using different metal-oxides incorporated in MCM-41. Chemical Engineering Journal, 255, 437-444. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2014.06.032

Selective catalytic reduction of NO with CO using different metal-oxides incorporated in MCM-41

2014

Journal Article

In Situ Tetraethoxysilane-Templated Porous Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ Perovskite for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Yang, Yisu, Zhou, Wei, Liu, Ruochen, Li, Mengran, Rufford, Thomas E. and Zhu, Zhonghua (2014). In Situ Tetraethoxysilane-Templated Porous Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ Perovskite for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction. ChemElectroChem, 2 (2), 200-203. doi: 10.1002/celc.201402279

In Situ Tetraethoxysilane-Templated Porous Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ Perovskite for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

2014

Journal Article

Effects of structural properties of silicon carbide-derived carbons on their electrochemical double-layer capacitance in aqueous and organic electrolytes

Fiset, Erika, Bae, Jun-Seok, Rufford, Thomas E., Bhatia, Suresh, Lu, Gao Qing and Hulicova-Jurcakova, Denisa (2014). Effects of structural properties of silicon carbide-derived carbons on their electrochemical double-layer capacitance in aqueous and organic electrolytes. Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, 18 (3), 703-711. doi: 10.1007/s10008-013-2306-x

Effects of structural properties of silicon carbide-derived carbons on their electrochemical double-layer capacitance in aqueous and organic electrolytes

2014

Book Chapter

Biomass-derived carbon electrodes for electrochemical double-layer capacitors

Rufford, Thomas E., Fiset, Erika, Hulicova-Jurcakova, Denisa and Zhu, Zhonghua (2014). Biomass-derived carbon electrodes for electrochemical double-layer capacitors. Green Carbon Materials: Advances and Applications. (pp. 93-113) edited by Thomas E. Rufford, Denisa Hulicova-Jurcakova and John Zhu. Singapore: Pan Stanford Publishing. doi: 10.1201/b15651-5

Biomass-derived carbon electrodes for electrochemical double-layer capacitors

2014

Book

Green carbon materials: advances and applications

Thomas E. Rufford, Denisa Hulicova-Jurcakova and John Zhu eds. (2014). Green carbon materials: advances and applications. Singapore: Pan Stanford Publishing. doi: 10.1201/b15651

Green carbon materials: advances and applications

2014

Conference Publication

Controlling fines in coal seam gas wells using MgO nanoparticles

Ge, Lei, Guenot, Laetitia, Rufford, Thomas and Mohoney, Shilo (2014). Controlling fines in coal seam gas wells using MgO nanoparticles. Energy Future Conference 2014, Sydney, Australia, 3-5 November 2014.

Controlling fines in coal seam gas wells using MgO nanoparticles

2013

Journal Article

Capacity and kinetic measurements of methane and nitrogen adsorption on H+-mordenite at 243–303 K and pressures to 900 kPa using a dynamic column breakthrough apparatus

Saleman, Thomas L. H., Watson, Guillaume C. Y., Rufford, Thomas E., Hofman, Paul S., Chan, K. Ida and May, Eric F. (2013). Capacity and kinetic measurements of methane and nitrogen adsorption on H+-mordenite at 243–303 K and pressures to 900 kPa using a dynamic column breakthrough apparatus. Adsorption, 19 (6), 1165-1180. doi: 10.1007/s10450-013-9546-z

Capacity and kinetic measurements of methane and nitrogen adsorption on H+-mordenite at 243–303 K and pressures to 900 kPa using a dynamic column breakthrough apparatus

2013

Conference Publication

Activity of mesoporous-MnOx (m-MnOx) and CuO/m-MnOx for catalytic reduction of NO with CO

Patel, Archana, Shukla, Pradeep, Chen, Jiuling, Rufford, Thomas E., Rudolph, Victor and Zhu, Zhonghua (2013). Activity of mesoporous-MnOx (m-MnOx) and CuO/m-MnOx for catalytic reduction of NO with CO. 4th International Symposium on New Catalytic Materials, Cancun Mexico, 2013. Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.cattod.2012.08.030

Activity of mesoporous-MnOx (m-MnOx) and CuO/m-MnOx for catalytic reduction of NO with CO

2013

Conference Publication

Emerging technologies for nitrogen rejection to upgrade sub-quality gas reserves

Rufford, Thomas (2013). Emerging technologies for nitrogen rejection to upgrade sub-quality gas reserves. FutureGas, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 13-14 March 2013.

Emerging technologies for nitrogen rejection to upgrade sub-quality gas reserves

2013

Conference Publication

Adsorption equilibria and kinetics of methane + nitrogen mixtures on the activated carbon Norit RB3

Rufford, Thomas E., Watson, Guillaume C. Y., Saleman, Thomas L, Hofman, Paul S., Jensen, Nathan K. J and May, Eric F. M (2013). Adsorption equilibria and kinetics of methane + nitrogen mixtures on the activated carbon Norit RB3. 2nd Workshop of the Nano4water Cluster, Chalkidiki, Greece, 24-25 April 2012. Washington, United States: American Chemical Society. doi: 10.1021/ie401831u

Adsorption equilibria and kinetics of methane + nitrogen mixtures on the activated carbon Norit RB3

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2030
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide
    ARC Centres of Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Low emission iron and steelmaking using hydrogen to pre-reduce lump ore
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022
    Laboratory verification of heating milk in Exothermic Baby bottle
    The Trustee for Grumbler Provisions Entrepreneurial Trust
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Understanding wetting of gas diffusion electrodes during electrochemical CO2 reduction
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Developing a full-chain process integrated CO2 capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies with iron- and steel-making for HBIS
    HBIS Group Co, Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Selective wellbore coatings to control fines damage in coal seam gas wells
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Optimisation of Devatering Rates to Maximise CSG Production
    Arrow Energy Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Multiphase and multiscale modelling of gas-liquid-particle transport in CSG reservoirs and wells
    Pawsey Supercomputing Centre
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2023
    Electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formic acid
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Acoustic levitation facility for high pressure multiphase systems research (ARC LIEF project administered by the University of Western Australia)
    University of Western Australia
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2021
    The Australian Centre for LNG Futures (ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre administered by the University of Western Australia)
    University of Western Australia
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Relative Permeability in Coal
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    X-ray transparent core flood apparatus
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Mathematical modelling of wellbore pressure profiles in CSG (pumped) wells
    QGC Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    High-pressure experimental measurements of gas-water relative permeability behaviour
    QGC Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Controlling fines in coal seam gas wells using MgO nanoparticles
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Recovering helium from Australia's natural gas: A case study for advanced adsorption processes to concentrate dilute gases
    ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2017
    Identification, characterisation and stimulation of low permeability coals (Centre for Coal Seam Gas Research Project)
    Santos Limited
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2018
    Understanding, characterising, and managing solids production in CSG producing wells (Centre for Coal Seam Gas Research Project)
    Santos Limited
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Tom Rufford is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Synthesis of Graphene Assisted Heterojunction Photocatalysts for Conversion of CO2 to Methanol

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    CO2 electrolyser degradation mechanisms and accelerated testing methods

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Ruth Knibbe, Dr Ray Bi

  • 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

    Accelerated stress testing and degradation mechanisms in CO2 electrolysis cell

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Single-atom catalysts (SACs) as potential catalysts for Electrochemical CO2 reduction

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Simon Smart

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Advanced imaging of CO2 electrochemical conversion materials.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Ruth Knibbe

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Low emission iron and steelmaking using hydrogen to pre-reduce lump ore

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Geoff Wang, Dr Helen Tang, Dr Xiaodong Ma

  • Master Philosophy

    Optimization of structured cementitious composite for sustainability: Mechanical properties and thermal properties

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Vinh Dao, Dr Shujian Chen

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Polymeric Photocatalysts for Solar-Driven Hydrogen Peroxide Production

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Xiangkang Zeng

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Utilising co-products of water electrolysis in wastewater treatment

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Mike Tebyetekerwa, Dr Ray Bi, Professor Xiwang Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Controlling microenvironments to enable green fuels and scalable electrolysis

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Christopher Leonardi, Dr Travis Mitchell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Modelling of thermal engineering management for hydrogen ironmaking in shaft furnace

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Xiaodong Ma, Professor Geoff Wang

Completed supervision

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