Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS)

Dr M Moyo

College of Science, Engineering and Technology
School of Engineering
Department: Research
Senior Lecturer
Tel: 011 670 9377
E-mail: moyom1@unisa.ac.za

Qualifications

  • PhD Chemical Engineering (2011), University of the Witwatersrand
  • MSc Chemical Engineering (2009),  University of the Witwatersrand
    • Converted to PhD:   Jul 2009
  • BSc (Hons) Applied Chemistry (2006), National University of Science and Technology

Currently teaching

Dr Moyo is currently a senior lecturer in the Institute for Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS), UNISA. His duties include:

  • Supervising Doctoral and Masters students.
  • Evaluate different project propositions and proposals
  • Develop Business cases, carryout pre-feasibility studies on different renewable energy projects for clients and carryout project management of these projects.
  • Partake in Project conceptualization, basic and detailed engineering design of different petrochemical type small to medium plants.
  • Partake in commissioning and process optimisation of the plants.
  • Process trouble shooting.
  • Fischer-Tropsch Catalyst synthesis and testing in pilot scale R&D projects
  • HAZOP and Risk assessment studies
  • Write Patents, Reports and publication for the company

Fields of academic interests

Dr Moyo's reserach research Interests are in heterogeneous catalysis for Fischer Tropsch synthesis, Oxygenates dehysration and Olefin oligomerisation and Carbon dioxide to methane and reverse Water Gas Shift reaction.

Journal articles

  • H. Xiong, M.A. Motchelaho, M.Moyo, L.L. Jewell, N. J. Coville, Effect of Group I alkali metal promoters on Fe/CNT catalysts in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, Fuel, Volume 150, 15 June 2015, Pages 687-696
  • H. Xiong, M.A. Motchelaho, M.Moyo, L.L. Jewell, N.J. Coville, Fischer–Tropsch synthesis: Iron-based catalysts supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes synthesized by post-doping, Applied Catalysis A: General, Volume 482, 22 July 2014, Pages 377-386.
  • P. Moyo, M. Moyo, D. Dube, O. Rusinga, Biofuel Policy as a Key Driver for Sustainable Development in the Biofuel Sector: The Missing Ingredient in Zimbabwe’s Biofuel Pursuit. Modern Applied Science; Vol. 8, No. 1; 2014.
  • H.Xiong, M.Moyo, M.A. Motchelaho, Z.N. Tetana, S.M.A. Dube, L.L Jewell, N.J. Coville, Fischer–Tropsch synthesis: Iron catalysts supported on N-doped carbon spheres prepared by chemical vapor deposition and hydrothermal approaches, Journal of Catalysis, Volume 311, March 2014, Pages 80-87.
  • H. Xiong, M.A.M. Motchelaho, M. Moyo, L. L. Jewell, N.J. CovilleCobalt catalysts supported on a micro-coil carbon in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis: A comparison with CNTs and CNFs, Catalysis Today, Volume 214, 1 October 2013, Pages 50-60
  • M. Moyo, M.A.M. Motchelaho, H. Xiong, L.L. Jewell, N.J. Coville, Promotion of Co/carbon sphere Fischer–Tropsch catalysts by residual K and Mn from carbon oxidation by KMnO4, Applied Catalysis A: General, Volumes 413–414, 31 January 2012, Pages 223-229.
  • M.A.M. Motchelaho, H. Xiong, M. Moyo, L.L. Jewell, N.J. Coville, Effect of acid treatment on the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes prepared from Fe–Co supported on CaCO3: Correlation with Fischer–Tropsch catalyst activity, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, Volume 335, Issues 1–2, 1 February 2011, Pages 189-198.
  • H. Xiong, M. A.M. Motchelaho, M. Moyo, L. L. Jewell, N. J. Coville, Correlating the preparation and performance of cobalt catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes and carbon spheres in the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, Journal of Catalysis, Volume 278, Issue 1, 14 February 2011, Pages 26-40.
  • H. Xiong, M. Moyo, M. A.M. Motchelaho, L. L. Jewell, N. J. Coville, Fischer–Tropsch synthesis over model iron catalysts supported on carbon spheres: The effect of iron precursor, support pretreatment, catalyst preparation method and promoters, Applied Catalysis A: General, Volume 388, Issues 1–2, 20 November 2010, Pages 168-178
  • Auto-reduction and catalytic performance of a Cobalt Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalyst supported on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Spheres, ChemCatChem 2 (2010) 514 – 518.
  • Haifeng Xiong, Myriam A. Motchelaho, Mahluli Moyo, Linda L. Jewell, Neil J. Coville, Effect of Group I alkali metal promoters on Fe/CNT catalysts in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, Fuel 150 (2015) 687–696.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

Awards:

  • 1st prize in the PhD category for 20 minute oral presentations at the 2nd SANI Conference  (Apr 2010)
  • Wits Postgraduate Merit Award (2007- 2011),
  • 1st prize at 2nd SANI Conference (Apr 2010),
  • 2nd Prize Annual Catsa conference (Poster). (Nov 2009),
  • 2nd Prize Postgraduate symposium at the University of the Witwatersrand (Nov 2008),
  • 1st Prize Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (Wits University (Poster presentation).(Nov 2007)

Projects

Commercial Projects

  1. Project Name: NECSA Pilot Plant budget R3,5 million.
    1. Design, construction, commissioning and testing of Pilot plant located at NECSA. Pilot plant is designed to convert carbon Rich waste to Fuels. The plant uses gasification technology to generate Syngas and uses Fischer Tropsch technology to convert Syngas to hydrocarbons.
    2. Work scope: Assistant project manager
  2. Project Name : ReOil  Waste residue oil to hydrocarbons
    1. Designing, conceptual designing
    2. This plant uses waste residue oil as a feed stock to produce synthetic fuel. Waste oil will be gasified to syngas prior to Fischer Tropsch synthesis.
    3. Work scope: In charge of this project.

Other

Technical and Computer Skills

  1. Analytical Techniques: 
    1. HRTEM, TGA, DTA, H2-TPR, Chemisorption, BET, GC-FID, GC-TCD, SEM, EFTEM, TPO, XRF, EDS, XPS, XRD, ICP, Raman, mass spectrometry, FT-IR, HPLC. Zeta potential. malvern particle sizer,
  2. Computer Softwares:  
    1. MS VisioTristar, Origin 6.0, MS office, Aspen, Clarity, Chemcad, Opus.