Crucible Pitches
UNISA Innovation Festival 2024
The Crucible: Start-Ups and Projects
Mbuso Ngcongo
Sector: EdTech
Stage: Post- Commercialisation
Project title: Mbala-bala
Comment(s): Funded: Unisa Innovation Challenge
Brief Description
Umbalabala Education Toolkit is a multi-award winning collection of novel methods and apparatuses for making learning, teaching and assessment easy, especially in Foundation Phase classrooms.The low-cost, high-quality toolkit, built largely from re- and upcycled waste plastic materials, is designed to accelerate learning, to capacitate and prepare learners for the Fourth IndustrialRevolution, through the use of inclusive technology.
The toolkit forms part of an innovative, integrated, and explorative learning method that makes learning fun, easy, enjoyable, and effective.
Bonginkosi Mabaso
Sector: EdTech
Stage: Post- Commercialisation
Project title: ProctoPal
Comment(s): Unisa Innovation Challenge
Brief Description
Offline Examination Platform (OEP) - a platform that provides students with access to online exams without the use of internet connection
Thabang George Mofokeng
Sector: FinTech
Stage: Post- Commercialisation
Project title: LocusPay
Comment(s): Funded: Unisa Innovation Challenge
Palesa Felicia Mhlanga
Sector: Health
Stage: Prototype
Project title: Nu Age Pregnancy Test
Comment(s): Funded: Unisa Innovation Challenge
Brief Description
Traditional mainstream pregnancy tests are not accessible to all women, are invasive and often come in bulky packaging, making them less discreet and embarrassing for women purchasing them. Nu Age Pregnancy Test Lollipop is an affordable, non- invasive pregnancy test that allows one to interpret their results based on the lollipop’s colour change while enjoying the sweet treat.
Iviwe Nontuthu
Sector: Renewable Energy
Stage: Pre -Commercialisation
Project title: Archaea Eco
Comment(s): Funded: Unisa Innovation Challenge
Brief Description
Pedology and low-cost sensor is an environmental probe that measures seven distinct parameters when plugged into the ground to advance smart agriculture. It is waterproof, dustproof and supports wireless remote viewing for improved harvests through databased agriculture.
Prof Vaola Sambo
Sector: ICT
Stage: Post- Commercialisation
Project title: Development of an app (available on both iOS and android platforms) with a framework for internal audit effectiveness
Comment(s): Funded: Unisa ISP
Brief Description
To improve the implementation of internal audit functions in public institutions.
Prof Mkansi
Sector: EdTech
Stage: Pre-Commercialisation
Project title: Research Method Index
Comment(s): ISP
Ms NJ Ramanamane
Sector: Water Treatment
Stage: Pre -Commercialisation
Project title: Development of oil and water filtration membrane employing quartz particles
Comment(s): ISP
Brief Description
This project aims to bridge a critical gap in oil-water separation by developing innovative filtration membranes utilizing quartz particles, specifically dry graded silica particles (SiO2 98%,Fe2O3 0,18%, particle size 0.8-1.8 mm), to construct integrated filtration membrane beds. This approach is distinctive due to the introduction of hydrophobic nanoparticle coatings on quartz particles—a method not yet explored in existing research. Addressing global water scarcity challenges, this project aligns closely with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, contributing to sustainable development and resource conservation.
Dr Rudzani Ratshiedana & Prof Kuvarega
Sector: Chemical
Stage: Prototype
Project title: Catalytic Ozonation Reactor
Comment(s): TIA Seedfund
Brief Description
This invention describes a visible light or solar activated nanobubble ozonation reactor for treatment of water and wastewater. The wastewater is pre-treated through a gravity driven granular multimedia filter to remove any suspended matter. The reactor consists of a series of transparent glass tubes mounted on an inclinable wheelable aluminium frame. Each tube of 1.5 m length, and 5 cm diameter will be housed in a parabolic reflective solar light concentrator to capture as much solar light as possible. At the base of the first tube, a nanobubble generator capable of generating micro and nanobubbles of size range (10nm to 10μm) will be attached to the system. The ozone will be generated form oxygen or air.
A peristaltic pump with adjustable flow controller will pump the water from the feed tank through the submissible light emitters (SLE) or solar irradiated tubes while ozone nanobubbles are fed into the first tube. The feed water will then be pumped through the transparent tubes exposed to sunlight into a receiving tank to degrade the water pollutants and kill the pathogens. The total volume of water in the tubes (5) at any given time will be 14.73 L. The capacity of the reactor can be increased by increasing the number of the tubes in series. The feed water will be circulated through the system until the required quality is attained, then the water will be emptied into the clean water tank for storage. pH and conductivity probes will be attached at the water exit point from the last tube in the series.
The added advantage to this system is the possibility to dose other oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peroxymonosulfate (SO52-), peroxydisulfate (S2O42-) and peracetic acid (CH₃CO₃H) to the feed tank prior to pumping the water through the system. These oxidants are known for their high oxidation potentials and production of reactive radicals such as •OH and SO4•− in the presence of solar light. The reactive radicals are effective in inactivating pathogens and completely mineralizing organic pollutants in water to harmless by- products.