Water usage and care: wastewater treatment
Home » About UJ » Impact » SDG Impact » SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation » Water usage and care: wastewater treatmentWastewater Treatment:
Grey Water Reuse and Black Water Reuse
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is actively engaged in wastewater treatment and management through a combination of on-campus initiatives, research projects, and educational programmes. These efforts align with UJ’s commitment to promoting sustainable water practices and contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
On-Campus Wastewater Treatment Initiatives:
- Grey Water Reuse Project: In 2023, UJ initiated a grey water reuse trial at the Auckland Park Bunting Road (APB) Campus, targeting two large student residences. This project is designed to recycle water from showers and basins for non-potable uses, such as toilet flushing and irrigation. The initiative is projected to conserve over 4 million litres of water annually, significantly reducing the university’s water footprint.
Research and Development in Wastewater Treatment:
- Innovative Lead Removal Techniques: UJ researchers, in collaboration with the University of the Witwatersrand, have developed a novel approach to remove lead from wastewater. By cross-linking genetically engineered proteins to biodegradable calcium alginate nanoparticles, they created a nanobiosorbent capable of absorbing high quantities of lead. This method offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical treatments, aiming to improve water quality in communities affected by heavy metal contamination. citeturn0search0
- Departmental Research Focus: The Department of Chemical Engineering Technology at UJ is actively involved in research areas such as wastewater treatment and remediation. Their work focuses on developing sustainable engineering solutions to address environmental pollution challenges, contributing to cleaner water resources.
Educational and Capacity-Building Efforts:
- Anaerobic Digestion and Energy Efficiency Course: UJ’s Process, Energy and Environmental Technology Station (UJ PEETS), in partnership with the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA), offers a short learning course on anaerobic digestion and energy efficiency in wastewater treatment plants. This programme educates students and practitioners on converting organic waste into biogas, enabling treatment facilities to generate renewable energy and reduce operational costs.
- Practical Exposure through Site Visits: As part of the anaerobic digestion course, participants visit operational wastewater treatment facilities, such as the Zeekoegat Wastewater Treatment Works. These site visits provide hands-on experience, enhancing understanding of wastewater treatment processes and energy efficiency practices.
Through these multifaceted initiatives, the University of Johannesburg demonstrates a strong commitment to effective wastewater treatment and sustainable water management. By integrating practical projects, cutting-edge research, and educational programmes, UJ not only addresses its own water usage but also contributes to broader environmental sustainability efforts.
UJ Annual Reports: Water Management
Refer to page 3 of the UJ Annual Report 2022 – Water Management – Water Consumption Tracking and Measurement:
“The key focus areas in the reduction of water consumption for 2023 are as follows:
> Installing the first functioning grey water trial on the APB Campus for two large residences – this is expected to save more than 4 million liters of water per annum.”
UJ Facilities Management Annual Reports
UJ Wastewater Treatment Initiatives
UJ study shows that genetically engineered proteins could transform wastewater treatment
A group of local scientists from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) are paving the way for advancements in wastewater management. They have cross-linked a genetically modified protein to biodegradable calcium alginate nanoparticles producing a novel protein-based nanobisorbent to absorb lead in high quantities from water in the bioremediation of heavy metal presenting an attractive alternative to current chemical processes.
According to Dr Kondiah Kulsum, UJ’s Deputy Head of Department (HoD): Biotechnology and Food Technology, “The current chemical strategies applied to treat wastewaters are inefficient at removing minute concentrations of lead. In addition the large-scale waste that is produced post chemical treatment is often dumped into landfills which re-contaminate the environment through soil pollution.”
“The researchers joined forces to find an alternative solution and focused their efforts on the use of bacteria genetically engineered (GE) with metallothionein (MTs) or metallo-chaperones,” said Dr Kulsum.
Currently lead exposure is responsible for 494 550 deaths annually in developing countries. Environmental contamination by lead waste particularly in low-income countries like South-East Asia and sub Saharan- Africa occurs due to mismanagement of mining and industrial effluent and the disposal of non-biodegradable electronic waste. A number of studies report that the levels of Lead in surface and ground water of several areas in South Africa for example exceed the acceptable safe limit of <0.01 mg/L in drinking water.
Using tryptophan fluorescence and lead binding assays, the team found that the purified GE fusion protein (rPbrD) was able to bind lead and maintain its native structure as Trp fluorescence is known to be quenched upon metal ion binding. This was also evident when the GE fusion protein was further cross-linked to calcium alginate nanoparticles to form the nanobiosorbent.
Dr Kulsum concludes: “We would like to incorporate the protein nanobiosorbent into a membrane such as the hollow fibre membrane which is commonly used in water treatment and perform a pilot scale water treatment. It is aimed at improving small-scale water treatment for local communities centered around sources of heavy metal contamination such as mines and industry.”
The research is interdisciplinary. This is the first report on the expression and purification of a functional fusion PbrD protein using an E. coli expression system. The ability of the expressed protein to bind lead in the presence of concentrations higher than those reported in ground/ surface water in South Africa suggest its potential to be developed into a biosorbent for the treatment of lead contaminated water. Future work would include optimizing the immobilization strategy to maintain the activity of the protein under varying environmental conditions such as pH and temperature.
The team is currently working on Nano-biotechnology focusing on heavy metals, water pathogens, biosorbents, diagnostics, protein expression and green synthesis of metal nanoparticles.