1
Compiled by Dr. Joe Herbertson
June 2001
Sustainable Resource
Processing
Case Study: Combating Salinity
Enecon and
CSIRO working with Southern West Australian farmers have developed
an economically viable scheme to restore salinity affected dry land to
production.
100,000 tonnes p.a.
produces
• 5MW to grid
•3500
tonnes of Activated Carbon selling for $1-10,000/tonne
•1000 tonnes
of eucalyptus oil to replace hydrocarbon solvents in cleaning
•Commercial bluegum/softwoods will not grow
in this dry environment
•Farmers can now plant fast growing, saline
resistant, dryland mallee eucalyptus trees in rows to
lower the water table and then farm crops between rows
• Integrated wood processing
(IWP) plants process eucalyptus to generate electricity,
produce activated carbon and eucalyptus oil.
Reference:
CSIRO media release - Salinity battle brings
dollars and energy- 27 February
2001
This
concept could also have real synergy with the gold industry, which
utilises activated carbon and solvents in processing