SATREPS project strengthens collaboration

CPUT recently hosted a stakeholder meeting of the SATREPS project Development of a Carbon Recycling System toward a Decarbonised Society by Using Mineral Carbonation.

The Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) is a Japanese initiative aimed at addressing pressing global challenges through collaboration between Japan and developing countries. In 2020 CPUT was awarded a five-year research grant of approximately R60 million under the SATREPS programme, administered by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Additionally, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) provided R5 million in co-funding for operational costs.

Through this project, researchers at CPUT have collaborated with leading experts from the University of Cape Town, the University of the Western Cape, and the Council for Geoscience. The Japanese partner in this initiative, Tohoku University, brings further expertise to the team. Furthermore, industrial partners such as PPC, AFRIMAT, Cape Concrete, and ECO-precast offer waste materials, technical input, and practical insights, ensuring that our research is grounded in real-world applications. Together, a multi-disciplinary team dedicated to innovating sustainable solutions for the cement and concrete sector has been formed.

At the core of this initiative is mineral carbonation, a promising strategy for reducing CO₂ emissions. This technology has the potential to convert waste streams into valuable carbon sinks, creating a pathway for a circular economy within our built environment. The research findings have been broadly disseminated through peer-reviewed articles and conference presentations, contributing to the global scientific community.

Now in its fourth year, the project has made significant strides in human capacity development. Two Master's students have successfully completed their degrees, while two graduates from CPUT have been awarded fully funded PhD scholarships in Japan. Several students have also gained work-integrated learning opportunities with industrial partners involved in the project. Additionally, numerous students are currently pursuing their Master's and Doctoral studies related to this project. These achievements not only enhance CPUT’s research and innovation profile but also foster the development of a new generation of engineers and scientists equipped to tackle regional, national, and global challenges such as climate change.

The Project team Includes Prof Tunde Ojumu of the Chemical Engineering Department, who is the Principal Investigator and Project Manager of this SATREPS project (supported by Head of Department, Prof M Chetty) and in collaboration with South African research partners; Prof L. Petrik, Adjunct Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at CPUT and Emeritus Professor at UWC, Prof J. Petersen from UCT, Dr Ravi Vadapalli and Dr Henk Coetzee from the Council for Geoscience, and Jun Hirashima, JICA Project Coordinator and Prof A. Iizuka, the Project Chief Advisor from Tohoku University Sendai, Japan.

A stakeholders' workshop held on July 24 served as a vital platform for strengthening collaboration between industry and academia. The programme featured technical presentations on waste beneficiation through mineral carbonation, a review of pilot plant data, and discussions on potential pathways for scaling up the process, according to Ojumu. Breakout sessions allowed participants to identify key challenges and opportunities for industrial implementation, while feedback from industry partners was gathered to refine the research agenda.

Written by CPUT News
Email: news@cput.ac.za