Lingam Pillay

Prof Pillay obtained his BSc (Eng), MSc (Eng) and PhD (Chemical Engineering) from the University of Kwazulu Natal (UKZN). He then joined the Pollution Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, as a Senior Research Fellow at UKZN. Prof Pillay then moved to the Department of Chemical Engineering, ML Sultan Technikon (now Durban University of Technology), and was charged with the task of initiating research and developing a research culture in the department. In 2013, Prof Pillay joined the Department of Chemical Engineering, Stellenbosch University.

Research outputs include 25 publications in peer reviewed journals, 21 contract research project reports, 3 patents, and numerous presentations at local and international conferences. He has supervised / co-supervised 29 masters and 2 doctoral graduates.

Prof Lingam Pillay’s research is in the field of water and wastewater treatment and reuse, with a particular emphasis on membrane technology, and technologies for developing economies. The focus is strongly on technology development and application. One of the technology outputs, the VulAmanz Rural Water Filter is currently being demonstrated at 1 000 rural households around South Africa, and a company has been set up to drive its commercialisation.

Current research interests include:

Potable water provision, with a particular focus on developing economies and rural communities;

Donnan Dialysis for aluminium and iron recovery from water treatment residuals;

Reclamation and reuse of industrial effluents, agricultural processing wastewaters, and fishing industry wastewaters;

Electrochemical disinfection; and

Immersed membrane bioreactors.