Professor CHOI Dae-hee of Environmental Engineering Develops Breakthrough Technology for Treating Reverse Osmosis Concentrate

Two-Year Joint Research on an Energy-Efficient Concentrate Treatment Process Bears Fruit, with Demonstration and Performance Verification Completed Ahead of Schedule

Combining University Research Expertise with Industry Know-How to Help Build a Sustainable Water Circulation Ecosystem

[August 19, 2026]

<Technology Transfer Agreement Signing Ceremony for “Reverse Osmosis (RO) Concentrate Treatment Technology” between YU and Coway Entech Co., Ltd.>

(From sixth from left: YU President CHOI Oe-chool, Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation Director KIM Jae-hong, Coway Entech CEO BANG Yun-hyeok;

third from right: Professor CHOI Dae-hee of the Department of Environmental Engineering, YU, inventor of the technology)

YU has achieved a significant industry-academia cooperation milestone by transferring reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate treatment technology, considered one of the major challenges in water reuse, to Coway Entech Co., Ltd., a company specializing in water treatment. The technology transfer will help bring YU’s outstanding research achievements into industrial applications.

  The two organizations will also move forward with the commercialization of an energy-efficient process developed through joint research, with the aim of establishing a sustainable water circulation system and strengthening the competitiveness of the environmental industry.

 On August 12, YU held a signing ceremony with Coway Entech for the transfer of the “Reverse Osmosis (RO) Concentrate Treatment Technology,” laying the foundation for further technology commercialization and expanded industry-academia cooperation. President CHOI Oe-chool of YU, CEO BANG Yun-hyeok of Coway Entech, and other representatives from both organizations attended the ceremony, where they signed the technology transfer agreement and discussed plans to expand joint research and technical exchanges going forward. 

 Coway Entech is the water treatment subsidiary of Coway, a Best Life Solution company led by CEO SEO Jang-won. The company operates a range of environmental engineering businesses, including industrial plant water treatment, municipal wastewater treatment and reuse, water purification, and industrial wastewater treatment.

The technology transferred this time is a “Wastewater Treatment Method Using Microorganisms,” jointly developed by Professor CHOI Dae-hee of YU’s Department of Environmental Engineering and Coway Entech.The technology is a core technology for treating RO concentrate generated in wastewater reuse processes through a microorganism-based process, and includes intellectual property rights in Korea as well as overseas rights in the United States, Europe, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.

 RO concentrate is a high-nitrogen wastewater stream generated during wastewater reuse processes. Its high treatment costs and process-related burdens have been identified as major obstacles to the wider adoption of water reuse. Since 2024, YU and Coway Entech have conducted joint research on the “Development of an Energy-Efficient Process for Treating Concentrate in Reuse Plants.” Although the research was originally planned for a total of three years, the two organizations completed demonstration and performance verification after just two years from the start of the project.

 In particular,the development of a microorganism-based process that reduces the cost burden of conventional treatment methods while improving economic feasibility has opened up the possibility of treating concentrate on-site within water reuse facilities. This technology transfer represents a successful case in which fundamental research achievements from a university have been connected to real-world industrial applications and commercialization. It is also expected to contribute to improving the profitability of water reuse projects and promoting growth in related industries.

 BANG Yun-hyeok, CEO of Coway Entech, said, “Concentrate treatment has been the final link in the water reuse process and a longstanding challenge that needed to be addressed. We expect that securing this technology will help advance the circular structure of water use in Korea and contribute to expanding water reuse.”

 President CHOI Oe-chool said, “This technology transfer is a meaningful example of industry-academia cooperation in which YU’s outstanding research achievements have been transferred to a company and connected to innovation and technology commercialization in the field. In particular, Professor CHOI Dae-hee of the Department of Environmental Engineering is a YU alumnus who joined the university as a professor in 2024 and has achieved remarkable results in a very short period of time. We are very proud of him. Going forward, YU will continue to take the lead in supporting technology development that can make a tangible contribution to society through active technical exchanges and joint research with companies.” He added, “YU will do its utmost to support our faculty members and researchers by helping companies achieve innovative growth and further strengthening the industry-academia cooperation ecosystem, so that the university’s research capabilities can contribute to the development of the local community, industries, and the nation.”

 Through this agreement, YU plans to further strengthen the connection between its environmental research capabilities and industrial applications while expanding joint research and technology commercialization based on industry needs. The university aims to establish a practical model of industry-academia cooperation that combines researchers’ expertise with companies’ commercialization capabilities to help address major challenges facing society.