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UCT Research Report '11
184
Exhibitions
Todeschini, F. 2011. National Heritage Site Ida’s
Valley, Stellenbosch: Guidelines for Conservation and
Development. Stellenbosch, 1 October – 1 November.
Commissioned by Iad’s Valley Heritage and Environmental
Association.
Department of Chemical
Engineering
(Including The Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research
(CeBER), the Centre for Catalysis Research, c*change –
DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Catalysis, HySA/catalysis
– National Hydrogen Catalysis Competence Centre, the
Centre for Minerals Research, the Centre for Research
in Engineering Education and the Crystallization and
Precipitation Research Unit)
Head of Department: Professor
JCQ Fletcher
Departmental Profile
The Department of Chemical Engineering has a proud
national and international reputation both for the quality
of its graduates at the BSc and postgraduate levels and
for its research programs, thriving on the dynamic created
by a synergy between research, industry and education.
The undergraduate program enjoys accreditation with the
Engineering Council of South Africa. The postgraduate
program forms the largest academic research activity in
Chemical Engineering on the continent, and is focused
on mineral processing, catalysis, bioprocess engineering,
environmental and process systems analysis as well as
precipitation and crystallization. One of the overarching
research themes in the department is the UCT strategic
research theme ‘Minerals to Metals’ engaging with most
of the research groupings. Based on close contacts with
the chemical, petrochemical, biotechnology and mining
industries, the research programs in the Department,
although fundamental in nature, have a strong industrial
flavour. The Department of Chemical Engineering is host
to two DST/NRF SARChI Research Chairs, the national DS/
NRF Centre of Excellence in Catalysis, (c*change) and the
National Hydrogen Catalysis Competence Centre (
HySA/
catalysis
).
Departmental Statistics
Professors
9
Professor (contract)
1
Associate Professors
2
Senior Lecturers
5
Lecturer
1
Lecturers - Contract
2
Research Staff (permanent)
10
Research Staff (contract)
7
Technical & Scientific Staff (permanent & Long-
term Contract)
26
Technical & Support Staff (contract)
12
Administrative and Clerical Staff (permanent)
19
Administrative and Clerical Staff (contract)
3
Total
97
Honorary Staff
Honorary Professor
1
Honorary Associate Professor
1
Honorary Research Associate
1
Adjunct Professors
2
Total
5
Students
Doctoral
55
Master’s
123
BSc(Eng)
511
Total
689
Research Fields and Staff
Honorary Senior LecturerWalter Böhringer
Centre for Catalysis Research - Acid catalysis.
Honorary Professor Dee Bradshaw
Centre for Minerals Research – Process mineralogy, froth
flotation including Machine Vision Systems and chemical
interactions.
Professor Jenni Case
Centre for Research in Engineering Education – student
experience of learning in science and engineering, gold
catalysis.
Professor Michael Claeys
Centre for Catalysis Research – Director DST/NRF Centre
of Excellence in Catalysis (c*change), Fischer Tropsch
synthesis, in-situ catalyst characterization, nano-materials.
Professor Dave Deglon
Centre for Minerals Research - modelling of mechanical
mineral flotation cells, computational fluid dynamics,
hydrodynamics, gas dispersion, solids suspension.
Honorary Professor Mark Dry
Centre for Catalysis Research - Fischer Tropsch (FT)
catalytic processes, production of synthesis gas.