
Dr Ken Latham
Research Associate
School of Environmental and Life Sciences
- Email:ken.latham@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4033 9356
Career Summary
Biography
I completed my PhD in 2016 examining how nitrogen influence the hydrothermal carbonization of sucrose and applying these materials to energy storage (supercapacitors). In this work I developed advanced characterization methods for examining carbon materials via synchrotron based NEXAFS and 13C Solid State NMR. In 2017 I moved to Umeå University in Sweden to work as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow on a project examining thermochemical conversion processes to convert organosolv lignin into materials for selective pharmaceutical removal from waste water. During this time I was awarded a Mobility Fellowship from the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning in 2018 and a Marie Currie Individual Fellowship in 2019. These projects were to work on converting low value materials, such as sludge or lignin, into supercapacitors, sodium ion hybrid capacitors and flexible capacitors.
I have a special interest in the conversion of low value waste materials into high value products, especially in the field of energy storage. My expertise in this field has seen pulp and paper mill waste converted into hybrid capacitors, anaerobic digestate converted into supercapacitors and dairy residues transformed into wastewater treatment materials.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Science (Chemistry), University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Newcastle
Keywords
- Hydrothermal Conversion
- Supercapacitors
- Sustainable Carbon Materials
- Thermochemical Conversion
- Waste Recycling
Languages
- English (Mother)
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|
Casual Academic | University of Newcastle School of Environmental and Life Sciences Australia |
Casual Academic | University of Newcastle School of Environmental and Life Sciences Australia |
Academic appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
20/11/2017 - 27/2/2020 |
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Worked on the FORMAS funded project INFORMAT examining how organosolv lignin could be thermochemically converted into carbon materials for pharmaceutical removal from waste water. |
Umeå University Chemical Biological Center (KBC) Sweden |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (10 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 |
Niinipuu M, Latham KG, Boily JF, Bergknut M, Jansson S, 'The impact of hydrothermal carbonization on the surface functionalities of wet waste materials for water treatment applications', Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27 24369-24379 (2020) © 2020, The Author(s). Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is an energy-efficient thermochemical process for converting wet waste products into value added materials for water treatm... [more] © 2020, The Author(s). Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is an energy-efficient thermochemical process for converting wet waste products into value added materials for water treatment. Understanding how HTC influences the physicochemical properties of the resultant materials is critical in optimizing the process for water treatment, where surface functionality and surface area play a major role. In this study, we have examined the HTC of four wet waste streams, sewage sludge, biosludge, fiber sludge, and horse manure at three different temperatures (180¿°C, 220¿°C, and 260¿°C). The physicochemical properties of these materials were examined via FTIR, SEM and BET with their adsorption capacity were assessed using methylene blue. The yield of solid material after hydrothermal carbonization (hydrochar) decreased with increasing temperature for all samples, with the largest impact on horse manure and fiber sludge. These materials also lost the highest degree of oxygen, while HTC had minimal impact on biosludge and sewage sludge. The differences here were due to the varying compositions of each waste material, FTIR identified resonances related to cellulose in horse manure and fiber sludge, which were not detected in biosludge and sewage sludge. Adsorption capacities varied between 9.0 and 68¿mg¿g-1 with biosludge HTC at 220¿°C adsorbing the highest amount. Adsorption also dropped drastically at the highest temperature (260¿°C), indicating a correlation between adsorption capacity and HTC conditions. This was attributed to the loss of oxygen functional groups, which can contribute to adsorption. These results suggest that adsorption properties can be tailored both by selection of HTC temperature and feedstock.
|
||||||||||
2020 |
Niinipuu M, Latham KG, Jansson S, 'The influence of inorganic components and carbon-oxygen surface functionalities in activated hydrothermally carbonized waste materials for water treatment', Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27 38072-38083 (2020) © 2020, The Author(s). In this study, we have examined how the activation of hydrothermally carbonized sewage sludge and horse manure influences the inorganic component of these m... [more] © 2020, The Author(s). In this study, we have examined how the activation of hydrothermally carbonized sewage sludge and horse manure influences the inorganic component of these materials and surface chemistry. This was examined through statistical correlations between kinetic tests using trimethoprim, fluconazole, perfluorooctanoic acid, and copper, zinc, and arsenic and physicochemical properties. Yield and inorganic content varied considerably, with potassium hydroxide¿activated materials producing lower yields with higher inorganic content. Phosphoric acid activation incorporated inorganically bound phosphorus into the material, although this showed no statistically relevant benefit. A maximum surface area of 1363¿m2g-1 and 343¿m2g-1 was achieved for the horse manure and sewage sludge. Statistical analysis found positive correlations between carbon-oxygen functionalities and trimethoprim, fluconazole, perfluorooctanoic acid, and copper removal, while inorganic content was negatively correlated. Conversely, arsenic removal was positively correlated with inorganic content. This research provides insight into the interactions with the organic/inorganic fraction of activated waste materials for water treatment.
|
||||||||||
2019 |
Latham KG, Ferguson A, Donne SW, 'Influence of ammonium salts and temperature on the yield, morphology and chemical structure of hydrothermally carbonized saccharides', SN APPLIED SCIENCES, 1 (2019) [C1]
|
||||||||||
2018 |
Latham KG, Dose WM, Allen JA, Donne SW, 'Nitrogen doped heat treated and activated hydrothermal carbon: NEXAFS examination of the carbon surface at different temperatures', CARBON, 128 179-190 (2018) [C1]
|
||||||||||
2018 |
Latham KG, Donne SW, 'Nitrogen Doped Heat-Treated and Activated Hydrothermal Carbon: Examination of Electrochemical Performance Using Step Potential Electrochemical Spectroscopy', JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 165 A2840-A2848 (2018) [C1]
|
||||||||||
2017 |
Latham KG, Simone M, Dose WM, Allen JA, Donne SW, 'Synchrotron based NEXAFS study on nitrogen doped hydrothermal
carbon: Insights into surface functionalities and formation
mechanisms', Carbon, 114 566-578 (2017) [C1]
|
||||||||||
2017 |
Gibson AJ, Latham KG, Burns RC, Donne SW, 'Electrodeposition Mechanism of Cathodically-Prepared Manganese dioxide Thin Films from Permanganate for use in Electrochemical Capacitors', ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA, 236 198-211 (2017) [C1]
|
||||||||||
2016 |
Latham KG, Rawal A, Hook JM, Donne SW, 'Molecular structures driving pseudo-capacitance in hydrothermal nanostructured carbons', RSC Advances, 6 12964-12976 (2016) [C1] © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016. The incorporation of nitrogen into hydrothermal carbon with (NH4)2SO4 is shown to have a significant influence on its chemical composition a... [more] © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016. The incorporation of nitrogen into hydrothermal carbon with (NH4)2SO4 is shown to have a significant influence on its chemical composition and surface characteristics. This in turn boosts the pseudo-capacitive behavior of hydrothermal carbons and their overall electrochemical stability. A combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), yielded insights on the influence of nitrogen doping on surface functionalities. 1- and 2-D solid state NMR established the molecular-level structure of both doped and non-doped hydrothermal carbon. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has established the electrochemical behaviour of these hydrothermal carbons, indicating that nitrogen doping enhances not only the capacitance but also the stability of the hydrothermal carbons.
|
||||||||||
2014 |
Latham KG, Jambu G, Joseph SD, Donne SW, 'Nitrogen doping of hydrochars produced hydrothermal treatment of sucrose in H In this work, we have focused on the effect of highly acidic (0.2 M H 2SO4), neutral (H2O), and basic (0.2 M NaOH) solutions with and without the addition of 0.2 M (NH4) 2SO4 on t... [more] In this work, we have focused on the effect of highly acidic (0.2 M H 2SO4), neutral (H2O), and basic (0.2 M NaOH) solutions with and without the addition of 0.2 M (NH4) 2SO4 on the chemical and structural morphologies of hydrothermally formed carbon spheres (hydrochar) from sucrose at 200°C for 4 h. Hydrolysis product yields without the addition of (NH4) 2SO4 varied considerably (11.34 wt % H2SO 4, 47.81 wt % H2O, and 3.54 wt % NaOH) as did spherical size (3.34, 4.57, and 6.63 nm for H2SO4, H2O, and NaOH, respectively). The addition of (NH4)2SO 4 increased product yields considerably in acidic and basic conditions (27.76 wt % H2SO4 and 14.73 wt % NaOH). Chemically, the hydrochars had a carbon content between 60 and 70 wt % and oxygen content between 22% and 29% with alcohol groups (12.29, 15.44, 11.26 atom % for H2SO4, H2O and NaOH respectively) the main oxygen functionality, although carbonyls, carboxylic acids, and ketones were also present. These oxygen functionalities fluctuated with the presence of (NH4)2SO4, with reductions in alcohols (1-3 atom %) and ketones (1-3 atom %), and increases in carboxylic acids. Nitrogen was located in pyridinic, pyrrolyic, and quaternary groups (6.24, 3.22, and 9.41 atom % for H2SO4, H2O, and NaOH, respectively). GC-MS revealed that levulinic acid was the predominate byproduct. © 2013 American Chemical Society.
|
||||||||||
Show 7 more journal articles |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 4 |
---|---|
Total funding | $924,945 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
Highlighted grants and funding
Flexible Hybrid Sodium Ion Capacitors from Renewable Electrospun Lignin: Device Manufacture, Performance Testing and Solid Electrolyte Layer Investigations$363,469
Funding body: ERC European Research Council
Funding body | ERC European Research Council |
---|---|
Project Team | Kenneth G. Latham, Magda Titirici, Agnieszka Brandt-Talbot |
Scheme | Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions - Individual Fellowship |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2020 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
Category | 3IFA |
UON | N |
Can pulp and paper mill waste be a valuable resource? Synthesizing Energy Storage Materials from Pulp and Paper Mill Waste?$437,920
Funding body: FORMAS
Funding body | FORMAS |
---|---|
Project Team | Kenneth Latham |
Scheme | Mobility grants for early-career researchers |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2019 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
Category | 3IFA |
UON | N |
20201 grants / $363,469
Flexible Hybrid Sodium Ion Capacitors from Renewable Electrospun Lignin: Device Manufacture, Performance Testing and Solid Electrolyte Layer Investigations$363,469
Funding body: ERC European Research Council
Funding body | ERC European Research Council |
---|---|
Project Team | Kenneth G. Latham, Magda Titirici, Agnieszka Brandt-Talbot |
Scheme | Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions - Individual Fellowship |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2020 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
Category | 3IFA |
UON | N |
20192 grants / $537,234
Can pulp and paper mill waste be a valuable resource? Synthesizing Energy Storage Materials from Pulp and Paper Mill Waste?$437,920
Funding body: FORMAS
Funding body | FORMAS |
---|---|
Project Team | Kenneth Latham |
Scheme | Mobility grants for early-career researchers |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2019 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
Category | 3IFA |
UON | N |
Valorization of pulp and paper mill ashes and sludge by a two-step treatment approach – A feasibility study$99,314
Funding body: Bio4Energy
Funding body | Bio4Energy |
---|---|
Project Team | Eleonora Borén, Kenneth G. Latham, Dalia Abdelfattah, Venkata Kumar Krishna Upadhyayula, Magnus Rudolfsson, Gunnar Westin |
Scheme | Research Projects |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2019 |
Funding Finish | 2020 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
Category | 3IFA |
UON | N |
20181 grants / $24,242
Why incinerate the waste, when we can upgrade it? Synthesizing Energy Storage Materials from Biosludge.$24,242
Funding body: J. Gust. Richert stiftelse Foundation
Funding body | J. Gust. Richert stiftelse Foundation |
---|---|
Project Team | Kenneth Latham |
Scheme | Research Funding |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2018 |
Funding Finish | 2019 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
Category | 3IFA |
UON | N |
Research Projects
Can pulp and paper mill waste be a valuable resource? Synthesizing Energy Storage Materials from Pulp and Paper Mill Waste? 2019 -
Edit
Dr Ken Latham
Positions
Research Associate
School of Environmental and Life Sciences
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Casual Academic
School of Environmental and Life Sciences
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Contact Details
ken.latham@newcastle.edu.au | |
Phone | (02) 4033 9356 |
Link | Research Networks |
Office
Room | NIERC-115 |
---|---|
Building | NIER C Block |