Chemical Technology November 2015

African winners of 2015 Green Talents Award join Germany’s sustainability elite

The Green Talents Award, held under the patronage of the German Research Minister Prof Dr Johanna Wanka, is providing a plat- form for the seventh time to young talents to share their views on green concepts and to make our world a better place. Their prize is one of the treasured tickets to the ‘Green Talents - International Forum for High Poten- tials in Sustainable Development’. The 27 ‘Green Talents’ were honoured during a festive awards ceremony on 30 October, attended by representatives of participating institutions, jury members and other distinguished guests. South African PhD graduate Dr Kapil Moothi, whose field of interest encompass- es Sustainable Technology and Nanotech- nology Waste Water Treatment, and PhD candidate Ms Geraldine Brennan, whose area of expertise encompasses Clean Production and Management, Humanities and Climate Change, were both selected by a high-ranking jury of experts as up-and- coming international scientists. This year’s ‘Green Talents’ can expect two weeks of interaction with leading ex- perts and world-renowned research institu- tions and companies, including Fraunhofer FOKUS, KWB - Berlin Centre of Competence for Water, Ecologic Institute, Henkel and ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe. Getting con- nected to the science community and exchanging ideas with its key innovators allows the winners to lay the foundation for future cooperation. Such efforts are supported by the invitation to return to Germany for a fully funded research stay (up to three months) at an institution of their choice in 2016. With the results of his PhD, Kapil Moothi has contributed to the development of innovative technologies for economically viable nanotechnology applications in South Africa. He is currently developing new prod- ucts to improve sustainable water treatment in South Africa. A major challenge in South Africa, that Kapil is aware of, is the one of dealing with

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Geraldine Brennan and Kapil Moothi

(Ireland/South Africa), the relationship can be mutually beneficial. She researches the various ways in which business can learn from natural models and, subsequently, become more sustainable. Studying at the Imperial College, Lon- don, UK, Geraldine’s research focus is understanding the implications of power dynamics for sustainable value creation in inter-organisational relationships: a busi- ness ecosystem case study. Geraldine’s novel PhD bridges various management theories and sustainability science in order to interrogate and draw attention to the link between power dy- namics and sustainable value creation. She believes that, by raising businesses, awareness of how power-dynamics are un- dermining their sustainable value creation, these companies will be better enabled to contribute to a positive role in creating a sustainable society. For more information contact Project Man- agement Agency c/o German Aerospace Center (DLR) European and International Cooperation Email: greentalents@dlr.de, Phone: +49 (0) 228 3821 1906 on the market, being Nordson’s most ad- vanced system available globally. Offering absolute and consistent process controls, the system incorporates the ColorMax Booth, the Encore HD Application equipment, powder feed pumps and the Spectrum HD powder feed centre. For any media queries, please contact Kirsty Hatt on 0826787697 or email kirsty@khcomms.co.za.

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). This problem can be found in many South African mines. The need to purify such polluted acid mine wastewater in an environmentally sustain- able manner is a pressing one for the country. In addition, the protection of public health and the conservation of water re- sources are of paramount importance. The novel step provided by his research would be the introduction of a new nanotechnol- ogy to help tackle the issue of AMD. Kapil also aims to educate the public about the positive benefits nanotechnology could have on their lives. Based on the research outcomes, a new product is currently being developed for pilot-scale testing. It is a module that enables the cleaning of wastewater us- ing a CNT-infused polymer composite membrane as the filtration medium. The planned application would serve to mitigate environmental challenges; especially for the petrochemical, metallurgical and pharma- ceutical industries, where large quantities of oil-containing wastewater are produced. While, to many, business and ecology may not go hand-in-hand, for Geraldine Brennan, PhD Student in Strategic Man- agement and Sustainable Development removing the oxidised surface layer including all contamination contained with the surface microstructure. The second zone forms a reaction layer with the aluminium, providing galvanic protection, a layer for powder-paint to adhere to, and bare corrosion protection of the aluminium while in transition after the pre-treatment step to the final powder- coating process. The powder coating system installed at Blue Willow Aluminium is the most efficient and fastest colour change system available

The green pre-treatment facility.

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Chemical Technology • November 2015