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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.
Eunice wins National Astronomy Quiz
2007-10-30
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A team from Eunice Primary School won the National Astronomy Quiz last week. The team, who won the Free State leg of the competition held at the University of the Free State's Boyden Observatory, competed against five other teams from Soshanguve and Muldersdrift in Gauteng, Springbok in the Northern Cape, Khayelitsha in the Western Cape and Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. The competition, held at the Hartebeeshoek Radio Observatory near Krugersdorp, is presented by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), an agency of the National Research Foundation (NRF). SAASTA aims to advance public awareness, appreciation and engagement of science, engineering and technology in South Africa. Staff from the UFS Boyden Observatory provided advice and assistance to the Eunice team. Here are, from the left: Naomi Steinberg, Ms Mia Zeelie (team coach and teacher at Eunice Primary School), Jacquis Ras, Jodie Muller, Pragya Dawadi and Ms Ina Roos (Organiser of the National Astronomy Quiz from SAASTA).
Photo: Supplied
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