• CHE3702: Physical Chemistry III (Theory)
• CHE3732: Physical Chemistry III (Practical)
• CHE4808: Honours Research Project

• Thermal Analysis
• Solid state Chemistry
• XRF & XRD analysis
• SEM & TEM analysis
• Particle size analysis

• Extraction of elements from South African Coal Fly Ash.
• Utilization of Coal Fly Ash for beneficiations.
• Synthesis and applications of Silica nanoparticles and Alumina nanoparticles derived from coal fly ash.   

• M.E. Aphane, F.J. Doucet, L. Petrik, R. A. Kruger, E.M. van der Merwe (2019) Preparation of Sodium Silicate Solutions and Silica Nanoparticles from South African Coal Fly Ash. Waste and Biomass Valorization, Volume 11, Issue 8: 4403–4417.

• Mathibela E. Aphane, Frédéric J. Doucet, Richard A. Kruger, Leslie Petrik and Elizabet M. van der Merwe (2018), Synthesis of silica nanoparticles from coal fly ash derived sodium silicate. SACAA Ash Conference 2018: Ash Utilisation; South African Untapped Resource Potential; 22 & 23February 2018; Franklin Auditorium Eskom Megawatt Park, Johannesburg.
• Mathibela E. Aphane, Elizabet  M. van der Merwe, Frédéric J. Doucet and Leslie Petrik (2015), The Effect of Sulphuric Acid Concentration on the Removal of Reactive Aluminium from South African Coal Fly Ash. In: Proceedings of the 2015 World of Coal Ash Conference, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, 5-7 May. Available online at http://www.flyash.info/2015/049-aphane-2015.pdf.
• Fikru Tafesse; Elias Aphane; Elizabeth Mongadi; Determination of the structural formula of Sodium tris-carbonatocobaltate (III), Na₃[Co(CO3)₃].3H₂O by thermogravimetry;  Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, (2009), 102(1), 91-97.
• M. E. Aphane; van der Merwe, E. M.; Strydom, C. A.; Influence of hydration time on the hydration of MgO in water and in a magnesium acetate solution.  Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, (2009), 96(3), 987-992.
• E.M. van der Merwe, C.A. Strydom & M.E Aphane, “The influence of magnesite calcining conditions on the hydration of magnesium oxide”, Carman National Physical Chemistry Symposium, Cape Town, 24-27 September 2007.
• M.E Aphane, E.M van der Merwe and C.A Strydom The effects of different calcination times and temperatures on the hydration of MgO samples, 38th National Convention of the South African Chemical Institute (SACI), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Durban, South Africa, December 2006.
• Strydom, C. A.; van der Merwe, E. M.; Aphane, M. E. The effect of calcining conditions on the rehydration of dead burnt magnesium oxide using magnesium acetate as a hydrating agent.    Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, (2005), 80(3), 659-662.
• M.E Aphane, E.M van der Merwe and C.A Strydom The hydration of medium and hard burnt industrial Magnesium oxide using Magnesium acetate and HCl as hydrating agents, The 37th national Convention of the South African Chemical Institute, CSIR, Pretoria, 4-9 July 2004.
• M.E Aphane, E.M van der Merwe, A Botha and C.A Strydom; A Thermogravimetric study on the hydration of magnesium oxide with Magnesium Acetate as hydrating agent, SASTA10 (Tenth South African Symposium on Thermal Analysis) Port Elisabeth, South Africa, 25-26 September 2003.

• E M van der Merwe, C A Strydom and M E Aphane (2007) The influence of magnesite calcining conditions on the hydration of magnesium oxide. Carman National Physical Chemistry Symposium, Cape Town, South Africa, September. Oral presentation.
• E M van der Merwe, C A Strydom, M E Aphane and K P Matabola (2007) Hydration of industrially obtained Magnesium Oxide. American Chemical Society Spring 2007 Meeting, Chicago, USA, 25 29 March. Poster presentation.

Research

• Leaching and speciation of elements in South African fly ash.
• Surface reactivity of South African fly ash.
• Study in improving the whiteness of South African fly ash.

Selected Publications
'Determination of the structural formula of sodium tris-carbonatocobaltate (III), Na3[Co(CO3)3].3H2O by thermogravimetry'
Fikru Tafesse; Elias Aphane; Elizabeth Mongadi;* J. Thermal Analysis & Calorimetry, Online

'Influence of hydration time on the hydration of MgO in water and in a magnesium acetate solution'
M. E. Aphane; E. M. van der Merwe; C. A. Strydom;* J. Thermal Analysis & Calorimetry, 2009, 96 (3), 987-992

'The effect of calcining conditions on the rehydration of dead burnt magnesium oxide using magnesium acetate as a hydrating agent'
Strydom, C. A.; van der Merwe, E. M.; Aphane, M. E.;* J. Thermal Analysis & Calorimetry, 2005, 80 (3), 659-662