Golden Gypsum was named the overall winner of the Council for Scientific and Industrial (CSIR) innovation challenge, which saw researchers presenting new tech ideas to potential investors.
The winning team, which comprises team leader Dr Mike Masukume and team members Dr Marinda de Beer and Dr Manfred Scriba, developed a solution which uses the latest technology to convert gypsum waste (an environmental pollutant) into calcium carbonate and sulphur.
Organised by the CSIR Licensing and Ventures Office, the internal competition forms part of the CSIR innovation programme, aimed at assisting the organisation's researchers with the skills required for technology development, implementation and commercialisation.
Nicki Koorbanally, group manager for CSIR Licensing and Ventures, says the competition, held in the form of a Dragons' Den challenge, also aims to identify the best product, commercialisation plan and the concept of taking the technology to the market.
"Emerging innovators presented their new technologies to potential partners, funders and customers at a pitching competition held in Pretoria last week. Eight teams of researchers from the CSIR regional offices pitched their projects and Golden Gypsumwas selected based on their ability to put together a commercially viable project using the skills and training received over the past couple of months," explains Koorbanally.
Participating projects ranged from a satellite-based monitoring system that detects mining-induced surface instabilities, to a data support tool that provides information on recyclable material to polypropylene crystallisation technology.
Team leader Masukume explains the gypsum technology developed by CSIR aims to address environmental challenges while creating economic benefits for SA.
"Gypsum waste is an environmental pollutant and currently, there is no cost-effective commercial technology that converts gypsum into calcium carbonate and sulphur in SA. Around 20 000 metric tonnes of gypsum are disposed of per day in SA and yet we are a net importer of sulphur. Using the CSIR technology, gypsum can be converted into high quality calcium carbonate and sulphur."
Team member Scriba explains that calcium carbonate can be used as a filler in the manufacture of paint, plastics, coatings and paper.
"Pure high calcium carbonate also finds application in personal health and food production while the low pure version is critical to the construction industry both as a building material in its own right and as an ingredient of cement.
"Sulphur, on the other hand, can be used in the production of sulphuric acid, agri-chemicals, explosives and rubber among others," Scriba points out.
As the winning prize, Golden Gypsum will be awarded an opportunity to receive further guidance and assistance to commercialise and possibly license their solution to take it to the market.
The team will also be attending a global conference of their choice aimed at providing more information to help them accelerate in their chosen career fields.
"Funding for the programme came from CSIR which also provided the training technology. Potential funding instruments invited to the event include the Technology Innovation Agency, the Industrial Development Corporation, and the Department of Science and Technology who may be able to assist the winning team build a strong value proposition business case," concludes Koorbanally.
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