Written by Dr Kate Haigh Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Process Engineering khaigh@sun.ac.za Did you know that it is possible to print bacteria using an inkjet printer to produce biological photovoltaic cells? This is something I learnt when I attended a seminar on 17 July 2018 given by Prof Chris Howe from the University of Cambridge as part of his visit to Dr Robbie Pott at Stellenbosch University. The talk was titled “The Biotechnological Exploitation of of Cyanobacteria”. Cyanobacteria are more commonly known as blue-green algae, which are found widely in the environment. Water companies sometimes have challenges keeping their reservoirs free of blue-green algae. Some types can fix nitrogen and many can tolerate high temperatures as well as a high or low pH. This means there is a lot of potential for exploiting these bacteria. There are also some funky options for modifying cyanobacteria to allow for a wider range of applications although there is the risk that an ill judged modification will damage the bacteria. One of the earlier options that was considered for using algae was the production of low value, high volume chemicals such as triglycerides and hydrocarbons. Triglycerides can be transformed into biodiesel by means of a transesterification reaction. Hydrocarbons are also the building blocks for many fuels. The challenge with these applications is that growing the algae in such high volumes is difficult. An alternative is to focus on high value, low volume chemicals. One example is nutraceuticals such as Spirulina. Alternatively, one type, Phycocyanin is used to produce blue food colouring which was approved by the FDA in 2013. One of the most promising applications identified by Prof Chris Howe is the the direct production of electricity as a result of cyanobacteria producing electrons. Growing cyanobacteria in water means that electrons are produced and this forms the fuel cell annode (negative electrode). The flow of electrons to the cathode can produce enough electricity to power small electrical devices such as a clock. These devices are known as biological photovoltaic cells. It is envisaged that they could be used to power small off grid electonics. The next challenge is to find ways to increase the amount of power and develop useful devices. Part of this is about understanding the mechanism which leads to the transfer of electrons outside the cell walls of the bacteria. Designing more efficient devices is also being considered. This led to the development of ink-jet printed bacteria which can produce power as part of biological photo-voltaic cells.
Six delegates from the Department of Process Engineering recently attended the 30th European Symposium on Applied Thermodynamics (ESAT) held in Prague, Czech Republic from June 10 to 13. The conference is aimed at thermophysical behaviour obtained either by experimental work, or by modelling through molecular and statistical thermodynamics. In attendance were Proff Cara Schwarz, André Burger, Hansie Knoetze, Dr Jamie Cripwell, Carla Latsky (doctoral student), and Riccardo Swanepoel (master’s student), all from the Separations Technology research group. The researchers delivered presentations on a variety of topics such as the experimental difficulties of measuring high-pressure phase equilibria (Prof Knoetze), modelling of detergent-range alkane/alcohol mixtures (Ms Latsky), and accounting for hydrogen-bonding in theoretical frameworks (Dr Cripwell). Mr Swanepoel presented a poster on the phase behaviour of solvent/polyethylene systems, and Prof Schwarz on molecular interactions in carbon dioxide/wax systems. Posters by Danielle de Klerk (co-authored by Drs Lidia Auret and John McCoy), Jaco Moorcroft, Ruan Hurter, and Herman Franken were also presented. Mr Swanepoel received the Helmut Knapp poster award (pictured), which is awarded to PhD students or young PhD graduates for the best poster presentation in honour of the conference’s founder. Apart from the busy academic program, researchers also had time to experience the sights of the thousand-year-old city, such as a boat cruise banquet on the Vltava River, organised by the conference committee (pictured).
written by Liesel Koch, Dean’s Office, Faculty of Engineering This year, a DST/NRF SA Research Chair in Sugarcane Biorefining was established in the Faculty of Engineering at Stellenbosch University. It is held by Prof Johann Görgens, head of the Bioresource Engineering Group in the Department of Process Engineering. The Chair aims to broaden the range of products manufactured from available sugarcane to maximise the economic value extracted beyond conventional products like sugar, electricity and ethanol. The focus of the Research Chair will be on biomass fractionation, separation, conversion, value addition and new product development. One of the key elements will be to facilitate training of sugarcane biorefining scientists and engineers, especially at master’s and PhD levels. Postdoctoral researchers will also facilitate postgraduate programmes through supervision and mentoring. Although the South African sugarcane processing industry is considered highly efficient despite the high cost of cane, it has become clear that breakthrough and even disruptive technologies are required in order to remain competitive and sustainable. Prof Görgens says: “The new research chair aims to address the core challenge that the sugar industry has faced for some time, which is the need to expand the range of valuable products obtained from sugar cane. This requires extensive assessment and development to ensure that new, sustainable business opportunities are created for the industry, which is what the chair aims to contribute to.” The challenges facing the South African sugar industry are not unique. Sugarcane industries worldwide have been exploring the concept of an integrated biorefinery approach, in which sugarcane is viewed as a source of biomass that can be processed to produce multiple, value-added chemical and energy products. The existing sugarcane industry is well-placed to embrace the biorefinery approach as raw sugar mills already have appropriate infrastructure in place for collecting and processing bulk biomass, which confers a major advantage over processing of other lignocellulosic feedstocks. In addition, a sugarcane biorefinery should be self-sufficient in terms of outside energy supplies, thereby reducing processing costs and minimising exposure to fluctuations in fuel costs. The development of these new technologies is multidisciplinary and considerable collaboration is required with other engineering disciplines (mechanical and electronic), scientific disciplines (chemistry, physics and microbiology) as well as economics, in order to develop sound techno-economic justifications for the most promising products and technologies. Prof Görgens has longstanding collaboration with the Sugar Milling Institute, RCL Foods, and the Universities of KwaZulu-Natal, Cape Town and Fort Hare. Future cooperation will be extended to include local and international collaborators. At the end of 2022, the Chair in Sugarcane Biorefining will be renewable for two further five-year periods.
“The Faculty of Engineering is honoured to be associated with you,” August Engelbrecht said to an audience of 300 people during a very special event on 17 March 2018. “Today we acknowledge school principals, their management teams, parents and learners for their outstanding academic results in the 2017 Matric examinations.” During the function, certificates of recognition were handed over to 49 schools on the Western Cape Education Department’s merit list. “Significant numbers of learners from these schools come to study at Stellenbosch University (SU), and particularly at the Faculty of Engineering,” added Mr Engelbrecht who is responsible for student recruitment and retention at the Faculty of Engineering. Schools were represented by principals or their deputies, as well as the schools’ top Matrics and their parents. In his address, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof Wikus van Niekerk, said: “Engineers make dreams come true! We believe we make a huge impact in society, by improving quality of life for instance by providing electricity and clean water.” He encouraged learners to consider Stellenbosch Engineering as their first choice of study in 2019. “Why study at SU Engineering?” he asked them. He then provided a few solid reasons: 1. The Faculty’s has an excellent reputation. It is the only SA engineering faculty that received ECSA accreditation the past ten years with no deficiencies; 2. The Faculty has a high success rate: 72% of first-years do graduate with a BEng degree; 3. There is a common first-year programme which provides some exposure to all disciplines. This allows students one year to decide which discipline they are really interested in. If their performance is satisfactory, they can switch to another programme in their second year if they wish to do so; 4. The Faculty has an excellent research programme which is strongly supported by industry; 5. Residence life in Matieland is phenomenal, and solid mentorship programmes exist in residences and the Faculty. 6. The Faculty of Engineering offers great support to its students. Apart from two personnel members dedicated to looking after the interests of students, there are also two part-time educational psychologists who assist engineering students with academic and personal challenges. The Faculty has a well-established tutor programme where senior students assist groups of first-years who grapple with technical modules. The audience also heard that 72 of the current 780 first-year Matie engineering students obtained an average of 90% or more in Matric. “Some of the trust that SU has placed in the Faculty of Engineering is the fact that close on one billion Rand is being spent on the refurbishment of the Engineering building complex. If you come to this Faculty, you will become part of a dynamic, growing faculty,” the Dean added to strengthen his argument why learners should choose Stellenbosch Engineering for their studies. The Faculty then played its trump card and introduced and honoured Janke van Dyk. Janke, who hails from Bellville High School, was the country’s top Matric in 2017 with an astounding average of 98,3%. And what is Janke doing this year? This bright young lady is studying Chemical Engineering at Stellenbosch University!
On 15 February, 2018, staff and postgraduate students from Process Monitoring and Systems (part of the Extractive Metallurgy Research Group in the Department of Process Engineering) kicked off the year with a social event: a Create Your Own Bonsai course at Bishopsford Bonsai Nursery in Constantia. Bonsai are small trees kept in ceramic pots, which attempt to convey the impression of great age and size in a miniaturised plant, through various techniques. The morning began with an overview of the artistic and horticultural basics of bonsai, including different tree designs and methods for reshaping trunks and branches, and a short discussion of plants’ need for sunlight, water and fertiliser. After a short tea break, the group had a tour of the collection of bonsai at the nursery, discussing different plant species and suitability for bonsai in the Western Cape, and admiring the hundreds of trees in the collection. After the tour, each member of the group selected a wild fig (Ficus natalensis) from the starter plants available in the nursery, and a bonsai pot from the selection of ceramic pots. Then began the process of creating their own bonsai: selecting the best viewing angle, choosing which branches to keep or to remove for visual effect, shaping branches and trunks with wire and pruning, trimming the roots and planting the tree in the chosen pot. Although several growing seasons will be needed before the small trees in pots really begin to look like bonsai, the changes from starter tree to bonsai-in-training were dramatic! Each attendee left the course with a bonsai-in-training and the care instructions to ensure that their new tree in a pot thrives and develops over the next few years.
Riccardo Swanepoel, currently a master’s student in the Department of Process Engineering, was recently honoured as one of the top final-year undergraduate students for 2016 at the Rector’s Awards, hosted on 5 October 2017. The top student from each Department in the Faculty of Engineering received an award at this event. Riccardo recently made history in the Department and Faculty. In 2016, he achieved an academic average of 94.1%; only 0.9% lower than the highest academic average ever achieved in the BEng Chemical Engineering programme. In fact, during his undergraduate career he passed 42 of his 44 modules with distinction. Riccardo is also the only person in the university’s history to receive 100% for his final-year design project, and he received 93% for his final-year project, which is the highest result in the Faculty’s history. This project was of such excellent quality that it was included in a special edition of the International Journal of Chemical Engineering Data. For these achievements, he received the Chancellor’s Medal in 2016, which is the highest honour that the SU can bestow upon a student. To learn a bit more about the modest man behind the brilliant brain, we asked him a few personal questions. Describe yourself using three words. Hard-working. Social. OCD. Why did you decide on chemical engineering? Whilst at school, I heard it was a challenging, yet rewarding, multi-disciplinary course that teaches material that can be applied in many contexts other than engineering. It also seemed quite impressive after the 2011 Engineering Winter Week. What are three things you wish you knew when you started your undergraduate degree? 1. You should sleep whenever and wherever you get the chance; 2. Firga is hygienically questionable and should be used only as a last resort; and 3. A night cap, taken with moderation, is your friend that keeps you sane. You are one of the students with the second highest academic average in the Department’s history. What advice would you give other undergraduate students? Work. Work. Work. Whilst the understanding of course material and concepts are important, there is no substitute for simply sitting down and putting in the hours to cultivate a deeper understanding. If you weren’t in chemical engineering, what career would you have chosen? I would most likely have studied Actuarial Sciences.
On 20 September 2017, Dr Laurentz Olivier presented a guest lecture on behalf of the South African Council for Automation and Control (SACAC) to students from the Departments of Process, Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University. The lecture was titled “The interconnection between advanced control theory and practice”. Dr Olivier discussed a range of topics, including the basic concepts behind model-based control, before showing the results of several implementations of advanced control on the Sasol Synfuels site in Secunda. He ended the lecture by discussion future challenges, such as the extension of individual model-predictive controllers across multiple plants and units, requiring a cascade-like control structure, and the parallels between this control approach and current developments in the “Internet of Things” field. Finally, Dr Olivier gave a brief overview of SACAC’s activities, including Control Conference Africa, to be held in Johannesburg in December 2017, and encouraged the students to become involved in SACAC events. The lecture was a great success, and we wish to express our sincere appreciation to Dr Oliver for his time, as well as everyone who attended this event.
The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy’s (SAIMM) Western Cape Branch held a national conference on 3 – 4 August 2017 at Philippi Village, Cape Town. Over 100 delegates attended the conference over the two days it was held. Philippi Village, which is an entrepreneurial business centre constructed in what was a cement factory, was an appropriate place for the conference, which was aimed at providing a platform for young researchers to showcase their talent under the conference theme ‘Resourcing the Future’. Four plenary speakers gave addresses covering the importance of mineralogy in mining, energy utilisation, discovery of new platinum deposits in Limpopo, and sustainability in mining and the future generations. The organising committee comprised of postgraduate students, of whom Janco Strydom from the Department of Process Engineering was the Treasurer. Postgraduate students from the Department of Process Engineering presented eight of the 41 presentations at the conference. All the speakers gave outstanding presentations. Christiaan Coetzee, a master’s student at the Department, won the prize for ‘best poster overall’ for his poster titled “Characterizing the role of organic additives in copper electrowinning”. The award was handed over by Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Internationalisation at the University of Cape Town. At the conference dinner Marzahn Theart, an alumni from the Department of Process Engineering who now works for Arcelormittal, received the prize for the best mineral processing final year student in 2016.
Increased food security through improved postharvest systems using renewable and sustainable energy for rural communities: 4th – 8th September 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa Discipline: Postharvest Technology, Sustainable Energy and Food Processing UK coordinator: Dr Yaodong Wang, Newcastle University South African partner country coordinator: Dr Annie Chimphango, Stellenbosch University Kenyan partner coordinator: Prof Christopher Kanali, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology The programme, ‘British Council Researcher Links’, will provide opportunities for early career researchers from the UK, South Africa and Kenya to interact, learn from each, share research expertise, network and explore opportunities for building long-lasting research collaborations for improving processes and efficiencies in postharvest systems that specifically target vulnerable communities. The workshop will explore ways of improving postharvest systems for rural communities to improve food security in Kenya and South Africa. The workshop will provide a unique opportunity for sharing research expertise and networking. During the workshops early career researchers will have the opportunity to present their research in the form of brainstorming and discussion of specific case studies with established researchers from the UK, Kenya and South Africa. There will be a focus on building up links for future collaborations and participants selected on the basis of their research potential and ability to build longer term links. The British Council and the Newton Fund will cover the costs related to the participation in the workshop, including: travel (both international and local), accommodation and meals. Costs for the visa will also be covered; however participants will be responsible for making all the necessary arrangements. The British Council accepts no responsibility for any problems which may occur when the participants are in-country. For more information regarding the eligibility criteria and aplication documents go to the workshop webpage.
Process Engineering researchers and students recently attended the 29th European Symposium on Applied Thermodynamics in Bucharest, Romania. Dr Jamie Cripwell (pictured above, right) and Ms Sonja Smith (pictured above, middle) received the Soft Matter poster prize for their poster, “Comparing the holistic predictive strength of different SAFT Variants”. Jamie is a postdoctoral fellow in the Separations Technology Research Group and Sonja recently graduated with a master’s degree (cum laude) from the department under the supervision of Prof Cara Schwarz and Prof Andre Burger (pictured above, left). Professor Hansie Knoetze and Prof Cara Schwarz also attended the conference.
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