CQUniversity lecturer Ben Kele has drawn on his consulting firm Midell Water as an industry partner to install a volcanic rock filter which has ion-exchanging media that reduces SAR, thus improving the sustainability of the water recycling.
Midell Water reached an agreement to design, build and monitor the operation of a treatment plant with a maximum daily hydraulic load of 150,000 litres.
Lifting tanks into position during installation at the Murgon Leather Plant.
The Midell Water solution will be retro-fitted into the existing treatment system.
Midell Water will conduct a two year research project aimed at optimising the performance of the plant and achieving the highest possible reuse outcome for the treated water.
Filling a Zetos Tank with volcanic media at Teys Brothers' Murgon Leather Plant
This is also benefitting masters-by-research student Tony Kodel, who is basing his thesis on the SAR-reduction technology outcomes at the plant.
Mr Kodel will be researching the best way to regenerate the media and what impact the biofilm (micro-organisms) have on the process.
The postgraduate project will be based with the Centre for Plant and Water Sciences under the umbrella group of the Institute for Resource Industries and Sustainability, supervised by CQUniversity research fellow Ted Gardner.
"There should be a beautiful synergy between CQUniversity research being commercialised and the company bringing new research projects back to the university," Mr Kele said.
"Since graduating from CQUniversity with a Bachelor of Science (Biology) just over a decade ago, Mr Kodel has developed the right mix of career experience to take on this project.
"He's worked on microbiology testing and hide manufacture in the meatworks industry, on quality control of pipes in the oil and gas industry, and as a science teacher and science facilitator for schools."