Industrial and Mining Water Research Unit (IMWaRU)

Water is unarguably the most pressing requirement for all living organisms, including man.  However, both the supply and quality of water have become threatened due to, amongst others, population expansion, climate change and the deterioration of quality water sources. 

At the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering (University of the Witwatersrand), we have identified Water Research as one of our focal thrusts.  This forms part of our drive to conduct world-class research and align our school with the Wits 2022 Vision; viz. to become a top 100 University in the world by 2022. 

We strive to achieve the WITS 2022 goal through the following means:

• Conducting blue sky research in specialist areas with a goal to being innovative;
• Conducting applied research towards solving specific challenges;
• Promoting the publication of our research in appropriate internationally recognised journals;
• Producing top quality post-graduate students;
• Raising funds to provide world class facilities to conduct our research; and
• Promoting sustainable chemical engineering through education, knowledge transfer and dissemination.

The purpose of IMwaRU is twofold:

(1) To provide a platform aligned to the mining industry, the chemical industry and society upon which we conduct our research; and

(2) To develop the identity of the staff and students within the school as active water researchers.

Researchers:

Deanne Drake (School of Animcal, Plant and Environmental Sciences)

Kevin Harding (School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering)

Karl Rumbold (School of Molecular and Cell Biology)

Craig Sheridan (School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering)

Current Students:

PhD

Kerry du Plessis

MSc

Uveer Dwarkapersad - Life Cycle Assessment of Luxury Soaps. Supervisor: K. Harding

Nomcebo Gina - the Use of Ozone as a Water Treatment Method in a Cooling Water system. Supervisor: K. Harding

Esme Haggard - Water Footpringint of a Mining Operation. Supervisors: K. Harding & C. Sheridan

Mpho Macingwane - Life cycle Assessment of a Food facilicty. Supervisor: K. Harding

Thami Mkhonza - Water Footpringint of a Mining Operation. Supervisors: K. Harding & C. Sheridan

Tendai Name

Ayesha Osman - Water Footpringint of a Mining Operation. Supervisors: K. Harding & C. Sheridan