Stellenbosch University’s Coleman Khupe is transforming waste orange peels into high-tech cryogels to revolutionize nutrient delivery. By extracting pectin from fruit waste, this research develops a sustainable method to encapsulate bioactive compounds like retinol and quercetin.

PhD student Wicus van der Westhuizen is using steam explosion to turn agricultural waste into a sustainable binder for coal briquettes. This Stellenbosch University research boosts bioenergy, manages waste, and creates nutritional pre-biotics, driving South Africa toward a greener energy future.

Stellenbosch Master’s student Juliana Naudé is transforming non-recyclable waste paper into bioethanol and biogas. By using a biorefinery approach, her research converts landfill-bound waste into green fuel and chemicals, offering a sustainable solution to South Africa’s growing waste crisis.

Kelly Campbell, a Master’s student at Stellenbosch University, is tackling South Africa's landfill crisis by fermenting food waste into bioethanol. Her research optimizes bioconversion to turn organic waste into high-value fuel and industrial chemicals, supporting a sustainable, green economy.

Stellenbosch researcher Ruan van den Berg is revolutionizing wastewater treatment using Python-based ASM3 modeling and MCMC sampling. His work optimizes the activated sludge process through uncertainty quantification, cutting operational costs and improving environmental outcomes for the industry.

Jordan Anastasiou is optimizing deep-level mine cooling at Stellenbosch University using Model Predictive Control (MPC). By leveraging off-peak energy tariffs to chill water, her research promises up to R30 million in annual savings while stabilizing South Africa’s grid through smarter demand-side management.

Prof. Yoichi Hoshimoto of Osaka University recently presented pioneering research on sustainable hydrogen at Stellenbosch and UCT. His team uses N-heterocyclic compounds as liquid organic carriers to separate and store hydrogen, fostering a new partnership between Japan and South Africa.

PhD candidate Wessel Horak is presenting research at the IFAC SafeProcess Symposium in Italy on using Gaussian process regression for process monitoring. By merging machine learning with chemical engineering physics, his model improves data reconciliation and safety in industrial operations.

Stellenbosch University has awarded Prof. Izak Nieuwoudt a prestigious Doctorate of Engineering for his 36-year career in separation technology. His innovations in tower internals and molecular design have saved billions in industry costs and significantly reduced global carbon emissions.

Stellenbosch University, PAMSA, and industry partners have launched a first-of-its-kind demonstration plant to convert paper sludge, food, and textile waste into bioethanol. This circular economy breakthrough diverts waste from landfills to create sustainable fuels and industrial chemicals.