Professor | Separations Technology & Water Treatment

Short Bio

Prof. Burger is a professor of Chemical Engineering with a research focus on separation processes such as membrane separation, distillation and adsorption. He obtained a PhD (Engineering) in 1994, a MEng (Extractive Metallurgical Engineering) in 1986, and a BEng (Chemical Engineering) in 1983; all at Stellenbosch University. He has held various positions within the academia and the industry:

2003 – Present: Professor (Separations Technology), Department of Chemical Engineering, Stellenbosch University

Jan 2021 – Oct 2022: Director, Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for the Water-Energy-Food Nexus at Stellenbosch University (FIP-WEF@SU)

Jul 2018 – Dec 2020, Nov 2011 – Jun 2014 & 2005 – 2009: Departmental Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stellenbosch University

1998 – 2003: Technical Director, Weir Envig (acquired by Veolia Water in 2004)

1996 – 1998: Engineering Manager, Weir Envig

1994 – 1996: Project Engineer, Weir Envig

1992 – 1994: Project Manager: Simulation, De Beers Research Laboratories

1990 – 1992: Senior Engineer: Mineral Processing, Mintek

1988 – 1989: Engineer: Mineral Processing, Mintek

1984 – 1985: Research Scholar, Mintek

Professional societies

Registered Professional Engineer (Engineering Council of South Africa);
Fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering;
Fellow of the Water Institute of South Africa;
Member of the South African Institute of Chemical Engineering and IChemE.

Honours and awards

Stellenbosch University Chancellor’s Award, 2019
Stellenbosch University Engineering Faculty Award as Lecturer of the Year, 2015
Stellenbosch University Rector’s Award for General Performance, 2014
Stellenbosch University Rector’s Award for General Performance, 2013
Stellenbosch University Rector’s Award for Community Interaction, 2009

Research Interests

Desalination and water treatment; Distillation hydrodynamics; Thermodynamics and phase-equilibria.

Prof Burger is a specialist in membrane-based desalination and water treatment. His related research is application-driven, focusing on the practical aspects of membrane fouling, energy consumption and efficiency. He also supervises research in thermal separation technology, specifically focussing on topics such as distillation hydrodynamics and phase-equilibria, as well as the associated underlying chemical thermodynamics.

Selected Publications

Visit my Google Scholar Profile for a complete list of my publications.

Teaching

Chemical Engineering 317 (Thermodynamics)
Chemical Engineering 224 (Fundamental Principles)