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Dr LN Nthunya

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow | College of Science, Engineering and Technology
School of Science | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability

Email: nthunLN@unisa.ac.za
Campus: Science Campus
Building: NB Pityana
Office: A1-070

  • PhD Chemistry (University of South Africa and Ghent University)
  • MSc Applied Chemistry (University of Johannesburg)
  • BSc Chemical Technology (National University of Lesotho)

Y2

  • Membrane technology for water treatment and desalination
  • Membrane distillation and membrane crystallization processes
  • Wastewater remediation and resource recovery
  • Recovery of valuable minerals from saline and industrial wastewaters
  • Advanced membrane processes (ultrafiltration and nanofiltration)
  • Membrane fouling mitigation and process optimization
  • Development of novel and high-performance membrane materials
  • Sustainable water purification technologies
  • Water–energy nexus and integrated treatment systems
  • Membrane-integrated electrocatalytic processes
  • Green hydrogen production and clean energy technologies
  • Circular economy approaches for water and resource management
  • Environmental sustainability and climate-resilient water solutions
  • Cost-effective technologies for addressing water scarcity and pollution

  • Membrane Technology in Water Treatment

  1. Nthunya, LN; Khan, AA; Zheng, L; Mofokeng, M; Wu, Q; Ajiboye, TO; Dhibar, S; Sekota, M; George, MJ; Farooq, S; Van der Bruggen, B; Mamba, BB; Mahlangu, OT, Membrane distillation crystallization: From mechanisms and process control to sustainable production of tailored crystalline materials, J. Water Process Eng., 2026; 86, 09935, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109935
  2. Nthunya, LN; Ali, A; Richards, H; Chimuka, L; Quist-Jensen, C; Mamba, B; Innovative dual-purpose remediation of acid mine drainage and resource recovery through membrane distillation crystallization, npj Clean Water. 2025; 8:61, 1-13, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-025-00489-9.
  3. Nthunya, LN; Setati, B; Richards, H; Chimuka, L; Mamba, B, From extract to crystals: Unlocking green nanotechnology towards recovery of bioactive compounds from Moringa oleifera via membrane distillation crystallization. Sep. Purif. Technol. 2025; 373, 133552, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.133552
  4. Nthunya, LN; Pinier, J; Ali, A; Quist-Jensen, C; Richards, H, Valorization of acid mine drainage into potable water and valuable minerals through membrane distillation crystallization, Sep. Purif. Technol., 2024; 334, 126084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2023.126084
  5. Nthunya, LN; Mamba, BB,  Membrane Distillation for Water Desalination: Assessing the Influence of Operating Conditions on the Performance of Serial and Parallel Connection Configurations. Membranes. 2025, 15(8), 235. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15080235. Journal Impact Factor = 3.6
  6. Nthunya, LN; Mosai, AK, López-Maldonado, E, et al., Unseen threats in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems: Nanoparticle persistence, transport and toxicity in natural environments, Chemosphere. 2025; 382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144470.
  7. Mpala, TJ; Serepa-Dlamini, MH; Etale, A; Richards, H; Nthunya, LN, Cellulose nanocrystal-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles via microwave assisted method for biofouling control in membrane distillation, Mater. Today Commun. 2023; 34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2022.105028
  8. Tjale, L; Richards, H; Mahlangu, O; Nthunya, LN; Silica nanoparticle modified polysulfone / polypropylene membrane for separation of oil-water emulsions, Results Eng. 2022; 16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2022.100623.

  • NRF Y2 Rating
  • 2026 UMAPS Scholar
  • NSTF-South32 Award nominee
  • SAYAS membership nominee

  1. Membrane distillation (MD) and membrane distillation crystallization (MDCr) for the treatment of high-salinity polluted waters.
  2. Methodological advancement of fouling-resistant membranes, integrating nanocomposite materials and tailored ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) to improve performance, stability of MD/MDCr, and manage controlled crystallization.
  3. Hydrogen evolution from MD-produced water through catalytic electrolysis.