UKZN - University of KwaZulu-Natal
The Pollution Research Group (PRG) an active, self-funded contract research group in the Department of Chemical Engineering. It was established in 1973 to research the recycling of water and recovery of chemicals in the textile industry. Although this remains a strong focus area, it has extended its expertise into a wide range of water related areas. The current research focus is urban and industrial water management. The range of sanitation-related research ranges from biotransformation mechanisms in ventilated pit latrines, through urine diversion toilets, community ablution blocks, anaerobic baffled reactors to modelling conventional wastewater treatment works processes.
Sustainability considerations (environmental life cycle analysis, waste minimisation, closed loop recycling, water conservation and demand management) are core values of the PRG.
UKZN/PRG teamName of organization | Pollution Research Group (PRG) |
Vision | The support of sustainable urban and industrial water management using process engineering tools. |
Mission Statement | To promote the effective use of water through research, education and development |
Values & principles | sustainable development, environmental life cycle analysis, waste minimisation, closed loop recycling, water conservation and demand management |
Ongoing cooperation with BORDA | Name of the Project with BORDA |
Years of operation | |
Organizational form | a research group within the School of Chemical Engineering |
Fields of activities / portfolio | Modelling biological wastewater treatment processes; computational aquatic chemistry; sanitation; industrial wastewater treatment processes; desalination; membrane processes; pulp and paper industry |
Working regions | Durban South Africa; Africa, BORDA partner countries |
Source of financing | eThekwini Water and Sanitation, Water Research Commission of South Africa, Borda |
Success stories | Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of sanitation processes; modeling of anaerobic baffled reactor; access to demonstration anaerobic baffled reactor, planted gravel filter and agricultural area |
Contact person | Prof Chris Buckley |
Address | Pollution Research Group |
Telephone: | +27 31 260-3131 |
Cell: | +27 82 806-7251 |
Fax: | +27 31 260-3241 |