The unit deals with cross disciplinary water issues relating to industry and mining.[1] As such the group includes experts in
chemical engineering,
microbiology and other sciences.
The unit includes five
NRF rated researchers and over 20 masters and doctoral level postgraduate students in the faculties of engineering and science.
The logo of the Unit is in the shape of a drop of water, with the left half representing the blue of water.
The right half of the drop is modified to show grass and how water is linked to all life. Underneath the icon are the letters IMWaRU, while to the right, the name "Industrial and Mining Water Research Unit" appears.
Location
The unit is housed in several buildings across the University, most notably in the Richard Ward Building on East campus.[7] Additionally, some members are located in the Biology Building on East Campus and have access to laboratories in that building.
They also have access to an outdoor facility on West Campus where constructed wetland, and other outdoor, experiments take place.
Research
The group has a broad range of research publications in the areas as listed below:[8]
Hydrometallurgy 2016 (Cape Town, South Africa),[79]
International Conference on Environment, Materials and Green Technology (Sebokeng, South Africa),
International Conference on Sustainable Materials Processing and Manufacturing (SMPM 2017) (Skukuza, Kruger National Park, South Africa)[80]
International Conference on Energy, Environment and Climate Change (Pointe aux Piments,
Mauritius);[81][82]
2nd International Conference on Sustainable Materials Processing and Manufacturing (SMPM 2019) (
Sun City (South Africa))[83] and more.
Awards
The IMWaRU group was awarded a special presentation award at the GAP Bioscience gala dinner in December 2014 for work on remediating AMD using biological substrates.[84]
Charne Germuizhuizen received the best mine water presentation award, while
Mogopoleng (Paul) Chego received the 3rd place best technical talk, at the Water Institute of Southern Africa 2016 (WISA2016) conference in May 2016.
^Okoro N.M., Harding K.G., Daramola M.O. (2020) Pyro-gasification of Invasive Plants to Syngas. In: Daramola M., Ayeni A. (eds) Valorization of Biomass to Value-Added Commodities. Green Energy and Technology. Springer,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38032-8_16
^Burman, Nicholas W.; Sheridan, Craig M.; Harding, Kevin G. (September 2020). "Feasibility assessment of the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass pretreated with acid mine drainage (AMD)". Renewable Energy. 157: 1148–1155.
doi:
10.1016/j.renene.2020.05.086.
S2CID219449810.
^Bonner, Ricky; Aylward, Lara; Kappelmeyer, Uwe; Sheridan, Craig (2017). "A comparison of three different residence time distribution modelling methodologies for horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands". Ecological Engineering. 99: 99–113.
doi:
10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.11.024.
^Harding, K; Dennis, J; von Blottnitz, H; Harrison, S (2007). "Environmental analysis of plastic production processes: Comparing petroleum-based polypropylene and polyethylene with biologically-based poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid using life cycle analysis". Journal of Biotechnology. 130 (1): 57–66.
doi:
10.1016/j.jbiotec.2007.02.012.
PMID17400318.
^Harding, K.G.; Dennis, J.S.; von Blottnitz, H.; Harrison, S.T.L. (2008). "A life-cycle comparison between inorganic and biological catalysis for the production of biodiesel". Journal of Cleaner Production. 16 (13): 1368–1378.
doi:
10.1016/j.jclepro.2007.07.003.
^Harding, K.G. (2013). "A technique for reporting Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) results". Ecological Indicators. 34: 1–6.
doi:
10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.03.037.
^Maepa, Mpho; Bodunrin, Michael Oluwatosin; Burman, Nicholas W.; Croft, Joel; Engelbrecht, Shaun; Ladenika, A. O.; MacGregor, O. S.; Harding, Kevin G. (2017). "Review: life cycle assessments in Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast". The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 22 (7): 1159–1164.
doi:
10.1007/S11367-017-1292-0.
S2CID114885312.
^Harding, K.G.; Harrison, S.T.L. (August 2020). "Generic flowsheeting approach to obtain material and energy data for life-cycle assessment of cellulase production (submerged fermentation)". Bioresource Technology Reports. 11: 100549.
doi:
10.1016/j.biteb.2020.100549.
S2CID225200895.
^Harding, Kevin G.; Friedrich, Elena; Jordaan, Henry; le Roux, Betsie; Notten, Philippa; Russo, Valentina; Suppen-Reynaga, Nydia; van der Laan, Michael; Goga, Taahira (16 November 2020). "Status and prospects of life cycle assessments and carbon and water footprinting studies in South Africa". The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 26: 26–49.
doi:
10.1007/s11367-020-01839-0.
S2CID226960269.
^Harding, K.G.; Dennis, J.S.; Harrison, S.T.L. (July 2018). "Generic flowsheeting approach to generating first estimate material and energy balance data for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Penicillin V production". Sustainable Production and Consumption. 15: 89–95.
doi:
10.1016/J.SPC.2018.05.004.
S2CID134260556.
^Ugwu, Samson Nnaemeka; Harding, Kevin; Enweremadu, Christopher Chintua (April 2022). "Comparative life cycle assessment of enhanced anaerobic digestion of agro-industrial waste for biogas production". Journal of Cleaner Production. 345: 131178.
doi:
10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131178.
S2CID247241156.
^Sheridan, C, 2014.
Water footprinting, UNEP/SETAC Presentation, Pretoria, South Africa.
^Dhlamini, S, Mkhonza, T, Haggard, E, Osman, A, Crundwell, F, Sheridan, C, Harding KG, 2013.
An Introduction to Water Footprinting, Chemical Technology, Jan 2013, 29-33.
^Brink, A.; Sheridan, C.M; Harding, K.G. (April 2017). "The Fenton oxidation of biologically treated paper and pulp mill effluents: A performance and kinetic study". Process Safety and Environmental Protection. 107: 206–215.
doi:
10.1016/J.PSEP.2017.02.011.
^Brink, A.; Sheridan, C.M.; Harding, K.G. (2017). "A kinetic study of a mesophilic aerobic moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) treating paper and pulp mill effluents: The impact of phenols on biodegradation rates". Journal of Water Process Engineering. 19: 35–41.
doi:
10.1016/J.JWPE.2017.07.003.
^Okoro, Nnanna-jnr M.; Ikegwu, Ugochukwu M.; Harding, Kevin G.; Daramola, Michael O. (24 September 2021). "Evaluation of Fuel Quality of Invasive Alien Plants and Tropical Hardwoods as Potential Feedstock Materials for Pyro-Gasification". Waste and Biomass Valorization. 13 (2): 1293–1310.
doi:
10.1007/s12649-021-01572-1.
hdl:2263/93149.
S2CID255768450.
^Mine Closure 2014Archived 2014-11-07 at the
Wayback Machine, Exhibitors list, 9th International Conference on Mine Closure, 1–3 October 2014, Sandton Convention Centre Johannesburg, South Africa, retrieved 7 November 2014.
^Mavukwana, A, Jalama, K, Ntuli, F, Harding, K, 2013.
Simulation of sugarcane bagasse gasification using Aspen Plus, International Conference on Energy, Nanotechnology and Environmental Sciences, International Conference Proceedings of Planetary Scientific Research Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, 15–16 April 2013, p70-74.
^Harding, KG, Basson, L, Brent, A, Friedrich, E, Janse van Rensburg, P, Mbohwa, C, Notten, P, Pineo, C, Ruiters, L-H, von Blottnitz, H, 2015.
Status and prospects of life-cycle assessment in South Africa, Life Cycle Management Conference (LCM2015), Bordeaux, France, 30 August – 2 September 2015
^Harding, KG, Gouden, T, Pretorius, S-L, 2017.
“Biodegradable” plastics: A myth of marketing?, International Conference on Sustainable Materials Processing and Manufacturing (SMPM 2017), Skukuza, Kruger National Park, South Africa, January 2017
The unit deals with cross disciplinary water issues relating to industry and mining.[1] As such the group includes experts in
chemical engineering,
microbiology and other sciences.
The unit includes five
NRF rated researchers and over 20 masters and doctoral level postgraduate students in the faculties of engineering and science.
The logo of the Unit is in the shape of a drop of water, with the left half representing the blue of water.
The right half of the drop is modified to show grass and how water is linked to all life. Underneath the icon are the letters IMWaRU, while to the right, the name "Industrial and Mining Water Research Unit" appears.
Location
The unit is housed in several buildings across the University, most notably in the Richard Ward Building on East campus.[7] Additionally, some members are located in the Biology Building on East Campus and have access to laboratories in that building.
They also have access to an outdoor facility on West Campus where constructed wetland, and other outdoor, experiments take place.
Research
The group has a broad range of research publications in the areas as listed below:[8]
Hydrometallurgy 2016 (Cape Town, South Africa),[79]
International Conference on Environment, Materials and Green Technology (Sebokeng, South Africa),
International Conference on Sustainable Materials Processing and Manufacturing (SMPM 2017) (Skukuza, Kruger National Park, South Africa)[80]
International Conference on Energy, Environment and Climate Change (Pointe aux Piments,
Mauritius);[81][82]
2nd International Conference on Sustainable Materials Processing and Manufacturing (SMPM 2019) (
Sun City (South Africa))[83] and more.
Awards
The IMWaRU group was awarded a special presentation award at the GAP Bioscience gala dinner in December 2014 for work on remediating AMD using biological substrates.[84]
Charne Germuizhuizen received the best mine water presentation award, while
Mogopoleng (Paul) Chego received the 3rd place best technical talk, at the Water Institute of Southern Africa 2016 (WISA2016) conference in May 2016.
^Okoro N.M., Harding K.G., Daramola M.O. (2020) Pyro-gasification of Invasive Plants to Syngas. In: Daramola M., Ayeni A. (eds) Valorization of Biomass to Value-Added Commodities. Green Energy and Technology. Springer,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38032-8_16
^Burman, Nicholas W.; Sheridan, Craig M.; Harding, Kevin G. (September 2020). "Feasibility assessment of the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass pretreated with acid mine drainage (AMD)". Renewable Energy. 157: 1148–1155.
doi:
10.1016/j.renene.2020.05.086.
S2CID219449810.
^Bonner, Ricky; Aylward, Lara; Kappelmeyer, Uwe; Sheridan, Craig (2017). "A comparison of three different residence time distribution modelling methodologies for horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands". Ecological Engineering. 99: 99–113.
doi:
10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.11.024.
^Harding, K; Dennis, J; von Blottnitz, H; Harrison, S (2007). "Environmental analysis of plastic production processes: Comparing petroleum-based polypropylene and polyethylene with biologically-based poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid using life cycle analysis". Journal of Biotechnology. 130 (1): 57–66.
doi:
10.1016/j.jbiotec.2007.02.012.
PMID17400318.
^Harding, K.G.; Dennis, J.S.; von Blottnitz, H.; Harrison, S.T.L. (2008). "A life-cycle comparison between inorganic and biological catalysis for the production of biodiesel". Journal of Cleaner Production. 16 (13): 1368–1378.
doi:
10.1016/j.jclepro.2007.07.003.
^Harding, K.G. (2013). "A technique for reporting Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) results". Ecological Indicators. 34: 1–6.
doi:
10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.03.037.
^Maepa, Mpho; Bodunrin, Michael Oluwatosin; Burman, Nicholas W.; Croft, Joel; Engelbrecht, Shaun; Ladenika, A. O.; MacGregor, O. S.; Harding, Kevin G. (2017). "Review: life cycle assessments in Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast". The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 22 (7): 1159–1164.
doi:
10.1007/S11367-017-1292-0.
S2CID114885312.
^Harding, K.G.; Harrison, S.T.L. (August 2020). "Generic flowsheeting approach to obtain material and energy data for life-cycle assessment of cellulase production (submerged fermentation)". Bioresource Technology Reports. 11: 100549.
doi:
10.1016/j.biteb.2020.100549.
S2CID225200895.
^Harding, Kevin G.; Friedrich, Elena; Jordaan, Henry; le Roux, Betsie; Notten, Philippa; Russo, Valentina; Suppen-Reynaga, Nydia; van der Laan, Michael; Goga, Taahira (16 November 2020). "Status and prospects of life cycle assessments and carbon and water footprinting studies in South Africa". The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 26: 26–49.
doi:
10.1007/s11367-020-01839-0.
S2CID226960269.
^Harding, K.G.; Dennis, J.S.; Harrison, S.T.L. (July 2018). "Generic flowsheeting approach to generating first estimate material and energy balance data for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Penicillin V production". Sustainable Production and Consumption. 15: 89–95.
doi:
10.1016/J.SPC.2018.05.004.
S2CID134260556.
^Ugwu, Samson Nnaemeka; Harding, Kevin; Enweremadu, Christopher Chintua (April 2022). "Comparative life cycle assessment of enhanced anaerobic digestion of agro-industrial waste for biogas production". Journal of Cleaner Production. 345: 131178.
doi:
10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131178.
S2CID247241156.
^Sheridan, C, 2014.
Water footprinting, UNEP/SETAC Presentation, Pretoria, South Africa.
^Dhlamini, S, Mkhonza, T, Haggard, E, Osman, A, Crundwell, F, Sheridan, C, Harding KG, 2013.
An Introduction to Water Footprinting, Chemical Technology, Jan 2013, 29-33.
^Brink, A.; Sheridan, C.M; Harding, K.G. (April 2017). "The Fenton oxidation of biologically treated paper and pulp mill effluents: A performance and kinetic study". Process Safety and Environmental Protection. 107: 206–215.
doi:
10.1016/J.PSEP.2017.02.011.
^Brink, A.; Sheridan, C.M.; Harding, K.G. (2017). "A kinetic study of a mesophilic aerobic moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) treating paper and pulp mill effluents: The impact of phenols on biodegradation rates". Journal of Water Process Engineering. 19: 35–41.
doi:
10.1016/J.JWPE.2017.07.003.
^Okoro, Nnanna-jnr M.; Ikegwu, Ugochukwu M.; Harding, Kevin G.; Daramola, Michael O. (24 September 2021). "Evaluation of Fuel Quality of Invasive Alien Plants and Tropical Hardwoods as Potential Feedstock Materials for Pyro-Gasification". Waste and Biomass Valorization. 13 (2): 1293–1310.
doi:
10.1007/s12649-021-01572-1.
hdl:2263/93149.
S2CID255768450.
^Mine Closure 2014Archived 2014-11-07 at the
Wayback Machine, Exhibitors list, 9th International Conference on Mine Closure, 1–3 October 2014, Sandton Convention Centre Johannesburg, South Africa, retrieved 7 November 2014.
^Mavukwana, A, Jalama, K, Ntuli, F, Harding, K, 2013.
Simulation of sugarcane bagasse gasification using Aspen Plus, International Conference on Energy, Nanotechnology and Environmental Sciences, International Conference Proceedings of Planetary Scientific Research Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, 15–16 April 2013, p70-74.
^Harding, KG, Basson, L, Brent, A, Friedrich, E, Janse van Rensburg, P, Mbohwa, C, Notten, P, Pineo, C, Ruiters, L-H, von Blottnitz, H, 2015.
Status and prospects of life-cycle assessment in South Africa, Life Cycle Management Conference (LCM2015), Bordeaux, France, 30 August – 2 September 2015
^Harding, KG, Gouden, T, Pretorius, S-L, 2017.
“Biodegradable” plastics: A myth of marketing?, International Conference on Sustainable Materials Processing and Manufacturing (SMPM 2017), Skukuza, Kruger National Park, South Africa, January 2017