PhD Student in Chemical Engineering & Research Associate at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
Research focus: thermochemical conversion of biomass and other carbonaceous wastes into fuels and other value-added products
2019 Visiting Researcher at German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ), Germany
2019 Doctoral Researcher at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) using thermodynamics to optimise aqueous pyrolysis condensates for downstream microbial conversion
CV as submitted for the Green Talents award (2018):
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Research focus: pyrolysis of waste polypropylene plastics for energy recovery, optimisation of the conversion and process development at pilot scale
In about half a century, the world’s petroleum reserves are anticipated to deplete. Novel methods of converting new resources need to be established to serve the world’s energy demand. The availability of energy feedstock can be assured by diverting plastic and non-plastic wastes into energy. George is aware of these challenges and is focusing on improvement in this field. He has a background in Chemical Engineering from his studies at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. As a research student, he puts emphasis on environmentally friendly renewable energy and sustainable technology. In other fields of his research, he aims to optimise the effects of key process parameters such as temperature and heating rate on fuel oil yield and quality from the pyrolysis of polypropylene plastics, under atmospheric and vacuum conditions as well as scaling-up of bench scale processes to a pilot one. Furthermore, as part of his research, he played a major role in designing, installing and commissioning a pyrolysis pilot plant that runs on both plastic and non-plastic wastes. Pyrolysis is a process of heating materials in an inert environment to produce oil, char and permanent gases, which can be used as alternative fuel. George is keen to contribute his engineering and research skills in the field of transforming waste into energy and to eliminate the damages, such as leaching of nutrients from the soil and threats to aquatic organisms, these materials cause to the environment. Therefore, critical pre-analysis of problems and non-environmentally friendly materials are essential.
He has established his transdisciplinary interest by giving strong attention to the potential of valorising non-plastic waste materials that include novel biomass wastes, e-wastes and sludges. He is also seeking to use fuel products derived from solar operated pyrolysis plants to generate electricity. His project is intended to be available across rural and urban communities as well as other developing countries facing environmental challenges resulting from the aforementioned wastes. It is also targeted at local industries and communities with no or limited supply of electricity. During the Green Talents Science Forum, he expects to expand his knowledge, generate and refine his ideas with the contributions from other Green Talent participants. Moreover, he hopes to broaden his personal horizon in terms of sustainable research methods.
The jury especially appreciated his approach of converting waste into sustainable energy and providing alternative means of recycling plastic waste and composite materials. The jury also believes George’s research will be of particular interest to the private sector.
