The Australian Research Council has backed a project to help clean up the CSG process.

The University of Queensland secured the ARC grant under the continuous Linkage Projects scheme, and will receive cash and in-kind contributions from industry partners.

Chemical engineer Dr Steven Pratt and his team received $450,000 for a project to advance knowledge of coal seam gas (CSG) water treatment.

CSG is a valuable industry, but the production method generates huge quantities of saline water that must be treated.

The newly-funded project addresses a giant challenge of CSG - mitigating scaling at water treatment facilities.

The university says its work will deliver direct economic and environmental benefits.

Industry partners include QGC, Australia Pacific LNG Pty Limited, Santos Ltd, Arrow Energy Pty Ltd and Wastewater Futures Pty Ltd.