Professor Mujahid Aziz is a distinguished academic and research leader serving as the Assistant Dean: Learning & Teaching in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in South Africa. In this leadership role, he oversees and enhances academic excellence across eight departments within the faculty, which collectively serve nearly 10,000 students, including a growing cohort of postgraduate scholars. As a champion of academic transformation, Prof. Aziz is deeply committed to promoting innovative teaching practices, curriculum modernization, and student-centered learning within engineering education. His leadership is instrumental in aligning the faculty’s academic strategies with industry relevance, sustainability goals, and the national development agenda. With over 23 years of experience as an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Prof. Aziz has established himself as a transformative educator, researcher, and mentor. His academic journey reflects a sustained dedication to advancing both the theoretical and practical dimensions of environmental and chemical engineering. Throughout his career, he has supervised numerous postgraduate students and contributed to the development of engineering curricula that integrate sustainability, innovation, and applied research. His pedagogical philosophy emphasizes experiential learning and the development of problem-solving skills essential for addressing real-world engineering challenges, particularly in water and environmental systems. As the Principal Investigator of the Environmental Engineering Research Group (EERG), Prof. Aziz leads multidisciplinary research focused on sustainable water and wastewater treatment technologies. His work is internationally recognized, with publications in high-impact journals such as Desalination, MDPI Membranes, MDPI Water, and Environmental Processes. Recent research endeavors have explored cutting-edge methods for biofouling mitigation in polyamide thin-film composite reverse osmosis membranes, particularly through polymer grafting and nanoparticle coating. These innovations are pivotal for improving the treatment of municipal bioreactor secondary effluent and enhancing the efficiency and longevity of membrane systems used in desalination and wastewater reuse. Prof. Aziz’s research portfolio is characterized by a strong interdisciplinary approach that bridges materials science, chemical process design, and environmental sustainability. His areas of specialization encompass membrane technology, wastewater reuse, electrochemical and adsorption processes, brine management, and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems. His work addresses critical environmental challenges associated with water scarcity and industrial pollution, offering viable pathways for circular water economies and resource recovery. His pursuit of innovation in micropollutant removal, membrane fouling control, and electro-oxidation for water reuse reflects his vision of achieving sustainable and intelligent environmental engineering solutions. Through his academic leadership, pioneering research, and commitment to mentorship, Prof. Mujahid Aziz continues to make a profound impact on the future of engineering education and sustainable water technology development in South Africa and beyond.
Featured Publications
Aziz, M., & Ojumu, T. (2020). Exclusion of estrogenic and androgenic steroid hormones from municipal membrane bioreactor wastewater using UF/NF/RO membranes for water reuse application. Membranes, 10(3), 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10030037
Aziz, M., & Kasongo, G. (2021). The removal of selected inorganics from municipal membrane bioreactor wastewater using UF/NF/RO membranes for water reuse application: A pilot-scale study. Membranes, 11(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11020104
Myburgh, D. P., Aziz, M., Roman, F., Jardim, J., & Chakawa, S. (2019). Removal of COD from industrial biodiesel wastewater using an integrated process: Electrochemical oxidation with IrO₂–Ta₂O₅/Ti anodes and chitosan powder. Environmental Processes, 6(4), 819–840. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-019-00393-5
Kasongo, G., Steenberg, C., Morris, B., Kapenda, G., Jacobs, N., & Aziz, M. (2019). Surface grafting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA) to improve resistance to fouling of aromatic polyamide thin film composite reverse osmosis membranes. Water Practice & Technology, 14(3), 614–624. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2019.042
Chakawa, S., & Aziz, M. (2021). Investigating the result of current density, temperature, and electrolyte concentration on COD subtraction of petroleum refinery wastewater using response surface methodology. Water, 13(6), 835. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13060835
Aziz, M., & Kasongo, G. (2019). Scaling prevention of thin film composite polyamide reverse osmosis membranes by Zn ions. Desalination, 464, 76–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2019.04.006