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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.
UFS presents short course for course-goers from East and Southern Africa
2007-09-21
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The Department of Sociology at the University of the Free State (UFS) in co-operation with the United Nations Population Fund, Leadership for Environment and Development: Southern and Eastern Africa (LEAD-SEA) and the National Department of Social Development presented a short course on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein this week. It is the third course of this nature facilitated by the UFS in the past 18 months and was attended by people from various countries in East and Southern Africa. The course focused on the integration of and connection between population, environment and development problems in the context of sustainable development. It is aimed at managers and decision makers in government departments, regional boards and municipalities who are involved in development programmes and frameworks. From the left are: Ms Samah Mohamed Mustafa (Sudan), Ms Nola Redelinghuys (Department of Sociology, UF and course facilitator), Mr Hosea Mulatya (Kenia), Prof. Sosten Chiotha (LEAD, Malawi), and Ms Jane Victor (Seychelles).
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
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