14 QUARTER 4 2017 | TAPPSA Journal

| EDUCATIONAL EVENTS REVIEW

PAMSA’s Masters students shineThe annual gathering of the industry’s bright young sparks took place at Sappi Tech Centre in Pretoria on October 26 when the 2016/2017 cohort of PAMSA’s Masters and PhD students presented their research projects.

The students are part of PAMSA’s Masters of Engineering (M.Eng) bursary study programme which facilitates bursaries and scholarships for eligible applicants.

Speaking on behalf of PAMSA’s Process Research Unit which oversees the programme, Mike Nash said that the bursary programme has significantly increased the knowledge base of the member companies participating in the scheme. “Not only through their industry-related research work but also on their improved analytical skills of approaching complex problems and the way these are solved.”

The research focus for the past few years has been geared towards biotechnology and assessing the beneficiation opportunities for various waste streams from the pulp and paper process.

Two students — Logan Brown from the University of Stellenbosch and Nomtembiso Piyo from the North-West

University — have successfully converted their M.Eng degrees to PhDs. “It is really exciting to see young graduates and aspirant industry professionals forging their way by means of research,” notes Nash.

Prof Sanette Marx, NRF research chair in Biofuels at North-West University’s School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering added, “I think it is a great opportunity for the students to showcase their work and also a fantastic opportunity for them (and the study leaders!) to meet industry and possibly future employers. The paper industry is such a close community so to have a chance to get to know them and show them what you can do is a rare opportunity for these students ahead of going into industry next year." “The presentations were interesting and informative and it was nice to see what each university is working on and even how projects can be paired up to make them better,” she added.

PAMSA and the PRU recently confirmed that the 2017/2018 intake will be eligible for R100,000 bursaries per year for two years' full time study towards an M.Eng degree. The call received 28 applications and final selections will be made by the end of November 2017.

Submissions for the 2019/2020 will open on 7 May 2018 and details will be available on the PAMSA website.

The students with the supervisors and study leaders, who are Dr Sanet Minnaar (back, second from left), Dr Francois Wolfaart from Sappi, supervising for NWU (back centre), flanked by Mike Nash, Frans Hansen from Kimberly-Clark and Prof Sanette Marx from NWU. Representing Mpact were Helene Wahl (middle row, second from right) and Sonja Boshoff from Mpact (right).

A valued research experience

Being a Masters student in the PAMSA programme has been a well-grounded step into the world of paper and pulp. The programme gave me the opportunity to work with great mentors and exposed me to real experiences within the mill environment. It allowed me to enhance my analytical and strategic thinking, as well as communication and leadership skills. I also believe that the high standard of the programme equipped me with the technical and organisational expertise to perform successfully in industry. Furthermore, the programme provided me with the possibility to contribute towards a greener South African future. - LIA BESTER

As a recipient of a PAMSA bursary, I have had the opportunity to pursue post-graduate studies while presenting at PAMSA events has allowed me to develop and enhanced my presentation skills as well as develop useful insight into the pulp and paper industry by being exposed to leaders in the industry. I believe that the outputs from my research will add value to the pulp and paper industry by helping to solve some of the many issue the industry faces. - LOGAN BROWN

15 TAPPSA Journal | QUARTER 4 2017

EVENTS IN REVIEW |

UKZN/CSIR: Jethro Masetlwa, Valorisation and fractionation of eucalyptus bark extractives.

NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY: (from left to right) Jozi Radebe, Microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis of a steam treated wood hydrolysate; Madelein Pretorius, Synthesis of bio-based carbonate derivatives from lignin; Nomtembiso Piyo, Fractionation of an acidic hydrolysate from steam-treated wood; and Richard Bence, Improvement of the digestibility of pulp-mill waste water for an anaerobic digester.

UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH: (from left to right) Priya Govender, Development of lignin-based adhesives from South African spent liquor; Andy Chimphango, The valorisation of paper sludge for green composite material; Lia Bester, Development and optimisation of a process for cellulose nanoparticle production from waste paper sludge with enzymatic hydrolysis as integral part; Logan Brown, Pyrolysis of fibre residues with plastic contamination from a paper recycling mill: energy recoveries; and Madelein van Zyl, Valorisation of bio-aromatics from pulp mill residues and commercial forest species in South Africa.

Given the state of our country’s economy it would have been difficult for me to progress through the stages of my academic training without the sponsorship from PAMSA. The bursary did not only allow me to focus on my studies, it also provided me with the opportunity to become a researcher and to make a meaningful contribution in paper and biorefinery field. - NONTEMBISO PIYO

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EDUCATIONAL EVENTS REVIEW |