Prof Izak Nieuwoudt

Extraordinary Professor

Short Bio

  • Education
    • PhD (Engineering), Stellenbosch University, 1994
    • MEng (Extractive Metallurgical Engineering), Stellenbosch University, 1989
    • BEng (Chemical Engineering), Stellenbosch University, 1986
  • Professional experience
    • Director: Research & Development
      Koch-Glitsch, Wichita, USA 
      September 2003 to present
    • Professor, Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer
      Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University
      April 1995 to August 2003
    • Senior Process Engineer, Senior Process Engineer Grade I
      SASTECH (Division of SASOL LTD.)
      November 1993 to March 1995
    • Design Engineer
      Universal Oil Products (UOP), Chicago, USA 
      October 1992 to October 1993
    • Senior Process Engineer, Process Engineer, Assistant Process Engineer
      SASTECH (A division of SASOL LTD.)
      March 1989 to October 1992
    • Research Assistant
      University of Stellenbosch, Chamber of Mines Contract
      January 1987 to February 1989
  • Honours & Awards
    • 2012: Koch Industries Environmental, Health & Safety Excellence award.
    • 2002: Alexander von Humboldt Stipend to do research in Germany.
    • 2001: Listed in Marquis Who’s who in Science and Engineering.
    • 2001: DAAD Scholarship to do research in Germany.
    • 2001: Ad hominen promotion to Full Professor on the basis of research outputs.
    • 2000: University of Stellenbosch Lecturer of the year award for excellence in undergraduate teaching.
    • 1999: Ad hominem promotion to Associate Professor on the basis of research outputs.
    • 1999: Awarded University of Stellenbosch medal as one of the researchers of the year.
    • 1993: Sent to USA by Sasol on basis of being identified as an engineer with good potential.
    • 1992: Sastech (Sasol) award for technical achievement in developing extractive distillation processes.

Research Interests

  • Distillation and extraction
  • Solvent driven separations
  • Supercritical fluid processing
  • Thermodynamics

Selected Publications

  • Du Rand, M., Nieuwoudt, I., Schwarz, C.E. & Knoetze, J.H. 2012, “A practical equation of state for non-spherical and asymmetric systems for application at high pressures. Part 1: Development of the pure component model”, Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, vol. 90, no. 3, pp. 584-596.
  • Du Rand, M., Nieuwoudt, I., Schwarz, C.E. & Knoetze, J.H. 2012, “A practical equation of state for non-spherical and asymmetric systems for application at high pressures. Part 2: Extension to mixtures”, Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, vol. 90, no. 3, pp. 597-611.
  • Nieuwoudt, I. 2011, “Exploiting the synergy between liquid extraction and other solvent driven separations”, 11AIChE – 2011 AIChE Annual Meeting, Conference Proceedings.
  • Nieuwoudt, I. 2011, “Tray efficiency of SUPERFRAC(TM) high-performance trays in C2 splitter service”, Hydrocarbon Asia, Apr-Jun 2011, pp. 64-68.
  • Nieuwoudt, I. & Quotson, P. 2011, “INTALOX ULTRA random packing – Pushing the envelope”, 11AIChE – 2011 AIChE Spring Meeting and 7th Global Congress on Process Safety, Conference Proceedings.
  • Schwarz, C.E., Nieuwoudt, I. & Knoetze, J.H. 2010, “Additional pilot plant measurements with incorporation of reflux for the fractionation of wax derivatives with supercritical propane”, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 49, no. 9, pp. 4462-4467.