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:
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

Search Professor Tom Rufford’s works on UQ eSpace

191 works between 2006 and 2025
All (191) Book (1) Journal Article (100) Other Outputs (8) Conference Publication (80) Book Chapter (2)

181 - 191 of 191 works

2009

Conference Publication

Supercapacitor electrodes of carbon derived from waste materials

Rufford, Thomas, Jurcakova, Denisa, Cheng, Ching-Yuan, Zhu, Zhonghua and Lu, Gaoqing (2009). Supercapacitor electrodes of carbon derived from waste materials. International Green Energy NanoCarbon Conference 2009, Jeonju, South Korea, 3-6 November, 2009.

Supercapacitor electrodes of carbon derived from waste materials

2009

Conference Publication

Mesoporous supported catalysts for NOx reduction

Patel, Archana, Rufford, Thomas, Chen, Jiuling, Rudolph, Victor and Zhu, Zhonghua (2009). Mesoporous supported catalysts for NOx reduction. CHEMECA 2009, Perth, Western Australia, 27-30 September. Perth, Western Australia: Engineers Australia.

Mesoporous supported catalysts for NOx reduction

2008

Journal Article

Kinetic-and thermodynamic-based improvements of lithium borohydride incorporated into activated carbon

Fang, Z.. Z.., Wang, P., Rufford, T. E., Kang, X. D., Lu, G. Q. and Cheng, H. M. (2008). Kinetic-and thermodynamic-based improvements of lithium borohydride incorporated into activated carbon. Acta Materialia, 56 (20), 6257-6263. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2008.08.033

Kinetic-and thermodynamic-based improvements of lithium borohydride incorporated into activated carbon

2008

Other Outputs

Mesoporous carbon materials for energy storage onboard electric vehicles

Rufford, Thomas (2008). Mesoporous carbon materials for energy storage onboard electric vehicles. PhD Thesis, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/184527

Mesoporous carbon materials for energy storage onboard electric vehicles

2008

Journal Article

High-performance cobalt-tungsten-boron catalyst supported on Ni foam for hydrogen generation from alkaline sodium borohydride solution

Dai, H. B., Liang, Y., Wang, P., Yao, X. D., Rufford, T., Lu, M. and Cheng, H. M. (2008). High-performance cobalt-tungsten-boron catalyst supported on Ni foam for hydrogen generation from alkaline sodium borohydride solution. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 33 (16), 4405-4412. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2008.05.080

High-performance cobalt-tungsten-boron catalyst supported on Ni foam for hydrogen generation from alkaline sodium borohydride solution

2008

Conference Publication

Electrochemical energy storage in carbon from waste coffee grounds

Thomas Rufford, Denisa Hulicova-Jurcakova, Zhu, Zhonghua and Lu, Gaoqing (2008). Electrochemical energy storage in carbon from waste coffee grounds. ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials Annual Conference 2008, Gold Coast, Australia, 5-7 November 2008.

Electrochemical energy storage in carbon from waste coffee grounds

2007

Conference Publication

Magnesium loaded carbon for hydrogen adsorption

Rufford, Thomas, Takagi, Hideyuki, Zhu, Zhonghua, Hatori, Hiraoki and Lu, Gaoqing (2007). Magnesium loaded carbon for hydrogen adsorption. Nanostructures for Electronics Energy and Environment (NanoE3), Couran Cove, Qld, Australia, 23-28 September, 2007.

Magnesium loaded carbon for hydrogen adsorption

2006

Journal Article

Special theme issue: The third hydrogen technologies and opportunities workshop

Dicks, Andrew, Da Costa, Joe, Zhu, John, Duke, Mikel, Ladewig, Bradley and Rufford, Thomas (2006). Special theme issue: The third hydrogen technologies and opportunities workshop. Developments in Chemical Engineering and Mineral Processing, 14 (1-2), 6-7.

Special theme issue: The third hydrogen technologies and opportunities workshop

2006

Conference Publication

Mesoporous carbon fabricated with an alumina template

Rufford, Thomas, Zhu, Zhonghua and Lu, Gaoqing (2006). Mesoporous carbon fabricated with an alumina template. Australian National Science Graduates Conference, Manly, NSW, Australia, 26-28 May, 2006. Sydney, NSW, Australia: International College of Management.

Mesoporous carbon fabricated with an alumina template

2006

Conference Publication

Technology options for onboard hydrogen storage

Rufford, T. E., Zhu, Z. and Lu, G. Q. (2006). Technology options for onboard hydrogen storage. Perth, W.A.: Curtin University of Technology. doi: 10.1002/apj.5500140107

Technology options for onboard hydrogen storage

Other Outputs

Mesoporous carbon materials for energy storage onboard electric vehicles

Mr Thomas Rufford Mesoporous carbon materials for energy storage onboard electric vehicles. PhD Thesis, School of Engineering, The University of Queensland.

Mesoporous carbon materials for energy storage onboard electric vehicles

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:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • 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

    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

    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

    Advanced imaging of CO2 electrochemical conversion materials.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ruth Knibbe

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Perception and uptake of novel CO2 transformation technologies: What can we do with the CO2?

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Controlling microenvironments to enable green fuels and scalable electrolysis

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr 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

    Polymeric Photocatalysts for Solar-Driven Hydrogen Peroxide Production

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Xiangkang Zeng

  • 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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