Research leader: Prof F Illunga
Fischer-Tröpsch Catalysis. Fischer-Tröpsch Catalysis is a field which is of national pride and importance. It is also currently of interest as it is an important step in deriving liquid fuels from biomass. We are exploring novel carbon materials (carbon nanotubes and carbon spheres) as supports for Fischer-Tröpsch catalysis. Carbon is a very interesting support for Fischer-Tröpsch catalysts: these carbon supports do not exhibit the strong metal support interactions that oxide supports exhibit with cobalt, and we have evidence that the carbon supports auto-reduce the cobalt metal. Further, for iron supported on carbon, iron carbide (thought to be the active phase) forms readily. Basically, the support holds the active metal component in a form that is conducive to the catalytic reactions.
SO2 decomposition over Gold Catalysts. Current abatement technologies for SO2 include scrubbing and adsorption. These are not ideal since they are water intensive (wet FGD) and generate CO2 and wastes or by-products which need to be dealt with in saturated markets. The aim of this research is to decompose SO2 to S2, resulting in lower quantities of waste, with different opportunities for applications. We have successfully performed this reaction and are currently studying it systematically.
Environmental issues relating to heavy metals. Heavy metals can be removed from water in a number of ways: these include precipitation and ion exchange. This research entails looking at the selectivity of different removal techniques, quantifying them thermodynamically and evaluating the treated water to determine the efficiency of removal.
Research leader: Prof L Jewell
• Vortex Formation Threshold with a Jet Engine
• Water purification using magnetic nano -composites
• Bio-fluids flow
• Bio-inspired aerofoil shapes and applications
• Investigation into sustainable use of energy through alternative and renewable
• energy systems
Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Experimental Fluid Measurements
• Heat Transfer
Research Leader: Prof WH Ho
Research Leader: Dr K Ramdass
Optoelectronics, CMOS Integrated Circuit Design, Silicon Photonics, Si Avalanche Light Emitting Diodes. Particularly, Professor Snyman and his students have recently realised a series of optical links involving an emitter, waveguide and detector on the same silicon chip.
Research Leader: Mr LA Maseko
Last modified: Mon Aug 07 18:04:24 SAST 2023