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Dr NP Khumalo

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

Email: Khumanp1@unisa.ac.za
Campus: Science Campus
Building: NB Pityana
Office: A1-070

  • PhD in Science, Engineering, and Technology (University of South Africa, 2025)
  • MTech in Chemical Engineering (University of South Africa, 2018)
  • BSc in Biology and Chemistry (University of Eswatini, 2015)

  • Hollow fiber membranes
  • Designing membrane processes
  • Carbon dioxide absorption
  • Membrane distillation
  • Smart polymeric membranes

  • Membrane design and application
  • Gas separation membranes
  • Membrane-based wastewater treatment processes

  1. Mahlangu, F.H. Mudau, F. Matebese, R.N. Biata, Khumalo N.P., M.M. Motsa, R. Moutloali, E.N. Nxumalo, B.B. Mamba, L.N. Nthunya, Effects of membrane cleaning on membrane physicochemical properties: Balancing the trade-off between cleaning efficacy and robust membranes, Chemical Engineering Research and Design 231 (2026) 39–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CHERD.2026.06.002.
  2. Khumalo NP, OT Mahlangu, BB Mamba, MM Motsa (2024). Graphene Oxide Enhanced Monoethanolamine and Ethylenediamine Nanofluids for Efficient Carbon Dioxide Uptake from Flue Gas. ACS Omega, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsomega.3c06425.
  3. Khumalo NP, OT Mahlangu, BB Mamba, MM Motsa (2024). Graphene Oxide Enhanced Monoethanolamine and Ethylenediamine Nanofluids for Efficient Carbon Dioxide Uptake from Flue Gas. ACS Omega, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsomega.3c06425.
  4. NP Khumalo, BB Mamba, MM Motsa (2024) Carbon dioxide absorption in a gas-liquid membrane contactor: Influence of membrane properties and absorbent chemistry. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceja.2024.100601.
  5. Khumalo, N., Nthunya, L., Derese, S., Motsa, M., Verliefde, A., Kuvarega, A., Mamba, B. B., Mhlanga, S., & Dlamini, D. S. (2019). Water recovery from hydrolysed human urine samples via direct contact membrane distillation using PVDF/PTFE membrane. Separation and Purification Technology, 211, 610–617. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SEPPUR.2018.10.035 .
  6. Khumalo, N. P., Nthunya, L. N., De Canck, E., Derese, S., Verliefde, A. R., Kuvarega, A. T., Mamba, B. B., Mhlanga, S. D., & Dlamini, D. S. (2019). Congo red dye removal by direct membrane distillation using PVDF/PTFE membrane. Separation and Purification Technology, 211, 578–586. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SEPPUR.2018.10.039.
  7. Khumalo, N. P., Vilakati, G. D., Mhlanga, S. D., Kuvarega, A. T., Mamba, B. B., Li, J., & Dlamini, D. S. (2019). Dual-functional ultrafiltration nano-enabled PSf/PVA membrane for the removal of Congo red dye. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 31, 100878. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JWPE.2019.100878.
  8. Nthunya, L. N., Gutierrez, L., Khumalo, N., Derese, S., Mamba, B. B., Verliefde, A. R., & Mhlanga, S. D. (2019). Superhydrophobic PVDF nanofibre membranes coated with an organic fouling resistant hydrophilic active layer for direct-contact membrane distillation. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 575, 363–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COLSURFA.2019.05.031.
  9. Kuvarega, A. T., Khumalo, N., Dlamini, D., & Mamba, B. B. (2018). Polysulfone/N,Pd co-doped TiO2 composite membranes for photocatalytic dye degradation. Separation and Purification Technology, 191, 122–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SEPPUR.2017.07.064.
  10. Nthunya, L. N., Khumalo, N. P., Verliefde, A. R., Mamba, B. B., & Mhlanga, S. D. (2019). Quantitative analysis of phenols and PAHs in the Nandoni Dam in Limpopo Province, South Africa: A preliminary study for dam water quality management. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 112, 228–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PCE.2019.02.003.

  • Postdoctoral Fellow – (UNISA, INANOWS, 2025- present)
  • Visiting Researcher – (Tiangong, OCT – DEC 2025)
  • Research Student exchange at Ghent University (6 months)

  1. Fabrication and characterization of Poly (methacrylic acid sodium salt) (PMANa) /PSF hollow fibers: The role of pH-responsive polyelectrolytes in textile effluent treatment.
  2. Fabrication and characterization of Palladium/Polyaniline /PVDF hollow fibers: bridging the gap for the upscaling of photo-responsive and electro-conductive membranes.
  3. Β-cyclodextrin immobilized on bentonite clay sheets for the absorption of Dyes from wastewater using a fixed-bed method.
  4. Tailoring morphological properties of PSF/PDMS/PEBAX multilayer membrane for CO₂/N₂ separation.

  • Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vLqyK_cAAAAJ&hl=en
  •  ORCID link: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6891-5029