It could also be exported to developing countries where issues of water contamination affect local populations. High-quality calcium carbonate is also useful for various specialised industrial applications such as gastric acid treatment, tablet filling in pharmaceuticals, plastics, paint, adhesives and in pulp and papermaking.
"We also foresee an increase in demand for calcium carbonate for treating acid mine drainage," biochemical engineer Dr Mlawule Mashego, who developed the technology with Jean Mulopo, told News24.com. The research group is focused on recycling technologies that would make extraction of effluent cost-effective. The method appears to be effective with streamed water, but is unlikely to be effective where groundwater is contaminated.
"Some utilities responsible for waste treatment and management are moving away from regulatory compliance toward increased economic incentives in the process of recognising the value of waste and wastewater as a resource," said Mashego, adding that such an approach includes the recovery of energy, nutrients, metals and other chemicals as part of the wastewater treatment process. "We also look at further beneficiation of recovered by-products to enhance waste utilisation," he said. The CSIR has filed a patent for the technology.
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