This project aims to prevent further melting of Arctic ice through the creation of a bioengineered strain of glacial Cryobacterium that can uptake dissolved silicon, and biomineralize it into silica (glass), to increase the reflectivity of glaciers. This novel, environmentally-friendly solution will lead to an increase in reflectance that will alow the glaciers to recover over time and prevent devastating sea level rises that would occur due to climate change. 

Conducting hands-on experiments plays a crucial role in students’ understanding of scientific principles. However, the lack of laboratories and appropriate equipment in secondary schools limits this opportunity. This project aims to respond to this problem by focusing on a concrete application: the improvement of the coagulation – decantation process of MES in the treatment of wastewater. Using local plants (okra and aloe vera) as natural. This research explores environmentally friendly and cost-effective solutions for water treatment, while providing students with an opportunity for hands-on learning and technical skills development.

South African based water awareness learning App, stems from their research findings that Drop Drop is the project name of a water education and awareness app. Their decision to design a made them realise the need for enhanced, innovative and interactive awareness programs that educate people to make informed choices about water use and water management that will have positive environmental and economic impacts. According to the compulsory national standards as required by the Water Services Act of 1997, one of the standards states that we require ‘’…the provision of appropriate education in respect of effective water use.’’ Considering that historically and geographically, South Africa is a water stressed country with water resources under tremendous pressure due to various factors, authorities need to emphasise regular water awareness campaigns to strengthen the need for responsible citizenry. Behavioural change is vital and seeks to develop strategic intervention to assist South Africa to promote water conservation and proper water management by implementing the principles of Agenda 21 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The aims and objectives of this project, addresses the sub goals of SDG 4 and SDG 6.

The Drop Drop prototype will be easy accessible and affordable because it is data free to use. The free Application downloader, already available on smart phones and the ZAR 29 Mb data was used to create the Drop Drop mobile game. The coding was done using Java Script. The game, in the form of questions and quizzes with the scoreboard was created. The information was researched and collated from textbooks, articles, internet sites, journals and newspapers. The app was tested with a test sample, to determine its functionality and impact on the users. 

This project by Kasun Siriwardane titled “The Efficacy of Natural Antimicrobial Compounds in Antifouling and Combatting Biofilm Formation” investigates the effectiveness of natural antimicrobial compounds—tea tree oil, clove oil, and cinnamon essential oil—in preventing biofouling on stainless-steel surfaces in marine environments. Traditional chemical antifouling methods harm marine ecosystems such as fish, and exacerbate water quality, necessitating eco-friendly alternatives. The study submerged stainless-steel cylinders coated with the oils, a chemical agent, and a control in water for 74 hours. Tree Tea oil and Cinnamon Oil demonstrated significant antifouling potential, reducing biofilm accumulation compared to the control. These findings highlight the promise of natural compounds as sustainable antifouling agents, and prompt further long-term studies.

Though water-soluble cutting oil is an essential material for metal-cutting processes, its release into the water system prompts significant contaminations. Since the emulsion of water and oil cannot be completely separated, it is difficult to recycle and often designated as waste for incineration.

To solve this problem, I developed a more effective demulsifier using pine powder with a lignin content of more than 50%.

When pine powder and sulfuric acid were added to 5% water-soluble cutting oil, the emulsion removal effect was confirmed. At first, the process took 3 weeks at room temperature, but it was later reduced to 1 hour at 80℃. To identify the demulsifying component of pine powder, I conducted an experiment using pine extract, confirming that lignin is a demulsifying component.

Then, by comparing calcium lignosulfonate to sodium lignosulfonate, I confirmed that both substances had a high demulsifying effect, yet calcium lignosulfonate showed a greater demulsification performance. As such, I confirmed that treating 200 ml of water-soluble cutting oil emulsion with 0.016 g of calcium lignosulfonate and sulfuric acid (0.048 M) removes emulsion by nearly 100%.

Also, I used the activated carbons to completely eliminate the yellow colorings from the separated water layer. Lastly, I applied this demulsification method to the waste cutting fluids, and the separation of emulsion was successful, highlighting its potential application to real-life settings.

Moreover, I performed a bottle test using calcium lignosulfonate on the artificial emulsion made by combining crude oil and surfactant (Tween 20). The lignosulfonate showed a superior demulsifying effect compared to the control group, signifying that my demulsification method can be used not only for purifying water-soluble cutting oil but also as a demulsifier in various fields, including the crude oil industry.

Contamination of wastewater with antibiotics is a critical water pollution issue due to their widespread use. Most wastewater treatment systems cannot remove these pollutants, leading to environmental contamination and increased antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

The purpose solution is a nitrogen-doped porous material from cassava rhizomes with enhanced adsorption properties for antibiotic removal.

This method, which involves using the ‘tea bag model’ and replacing hybrid porous carbon materials with magnetic nanoparticles, is not only low-cost and accessible but also designed to be user-friendly, allowing for the appropriate scaling of the porous material in the tea bags. This innovative approach presents a promising alternative for effectively treating antibiotic-contaminated wastewater, with the potential to be quickly adopted by various stakeholders.

Within the framework of an interdisciplinary context, the cycle of the loggerhead sea turtle has been analyzed, from its birth to its death, focused on its interaction with plastic waste, including a study of the analysis of its presence on some beaches on the coast. The results indicate the presence of these residues in the first contacts of the sea turtle since it is born. Likewise, samples of plastics ingested by loggerhead turtles have been analyzed, with PE being the majority. Finally, it should be noted that the behavior of captive specimens of the CRAM indicated a greater curiosity towards light colors, these being also the majority in the samples collected.

This project investigates the use of immobilized Chlorella vulgaris, encapsulated in agar-agar spheres, to bioremediate freshwater contaminated by industrial discharges. Utilizing a 2-liter bioreactor, significant results were achieved over six days, including a 96% reduction in chromium and a 90% reduction in copper concentrations. The process also showed substantial decreases in total nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen, and phosphorus levels, proving its high effectiveness.

This technology offers practical advantages, including high contaminant removal efficiency, low cost, and ease of use in various environments. The research emphasizes supporting vulnerable communities dependent on water. In regions with limited access to advanced technologies, this cost-effective solution enables self-sufficiency and sustainability in water management. By leveraging locally available materials and accessible methodologies, it provides sustainable water treatment, fostering resilience and long-term environmental stewardship.

Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for plant growth, playing a crucial role in various physiological processes, including energy transfer, nucleic acid synthesis, and root development. As an essential component of DNA, RNA, and ATP, phosphorus is indispensable for the overall health and productivity of plants. Despite its significance, phosphorus is considered a non-renewable resource with limited global reserves. The primary source of phosphorus is phosphate rock, and the extraction and production processes are energy-intensive. The finite nature of phosphorus resources raises concerns about future availability and sustainability, emphasizing the need for efficient phosphorus
management. Thus, the present study, aims at benefit from the phosphorus present in eutrophic water through two aquatic plants (i.e., Pistia stratiotes and duckweed). This study investigates the feasibility of growing these aquatic plants on different water types. The focus is on observing the growth patterns, leaf protein production, and the generation of brown juice as potential by-products containing high phosphorus content and a possible plant growth biostimulant. The study aims to provide insights into sustainable phosphorus utilization and recovery from eutrophic water within the context of a circular economy.

The project develops a low-cost aquatic rover: an autonomous vehicle for water to measure physical-chemical parameters in freshwater ecosystems, such as turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature, to identify environmental impacts. With two models available, the sensors collect water quality data and send it to a server, which is analyzed on a computer or cell phone. The main objective is to facilitate water monitoring, reduce the need for technicians, reduce exposure to contaminated areas, and increase efficiency in detecting contamination. After testing, the equipment proved to be effective in measuring data.

Algal-bacteria symbiosis system is a promising wastewater treatment technology through the interactive supply of O₂ and CO₂ to reduce the aeration energy and CO₂ emission. However, this innovation technology is hindered by limitations in field-scale application. One problem is that the implementation of existing algal-bacteria technology in urban areas is not practical because of the vast area needed for slower algae growth. Another problem is that algae suspended in the wastewater hinder photosynthesis efficiency. To address these shortcomings, this study has developed a vertical rotating algal-bacterial biofilm device, powered by a sunlight enhancement system, for purifying municipal wastewater. It has several practical advantages, including high photosynthesis efficiency, reduced land area requirement, low energy consumption, excellent nutrient utilization and minimal CO₂ emission.