Improved wastewater treatment process developed
TECHNOLOGY: Researchers of the Green Technology Research Unit have developed new methods to treat wastewater
Thursday, 08 August 2013
CPUT researchers are pushing the boundaries of research and embarking on innovative projects.
Chemical Engineering lecturers, Dr Arthur Mpela, Dr Seun Oyekola, Joy Alexander and Wighens N.ILunga have developed innovative technology that will improve the quality of wastewater that is being pumped out to sea by wastewater treatment plants
Project leader, Mpela says research conducted in South Africa has revealed that wastewater pumped out to sea does not comply with the standards set by the South African environmental laws.
Current methods used by wastewater treatment plants fail to remove enough hazardous material, such as ammonia and persistent organic pollutants.
Mpela says ammonia that is found in wastewater has a detrimental impact on aqua life as it consumes oxygen, needed by fish and plant species.
Together with his research team, Mpela has over a period of two-years developed an advanced and cost effective process for the removal of persistent organic pollutants and ammonia from wastewater.
The project is proving to be a huge success, with test showing that the wastewater subjected to the new process, meets the standards set by South African environmental laws.
Mpela says they are now taking the project one-step further and exploring how this wastewater can be recycled and used in industry as well as for drinking water.
The project has also been chosen as a case study for the Development Research Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa (DRUSSA) programme.
Drussa is assisting 24 African universities, including CPUT, with the implementation of strategies that will ensure the successful uptake of research.
Written by Candes Keating
Email: keatingc@cput.ac.za
Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.
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