Durban — KwaZulu-Natal’s Qiniso Ngiba and Gauteng’s Leane Naude emerged as winners of the Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award – and will now compete internationally against 12 other representatives from seven countries.
The awards are held biennially – young students and researchers who focus on forest-based science are encouraged to partake in this – and this includes touching on forestry techniques and turning raw materials into products – which contributes to the forest bio-economy.
Ngiba, 25, obtained his BSc in Chemical Engineering from UKZN; while obtaining his Master’s – M Eng in Chemical engineering from Stellenbosch University. Ngiba is currently a junior research engineer at paper and packaging manufacturer, Mpact.
Ngiba’s project synthesised artificial humus by using the spent pulp lignin from the pulping and paper-making process and tested these products in a plant trial. The synthesis of artificial humus increases carbon storage in soils, was shown to improve crop productivity and provides a commercial route for spent pulp liquor. This is vital in achieving a lower carbon economy, increasing agricultural production and supporting the sector’s goal of a circular bio-economy.
Hailing from Ndwedwe, north of Durban, Ngiba said it was an honour and that the award was a reward for hard work. Ngiba said it was not only his project but his community’s project. Ngiba said children in rural areas should shut out negative thoughts concerning their future.
“It shows that the hard work that an individual puts in actually counts. I had to do this project during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 – which was very taxing mentally. I was away from home during level five lockdown. I had moments where I wanted to give up, but I pushed through,” Ngiba said.
His message to the community is that anyone can do it. If you are determined to put in the hard work, nothing is impossible.
“For me, there has been no secret formula but to give it my best, to pray and to try again. To fail, but fail forward. Cry and try again. If the Lord wills, then great things will come. God has shown me great faith not only in this but in my academic journey,” Ngiba said.
Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa), Samantha Choles said careers in pulp and paper technology and process engineering have not traditionally been “sexy”, but as the sector finds ways to diversify in the face of reduced printing and writing paper demand, chemists and chemical engineers can help discover the wonder of wood, wood-derived chemicals and paper packaging.
Choles said this includes the potential of forest residues (bark and branches), wood pulp and paper mill waste to replace non-renewable materials such as plastics produced from oil or coal and other innovative products.
“Using their inherent bio-refinery technologies, companies can extract a range of components such as cellulose, lignin and sugars from process streams that would otherwise become process waste. This takes mills beyond paper and into the realms of a bio-refinery,” Choles said.
Ngiba and Naude have participated in Pamsa’s Master of Engineering Bursary Programme, an initiative that enables BSc chemical engineering students to further their studies.
Ngiba won R15 000 for his efforts and will now compete internationally against 12 other representatives from seven countries.
Daily News