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Drinking water cleaner thanks to Chemistry graduate’s research

09 December 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Leonie Bolleurs

“Chemistry chose me,” says Dr Refilwe Mogale, who wanted to enrol for Psychology years ago when she decided to study at the University of the Free State (UFS).

“On the day of registration, however, as I was standing in the queue, something inside me said this was not the right choice for me. Ultimately, I chose my second option, which was a BSc degree majoring in biology, physics, and chemistry.”

“Once I started the BSc programme, I gravitated towards chemistry, and as difficult as it was juggling classes and six-hour practical sessions, I loved it. I am fascinated by the ability of chemistry and science in general to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues, such as water scarcity, alternative generation, access to antibacterial hygiene products, as well as novel strategies to cure diseases, among many other things.”

The UFS awarded Dr Mogale a PhD in Chemistry on 9 December 2022.

Addressing a global challenge

Being passionate about applied chemistry – where scientific research can be used to create products to address everyday problems – Dr Mogale focused her thesis on Aluminium- and Zirconium-based metal organic frameworks with azobenzene and stilbene dicarboxylate ligands for use in wastewater treatment.

She has also published multiple articles on topics of environmental chemistry and wastewater management in international journals.

Dr Mogale is of the opinion that water pollution by financially lucrative industries and access to clean drinkable water is one of our planet’s most challenging environmental and health issues. “The waste generated by some of the industries that contribute heavily to our country’s economy, such as the textile, agricultural, and medical industries, may end up in the limited drinking water resources we have. I chose my research topic because I wanted to positively contribute to this global challenge,” she says.

“My research was based on making highly porous metal-organic frameworks (MOF) to be used in the wastewater treatment technique called adsorption,” explains Dr Mogale, describing MOFs as “really cool three-dimensional ‘sponges’ that can suck up very high amounts of gases and pollutants, trapping them in their pores. These trapped materials can later be released from the pores to be re-used when MOFs are exposed to certain stimuli.”

She continues, “Low cost and simplicity make this method attractive for industrial use. Considering our current energy crisis, other methods are not ideal, since they require large amounts of energy.”

Focused on developing highly effective adsorbent for wastewater purification systems, Dr Mogale synthesised a novel MOF with one of the highest adsorption capacities compared to existing counterparts.

According to her, should MOFs with their incredibly high surface areas – which allow them to absorb more waste than their existing counterparts – be implemented in wastewater purification systems, they would be able to address the environmental issue of water pollution and the health issue of access to drinkable water.

Tackling everyday societal issues

She is currently doing a postdoctoral fellowship in the UFS Department of Chemistry – to broaden her knowledge in chemistry beyond MOFs. Her plans are, however, to transition to industry and ultimately entrepreneurship, where she will be able to develop scientific products that can tackle everyday societal issues.

Dr Mogale dreams of adding value to society by practically contributing to the water crisis issue through the development of low-cost water generation and purification products.

News Archive

Walk to Cape Town closes on high note

2014-06-03

Photo Gallery of arrival in Cape Town
Dagbreek interview (kykNet) (YouTube)
Thank you from all UFS students (YouTube)

It was a gruelling road totalling a distance of 1 038 km, but the UFS #NSHstride team completed the challenge of walking all the way to Cape Town.

On Thursday 1 May 2014, Adéle van Aswegen and Ntokozo Nkabinde, both from the UFS, took on the road to Cape Town on foot in order to highlight the problem of food insecurity among students at the UFS.

Two kind-hearted Bloemfontein residents, Nico Piedt and Ronél Warner, tackled the journey together with them, not only to draw the country’s attention to food insecurity, but also to raise money to address the problem.

The hike, known as the No Student Hungry 1000/33 stride (or #NSHstride), came to an end at the St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town on Tuesday 3 June 2014.

About R500 000 were raised before, during and after the foursome’s hike.

The NSH bursary, established in 2011 by Prof Jonathan Jansen, the Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, and Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, aims to put food insecurity among students at the UFS under the spotlight.

Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, says: “We are completely inspired by the victory of a 1 000 km with one step at a time – as it reminds us of the courage of our students who beat hunger one day at a time.”

“The stride team challenges us to change our world for the better every day. We hope to continue their victory for students by challenging all universities to join the struggle for food security and will call a colloquium in this regard in October.”

These boots are made for walking ... to Cape Town (Article of 02 May 2014)
“Aren’t auntie and them hungry yet?” Country folk worried about NSH hikers (15 May 2014)
UFS hikers to Cape Town reflect on their journey (Article of 26 May 2014)

Daily updates:
(You can also follow us on @UFSweb for daily tweets)

Day 33: 2 June 2014
13:40
20 km
Sunset Beach, Cape Town

Day 32: 1 June 2014
16:05
26 km
Mervyn and Sanet Wessels, Belville

Day 31: 31 May 2014
16:31
39.6 km
Rhonell and Gavin Julain, Paarl

Day 30: 30 May 2014
14:00
16 km
Monte Rosa, Rawsonville

Day 29: 29 May 2014
13:16
31 km
The Habit, Worcester

Day 28: 28 May 2014
11:00
22.4 km
Monte Roza, De doorns

Day 27: 27 May 2014
17:00
21.1 km
Karoo Hotel

Day 26: 26 May 2014
18:27
43.3 km
Tows river

Day 25: 25 May 2014
12:18
Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein

Day 24: 24 May 2014
16:30
42 km
Laingsburg Country Lodge

Day 23: 23 May 2014
17:32
41.8 km
Vergenoeg

Day 22: 22 May 2014
16:42
43 km
Assendelft Lodge and Bush Camp, Prins Albert

Day 21: 21 May 2014
15:09
42 km
Leeu Gamka Hotel

Day 20: 20 May 2014
13:39
20 km
Alida, Springfontein

Day 19: 19 May 2014
12:31
27.6 km
Teri Moja Game Lodge

Day 18: 18 May 2014
First rest day
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 17: 17 May 2014
19:30
62.3 km
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 16: 16 May 2014
13:00
14 km
Taaibochfontein

Day 15: 15 May 2014
16:03
32 km
Travalia, Three Sisters

Day 14: 14 May 2014
18:33
43 km
Joalani Guest Farm

Day 13: 13 May 2014
17:30
33 km
Die Rondawels

Day 12: 12 May 2014
16:49
40 km
Aandrus B&B in Richmond

Day 11: 11 May 2014
39 km
Wortelfontein (Magdel and Christiaan)

Day 10: 10 May 2014
15:44
34 km
Hanover Lodge

Day 9: 09 May 2014
40.8 km
Camping between Colesberg and Hanover

Day 8: 08 May 2014
15:25
33.7 km
Colesberg, The Lighthouse Guesthouse

Day 7: 07 May 2014
15:08
23 km
Orange River Lodge

Day 6: 06 May 2014
15:57
51.06 km
Gariep Forever Resort

Day 5: 05 May 2014
12:18
28 km
Rondefontein

Day 4: 04 May 2014
15:27
35 km
Trompsburg: Fox Den

Day 3: 03 May 2014
17:30
46.74 km
Edenburg Country Lodge (Hotel)

Day 2: 02 May 2014
11:44 am
15.3 km
Tom's Place

Day 1: 01 May 2014
32 km
Leeuwberg

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