Dr Dyllon Randall of engineering, management and specialist technical services Aurecon’s water unit in Tshwane, recently won third place at the Falling Wall Lab in Berlin, Germany’s capital, for his work in wastewater treatment.

Randall was one of 100 young scientists and professionals to present a creative solution to the social challenges of our time for the competition.

The Falling Walls Lab aims to advance scientific and entrepreneurial visions and to initiate and promote cross-disciplinery exchange between young researchers and professionals.

Eutectic Freeze Crystallisation

Randall presented his work on using a unique technology called Eutectic Freeze Crystallisation for wastewater treatment. Eutectic Freeze Crystallisation provides a more sustainable method for the treatment of highly concentrated wastewaters (brines).

Randall’s showed that up to 97% of a reverse osmosis brine can be converted into pure calcium sulphate, pure sodium sulphate, and pure water. Capable of producing potable water, as well as a number of pure salts, the energy efficient process’s products can be sold by clients for additional profits.

“Participating in the Falling Walls Lab competition was an amazing opportunity to meet like-minded people who also want to make a difference when it comes to some of the most pressing issues facing society,” says Randall. Winners were selected by an international jury representing world experts from academia and industry under the direction of Professor Carl Henrik Heldin, chairman of the Nobel Foundation, and Dr. Martin Sonnenschein, managing director central Europe at global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney.

Falling Walls

The three winners of the Falling Walls Lab also presented their breakthroughs at the Falling Walls Conference in front of 600 guests, as the “Falling Walls Young Innovators of 2014”.

“The Falling Walls Lab is an outstanding example of effective science communication. It offers young researchers from all disciplines the opportunity to present their innovative research projects and initiatives to an international audience,” says Professor Jürgen Mlynek, president of the board of trustees of the Falling Walls Foundation and president of the Helmholtz Association – Germany’s largest scientific research organisation.

“When we look back on the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, we are not simply looking at the historical event of peaceful reunification. What is also fascinating are the tremendous opportunities and possibilities that arise when barriers are overcome. Only when we leave old ways of thinking behind and dare to try something new can innovation occur,” commented Sonnenschein at the ceremony.