School of Life Sciences

The Analytical laboratory is equipped with the following equipment: Mass balances, conductivity meters, pH meters, autotitrators, drying ovens, refractometers , spectrophotometer , distillation apparatus, water baths, heating mantles, centrifuge etc. The laboratory serves the needs of wet-chemistry procedures. 

The laboratory is serviced by Mrs Puleng Mzulwini (Chemical technician) and Mr Sadha Naidoo (Chief chemical technician).  

This laboratory is occupied by the School’s Pollution Research Group (PRG), who also run the Biochemical and Environment Engineering course. The PRG contributes significantly in research, to improving the environment and health of South Africans, by the development of innovative and sustainable solutions to the problems of waste, sanitation and water supply. The PRG works in close collaboration with eThekwini Municipality, Sasol and Eskom.

Postgraduate students undertake research and final year undergraduate students undertake laboratory projects. The laboratory houses, amongst others, equipment such as : OUR set up – Oxygen Uptake Rate, COD-reflux method for Chemical Oxygen Demand, TKN – Total Kjeldhal Nitrogren, TSS – Total Suspended Solids, Spectroquant , GC, etc.

The laboratory is serviced by a laboratory technician – Mrs Merlien Reddy

This laboratory is equipped with the following equipment: Gas chromatography (GC), Gas chromatography – Mass spectrophotomete (GCMS), Particle size analyzer, Rheometer, Corrosion unit (all have software support), Moisture analyzer, microscopes, viscometers etc. The instrument laboratory is used for data capturing and analysis. 

The laboratory is serviced by Mrs Rekha Maharaj (Chemical technician) and Mr Sadha Naidoo (Chief chemical technician). 

This laboratory houses the larger equipment which are on a semi-industrial scale. Most of this equipment is used for the undergraduate practical programme.

The three laboratories above are used by undergraduate, postgraduate, academic and laboratory staff in performing coursework practicals, final year projects, postgraduate research, academic research, vacation work and internal and external consulting projects.

This laboratory is serviced by the 3 chemical technicians.

The Thermodynamic Research Unit laboratories (Ground floor- 08A/B) cover the measurement of phase equilibrium data such as Vapour-liquid ( VLE ), Liquid-liquid (LLE ) and Vapour liquid-liquid equilibria( VLLE ) . The conditions of measurements range from high- low temperatures and pressures.

There are several apparati present, all designed, constructed and commissioned by the Thermodynamics Research Unit. The stills, used for the measurement of phase equilibria, have online GC sampling. The ebulliometer consists of a series of smaller sized recirculating glass cells for the measurements of infinite dilution activity coefficients; which can also be measured using other existing set-ups in the laboratories being, the inert gas stripping apparatus and the Gas-Liquid Chromatography set-up.

Postgraduate research and contract projects are carried out for many local industrial companies, e.g. , Sasol, Illovo, NECSA, etc. Undergraduates undertake laboratory projects in their final year of studies. The Unit offers vocational work to promising and potential postgraduate students. The Unit also employs research assistants for undertaking data measurements for contract and research projects.

The Thermodynamics Research Unit employs two full-time technicians, Mr Ayanda Khanyile and Mr Linden Mkize, to assist in the running and maintenance of the laboratories.