The Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has awarded £1.5 million of funding for seven multidisciplinary projects to meet specific challenges in the water and environment sectors.
Under the Challenge Led Applied Systems Programme (CLASP), the projects plan to produce tangible results in a 3-5 year period and bring STFC researchers together with other academic disciplines and industry through new collaborations to solve real environmental challenges.
The winning projects this year are as follows:
- Instrument development to treat cryptosporidium in drinking water – building upon research undertaken to develop multicore fibres and 3D fan out devices for astronomy applications.
- Using new hand held spectroscopy device to detect pollution in water - utilising micro-FTS developed for space applications (compact Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS)) based on a unique static optical configuration, which has no moving parts and is inherently stable and robust, providing a compact and inexpensive solution to chemical identification for industrial applications and use in harsh environments.
- Developing a hybrid technology to treat water contaminants using electron beams used in the development of particle accelerator technology.
- Using a ‘virtual observatory’ to improve the monitoring of tropical forests building upon AstroGrid software for large scale modelling techniques.
- Improving weather forecasting through the use of high power mm wave radar remote sensing to predict cloud formation.
- Measurement of greenhouse gases using LIDAR and building on STFC funded systems integration expertise developed for satellite & astronomy research.
- Gas leak detection in petrochemical industry - utilising micro-FTS developed for space applications (compact Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS)) based on a unique static optical configuration, which has no moving parts and is inherently stable and robust, providing a compact and inexpensive solution to chemical identification for industrial applications and use in harsh environments.
A new CLASP Energy call for 2013 with a £1.5 million fund has been announced and STFC is holding an Information & Networking day on 2nd July at the Science Museum.
South West Water has hosted the first municipal trial of the Fournier Rotary Press in the UK, assessing its potential to improve sludge dewatering performance and support future biosolids standards.
Uniwater has acquired Hy-Ram Engineering, a specialist in tooling, products and hire for the water sector, based in Mansfield, England.
Enpure Ltd and Clean TeQ Water Ltd have announced a collaboration agreement to bring Clean TeQ Water's Moving Bed Ion Exchange-based nutrient removal technologies to water utilities across the UK.
Near-real-time microbial monitoring of wastewater discharge and bathing waters is now possible thanks to the BactoSense ID solution created by Swiss-based bNovate Technologies.
Southern Water has released film and images showing what it’s like to walk inside Hampshire’s expanded Yew Hill underground reservoir for the very last time, before it gets filled with water.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.