Associate Professor Marjorie Valix

Biography

Marjorie Valix is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney, where she has been a faculty member since 1998. Marjorie completed her PhD and her undergraduate studies at the University of NSW South Wales. Her research interests include pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical and biohydrometallurgical processing of minerals and wastes, adsorption and adsorbent development and cement and polymeric lining degradation as a result of microbiological attack. Marjorie has served on over twenty five international conferences and various industry focused workshops including 2006 AXAA-National Series, 2008 WSAA-Odour and Corrosion Workshop 2008 and 2010 WSAA Coatings Workshop and Training. Marjorie has served as the associate dean, first year for the Faculty of Engineering from 2006 to 2009 and is currently the school first year coordinator and the school international director.

Research Interest

Corrosion caused by acid-generating micro-organisms causes millions of dollars worth of damage to infrastructure every year. Associate Professor Marjorie Valix is researching this natural process with a view to mitigating its effects - and harnessing it for more constructive purposes. "Certain micro-organisms can generate destructive acids that attack particular materials and cause damaging and costly corrosion. In Australia alone, our water authorities spend more than $100 million each year tackling this issue. "Developing our understanding of microbially induced corrosion can help us to prevent or slow it, through such means as using protective coatings to hinder its progress. "But this same destructive process also has great constructive potential, such as in the processing of minerals and the management of waste. "The challenges involved in extracting useful minerals from ores - and, interestingly, also in the management of waste - include the presence of other less valued materials, high processing costs, and environmental considerations. Understanding and harnessing the natural ability of micro-organisms to break down certain materials therefore has huge potential in addressing these issues in a cost-effective and ecologically sensitive manner. "Unlike chemicals, micro-organisms can be 'trained' to tolerate toxic environments and to generate specific enzymes that catalyse degradation of certain materials. Learning how to harness this behaviour is exciting. "I have been working in this field since 1998. Being at the University of Sydney is very conducive to my research, because of its world-leading facilities and researchers."