Four postgraduate students from the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) research group embarked on an inspiring journey to Sendai, Japan, where they engaged in a transformative research exchange.

Immersed in advanced research methodologies and collaborative academic work, they discovered new horizons for innovation. Their visit to a Nippon Concrete Industrial plant, a beacon of sustainable practices, showcased the remarkable valorisation of cementitious waste materials, igniting their passion for sustainable innovation systems.

The participating students were three Doctor of Engineering candidates, Adeniyi Ajani, Geraldine Lentoor and Sipiwe Shoko. Veleshia Govender, a Master of Engineering student, was the fourth member of the team.

The visit lasted 10 days and included research discussions and collaborative sessions at Tohoku University, guided by Prof Atsushi Iizuka and Asst Prof Hsing-Jung Ho. Lentoor, who is also an Academic Staff Development Programme (ASDP) Junior Lecturer in the Chemical Engineering Department, stated the primary objectives of the visit were:

• To gain insight into the industrial application of carbon capture technologies by visiting the Kawashima Nippon concrete industrial plant.
• To familiarise researchers with Japanese experimental facilities, thereby enhancing their understanding of experimental and analytical methods.
• To engage in comprehensive discussions regarding the current status and future direction of each postgraduate student’s research.

Adeniyi describes the recent academic visit to Tohoku University in Japan as eye-opening and enriching, significantly enhancing both personal and professional growth. The experience included exposure to advanced research methodologies and collaborative academic work. “The researchers (Iizuka and Ho) are committed to academic excellence, and their dedication to scientific progress was truly inspiring. From the structured laboratory tour to interactive discussions, we made every engagement purposeful and value-adding. The practical insights and collaborative opportunities we enjoyed will surely improve the quality of our work in the future.”

A highlight for Veleshia was visiting the Kawashima Nippon Concrete plant, which connected her studies in mineral carbon capture to real-world applications. She is grateful for this opportunity and the support for impactful research collaboration.

“Beyond academics, Japan’s rich culture, advanced technology, and friendly hospitality made the journey unforgettable! Returning home, I feel inspired, more confident in my research and have an enhanced perspective on the significance of our research and international collaboration.”

For Shoko, who is also an ASDP Junior Lecturer, the trip to Japan was truly enriching. The engaging discussions provided valuable insights that “deepened my understanding of both my research and the broader scope of the SATREPS project”. “The visit to Nippon Concrete was particularly impactful, as it demonstrated the real-world relevance of my PhD research and its potential to contribute meaningfully to the construction industry through innovative and profitable recycling technologies,” she notes.

Lentoor adds that the visit to their SATREPS project collaborators at Tohoku University, Japan, provided postgraduate students with an opportunity to deepen their technical understanding of their research, become familiar with advanced Japanese experimental and analytical facilities, and broaden their perspectives on how carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) research can be applied in real-world contexts. She notes that the key highlight of the trip was the visit to Nippon Concrete, where students observed a real-life demonstration and application of CCU at an industrial scale. 

Prof Tunde Ojumu, Principal Investigator and Project Manager: SATREPS project, said: “This visit resulted in significant technical growth for our postgraduate students while strengthening the Chemical Engineering Department’s commitment to advancement through collaboration, in the interest of sustainable development.

“It also reinforced CPUT’s dedication to global research engagement and sustainable development, raised our institutional profile, and laid the groundwork for future international collaboration.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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CPUT recently hosted a stakeholder meeting of the SATREPS project Development of a Carbon Recycling System toward a Decarbonised Society by Using Mineral Carbonation.

The Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) is a Japanese initiative aimed at addressing pressing global challenges through collaboration between Japan and developing countries. In 2020 CPUT was awarded a five-year research grant of approximately R60 million under the SATREPS programme, administered by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Additionally, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) provided R5 million in co-funding for operational costs.

Through this project, researchers at CPUT have collaborated with leading experts from the University of Cape Town, the University of the Western Cape, and the Council for Geoscience. The Japanese partner in this initiative, Tohoku University, brings further expertise to the team. Furthermore, industrial partners such as PPC, AFRIMAT, Cape Concrete, and ECO-precast offer waste materials, technical input, and practical insights, ensuring that our research is grounded in real-world applications. Together, a multi-disciplinary team dedicated to innovating sustainable solutions for the cement and concrete sector has been formed.

At the core of this initiative is mineral carbonation, a promising strategy for reducing CO₂ emissions. This technology has the potential to convert waste streams into valuable carbon sinks, creating a pathway for a circular economy within our built environment. The research findings have been broadly disseminated through peer-reviewed articles and conference presentations, contributing to the global scientific community.

Now in its fourth year, the project has made significant strides in human capacity development. Two Master's students have successfully completed their degrees, while two graduates from CPUT have been awarded fully funded PhD scholarships in Japan. Several students have also gained work-integrated learning opportunities with industrial partners involved in the project. Additionally, numerous students are currently pursuing their Master's and Doctoral studies related to this project. These achievements not only enhance CPUT’s research and innovation profile but also foster the development of a new generation of engineers and scientists equipped to tackle regional, national, and global challenges such as climate change.

The Project team Includes Prof Tunde Ojumu of the Chemical Engineering Department, who is the Principal Investigator and Project Manager of this SATREPS project (supported by Head of Department, Prof M Chetty) and in collaboration with South African research partners; Prof L. Petrik, Adjunct Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at CPUT and Emeritus Professor at UWC, Prof J. Petersen from UCT, Dr Ravi Vadapalli and Dr Henk Coetzee from the Council for Geoscience, and Jun Hirashima, JICA Project Coordinator and Prof A. Iizuka, the Project Chief Advisor from Tohoku University Sendai, Japan.

A stakeholders' workshop held on July 24 served as a vital platform for strengthening collaboration between industry and academia. The programme featured technical presentations on waste beneficiation through mineral carbonation, a review of pilot plant data, and discussions on potential pathways for scaling up the process, according to Ojumu. Breakout sessions allowed participants to identify key challenges and opportunities for industrial implementation, while feedback from industry partners was gathered to refine the research agenda.

Written by CPUT News
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The excitement was written in people’s eyes as they witnessed how carbon dioxide can be captured and presented as white solid materials using the pilot plant during the official handover and launching ceremony of analytical equipment as well as the pilot plant at the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre n Bellville Campus.

During the ceremony Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, and Kaoru Okada from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), South Africa Office signed the certificate of handing over of the equipment and the pilot plant and (gave) the commitment of CPUT to secure and put it into appropriate use. The ceremony which included the cutting of the ribbon by Dr David Phaho, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships and Okada was preceded by a Joint Coordination Committee meeting, a yearly meeting to report on the progress of the project and the plan for the current year. 

This is part of the Science and Technology Research Partnerships for Sustainable Development (SATREPS), a Japanese government programme that promotes international joint research collaboration and partnerships. It is a collaboration between the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), JICA, and the South African government through the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). The programme aims to address science and technology challenges affecting society and business in South Africa, Japan and globally such as global warming, bio-resources, natural disasters, and infectious diseases– with research outcomes of practical benefit to promote mutual development.  

This is a R60 million project with an additional R5 million running cost generously awarded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) as a running cost for the project.  During the meeting, the Principal Investigator and Project Manager, Prof Tunde Ojumu presented the project progress, and the management documents and plans were reviewed and confirmed.  Ojumu also acknowledged the interest from industry stakeholders to be part of the project, support from the Japanese government and “the cooperation and the support I receive from CPUT management”.

He said the pilot plant was capable of handling carbonation reactions up to one cubic meter working volume. “The latter part of the year will be dedicated to roadshows when [we] will demonstrate on selected industrial sites in different parts of the country, the potential of cement/concrete and demolished concrete wastes to capture carbon dioxide, CO₂ directly and indirectly as carbonates and/or pure calcium carbonate products.”

In his remarks, Okada said he had renewed appreciation for the work that researchers were doing to advance the development agenda. “I sincerely hope that they will follow the guideposts they aim for harmoniously like the two wheels of a horse-drawn carriage.

“At this opportune time, let me remind you of the project purpose, being to develop carbon recycling systems including resource recycling loops to reduce process-related CO2 emissions from the cement industry. Simply put, the project aims to develop a carbon recycling system for a decarbonised society through mineral carbonation.”

The team consists of:

SA Project Team

• Prof Tunde Ojumu - Principal Investigator and Project Manager (CPUT)
• Prof Leslie Petrik - Collaborator (University of the Western Cape)
• Prof Jochen Petersen - Collaborator (University of Cape Town)
• Dr Ravi Vadapalli - Collaborator (Council for Geoscience)
• Dr Henk Coetzee - Collaborator (Council for Geoscience)

Japan Collaborators

• Prof Atsushi Iizuka – Project Adviser (Tohoku University, Sendai)
• Prof H Ho - Collaborator (Tohoku University, Sendai)
• Dr Yoshito Izumi - Collaborator (SDIs)

Speaking at the event, Nhlapo said: “It’s quite a long road that we have traversed and I must say I am very proud of the two teams, the Japanese team as well as the CPUT team…And by the way, I will be remiss of my duty if I don’t acknowledge the role played by Prof Leslie Petrik from the neighbouring institution (UWC) as well as Prof [Jochen] Petersen from UCT, great role. To say there are challenges that knows no borders, so, it’s very important that when we tackle them, we tackle them together and of course I am also happy from one particular perspective, that our dream to make Cape the learning area, to claim that space of Cape or Western Cape as the intellectual hub of South Africa. I think it has also been served better by this project.”

The enthusiastic Ojumu added that the committee was happy with their progress despite the initial delay experienced due to the arrival of equipment, installation, and training. “The results [we] are getting are impressive. Although more rigorous experiment still needs to be carried out, the expectation is the implementation of our technology on the sites of relevant and interested industrial stakeholders. He said the reduction of carbon dioxide and acid mine drainage remediation are critical to ensuring a safe environment that “we live in”. The realisation of the seemingly insurmountable task of setting up state-of-art facility our department is exciting to me, thanks to my HOD, Prof Manimagalay Chetty, the Deanery of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, and more importantly the Management of CPUT for giving the time and space to lead this project.

“Our project is addressing a lot of the sustainable development goals. While developing this technology, some of our students are being trained at master’s and doctoral levels, locally and overseas in Japan.” The demonstration of the pilot plant itself has attracted an additional three doctoral, one master’s and three internship students to join my research”, Ojumu remarked.

Okada also thanked CPUT for receiving and “safeguarding the pilot plant and analytical equipment, South African researchers for trusting these items to bring about research results, and the Japanese researchers for investing resources, time in particular, to ensure that these items are appropriate in pursuit of attaining project deliverables, now in the making”.

Minister, Embassy of Japan in South Africa, Atsushi Kuwabara voiced his wish for the success of this project and further expansion of cooperation in science and technology between Japan and South Africa. Kuwabara said: “Japan and South Africa have been enjoying strong ties in science and technology, especially since the signing of an Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology in 2003. I sincerely hope that the analytical equipment and the pilot plant will significantly enhance the research capability and make a big impact on the global fight against climate change.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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