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Perfluorinated compounds, bishenol a and acetaminophen in selected waste water treatment plants in and around Cape Town, South Africa
No full textThesis (MTech (Chemistry))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.The release of wastewater to the aquatic environment is most likely to introduce some trace levels of organic contaminants, some of which may be toxic, carcinogenic, or endocrine disruptors, as well as, persistent in the environment. Additionally, increasing contamination of surface waters by wastewater effluents has made water treatment processes more challenging and expensive. The presence of these pollutants in the receiving water body may have negative effects on aquatic species and often pose potential human health risks through the reuse of treated wastewater for drinking purposes and other household use. In countries like South Africa, Namibia, USA, Singapore and Australia, water agencies are intensifying wastewater reclamation/wastewater reuse as part of their water resource agenda: in order to meet the demands of the growing populations. Nowadays, water reuse is generally considered as a viable method of water supply management. This study focused on the identification of the occurrence, quantification of emerging contaminants and evaluation of removal efficiency in wastewater treatment processes of three classes of emerging contaminants (ECs) in wastewater: 1) six types of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), namely; perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUDA); 2) bisphenol A (BPA); and 3) Acetaminophen (ACP). These contaminants were identified and quantified in four wastewater treatment plants in the Western Cape. These treatment plants include three WWTPs in Cape Town, namely: Bellville WWTP, Scottsdene WWTP and Zandvliet WWTP and one WWTP in the central Karoo (Beaufort West wastewater reclamation plant)
Teaching and learning strategies to support isiXhosa learners who receive education in a second/third language
No full textThesis (MEd (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.This research study was aimed at exploring and describing the teaching and learning strategies for language support to isiXhosa speaking learners in Grade One. There are a number of challenges related to teaching in a multi-linguistic classroom. This study highlights some of the current challenges experienced in the Metro East Education District of the Western Cape. In an attempt to resolve these problems, guidelines were given for effective dissemination strategies to support second/third language speaking learners. A gap in the literature on descriptions of current support provided to learners within the theoretical framework of the ecological systems theory was identified. This research therefore intends to fill this gap in the literature. Support to IsiXhosa learners who receive education in a second/third language in the South African context is especially unclear. A qualitative research approach supported by the exploratory, descriptive and contextual research designs was employed. The sample was selected from Grade One teachers from schools in different socio-economic areas in the Western Cape who provided education to IsiXhosa learners who receive education in a second/third language. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings provide a clear description of the challenges experienced by the learner and the teacher, current strategies that are employed by teachers, as well as resources and support utilised by teachers. Conclusions were made in terms of the ecological systems theory. Based on the findings, a number of recommendations were made regarding teaching and learning strategies for language support to Grade One IsiXhosa learners who receive education in a second/third language
Critical success factors in liquor retailing in selected townships of Cape Town, South Africa
No full textThesis (MTech (Retail Business Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) play a vital role in employment creation and economic growth. As South Africa experiences population growth, so does the township small business industry. Township refers to those areas that were previously reserved for Blacks, Coloured and Indians under the discriminatory apartheid government. The characteristics of these areas included the following: poor infrastructure, high crime, low income and generally exclusion from mainstream economic activities
According to the top three liquor manufacturers and brand distributors that claim about 80% of the total market share by volume and revenue (South African Breweries, Distell and Brandhouse Beverages) the township market makes the largest contribution to their business revenue. These giants are recording growth every year, but the development, growth, sustainability and success of the township liquor retail market is static and unsatisfactory. How township liquor retailers can achieve sustainable growth is not yet clear. The significant contribution made by the industry to the economy and job creation has been recognised by industry role players at large. The Department of Trade and Industries (DTI) has also expressed its commitment to supporting this industry as one that shows potential for growth and sustainability.
This particular sector needs assistance to improve the success and sustainability of township liquor retailing, especially with the creation of employment opportunities. The objective of this study, then, is to develop an industry specific framework that identifies and addresses the critical success factors (CSFs) for township liquor retailing. The study is based on qualitative interviews carried out with industry experts (as an exploratory study) and liquor retailers from two of Cape Town’s townships, namely Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain
Degradation of textile wastewater using ultra-small Β-Feooh/Tio2 heterojunction structure as a visible light photocatalyst
No full textThesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.The worldwide high demand for drinking water has led to the development of numerous
advanced wastewater treatment processes. Photocatalysis has recently become an alternative
and attractive technique for green energy production and environmental remediation. It is also
a wastewater treatment technique which is considered reliable and is expected to provide a
sustainable solution to the scarcity of clean water. In particular, heterogeneous photocatalysts
based on TiO2 nanoparticles and sunlight have been proposed as a powerful technique for
degradation and mineralisation of persistent organic pollutants (POP`s). Although this method
seems promising, some critical challenges are still to be addressed: namely, low photoefficiencies,
faster electron and hole (−⁄ℎ+) pair recombination, utilisation of UV light and
catalyst removal after treatment of pollutants
The association between dietary fat knowledge and consumption of foods rich in fat among first-year students in self-catering residence at a university of technology, Cape Town, South Africa
No full textThesis (MTech (Consumer Science: Food and Nutrition))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.Objective: To determine the association between the dietary fat knowledge and consumption of foods rich in fat among first-year students in self-catering residence at a university of technology, Cape Town, South Africa.
Design: The two concepts – the dietary fat knowledge (represented by dietary fat food knowledge and dietary fat nutrition knowledge) and the consumption of foods rich in fat – were assessed separately. Two norm-referenced, valid and reliable knowledge tests and an intake screening questionnaire were used for the assessments (as subsidiary objectives), before the associations between the concepts were determined (main objective). The dietary fat food and nutrition knowledge as assessed was categorised in the range poor or below average, average and good or above average, and the consumption of foods rich in fat as high, quite high, the typical Western diet, approaching low or desirable. The Pearson‟s chi-square test was applied to these categorical findings to determine if associations (five percent significance) existed between the concepts.
Results: The stratified sample included 225 first-year students. Nearly half (48.4%) of them achieved an average fat food knowledge score, while the majority (80.9%) achieved a poor fat nutrition knowledge score. More than half (52.5%) either followed a typical Western diet, a diet quite high in fat or high in fat. While no significant (p > 0.05) association was found between the students‟ dietary fat food knowledge and consumption of foods rich in fat, significant results were found in the association between the students‟ dietary fat nutrition knowledge and consumption of foods rich in fat (p < 0.05) and between their fat food knowledge and fat nutrition knowledge (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: An inverse association was found between the students‟ dietary fat nutrition knowledge and fat consumption, a positive association between their dietary fat food knowledge and dietary fat nutrition knowledge, and no association between their dietary fat food knowledge and fat consumption
The role of e-commerce in five-star hotels in the Cape Town Metropole
No full textThesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.Electronic commerce, popularly referred to as e-commerce, is the latest catchphrase surrounding the Internet and its many functions. In the past, the Internet was solely used for information seeking, but the 21st century has brought a new global economy to the fore – one that is conducted online. Tourism is seen as a driver of economic growth, contributing both to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of South Africa (SA) and creating jobs in the hospitality sector. E-commerce does not only provide a platform for business to be conducted online but also an opportunity for consumers to interact directly with industry. Many studies have been done previously about the perceived benefits of e-commerce in the retail sector, yet none in Cape Town and at five-star hotels in particular. It is well known that holidaymakers conduct an online search prior to booking accommodation; some of those potential guests in turn choose to finalise their bookings online. The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of e-commerce in five-star hotels in the Cape Town Metropole. The main objective of this study was to define what e-commerce is for five-star hotels in the Cape Town Metropole and determine if the hotels are using e-commerce as a booking method. Online questionnaires were used to gather primary data and a literature review was presented as secondary data. The findings of this study showed that all the hotels surveyed use online bookings and half of the respondents believe Online Travel Agents (OTAs) generate more revenue than traditional methods of room reservation. When asked to rank methods of room’s reservations, there was a slight difference between telephone bookings and e-commerce as number one. This could mean that while electronic methods are popular, they have not completely replaced traditional methods. The researcher recommends that five-star hotel managers train the rooms’ division staff to respond to negative reviews on social media, as this was one of the findings. The hotels should also learn how to effectively use their social media presence to increase room sales
The co-design of a visual arts-based intervention within the community of the Olifants River valley in South Africa
No full textThesis (MTech (Design)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.The research was motivated by my lived experience in the Olifants River community of Namaqualand. In this community there are many diverse ethnic and social groupings with considerable potential to contribute to indigenous knowledge and creative practices. These groupings are, however, fragmented, with no platform for their varied and rich cultural assets to be displayed and acknowledged. In addition, the research was motivated by the call for a platform for the arts in the region. It is argued that visual art practice is an instrumental tool in the advancement of both creativity and social cohesion in this community. The research commenced with a pilot study, comprising workshops, which were run by art practitioners from various sectors in the region. Primary literature that influenced the emerging research design was that of Solomon (2007) as well as the holistic cultural viewpoints of Schafer (2014). The organic process of qualitative research methods as described by Ellingson (2009) was a natural personal directive. Body mapping was used during a preparatory phase that led to the creative exploration of community members’ own identity. Storytelling and dance were included in the design methodology since they enabled a psychosocial process of validating art practice as an economic asset within the community as well as enhancing social cohesion in the community. Crystallisation methods implemented in the process-driven body map workshops were held for grassroots -, town – and township sectors in the Olifants River valley. Each of the workshops comprised ten participants who were invited to participate in a subsequent do-designed collaborative event
Advanced oxidation process using ozone/heterogeneous catalysis for the degradation of phenolic compounds (chlorophenols) in aqueous system
No full textThesis (DTech (Chemistry))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.The use of ozone as an advanced oxidation process is gathering wide spread attention with the major limitation to its application being its cost of operation and design considerations. While the general approach of most researches is to buttress the already known fact of the efficacy of the process, little attention is given to studying the by-products of ozone reactions with organics. The aims of this study were to investigate the efficacy of the ozonation process for removing recalcitrant phenolics: phenol, 2-chlorophenol (2CP), 4-chlorophenol (4CP) and 2,4-dichloropheno (2,4DCP) from aqueous medium with a view of understanding various reaction pathways of the process and identifying possible intermediates and residual compounds using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The choice of the selected chlorophenols would also elucidate the role of the positioning of the chlorine atoms in determining reaction rates, pathways and subsequent mechanisms and by-products. Sequel to this, oxy-hydroxy iron in β-phase (β-FeOOH, akaganite) and various β-FeOOH bonded composites on support metal oxides (Al2O3, NiO and TiO2) were prepared via hetero-junction joining, and explored as a possible promoter to improve the efficiency of the ozonation process. Apparent first order reaction rates constants of tested phenolics was in the order 2,4-DCP > 2-CP > Phenol > 4-CP, irrespective of the tested pH. The individual rates however increased with increasing pH. The position 4 chlorine atom was found to be least susceptible to hydroxylative dechlorination. Catechol intermediate and pathway was identified as the major degradation pathway for phenol and 2-CP, while 4-chlorocatechol pathways were more important for 4-CP and 2,4-DCP. The formation of polymeric dimers and trimers by all compounds was pronounced at alkaline pH. Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation using β-FeOOH reduced ozonation time for 4-CP by 32%. Mechanism for β-FeOOH/ozone catalysis showed that the catalyst suffered reductive dissolution in acidic pH and the kinetics of 4-CP removal using the catalyst was best described using a two stage kinetic model. The first stage was attributed to heterogeneous catalysis of ozone breakdown on β-FeOOH surface generating faster reacting radicals, while the second stage was due to homogeneous catalysis by reduced Fe2+ ions in solution. β-FeOOH stabilized on NiO at a 5% ratio exhibited superior catalytic property compared to the other tested composites. Characterization by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) affirmed a β-FeOOH-NiO bonded interfaced composite which was stable as a
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catalyst over four (4) recycle runs. The mechanism of operation of the composite was via an increased ozone breakdown to radicals as monitored via photoluminescence experiments. The composite material produced satisfactory results when tested on real wastewater samples. Results from this study contribute to the current understanding on reaction mechanisms for ozone with phenols and chlorophenols, for the first time monitoring time captured intermediates via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric method, which preserves the integrity of reaction intermediates. Also this study proposes heterogeneous catalysts; β-FeOOH and β-FeOOH bonded composites as possible improvements for simple ozone based water purification systems
Response of bird assemblages to the invasion and clearing of alien trees in the Western Cape, South Africa
No full textThesis (MTech (Conservation and Marine Sciences))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.Invasive alien plant species pose a major threat to global biodiversity by displacing native vegetation and transforming habitats. In South Africa, invasive alien plants have become a major component of most habitats. River systems are particularly affected owing to their dynamic nature and to anthropogenic activities. This has resulted in fynbos riparian scrub vegetation being replaced mainly by Acacia and Eucalyptus species, with serious ecological and economic impacts. The presence of alien trees along river banks leads to a reduction in native plant species richness and their high water consumption adds on to the existing water challenges in an already dry country. However, with regards to native fauna, it largely remains unknown both at small or large spatial scale, whether alien trees provide additional habitat which increases biodiversity, or if their presence leads to a reduction of native biodiversity. Impacts on water supply have led to large-scale clearing of invasive alien trees from riparian zones by the government through the Working for Water (WfW) programme. Monitoring and evaluation studies carried out after clearing are not well-rounded and mostly focus on vegetation response to clearing. Although some of these studies have reported successful restoration through passive methods, ecosystem recovery remains partial. There is evidently a lack of information regarding the response of animal communities to invasive alien plant clearing. Therefore, the main objective of this thesis was to investigate bird assemblage response to alien tree invasion and clearing.
As a study system, I used the riparian area of the Berg River within the fynbos biome of the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. The area historically consisted of renosterveld vegetation characterised by a matrix of shrubs and a high diversity of geophytes but relatively poor avifaunal diversity. This area is heavily affected by invasive alien trees and shrubs including Eucalyptus camaldulensis. I employed bird assemblages as an indicator, and used fixed-point bird counts to compare bird species richness and bird abundance between invaded and near-pristine habitats. Invasion by E. camaldulensis significantly reduced bird species richness and abundance. In particular, nectarivores and frugivores, which play important mutualistic roles in the fynbos, were reduced and unexpectedly; there were fewer raptors in invaded areas.
I proceeded to carry out a space for time substitution, comparing plant and bird assemblages in invaded sites, near-pristine sites and in sites cleared in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2014. A general increase in bird species richness and bird abundance with time since clearing exists with bird assemblages in cleared sites being similar to those in near-pristine sites. However, bird assemblages in cleared sites have not yet fully recovered a decade after clearing and four native plant species are still absent. In the third part of my thesis I assessed the impacts of invasive alien plants on bird assemblages at a larger spatial scale. The different responses shown by bird assemblages to invasive alien plant cover depended on the intensity of invasion, spatial scale and other land uses. From a bird’s eye view, this study supports the current clearing by WfW given the significant negative effects of invasive alien plants on bird diversity both at plot and large spatial scales. However, passive restoration is unsuccessful in restoring the full complement of plants and birds, therefore, active restoration should be considered. To limit the cost, I suggest a focused restoration approach of selected keystone tree species which can assist to establish a functional native ecosystem
Improving outage process maturity level using a process maturity model
No full textThesis (MTech (Quality))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.The research study establishes the maturity level of the outage process of the Outage Management Department at Eskom. The outage process started in 2012 to contribute to the effective planning and execution of outages. The successful completion of outages depends on effective planning and execution of an outage. At the time of the research study, poor outage performance at Eskom’s power stations contributed to load shedding of electricity in South Africa.
The research problem statement reads as follows: The absence of an outage process maturity indicator diminishes the ability of the Outage Management Department (OMD) to comprehend the current process maturity level. The research question: Will the Outage Management Department be able to identify improvement opportunities if the maturity level of the outage process is established? The key research objectives are:
• To consider how process maturity enables improvement.
• To identify critical elements in an outage process.
• To determine what is included in outage planning, control and improvement.
• To identify a suitable process maturity model.
• To identify a measurement instrument to determine the maturity level of Eskom’s outage process
The research study uses a descriptive research design and applies the survey research method. Greener and Martelli’s (2015: Online) Business Research Process (Sources: Greener & Martelli, 2015: Online) is used together with Farooq’s Research Steps for Survey Research (2015, Online). The survey questionnaire adopted from Smith’s Maintenance Planning and Scheduling Maturity Matrix (2013: Online) was used to develop the survey questionnaire. The author developed the Outage Management Maturity Framework by combining Business Process Management Maturity model and a Maintenance Planning and Scheduling Maturity Matrix.
The research finding is that a process maturity model can determine the maturity level of the outage process and is useful as a process improvement tool. The research findings rank the maturity level of the outage process at Level 2, Experimenting