The Durban University of Technology (DUT) PhD candidate within the Chemical Engineering department, Emmanuel Kweinor Tetteh has been confirmed as the winner of the coveted ENI-awards for the Young Talent from Africa.
The ENI-awards, since its inception in 2007, have rewarded hardworking researchers across the globe. The awards, which seek to promote the better use of energy resources and encourage new generation researchers, have received immense international recognition. This year, the awards ceremony will be held on the 10th of October 2019, at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, Italy where Tetteh will receive his award. This ceremony will also be graced by the presence of the president of the republic of Italy, His Excellency Sergio Mattarella.
Tetteh also obtained his BTech at DUT, he graduated Cum laude at the Masters level under the supervision of Prof Sudesh Rathilal. For this he received the Dean’s Merit award for academic excellence as the best Cum laude student in the degree of Master of Engineering for the 2018 batch of graduates. He holds many other accolades, including; Top Academic Achiever and the Most Outstanding Performance in his department. Emmanuel is highly passionate and motivated to contribute his quota to solving industrial water pollution through cutting edge research. Hailing from an area with high industrial water pollution, he is determined to leverage all opportunities to make an impact in industrial wastewater treatment.
Tetteh’s award winning research focused on the recovery of oil from oily wastewater. The research optimised the operating conditions for acidification, coagulation and dissolved air flotation for a local oil refinery’s effluent treatment plant to enhance maximum residual oil recovery. Again, the research developed a predictive model that can be applied to different operating conditions for oil recovery in oily wastewater treatment.
“I am really humbled and extremely thankful to God for this great opportunity to receive the highly esteemed ENI-awards for the Young Talent from Africa. This award serves as a complement and recognition of our efforts as young researchers to work hard and find solutions to the problems of society. I dedicate this award to my supervisor, Prof Sudesh Rathilal, FFS Refiners, Umgeni Water, my parents and siblings, the entire Chemical Engineering Department, as well as Pastor Obed Obeng-Addae (CCI), for their kind support and prayers,” he said.
“Ultimately, I give all glory and honor to God for making this a possibility in my life. Now, I am very much energised to even work harder to contribute my quota in finding solutions to the water, energy and environmental problems that the world is faced with,” he added.
Prof Rathilal (Masters and Doctoral supervisor) complemented Tetteh on receiving this prestigious international award. “Emmanuel has already been recognised nationally and internationally with his impactful contribution to the world of knowledge through his many highly recognised journal and international conference papers. He is an excellent researcher and I am very proud to have him under my supervision. He certainly deserves this accolade and I wish him all the best for the future,” he said.
Picture: Emmanuel Kweinor Tetteh.
Nduduzo Ndlovu
