Engineering PhD Students Address Critical Contemporary Challenges

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Two PhD students are among the 44 postgraduates in the School of Engineering who have made submissions to present at the 2023 Postgraduate Research and Innovation Symposium (PRIS), hosted by the College of Agriculture, Engineering, and Science.

The symposium will take place at the Coastlands Hotel in Durban on 2 and 3 November under the theme, Water for Sustainability into the 21^st Century.

The study undertaken by Ms Dikeledi Shirit Monyetsware of the Bioresources Systems Discipline aims to address one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, synthetic polymers, particularly plastics, and their effects on the planet.

Society has long embraced synthetic polymers for their strength, flexibility, and chemical inertness. However, continuous usage of these materials has led to widespread pollution. Monyetsware’s study focuses on the packaging industry, a primary contributor to plastic waste pollution. This industry generates 300 million tons of single-use plastics annually, not only contributing to environmental degradation but also impacting global petroleum prices and depleting finite fossil fuel resources.

Monyetsware is exploring the use of mopane worms to act as an alternative source of chitin and chitosan, key components to create recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable food packaging materials.

Electrical Engineering student Mr Franck Cinyama Mushid’s research proposes an innovative approach that aggregates excess photovoltaic (PV) generated power by prosumers within the low voltage (LV) network. His work not only has the potential to address the energy crisis and ameliorate the effects of climate change; it also contributes to the sustainable usage of water resources. Electricity is essential to extract and distribute water and South Africa’s energy deficit has constrained access to this critical resource.

Words: Siphesihle Shezi

Photographs: Supplied