Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability

Prof MM Motsa

College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability
Associate Professor
Tel: 011 670 9339
E-mail: motsamm@unisa.za

Qualifications

  • PhD Chemistry and Environmental Technology, 2016, South Africa and Belgium.

Currently teaching

  • Material synthesis

  • Membrane technology: Forward osmosis

  • Membrane fabrication: Polymeric membranes

Fields of academic interests

  • Water treatment using membrane-based processes

  • Water treatment process designs

  • Renewable energies

  • Point of use water purification systems

Field of Specialisation

  • Material synthesis

  • Membrane technology: Forward osmosis

  • Membrane fabrication: Polymeric membranes

Books

Book chapters

 

Machawe M. Motsa, Bhekie B. Mamba, Forward osmosis as a pre-treatment step for seawater dilution and wastewater reclamation. Chapter 10. Osmotically Driven Membrane Process, InTech Open Science, Croatia, ISBN 978-953-51-5688-8.

Journal articles

  • NP Khumalo, L Nthunya, S Derese, ARD Verliefde, MM Motsa, A Kuvarega, BB. Mamba, SD Mhlanga, DS Dlamini, Water recovery from hydrolysed human urine samples via direct contact membrane distillation using PVDF/PTFE membrane. Separation and Purification Technology; 211 (2019) 610-617.

 

  • MM Motsa, BB. Mamba, ARD Verliefde, Forward osmosis membrane performance during simulated wastewater reclamation: Fouling mechanisms and fouling layer properties. Water Processing Engineering; 23 (2018) 109-118.

 

  • MM Motsa, BB. Mamba, JM. Thwala, ARD Verliefde, Osmotic backwash of fouled FO membranes: Cleaning mechanisms and membrane surface properties after cleaning, Desalination; 402 (2017) 62-71.

 

  • AKH D’Haese, MM Motsa, P Van der Meeren, ARD Verliefde, A refined draw solute flux model in forward osmosis: Theoretical considerations and experimental validation, Journal of Membrane Science; 522 (2017) 316-331.

 

  • MM Motsa, BB Mamba, ARD Verliefde, Combined colloidal and organic fouling of FO membranes: The influence of foulant-foulant interactions and ionic strength, Journal of Membrane Science, 493 (2015) 539 – 548.

 

  • 6. MM Motsa, BB Mamba, A D’Hease, EMV Hoek, ARD Verliefde, Organic fouling in forward osmosis membranes: The role of feed solution chemistry and membrane structural properties, Membrane. Science 460 (2014) 99 – 109.

 

  • MM Motsa, TAM Msagati, JM Thwala, BB Mamba, Polypropylene–zeolite polymer composites for water purification: synthesis, characterisation and application, Desalination and Water Treatment, (2013) 1-9.

 

  • MM Motsa, JM Thwala, TAM Msagati, BB Mamba, Adsorption of 2,4,6Trichlorophenol and ortho Nitrophenol from Aqueous Media Using SurfactantModified Clinoptilolite–Polypropylene Hollow Fibre Composites, Journal of Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 223 (2011) 1555-1569.

 

  • MM Motsa, , JM Thwala, TAM Msagati, BB Mamba, The potential of melt-mixed polypropylene–zeolite blends in the removal of heavy metals from aqueous media, Journal of Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 36 (2011) 1178 - 1188.

 

  • MM Motsa, BB Mamba, TAM Msagati, JM Thwala, Preparation, characterization, and application of polypropylene–clinoptilolite composites for the selective adsorption of lead from aqueous media, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 359 (2011) 210 – 219.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

  • Registered member, South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNSP) 
  • Member, South African Chemical Institute (SACI)
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of South Africa, Pretoria

Projects

  • New generation high performance membranes for saline water desalination and wastewater re-use

  • Solar driven membrane systems for surface water purification and industrial wastewater treatment

  • Membrane bioreactors for wastewater purification

  • Combined multigranular media- membrane filtration hybrid systems for ground water purification