Technique could slash waste treatment costs

GROUNDBREAKING Geelong research into a new industrial wastewater treatment process is geared towards reducing costs for industry.

Barwon Water and Deakin University are encouraged by preliminary results of the research, which could reduce trade waste costs through a treatment process that uses an ultraviolet light magnetic responsive photocatalytic process.

The project saw Deakin University’s Institute of Frontier Materials collect effluent samples from six of Barwon Water’s large trade waste customers and treat it under test conditions for reducing chemical oxygen demand.

Chemical oxygen demand is an indirect measurement for the amount of organic material present in the water and Barwon Water charges industrial customers based on the amount of chemical oxygen demand within their respective waste streams.

A treatment process that reduces chemical oxygen demand could lead to reduced costs for customers.

Preliminary results showed the new method reduced chemical oxygen demand between 55 and 70 per cent across a variety of effluent types.

Managing director Tracey Slatter said the project highlighted how Barwon Water’s partnership culture was driving opportunities for collaboration and service efficiencies.

“We aim to be at the forefront of new technology and solutions and by collaborating the great research minds at Deakin University, we can find business efficiencies that put downward pressure on prices and help support business and industry in our region to flourish,” Ms Slatter said.

Lead Deakin researcher involved in the trial Dr Jinfeng Wang said the trial was the first of its type.

“Although it is early days, we are very excited with the results. If we can reduce some of the input costs, then this technology holds real potential to reduce the cost to industry,” he said.