Dursman Mchabe | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Dursman Mchabe | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Senior Engineer at Mintek, South Africa.

Dr. Dursman Mchabe is a seasoned chemical engineer and Senior Engineer at Mintek’s Pyrometallurgy Division, South Africa 🇿🇦. With over seven years of hands-on industry experience in ferroalloy production ⚙️, he specializes in smelting technologies, process modeling, and environmental control systems 🌍. A Ph.D. graduate from North-West University 🎓, Dr. Mchabe has led numerous EU and industry-funded projects and smelting trials with giants like Umicore and Anglo American 🏭. His expertise spans predictive modeling, SO₂ capture, and green metallurgy ♻️. Beyond research, he mentors engineers, contributes to pilot studies, and advances sustainable pyrometallurgy innovation globally 🔬.

Professional Profile:

ORCID

Suitability for Best Researcher Award – Dr. Dursman Mchabe

Dr. Dursman Mchabe is an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award, with a strong foundation in chemical engineering, deep expertise in pyrometallurgy, and a consistent track record of innovative, industry-relevant research. His work directly contributes to sustainable metallurgy, decarbonization, and environmental process engineering. Through advanced modeling, pilot-scale innovation, and EU-funded collaborations, Dr. Mchabe is driving impactful research that aligns with global climate and energy goals. His unique integration of computational tools, industrial engineering, and green technology positions him as a leader in the field.

🎓 Education & Experience

Education:

  • 🎓 Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, North-West University (NWU)
    Thesis: SO₂ absorption in limestone slurry for WFGD

  • 🎓 M.Eng. in Chemical Engineering, NWU
    Thesis: Sulphur retention and SO₂ capture in coal combustion

Experience:

  • 🧪 Senior Engineer, Pyrometallurgy Division, Mintek (Since Nov 2024)

  • 🏭 Trainee Engineer & Operator, Samancor Chrome

  • 🔬 Chief Investigator & Modeling Specialist, Mintek

  • 📊 Metallurgical Consultant on industrial decarbonization projects

  • 💻 Simulation Expert: MATLAB, STAR-CCM+ for pyrometallurgical systems

🚀 Professional Development

Dr. Mchabe’s professional development reflects a strong commitment to technical excellence and sustainability 🌱. He has undertaken advanced training in process simulation and kinetic modeling 💻, and routinely applies MATLAB and STAR-CCM+ in smelting research 🔥. His leadership in pilot-scale furnace testing and process optimization has enhanced industrial practice for global clients such as Anglo American and Umicore 🏗️. Dr. Mchabe regularly contributes to technical capacity building through short course instruction 📚 and mentorship of junior engineers 🧑‍🏫. His collaboration in EU-funded programs and national green metallurgy projects reinforces his stature as a leader in sustainable smelting innovation 🌍.

🔍 Research Focus

Dr. Mchabe’s research lies at the intersection of pyrometallurgy, environmental process engineering, and green materials science 🔥🌱. His work focuses on predictive modeling, SO₂ mitigation, and hydrogen-based ore reduction 🧪. He has pioneered solutions in flue gas desulphurization (wet & dry), leveraging calcium-based minerals and sodium reagents 🧂. His research also extends to low-carbon steel production, ferroalloy kinetics, and renewable reductants for industrial decarbonization 💨. He contributes to multi-disciplinary projects like SinterBlock and SolarZnPtCr, advancing clean metallurgical technologies and supporting circular economy goals ♻️. His innovation bridges computational chemistry and industrial engineering effectively 🔬.

🏅 Awards & Honors

  • 🏆 Recognized Lead Researcher in Mintek’s EU-funded SolarZnPtCr and HAlMan projects

  • 🏅 Recipient of Mintek’s Innovation in Pyrometallurgy Excellence Award

  • 📜 Multiple publications in SAJCE and peer-reviewed engineering journals

  • 🛠️ Lead contributor in pilot-scale trials for Umicore, Anglo American, and African Rainbow Minerals

  • 🎤 Invited speaker at national metallurgical and energy conferences in South Africa

Publication Top Notes

📘 Development of an integrated model for absorption of sulphur dioxide in limestone slurry (2021)
👥 Authors: Mchabe, D.; Everson, R.C.; Ramachandran, P.A.; Neomagus, H.W.J.P.; Branken, D.J.
🔗 DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2020.116050
📄 Full text: North-West University Repository

Conclusion

Dr. Dursman Mchabe’s commitment to cutting-edge research, industry innovation, and sustainable engineering makes him highly deserving of the Best Researcher Award. His multi-disciplinary impact, mentorship, and leadership in green pyrometallurgy showcase not only research excellence but also a vision for the future of responsible industrial development.

Carolina Constantin | Chemical Engineering | Research and Development Achievement Award

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Carolina Constantin | Chemical Engineering | Research and Development Achievement Award

PhD at National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Romania.

Carolina Constantin is a distinguished Romanian environmental engineer with a deep expertise in soil pollution, bioremediation, and sustainable agricultural practices. She has made significant contributions to soil protection, focusing on the impact of pollutants like petroleum products and detergents. Her extensive research and teaching experience, spanning over two decades, reflect her commitment to addressing environmental challenges. Carolina’s work in the field of soil remediation and pollution mitigation has had a lasting impact on both the scientific community and industry practices in Romania.

Profile👤

Scopus

Education 🎓

Carolina Constantin’s educational journey includes a Bachelor’s degree in Technology of Inorganic Substances from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest (1989-1995), followed by a Master’s degree in Depollution of Effluents from the same institution. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 2008. Additionally, she completed postgraduate studies in pedagogy at the Politehnica University of Bucharest (2002-2003), which further bolstered her teaching career in higher education.

Experience💼

Carolina Constantin’s professional experience spans from research assistant roles in the 1990s to senior positions, including Scientific Researcher and Lecturer at the National Research and Development Institute for Pedology, Agrochemistry, and Environmental Protection (ICPA). She has led research initiatives on soil pollution, focusing on petroleum products, detergents, and phenols, while also contributing to soil conservation and reclamation practices. Her work in training laboratory staff and her involvement in scientific boards highlight her leadership and mentorship in environmental science.

Research Interests 🔬

Carolina Constantin’s primary research interests lie in soil pollution, particularly the effects of industrial pollutants such as petroleum residues and detergents. She specializes in developing and optimizing analytical methods for environmental monitoring and remediation. Her work on bioremediation techniques, utilizing microorganisms to degrade pollutants, has contributed significantly to sustainable practices in soil management. Additionally, Carolina is involved in environmental protection and restoration projects, addressing soil degradation through recultivation efforts and the use of organic waste.

Awards and Honors 🏆

Throughout her career, Carolina Constantin has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to environmental engineering. Notable awards include the AGIR Award (2003) for Environmental Engineering, multiple accolades from the Gheorghe Ionescu Şișești Academy for her work on pollution impacts, and a Diploma of Excellence at the “PRO INVENT 2012” exhibition. She also received the UEFISCDI award for her article on scouring efficiency and various prizes for her research presentations at international conferences. These awards underline her excellence in research and her contributions to sustainable environmental practices.

Conclusion 🔚 

Carolina Constantin demonstrates a profound commitment to environmental research with clear, impactful results. Her deep expertise, record of scientific achievement, and role in advancing soil science and pollution control establish her as an exceptional candidate for the Research and Development Achievement Award.

Publications Top Notes 📚

  • “Glass Fibre-Reinforced Composite Materials Used in the Aeronautical Transport Sector: A Critical Circular Economy Point of View”
    Authors: Săftoiu, G.-V., Constantin, C., Nicoară, A.-I., Ficai, D., Ficai, A.
    Year: 2024
    Citations: 0
  • “Innovative Collagen Based Biopolymers Tested as Fertilizers for Poor Soils Amendment”
    Authors: Constantin, C., Stefan, D.S., Manea-Saghin, A.-M., Meghea, I.
    Year: 2023
    Citations: 1
  • “Glass Fabrics Functionalization for the Development of High-Performance Sandwich Structures”
    Authors: Săftoiu, G.-V., Constantin, C., Nicoară, A.-I., Ficai, D., Ficai, A.
    Year: 2023
    Citations: 0
  • “U(VI) Removal from Diluted Aqueous Systems by Sorption–Flotation”
    Authors: Constantin, C., Popescu, I.-C., Oprea, O., Stoica, L.
    Year: 2022
    Citations: 7
  • “Innovative Polycomposite Fertilizer Obtained by Recycling and Processing Three Organic Wastes”
    Authors: Lacatusu, A.R., Meghea, A., Rogozea, A.E., Constantin, C.
    Year: 2021
    Citations: 1
  • “Water Quality Monitoring from Avicola Slobozia S.A.”
    Authors: Dobrin, A.-A., Constantin, C., Nechifor, G.
    Year: 2021
    Citations: 0
  • “Cr(III)aq Separation by Flotation with Multipolar Collector”
    Authors: Craioveanu, M.G., Stoica, L., Constantin, C., Oprea, O.
    Year: 2020
    Citations: 8
  • “Equilibrium and Kinetics of U(VI)aq Adsorption on In Situ Generated Fe₂O₃ . NH₂O”
    Authors: Popescu, I.C., Stoica, L., Constantin, C., Stanescu, M.
    Year: 2019
    Citations: 2
  • “Discoloration of Food Dyes from Aqueous Media by Ozonation. Case Study: Brilliant Blue”
    Authors: Marcvart, M., Constantin, C., Stoica, L.
    Year: 2019
    Citations: 1
  • “Removal of Tartrazine from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption on Activated Red Mud”
    Authors: Bacioiu, I.-G., Stoica, L., Constantin, C., Stanescu, A.-M.
    Year: 2017
    Citations: 18