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31 December 2019
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Story Dr Cindé Greyling
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Photo Anja Aucamp
KovsieInnovation at the UFS supports innovative research outputs in various ways – one of which is to protect the intellectual property and to register patents where viable. This is in line with KovsieInnovation’s broader aim to create third-stream income for the university. Patent registration is a complex process and the UFS is proud to have the needed expertise to properly facilitate such an endeavour.
The SAENSE Platform
South Africa is a water-scarce country, with many water hungry industries (such as agriculture and mining). “Industrial processes often contaminate water with heavy metals, harmful chemicals, radioactive waste, and even organic sludge,” Dr Mariana Erasmus, SAENSE Platform Manager, explains.
Hence, water remediation is vital for both the ecosystem and industries. One of the key functions of the SAENSE Platform is to offer water-remedial solutions for the (bio)remediation of nitrates, heavy metals, and salts, among others. The platform’s activities and services are supported by undergraduate and postgraduate students and researchers, using Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) funding. TIA is a national public entity that serves as key institutional intervention to bridge the innovation chasm between research and development.
From waste to water
Through the joint effort of two mining companies and the UFS/TIA SAENSE Research Platform, a new treatment for mine drainage (MD) has been developed. This patented B-DAS (Barium – Dispersed Alkaline Substrate) technology effectively treats the major contaminants found in acid, alkaline, or neutral mining wastewater. The aim of the B-DAS system is to provide a passive water-treatment solution with minimum waste production; it can also be a potential pre-treatment for reverse osmosis (RO) to lower the requirements of the membranes and therefore potentially reduce the RO cost.
The success of the patent is that it turns unusable water into water that is fit for agricultural purposes at a reduced cost and increased efficiency.
2015 First-years: this is how Kovsies will welcome you
2014-11-20
The UFS can hardly wait to welcome you into our family! Wondering about when, where and how? Read on and find out all you need to know...
The official welcoming of the 2015 first-years will take place on Friday 16 January 2015 at 18:00 in front of the Main Building on the Bloemfontein Campus.
The welcoming of 2015 first-years by the various faculties will take place from 09:00 on Saturday 17 January 2015 at the different faculties.
• Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences in the EMS Auditorium
• Faculty of Education in the New Education Building
• Faculty of Health Sciences in the Kovsie Church
• Faculty of the Humanities in the Odeion
Session 1
- 09:00 ; Session 2
- 11:00
• Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences in the Wynand Mouton theatre
• Biological groups in the Wynand Mouton theatre
• Agricultural programmes in the Agriculture Building, LG 1, 2 en 3
• Consumer Sciences in the Agriculture Building, LG 4
• Physics and Chemistry in the Chemistry Building, CEM 108
• Information Technology in WWG 114
• Mathematics and Applied Mathematics in WWG 226
• Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Sciences in the West Block, W111
• Geography in GEO 1,5
• Geology in the Main Lecture Hall 1
• Architecture in the Architecture Building
• Faculty of Law in the CR Swart Auditorium
• Faculty of Theology in the H van der Merwe Scholtz Hall 10 (HMS 10)
An information centre will be available at the parking area in front of the Red Square.
Also, the
Campus Ministries Forum will be welcoming first-years during an inter denominational church service on
Sunday 18 January 2015 from 09:00-11:00 at the Kovsie Church. Everyone is welcome to attend this.