university of pretoria · 2020. 7. 30. · – optical fibers and coatings • high oil, water and...

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIADepartment of Chemical

Engineering Postgraduate Information for 2020

15th October 2019

STUDENTSAcademic staff: Total: 17

Students: Total: 821Undergraduate students (589)

• 1st year: 229• 2nd year: 90• 3rd year: 187 • 4th year: 83

Postgraduate students (232):• Hons.: 141• Master’s: 55• PhD: 36

STAFF• Academic Staff: (17 academic + 3)

– 5 Professors (PV, PC, WN, WF, EC)– 4 Associate Professors (MH, NM, JL, DvV)– 5 Senior Lecturers (BP, ET, CS, ST, DB)– 1 Researcher (PS) – 2 Vacancies – 3 Chairs

• DST Chair in Fluoromaterials and Process Integration• SARChI Chair in Carbon Chemistry (Shared)• Sedibeng Water Chair in Water Utilisation Engineering

• Senior Researcher: (1)• Environmental Engineering (GK)

• Extraordinary Professors: (2) (TM, ED)• Extraordinary Lecturer: (1) (BC)

• Biotechnology

• Bioreaction Engineering & Biotechnology

• Advanced Materials: Carbon, Fluorine,

Polymers & Clays, Product Development

• Environmental & Water Utilisation Engineering

• Energy Systems, Modelling, Optimisation &

Control

RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

• Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden• Institut Charles Gerhardt, Montpellier, France• Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany• Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research, Germany• Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique• University of Kentucky, USA• National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), USA• Herriot-Watt University, UK• University of Lleida, Spain• Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Spain• Stuttgart University, Germany• Harvard University, USA• University of British Columbia, Canada

POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

Focus Areas Water Utilisation & Environmental

Engineering Evans Chirwa / Deon Brink/ Shepherd Tichapondwa /

Gerrit Kornelius Applied Materials & Product Design

Walter Focke / Johan Labuschagne /Philip Crouse / Dawie v Vuuren / Elizbe du Toit / Barend du Plessis

Bioreaction Engineering & Biotechnology Willlie Nicol / Mike Heydenrych/ Berdine Coetzee

Process Modelling, Optimisation & Control Carl Sandrock / Philip de Vaal

ENERGY, WATER, NANO, BIOTECHNOLOGY


B.Eng(Hons)/M.Eng specialisation in: Control Engineering – MEng(Control Eng) Environmental Engineering - MEng(Env.Eng) Water Utilisation Engineering - MEng(Wat.Util.)Or focus in: Carbon, Fluorine & Polymer Matls. Science Process Design Bioreaction Engineering Tribology Chemical Engineering

MEng(Chem)


2-year programme (M.Eng): Year 1: B.Eng(Hons) – Coursework (4 x

32-credit modules = 128 credits) 3 x 5-day blocks per semester

Year 2: M.Eng – (128 credits) Preferably full-time

128 credits research project

Close cooperation with industry

B.Eng (Hons)(Chem) Specialising in Process Design At least 2 of the following modules:

First Semester: CPO 732 Chemical Product Design (32 credits) CSP 732 Process Control System Development (32

credits) CRH 732 Bioreaction Engineering (32 credits)

Second Semester: CIP 732 Process Integration (32 credits) CSK 732 Separation Technology (32 credits) CRO 700 Research Orientation (32 Credits)

B.Eng (Hons)(Chem)Specialising in Carbon, Fluorine & Polymer Matls. Science

Four (4) of the following modules:First Semester: CPO 732 PRODUCT DESIGN CPW732 POLYMER MATERIALS SCIENCE CYM 732 ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY CFT 732 FLUORO-MATERIALS SCIENCE CIR 702 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Second Semester: CPP 732 POLYMER PROCESSING CSK 732 SEPARATION TECHNOLOGY CMS 732 CARBON MATERIALS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

B.Eng (Hons)(Chem)Specialising in Bioreaction Engineering

CRH 732 Bio-reaction Engineering 732 (32 credits) (2nd semester)

CIR 702 Chemical Engineering 702 (32 credits) (2nd semester)

CRO 700 Research Orientation (32 credits) (2nd semester)

+ another module to be discussed with Prof Nicol

B.Eng(Hons)(Control Engineering)

First Semester: CBT700 Multivariable Control Theory (32 credits) CSP732 Process Control System Development

(32 credits)

Second Semester: CBO700 Multivariable Control Design (32 credits) CML732 Model-based Control Laboratory (32

credits)

B.Eng(Hons)(Environmental Engineering)

First Semester: CEM 780 Principles of Environmental Engineering

(32 credits) WQB 780 Water Quality Management (32 credits)

Second Semester: CAM 780 Air Quality Control (32 credits) WAI 780 Industrial Waste Engineering (32 credits)

B.Eng(Hons)(Water Utilisation Engineering)

First Semester: WCW 780 Chemical Water Treatment (32 credits) WQB 780 Water Quality Management (32 credits)

Second Semester: WBW 780 Biological Water Treatment (32 credits) WAI 780 Industrial Waste Engineering (32credits)

B.Eng(Hons) – Additional modules

Modules from other departments: Engineering & Technology Management Mechanical Engineering Industrial Engineering Etc.

Availability of Projects & BursariesContact individual staff members: Water Utilisation & Env Eng: Prof Chirwa,

Drr Brink, Tichapondwa, Kornelius Advanced Materials: Proff Focke, Crouse,

Labuschagne, v Vuuren Bioreaction Eng. & Bioprocessing: Proff

Nicol & Heydenrych Energy Systems, Modelling, Control &

Optimisation: Sandrock, Sonnendecker, de Vaal (Tribology)

CONCLUSION

Departmental Website: http://www.up.ac.za/chemeng chemeng.up.ac.za

http://www.up.ac.za/chemeng

ADVANCED AND APPLIED MATERIALS, FLUORO-MATERIALS & C-TECHNOLOGY

Extensive Analytical Equipment & Capabilities

The Institute of Applied Materials Graphene & applications. Production of nuclear grade carbon from coal. Synthesis of graphite from local pitches Processing of bulk graphite Use of graphite intercalation compounds as

functional additives in polymers.

Polymer Centre Modification of polymer properties by additives

and by reactive processing. Flame retardants for polyolefins Volatile corrosion inhibitors for plastic

packaging film Malaria Vector Control

ADVANCED AND APPLIED MATERIALS, FLUORO-MATERIALS & C-TECHNOLOGY

“Green” mining detonators

20

• Pyrotechnics in mine detonators• “Green” time delay compositions• Safer processing of pyrotechnics• Non-destructive burn rate measurements• Thermite replacement for primary explosives• On-site detonator manufacture

Pyrotechnics in time-delay fuses and mine detonators

21

• Drivers:Operational safety: No failures allowedEnvironmental concerns: Heavy metal compoundsCost minimisation:Mass production (> 106/day)

Polymer processing

22

• Problems “go away” when the either the fuel or the oxidant forms a continuous liquid phase that can be solidified into a matrix when mixing is complete

• The advantages posed by plastics processing and additive manufacturing become possible with a thermoplastic matrix

Particulate filled polymer Continuous extrusion of a polymer filament

Aim: Print detonators on site

23

• Design extrudable pyrotechnic compositions suitable for polymer strand extrusion and the 3D printing technique fused deposition modeling (FDM) also called fused filament construction

Mosquito-borne diseases

24

Chemical engineering concepts can be exploited to make a small contribution to improved vector control strategies

1. Polymer solution: NanotechnologyControlled release of mosquito repellents from microporous polymer bracelets

2. Textile solution: Bi-component fibre-based repellent socks

26

Sock Fibre filamentntcross-section

3. More effective topical repellentsProtection of a novel UP repellent exceeds theperformance of DEET and IR3535

Arm in cage test

4. Micro-encapsulated larvicide

28

Facilities

29

• We are quite well equipped with a variety of standard characterization techniques (TGA, DSC, DMA, TMA, BET, etc.)

Bulk materials research group

30

• SEM, TEM, EELS,

• P-OM, XRD, XRF,

• FTIR, Raman,• UV-Vis, TGA,• TPD, TMA,• DMA, DSC,

BET, Pycno,• ICP-MS-AES,• EDX, WDX,

XPS, MALDI-TOF, rheology…

Our aim is to bring together three core facets to produce the

correct material for any application

CarbonPCMsOpticsGlass-metalInsulatorsCeramicsCarbidesNano

Thermal diffusivityCp & enthalpySegmented parabolicTracking FresnelFluidized bed granulator

Finite volumeSolid State

Work in the group is focused on these three properties

31

High Thermal Conductivity

InsulatorsRadiationTransfer

High HeatTransfer

Energy Transfer

Low HeatTransfer

Efficient solar absorbers

32

Solar Facilities

• A new design parabolic collector

Facilities

1 m2 Fresnellens system:concentrationof up to1500 suns!

Solar desalination - WRC

Why not combine energy capture and storage?

Current work is aimed at combining capture and storage into asingle step.

It is planned to integrate this concept into a small scale waterheating application for field testing.

Small scale solar concentrator

Additional testing was completed using real solar radiation. Alab-scale platform has been constructed to track the sun. Light isreflected onto a Fresnel lens and concentrated onto the samplesurface. This gives a better indication of real world performance.

Layered double hydroxides (LDH’s): Structure, synthesis, modifications and applications

37

Used with permission from Department of Solid State Chemistry, ICT Prague

The structure of LDHs

Hydrotalcite natural mineral:

Mg6Al2(OH)16CO3.4H2O

Mg4Al2(OH)12CO3.3H2O

• Co-precipitation method• M2+(aq) + M3+(aq) + CO2 + H2O → LDH

• Mixed dissolution-precipitation method• MO2(s) + M2O3(s) + CO2 + H2O → LDH

• Reconstruction method• 4MO2.M2O3(s) + CO2 + H2O → LDH

Green zero effluent dissolution / precipitation of run-of-mine oxides with

• MgO + Al(OH)3 + 2NaHCO3 + H2O → LDH + Na2CO3• MgCO3 + heat → MgO + CO2• Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 → 2NaHCO3

LDH Synthesis

LDH Applications

Known applications of LDHs• Flame retardants• Smoke suppressants• Functional additives• Heat stabilisers for PVC• Adsorbing agents• Pigment for polymers• Catalysts• Controlled release agents• Polymer nano-composites

• Low refractive index: – Optical fibers and coatings

• High oil, water and soil repellency: – Textiles, leather, paper, wood, glass, concrete,

stone, metals protection• Low surface energy:

– Lubricity, release• High chemical, thermal, oxidative stability

– Protective coatings• Very low surface tension

– Speciality surfactants and fire fighting agents• Very strong organic acids

– Catalysts and proton exchange membranes

Features, Benefits & Advantages of F-polymers

Post-graduate studies information sessionProf PL Crouse

October 15, 2019

The Fluorochemical Expansion Initiative (FEI)

• The fluorine source for all fluorochemicals is fluorspar (CaF2) • South Africa is the 3rd largest international producer of fluorspar• South Africa has the 2nd largest fluorspar reserves in the world• South Africa’s share is less than 0.3% of the global

fluorochemicals market• The SA Government would like to see greater beneficiation of this

resource• Necsa/Pelchem the appointed FEI champion• Support for formation of academic Chairs, via SARChI• Capacity building in in fluorine technology important to DST• Now motivating for FEI phase 4, 2019–2021• Fewer projects, greater commercial focus, decisions in progress


October 15, 2019

CaF2 mining

30 USD / kg

Industrial & consumer products

The fluorspar beneficiation process


October 15, 2019

Chair : FMG

RESEARCH AREAS

Polymer processing & Engineering

PolymerizationPTFE/FEP/PVDF

/PVF/F-co-polymers

Plasma-phase fluorine/halogen

chemistry

Theoretical:• Molecular modelling MD, MOPAC

• Comsol FEM• Python / Excel VBA / C-C++

Minerals processing

(aqueous HF)Ad hoc industry

projects (fluoride related)


October 15, 2019

LiPF6 in Li-ion batteries:


October 15, 2019

Anya Sonnendecker


October 15, 2019

POLYMER LAB SOUTH CAMPUS

Paul Sonnendecker, Trident Plastics, Quadrant


October 15, 2019

THE BAD NEWS: WE WORK WITH NASTY SUBSTANCES

Polymer laboratory

SARChI Chair for Fluoro-materials Science & Process Integration

Multi-purpose Fluorination Pilot Plant (MFPP) @ Pelchem

BIO-REACTION ENGINEERING

Bioreaction Engineering

Platform Chemicals of Tomorrow• Biomass-derived (biorefinery)

• Microbial metabolites (Biofilms)

• Bulk production (continuous processing)

BIOPROCESSING & PYROLYSIS

Bioprocessing & Biorefining

Wood Beneficiation - Biorefining Biomass conversion via fast pyrolysis Extracting hemicellulose → C5-fermentation Processing black liquor Study to identify potential for local conditions RSA calibration of international data Black liquor to gas Gasification and alternatives

gasification & FT direct liquefaction/hydrogenation

Attainable region approach Identification of technology hurdles Biofilms

WATER UTILISATION & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Water Utilisation & Environmental Engineering

Drinking water treatment

Industrial wastewater treatment

Waste utilisation Biological treatment Environmental impact Waste minimisation

Water Utilisation & Environmental Engineering (contd)

Dispersion modelling: (AERMOD, CALPUFF) Particulate matter from opencast mining, identification of diffuse sources from ambient measurements, atmospheric deposition over the Highveld and Waterberg areas as a result of fossil fuel use.

Application of simple and economical pollution measurement methods: Dust deposition buckets, passive diffusive tubes.

Pilot scale Circulating Fluidised Bed (CFB) unit planned to test emissions from various unconventional fuel sources in SA – coal discard, biomass. Desulphurisation test work and work on metal emissions could be done on such a unit.

ENVIRONMENTAL NANO-TECHNOLOGY

59

Stick… Carrots/benefits…

Research areas and enabling environment…

Grand Challenges, knowledge and methodology gaps, and research opportunities and needs, technology transfer to stakeholders

Fundamental properties of

Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials Interactions with the

Environment

Nanomaterials Interactions with

Biological Molecules and Biological Systems

Human Resources: Education, Collaborative

and Interdisciplinary Approaches, and

Leadership

Enabling Technologies: Infrastructure,

Instrumentation, and Computation

NANOMATERIALS &THE ENVIRONMENT

Overarching scientific objective

Objective: To support safe, responsible, and sustainable development and exploitation of nanotechnology

capabilities for the benefit of all South Africans, and society at large.

HCD & Infrastructure Integrated and interdependent Research Themes (Key Research platform)

Fate and behaviour of ENMs

Ecotoxicity of ENMs

Modellingand policy

Form

al T

rain

ing

Labo

rato

ry

activ

ities

Shor

t cou

rses

Production Pristine ENMs

Uses (Consumer products)

WWTP Run-off Landfill Air Soil

Release of ENMs

Product transformed ENMs

Environmentally transformed ENMs

Projects….• Effects of mixtures of emerging contaminants (ECs) in:

• Freshwater systems (standard and non-standard tests)

• Fate, behaviour and transportation of ECs in:

• Freshwater systems (experimental approaches)

• In silico techniques (adsorption of NOMs on ENPs)

• Modelling studies

• Mass flow analysis of ECs

• Risk quantification and screening models development (mixtures)

• Fate, behaviour and transport modelling

But… the Small Baby Steps moves on …

Email: [email protected]

Thank you

mailto:[email protected]

SYSTEMS MODELING, CONTROL & OPTIMISATION

RESEARCH – PROCESS MODELING & CONTROL

Process Modeling & Control Research Projects

Automated plant start-up and shut-down (ASM) Closed Loop Process Identification Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Performance estimation of advanced control system Batch process control Scheduling

Industrial partners: SASOL; AMPLATS; SAPPI; MINTEK

Control loop ranking

TRIBOLOGY

•Research Projects:•Lubricity of fuels•Lubricant Performance•Dynamic Modelling of a hip joint

•Industrial Partners:Sasol; ESKOM

Damage to injector needle due to lack of lubricty of fuel

Dynamic Modelling of a hip joint

Lubricant performance assessment• We have been testing & developing lubricants and test

methods used in the energy and the mining sectors for more than 25 years.

• Our clients include essentially all major suppliers and users of lubricants in and outside South Africa.

Lubricant Performance

CONDITIONS: Temperatures up to 150°C and loads up to 1 GPaBiomimetic Lubrication

Algae slime on slippery rocks near water.

Zhmud, B and Roegiers, M (2009)

Adsorption lubrication

Bowden and Tabor (1950)

Hardy (1922)

Generation of BOUNDARY FILMS formed by Diesel

Chemical Reaction (c)• All metals & alloys react with oxygen to form oxide layers, except noble metals.• Not limited to oxygen –dependent on the environment (chlorides/sulphides/nitrides).• Multi-layered.

Chemical Adsorption (b)• Polar molecules.• Covalent or ionic bonds.• Limited to a monolayer.

Physical Adsorption (a)• Non-reactive metal surfaces.• Van der Waals (intermolecular forces).

Bhushan (2002)

Adsorption lubrication

”understanding lubrication & wear”

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIASTUDENTSSTAFFRESEARCH FOCUS AREASINTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONPOSTGRADUATE STUDIESPOSTGRADUATE STUDIESPOSTGRADUATE STUDIESB.Eng (Hons)(Chem) �Specialising in Process Design �B.Eng (Hons)(Chem)�Specialising in Carbon, Fluorine & Polymer Matls. Science B.Eng (Hons)(Chem)�Specialising in Bioreaction Engineering B.Eng(Hons)(Control Engineering)B.Eng(Hons)(Environmental Engineering)B.Eng(Hons)(Water Utilisation Engineering)B.Eng(Hons) – Additional modulesAvailability of Projects & BursariesCONCLUSIONADVANCED AND APPLIED MATERIALS, FLUORO-MATERIALS & C-TECHNOLOGY ADVANCED AND APPLIED MATERIALS, FLUORO-MATERIALS & C-TECHNOLOGY “Green” mining detonatorsPyrotechnics in time-delay fuses and mine detonatorsPolymer processingAim: Print detonators on siteMosquito-borne diseases1. Polymer solution: Nanotechnology�Controlled release of mosquito repellents from microporous polymer bracelets2. Textile solution: Bi-component fibre-based repellent socks3. More effective topical repellents4. Micro-encapsulated larvicideFacilitiesBulk materials research group ��Work in the group is focused on these three propertiesSolar FacilitiesFacilitiesSolar desalination - WRCWhy not combine energy capture and storage?Small scale solar concentratorLayered double hydroxides (LDH’s): �Structure, synthesis, modifications and applicationsSlide Number 38Slide Number 39Slide Number 40Features, Benefits & Advantages of �F-polymers�The Fluorochemical Expansion Initiative (FEI)The fluorspar beneficiation process Slide Number 44Slide Number 45Slide Number 46POLYMER LAB SOUTH CAMPUS THE BAD NEWS: WE WORK WITH NASTY SUBSTANCESPolymer laboratoryBIO-REACTION ENGINEERINGBioreaction EngineeringBIOPROCESSING & PYROLYSISBioprocessing & BiorefiningWATER UTILISATION & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERINGWater Utilisation & Environmental EngineeringWater Utilisation & Environmental Engineering (contd)ENVIRONMENTAL NANO-TECHNOLOGYIn the beginning…..Slide Number 59Research areas and enabling environment…Overarching scientific objective Slide Number 62Slide Number 63Projects….But… the Small Baby Steps moves on …SYSTEMS MODELING, CONTROL & OPTIMISATIONRESEARCH – PROCESS MODELING & CONTROLControl loop rankingTRIBOLOGYDamage to injector needle due to lack of lubricty of fuelDynamic Modelling of a hip jointLubricant performance assessmentLubricant PerformanceAdsorption lubricationAdsorption lubricationSlide Number 76

university of pretoria · 2020. 7. 30. · – optical fibers and coatings • high oil, water and...

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