MechChem Africa January-February 2023

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

Two SA engineers progress to global Blue-Sky Awards

T h e B l u e S k y Yo u n g Re s e a r c h e r s Innovation Award is a biennial competi tion for students and young researchers who are focused on forest-based science, such as transforming wood-based raw materials into novel products, improving forestry techniques or pulping processes, or contributing to the forest bio-economy. The programme is sponsored at a global level by the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) and in South Africa by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA). This year’s theme is “Building a Lower Carbon Economy with Climate Positive Forestry and Forest Products”. Entrants had to submit their research project proposals for the awards. Ngiba’s project is to synthesise artificial humus by using the spent pulp lignin from the pulping and papermaking process, and to test these products in a plant trial. The synthesis of artificial humus increases carbon storage in soi ls, improves 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 bioeconomy. Naude’s research has developed a more cost-effective purification method for lignosulphonate, an alternative to fossil

site to a wider community. We have seen that this has been quickly adopted, with community members bringing their recy clables to be weighed in and exchanged for an instant payment made via a cashless eWallet solution to their cell phone. “We are so honoured that our work with Packa-Ching has been recognised with this award. It’s the perfect end to what has been a great year!” says Pillay. www.packaching.co.za “Both projects tap into the role of the forestry, pulp and paper industry in the journey towards climate change mitiga tion and the circular bio-economy,” says PAMSA executive director, Jane Molony. PAMSA will award Ngiba and Naude with R15,000 and R10,000 respectively and three of the 14 South African candi dates will receive cash prizes and the op portunity to present their work to ICFPA’s Global CEO Roundtable discussion being held in early 2023. based products. Considered a biopolymer, lignosulphonate is a by-product of the sulphite pulping of wood during the pro duction of high strength paper grades. The brown odourless powder is often used as a dispersant in pesticides, dyes and other insoluble solids and liquids in water; and as a dust suppressant owing to its binding properties. The more cost-effective purification process turns a low-value waste prod uct into a high-end resource, also sup porting the journey towards a circular bio-economy. 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 by carrying out their Masters studies with a pulp or paper manufactur ing company.

Two young South African researchers have won the local segment of the global Blue Sky Awards and will now progress to competing against 12 international peers from seven countries. Qiniso Ngiba, a chemical engineer by training and currently a junior research engineer with paper and packaging manu facturer, Mpact; and Leane Naude, who is currently completing her MSc in chemical engineering at North West University and working at Sappi, are the two South African winners. Qiniso Ngiba, one of two South African researchers who have won the local segment of the global Blue Sky Awards.

Polyco’s Packa-Ching ends year With Wastecon Award In recogn i t i on of i t s success fu l and eas i ly repl icable model , the Polyco’ s Packa-Ching project recently won the Conscientious Spirit Award at the 25 th WasteCon. “The drive for sustainabi l ity in our waste management sector has largely been determined by keeping waste streams out of landfill and economically repurposing materials, realising the en vironmental and social benefits of recy cling,” says Patricia Pillay, CEO of Polyco. “Our Packa-Ching project has been successful in this by bringing an enter prise-operated mobile recycling service to many communities across our country.” Nelspruit, was launched in October 2022 and is driven by local waste entrepreneurs, I-WASTE. "Wi th Packa-Ch i ng we have been working with small business owners and entrepreneurs within the waste sector, empowering them with resources to scale up their businesses within the communi ties in which they operate,” says Pillay. “A mobile recycling truck and trailer is a great solution to bring a ‘recycl ing drop-off ’

Since the launch of Polyco’s Packa Ching project in 2017, more than 7.2-mil lion kilograms of waste has been diverted from landfill with more than R6.4-million earned by community members in ex change for their recyclables. “Through our partnerships wi th Sasol and the Shoprite Group, we have managed to suc cessfully roll out ten mobile Packa-Ching units across six provinces. Our newest, in

Since the launch of Polyco’s Packa-Ching project in 2017, more than 7.2-million kilograms of waste.

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