The Environmental Engineering Research Group (EERG), under the leadership of Prof. Mujahid Aziz, is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge water treatment technologies and addressing critical environmental challenges. Operating within the Department of Chemical Engineering at CPUT, the group's primary focus lies in the advancement of membrane-based solutions for various water-related issues.

Their research portfolio encompasses a wide range of crucial areas, including the remediation of municipal wastewater using reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, the elimination of micropollutants, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals from water sources, and the development of innovative techniques for fouling minimization and membrane surface modification through polymer grafting and nanoparticle coating.

The EERG's commitment to tackling real-world environmental problems is evident in their collaborative efforts with prominent institutions such as the Water Research Commission (WRC) and various Municipal and Industrial partners. These partnerships not only enhance the group's research capabilities but also ensure that their work remains relevant and applicable to current industry needs.

Furthermore, the EERG provides a nurturing environment for under- and  postgraduate students, offering them the opportunity to engage in meaningful research that directly addresses pressing environmentalwater  concerns. By fostering this blend of academic expertise, industry collaboration, and student involvement, the EERG is well-positioned to make significant contributions to the field of environmental engineering and water treatment technologies.

Position: Assistant Dean: Learning & Teaching in Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, (CPUT)

Role: Principal Investigator, Environmental Engineering Research Group (EERG) 

Google Scholar: Prof Mujahid Aziz 

Email:  azizm@cput.ac.za

Linked in:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-mujahid-aziz-1941a4294

 Profile:

Prof Aziz is the Assistant Dean within the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE). In this capacity, he enhances academic excellence across the faculty, encompassing eight distinct departments and a student body approaching 10,650, approximately 6% of whom are enrolled in postgraduate programs. 

Prof. Mujahid is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering with 24+ years of experience in teaching, curriculum design, and postgraduate supervision. As a transformational educator and academic leader, he drives innovation in water and wastewater treatment and student mentorship.

He has supervised 90 (ninety) WIL, 92 (ninety two) Honours and 19 (nineteen) Masters & Doctorate candidates,  succesfully to date in the EERG.

His research has been published in several peer-reviewed international journals, including Desalination, MDPI Membranes, MDPI Water, and Environmental Processes. Recent work has focused on the mitigation of biofouling in polyamide thin-film composite reverse osmosis membranes through polymer grafting and nanoparticle coating for the treatment of municipal bioreactor secondary effluent.

Prof. Aziz’s research has been supported by prominent funding bodies such as the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Water Research Commission (WRC), and the City of Cape Town (CoCT), among others.

Specialisation:

Membrane Technology • Wastewater Reuse • Electrochemical & Adsorption Processes • Brine Management and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) • Environmental Engineering

Research Interests:

Sustainable water treatment • micropollutant removal• membrane fouling control, and electro-oxidation for water reuse • Energy Efficiency and System Optimization  with Data-Driven Design and Operation using AI • Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes with nanoparticles (e.g., MOFs, CNTs, TiO₂, graphene oxide) 

Role: Senior Technician, Department of Chemical Engineering,  in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) 

Email: smallh@cput.ac.za

Profile:

Ms Hannalene Small is a Senior Technician in the Department of Chemical Engineering with over 25 years of experience, she has developed deep expertise in environmental engineering, contributing significantly to both undergraduate and postgraduate supervision. Her longstanding commitment to CPUT is reflected in her involvement in numerous research and project initiatives aimed at addressing environmental challenges. She possesses extensive hands-on experience with a wide range of analytical instrumentation and equipment used in environmental analysis. Ms Small plays a pivotal role in supporting academic and research activities through technical guidance and mentoring. Her portfolio demonstrates a sustained contribution to capacity building, applied research, and the advancement of environmental engineering at CPUT.

Specialisation:

Anti-Fouling and Anti-Scaling Membranes • Environmental Remediation •

Wastewater Reuse

Research Interest:

Sustainable wastewater treatment • Bio-inspired and smart membranes • 

Recyclability and end-of-life solutions for RO membranes •  AI/ML in predictive maintenance, fouling prediction, and energy optimization