Research Activities
Bio Nanotech and Electrochem Research Group
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Prof M Matoetoe | Dr N Ndube-Tsolekile | Dr K
Research Activities
Prof M Matoetoe | Dr N Ndube-Tsolekile | Dr K Maqashu
Maqashu
Research on inclusion compounds, structure of complex and hydrogen bonding framework.
Host compounds are Werner complexes, known for their ability of selectivity based on ligand, transition metal and anion in the structure.
Analysis using TGA, DSC, PXRD, chromatography, NMR
Crystal Engineering
Associate Prof Merrill Wicht
Research Activities
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Associate Prof Merrill Wicht
Crystal Engineering
Associate Prof Ayesha Jacobs
My research is in crystal engineering with a focus on bioactive compounds. The study of multicomponent crystals and the use of the supramolecular synthon approach in building supramolecular networks is an important topic in crystal engineering. Target compounds include phenolic acids such as vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid and 3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid.
The multicomponent crystals are characterised using thermal analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Another project involves the chiral resolution of racemic compounds using diastereomeric salt formation. The non-bonded interactions in the crystal structures of the salts are analysed to gain insight into the chiral discrimination process.
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Associate Prof Ayesha Jacobs
Research Activities
Crystal Engineering
Associate Prof Nikoletta Bathori
Chemistry:
• Solid state physical chemistry
• Structure-property relationships
• Pharmaceutical cocrystals
• Chiral discrimination
Education:
Systems thinking for curriculum design Community: Value creation and sustainability of voluntary associations in chemistry
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Associate Prof Nikoletta Bathori
Research Activities
Environmental Chemistry Research Group
Prof Vernon Somerset (Lead) | Dr S. Adonis | Dr C. van der Horst
Areas of Research
• Environmental Chemistry
• Electroanalysis
• Electrochemical Sensors
• Nanomaterials
• Adsorption studies
• Separation Chemistry / Methods
• Radioisotopes
• Emerging Pollutants
• Aquatic Ecosystem Assessment
Wastewater analysis and treatment technologies
Pharmaceuticals in the aquatic ecosystem
Research Activities
Environmental Chemistry Research
Environmental, Electrochemical and Electro-analytical Research
Applications
The above analytical techniques, including electroanalysis, spectroscopy, chromatography, materials science, nanotechnology and adsorption studies are applied to investigate pollutants in the aquatic ecosystem:
• metals (heavy, precious, rare earth, etc.)
• pharmaceutical compounds
• pesticide compounds
• wastewater analysis
• emerging pollutants
• aquatic ecosystem assessment Get in touch
Prof Vernon Somerset
Prof Vernon Somerset
Environmental Chemistry Research
Dr Shaheeda Adonis
Separation Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Environmental
Research Applications
• Research focus is on separation chemistry, involving adsorption studies (extraction chromatography and ion exchange chromatography)
• Synthesis of sorbents for the removal and separation of metal ions from aqueous solutions
• Separation methods for the isolation of radioisotopes
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Research Activities
Dr Shaheeda Adonis
Environmental Chemistry Research
Dr Charlton van der Horst
Research focus is on using electroanalysis to determine pollutants in environmental, pharmaceutical and beverage samples.
Environmental samples
• metals (heavy, precious, rare earth, etc.), pesticide compounds
Pharmaceutical samples
• biomolecules (ascorbic acid, uric acid, paracetamol)
Beverage samples
• mycotoxins (patulin, etc), biomolecules (caffeine, etc)
Adsorption studies to remove pollutants in wastewater samples
• heavy metals, emerging contaminants
Synthesis of nanocomposites for sensing applications and adsorption studies
• nanocomposites (Bi-AgNPs, PANI-Ag, rGO-SbNPs, etc)
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Dr Charlton van der Horst
Catalysis and Environmental Chemistry Research
Dr Philani Mpungose
Dr Philani Mpungose is a Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry on the Bellville campus. His research interests are in the fields of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis, environmental catalysis, and Materials science. Dr. Mpungose has secured research funding from the National Research Foundation. He has formed collaborations with UKZN, UJ, UNISA, UWC and DUT. He is a member of the South African Chemical Institute (SACI), and the Catalysis Society of South Africa (CATSA). He currently heads the Applied Catalysis Research Group.
Research Interest:
• Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalysis
• Materials science, advanced characterizations (electron microscopy, spectroscopy, etc.),
• Catalytic conversion of biomass to biofuels
• Photocatalysis
• Environmental Analytical Chemistry (water quality assessment)
Research Activities
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Dr Philani Mpungose
Environmental Research
Associate Prof Francois Wewers
Focus:
• Risk assessment, level of organic and inorganic pollutants in the environment (soil, plants and water),
• technologies for the remediation of water resources (biomaterial, NPs),
• water quality assessment
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Associate Prof Francois Wewers
Research Activities
South African Flora Great Cap Floristic Region
Bioprospecting Natural products chemistry
The Natural Products Intelligence in South African flora
Prof Ahmed A. Hussein | Dr M Makhaba | Dr Masande Yalo
The Natural Products Intelligence in South African flora
Prof Ahmed A. Hussein Mohammed – is an accomplished researcher and leader of the Natural Products Chemistry Research Group at CPUT. He holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry (Natural Products) from Complutense University of Madrid, (and Instituto de Quimica Organica General, CSIC), Spain. His skills include all aspects of drug discovery from natural resources mainly natural product chemistry, in addition to discovery of natural raw materials for cosmetic uses. Research interests:
• Chemistry of Cape Flora
• Green Synthesis of Bio-compatible Metal Nanoparticles
• Biomedical and Cosmetic Applications of Natural Products
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Ahmed A. Hussein Mohammed
Research Activities
Prof Ahmed A. Hussein Mohammed
Prof
The Natural Products Intelligence in South African flora
Dr M Makhaba
Dr Masixole Makhaba holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa. He is a lecturer and researcher at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in South Africa. His expertise extends to:
• the study of medicinal plants
• traditional medicine
• the assessment of the economic potential of natural products in the areas of skin care and diabetes, with a specific interest on the Cape Flora of South Africa.
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Dr M Makhaba
The Natural Products Intelligence in South African flora
My research interest lies at the interface of fundamental, organic/medicinal chemistry in natural product structural studies, with a focus on indigenous medicinal plants in South Africa.
This includes a wide variety of common natural products such as:
• flavonoids
• alkaloids
• terpenoids
• complex carbohydrates, particularly those with biological or pharmacological activities.
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Research Activities
Dr M Yalo
Dr M Yalo
Objectives
1. Enhancement of electrode performance and durability
2. Cost reduction of components
• Local manufacture of spacers
• Electrode polymer coatings replacing commercial membranes
• Development of alternative current collectors
3. Development of automated MCDI system including stack 4. Test readiness of MCDI for industrial effluent
Unique Li-ion battery assembly facility in Africa at pilot scale for the validation of commercial and SA made electrode materials.
Entrepreneurial projects
Dr Meredith Kujawa
Studying protein extracted from Black Soldier fly larvae via salting-in and salting-out coupled with ultrafiltration.
Student Bongisiwe Zozo
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Research Activities
Bongisiwe Zozo