The Chemistry Department is putting plans in place to roll out a postgraduate programme that will equip students with skills in Nuclear Science.

This area of science covers a broad range of activities, from designing and monitoring nuclear power plants to developing techniques to analyse samples that are of industrial, mining or geological interest. It also includes the isolation of radioisotopes produced by proton-induced nuclear reaction.

Although there are only a few institutions involved in this area of research in South Africa, there is a dire shortage of local Nuclear Scientists, said Prof Nico van der Walt.

As an acclaimed scientist who has done groundbreaking work in Nuclear Science, Prof van der Walt said the department is planning to roll out a Masters Programme in Nuclear Science in order to address the current skill shortages.

“We are hoping to introduce this programme by 2012,” he said.

In addition, the department is also planning to introduce Radiochemistry as a subject into the BTech Chemistry Programme.

Prof van der Walt, who will play a vital role in the roll out and teaching of the Masters Programme, said to ensure students are properly trained, the institution will have to look at developing a laboratory where they can work with radioactive material.

“If we get such a laboratory, then we would be the only higher education institution in the Western Cape with such a facility,” he said.

Meanwhile the department is continuing research activities in various areas of Nuclear Science, which includes Prof van der Walt’s niche area of ion exchange chromatography and radiochemistry.

The research looks at radiochemical separations of radioisotopes, and the labelling of organic compounds with a specific radioisotope to obtain a product which can be used as radiopharmaceutical in nuclear medicine or for cancer therapy at oncology departments of hospitals. Radioisotopes are, thus, vital elements of Nuclear Science.

The research also includes the study of various column ion exchange methods which can be applied for quality control of the intermediate or final products.

“All the research in this area is beneficial for humans or for industry,” he said.

Ion exchange chromatography is also used for the removal of toxic elements in the mining industry, water purification and for the determination of specific elements in geological samples.

Prof van der Walt said CPUT is collaborating on research projects with several institutions in Europe, which includes Hungary, Romania, Poland and Switzerland. The institution also has formal agreements with the University of the Western Cape and iThemba Labs.

By Candes Keating

Photograph: (top, right) Prof Nico van der Walt (top left and bottom) Chemistry students are to be given the opportunity to conduct research into various areas of nuclear science.

Written by CPUT News
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As the Western Cape battles a critical water shortage the research conducted by Prof Vernon Somerset, a leading researcher in Environmental Chemistry, has become ever more urgent.

Somerset recently joined the Chemistry Department, and holding a NRF-C3 rating he joins the ranks of high profile researchers and innovators at CPUT who are using their skills to address the numerous challenges facing local communities, South Africa and the rest of the continent. Describing water as a fascinating field, Somerset says ultimately all his research work is aimed at ensuring South Africa’s water resources are adequately protected and that communities have access to safe drinking water.

“This research is important, because nationally we don’t have a lot of water and on the other hand we have a lot of mining and agriculture activities, which impacts on our water resources. The more we know about the impact of these anthropogenic activities, the better we can advise. There is also the area of emerging pollutants, such as pharmaceutical and personal care products, xenobiotics, antimicrobials, endocrine disruptors, etc. We are becoming much more aware of these components. It’s important for us to know more about it so that we can protect our water resources and safe guard people from being exposed to these pollutants," he says.

Hailing from the highly respected Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Somerset, who has a PhD in Electro-analytical Chemistry from UWC, will drive environmental related research that has an impact on aquatic ecosystems and human health at CPUT. While based at the CSIR he has also investigated the fate and transport of heavy metals in the freshwater ecosystems of South Africa, especially the global pollutant called mercury. He is currently involved with other researchers across the country, assisting the Department of Environmental Affairs with South Africa’s ratification of the Minimata Convention on mercury.

Somerset says he looks forward to training the next generation of researchers.
“I’m here because we need to make sure that students are trained adequately and are equipped to apply their knowledge of environmental chemistry to protect the environment for future generations.”

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

The Chemistry Department on the Cape Town Campus recently became the proud owners of a sought after device – a Differential Scanning Calorimeter.

This high-tech piece of equipment, which came at a price tag of R450 000, is key to chemistry research, allowing researchers to conduct processes such as identifying compounds and exploring how they behave thermally.

Dr Nikoletta Bathori says understanding how compounds behave under various conditions is key to many of the research projects undertaken by researchers in the department.

 “We cannot work without this instrument,” says Bathori.

The equipment was sponsored to the tune of R400 000 from the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Technology and Innovation, Dr Chris Nhlapo, and replaces a similar device that was outdated and ceased operating.  The additional R50 000 came out of the coffers of the Chemistry Department.

Although based in the Chemistry Department, Bathori says the device is not restricted to the sole study of chemistry, but can be applied to research work conducted in various other departments at the University, such as in engineering.

Bathori says through sharing research equipment, they are hopeful that interdepartmental research projects could be established.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

Students in the Chemistry Department exhibited their research in the form of a poster showcase attended by students, departmental staff members and an industry representative from Eskom.

The showcase was part of the Chemistry Department’s annual Science Idols Mini-Symposium held recently for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) students who are placed both in industry and those who performed their projects in the Chemistry laboratories. 

During the mini-symposium, Head of Chemistry Department, Prof Merrill Wicht, said that during the Covid-19 pandemic there was a need for the Department to develop innovative assessment methods for WIL to encourage reflection and integration of theory and practice. “With placement numbers that increased exponentially for 2021, the Chemistry Department adopted a method of poster presentations as a means of formal assessment. This replaced the conventional Science Idols presentations from previous years that were held over two days with students presenting their research through an oral presentation,” Wicht added.

The students were assessed by a panel of judges comprising of Chemistry Department academic and technical staff members, a retired staff member and the Head of Analytical Chemistry at Eskom, Pale Sesinyi. The assessment included a poster evaluation as well as the student’s flash presentation of their research while working as an in-service trainee.

Wicht said the event allowed the students to engage effectively with their audience and demonstrate reflection in learning and was an excellent demonstration of work-integrated learning and authentic assessment. Of the 80 students who participated, the kings and queens of the morning were Ashleigh Alkana, Songezwa Mvula and Obakeng Hlungwani and in the afternoon it was Clarise Theron, Ntokoza Badli and Aurelie Enkonzaa. The research the students conducted included spectrophotometric studies on horseradish enzymes, extraction of essential oils from lavender and rose geranium as well as the influence of yeast and SO₂ in beer, as well as many other exciting and interesting topics.

Sesinyi, a CPUT graduate, presented the prizes to the morning group of students. Wicht acknowledged the contribution made by staff members, Dr Meredith Kujawa and Portia Jaynarayan, “on a well-organised day and a lively symposium for the students”. “Sponsor of the prizes, the research leader of the Natural Product in Chemistry Unit, Prof [Ahmed] Mohammed allowed the students to leave with a wonderful selection of awards,” added Wicht.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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