UKZN Chemical Engineering lecturer, Dr Nivaar Brijmohan, has graduated with his PhD in record time, completing his study on improving the sustainability of separation technology of chemical processes in four years, part-time.

Along the way, Brijmohan produced numerous publications from his PhD work and achieved the status of Professional Engineer.

Supervised by Professor Kuveneshan Moodley, his thesis was titled: “Development of an Efficiency Improvement Tool to Guide Operation Decision-Making for Increased Sustainability and Profitability in the Process Industries”.

‘It’s important to make the processes in factories and chemical plants safer and reduce the impact to the environment,’ explained Brijmohan. ‘It’s also important to reduce the amount of energy and water that is being used in these factories.

‘Industries trust their commercial processes, which have been developed and established over many decades. They look at how a process improvement affects their profits and the safety of their plant. On the other hand, researchers in the lab focus on developing new technologies and solutions, and very often only consider if an improvement would work at a technical level.

‘My research tries to bridge the gap between what academics study in the lab to what CEOs and CFOs are interested in,’ he said.

Brijmohan developed a framework that links molecular design and selection at the lab scale, to that of economics and safety at the industrial level. He included machine learning models, process simulation and thermodynamic experimental results.

‘If a chemical company wants to replace a particular solvent for example, the researcher in the lab now has an integrated mechanism to check simultaneously how a new solvent they’re studying would affect profits, health of workers, risk to the company and environmental impact,’ he explained.

Brijmohan’s interest in this area of research stemmed from a curiosity about how the small decisions made at the molecular level can have far-reaching impacts on the safety, efficiency and sustainability of entire industries.

‘I’m passionate about finding practical solutions to complex problems,’ he said. ‘I was particularly drawn to the challenge of making industrial processes safer and more environmentally friendly.

‘Seeing how innovations in the lab often struggle to make it into real-world applications, I felt compelled to see what I could do to bridge that gap. I wanted to create something that not only advances scientific understanding but also provides tangible benefits to businesses and society.

‘The idea of linking the technical and economic aspects of chemical engineering interested me because it has the potential to drive meaningful change in the field.’

Brijmohan’s research is significant because of its potential to transform how industries approach the adoption of new technologies and processes.

‘By creating a framework that integrates molecular design with economic, safety and environmental considerations, my work offers a comprehensive tool for decision-making in chemical engineering,’ he said. ‘This approach not only helps companies make more informed choices, but also ensures that innovations are both commercially viable and socially responsible. In an era where sustainability is paramount, my research provides a pathway for industries to reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining profitability.’

Brijmohan’s future plans involve continuing to push the boundaries of research in chemical engineering, particularly in the areas of sustainable process design and green technologies. He aims to collaborate with both academia and industry to further refine and implement the framework he developed during his PhD, particularly through modern tools such as machine learning.

He also wants to mentor the next generation of engineers and researchers, helping them to see the value in bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical application.

He thanked his wife, Tarana; his parents and sister; his supervisors, Moodley and Professor Caleb Narasigadu; academic leader for Chemical Engineering at UKZN, Professor David Lokhat; and his colleagues in the Chemical Engineering Department and Thermodynamics Research Unit (TRU).

‘The stimulating environment within our Department really pushes one to achieve one’s best,’ he said.

‘I think the Chemical Engineering programme at UKZN is probably the best in the country. We have highly skilled and talented academics, as well as support staff, that are driving research projects of global importance. TRU is world-class in terms of research output, and postgraduates receive an incredible amount of support in the group. The facilities and human capital are exceptional, giving you what you need to excel. The collaborative spirit at UKZN encourages innovation, making it an ideal place for cutting-edge research. Additionally, the University’s commitment to sustainability and its emphasis on practical applications of research resonates with good societal values.’

Said Moodley: ‘Dr Brijmohan has made a significant contribution to formalising methodologies to improve the sustainability of existing industrial separation processes by using lower energy solvent-based techniques. ‘He has managed to balance a full lecturing load and family life with his research and has produced numerous high-impact publications while completing his doctoral study in good time. This is a remarkable achievement.’

Words: Sally Frost

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini