Khumalo Nomcebo Pearl

Professional and scientific researcher, specialist on process design in water and wastewater; metal recovery, fabrication of nanoparticles, nutrient recovery, desalination processes, carbon dioxide capture and membrane design.

More than 8 years of experience in experimental lab work, using scientific instrumentation, elaboration and coordination of lab scale and pilot scale projects, data analysis, scientific writing, and communication.

Determined and organized scientific researcher who is self-motivated and works well in a team.

Interests: Science policies that govern implementation of research ethics, science diplomacy, approach to environment and deployment of scientific techniques in water treatment.

Interest: Reviewing and implementing research strategies and policies that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution in industry.

• Assisting with skills matrix transfer to fellow colleagues by teaching them to operate different instrumentation.
• Publishing of several scientific articles in high impact factor journals: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6891-5029
• Volunteering to help with the organization of different seminars and conferences held at the Institute of Nanotechnology and water Sustainability (both online and in person events).

• Designing membrane-based processes for water treatment and Carbon dioxide separation from mixed gases.
• Fabrication of nanoparticles from precursors using chemical reduction process.
• Stoichiometric calculation of required chemicals, residency time, operation parameters.
• Understanding of drinking water supply chain, water chemistry, complexity of distribution system and establishment of critical control points in the water supply chain.
• Conducting and data processing of characterization instrumentation such as: FTIR, Sax Space, Surpass, UV/VI'S spectra, TOC analyzer, Ion chromatography, HPLC, GC (FID/TCD), Drop analyzer, ICP-OES, AFM, zeitersizer, EDX and SEM XPS.
• Knowledge of Compliancy policies such as Sans 241, HACCP, ISO 22001, ISO 9001, ISO 31000, ISO 17025, IRS (blue and green drop) and The Carbon Tax Act (Act No. 15 of 2019).
• Using data processing programs such as: Excel, Origin, MATLAB, CHEMDRAW, Power point EDRWAW to produce graphical images of the variables, process flow sheets and data analysis.
• Data interpretation and document preparation: academic writing, proposal writing, editing, and reviewing. Creating research methodologies.

• Research Student exchange at Ghent University (6 months) as a visiting researcher, (2017).
• Winner of UNISA Student Showcase or the Unisa Innovation Challenge, (2020)
• Participation in Institute Programmes: Career expo outreach, scholarship engagement, National Science week, Conferences, and exhibitions
• Attending national and international conferences.
• Travelling in a delegation for research collaboration and development to University of Michigan and University of Eswatini.