VUT DigiResearch

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Determining hygiene and safety practices of students during culinary studies skills practicals in a university of technology
(Vaal University of Technology, 2023-12-11) Kangala, Ntshengedzeni Patience; Dicks, E. G., Prof.; Kearney, J. E., Prof.
BACKGROUND: Foodborne diseases (FBDs) are a major public health concern and a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality. FBDs include a wide range of illnesses resulting from consumption of foodstuffs contaminated with toxic microorganisms or chemicals. Elimination of diseases is a key anchor of achieving long-term health outcomes and ensuring accessible and equitable health for millions of South Africans. The study was conducted to determine hygiene and safety practices of students during culinary studies skills practicals in a university of technology as they will play a major role in prevention of FBDs in future. AIMS: The main objective of this study was to determine the hygiene and safety practices of University of Technology (UOT) foodservice management students from first- to third-year level in the culinary studies skills practical classes, in order to design hygiene and safety assessment rubric for culinary studies skills practical classes. METHODOLOGY: Quantitative observation design method was followed. The researcher developed and pre-tested a checklist to collect the data. Data was captured on Microsoft Excel and analysed on the latest version of SPSS. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test results in and between the groups. The results were described using frequency counts and percentages. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Generally, students observed during the conduct of this study achieved high scores across all these categories. However, low scores were also observed in certain areas such as mopping and sweeping simultaniously (dry cleaning), wearing of necktie, sanitising displaying appropriate signage while conducting cleaning operations of the cullinary skills class. CONCLUSIONS: The study has concluded that the foodservice management students at the UOT have in general maintained food safety standards. Further, the COVID 19 pandemic provided a good context for the study and highlighted the importance of general hygiene and food hygiene in particular. RECOMMENDATIONS: A high priority should be given to individual, institutional and environmental factors hindering food safety at the UOT. UOT must build a sustainable Food safety culture (FSC) to support its various food safety initiatives, and further research should be done regarding students’ attitudes towards food safety cultural belief systems.
Quantum Adsorption’s Mechanism of Gelatin-Cellulose Hydrogel for Effective Removal of Copper and Cobalt ions from Wastewater using Artificial Neural Network
(Vaal University of Technology, 2023-01) Lukusa, Kabeya Tresor; Mutombo, Emery Kalonda, Prof.; Tshilenge, John, Kububa, Prof.
Heavy metal ions are one of the most toxic materials in the environment. Adsorption is the most used process for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater because is recognized as economical, effective and versatile method. Much research has been conducted into processes to remove heavy metals using different adsorbents. Various adsorbents have been used to remove harmful heavy metal ions from wastewater. Zeolite, clay, activated carbon and biopolymers are the most common adsorbents used. Due to complex nature on adsorption process, ANN (Artificial Neural Network) have been found to be one the most promising numerical simulation techniques to make reliable predictions. In order to obtain extensive information on the adsorption process of metal ions on the functional groups of adsorbents, quantum adsorption mechanism was investigated using DFT (Density Functional Theory). In this study, n-GCHM and GCHM@Fe3O4 were used to remove Cu(II) and Co(II) metal ions from laboratory-prepared synthetic wastewater. Batch experiments were conducted to obtain the optimum conditions for the Cu(II) and Co(II) metal ions. The effect of parameters such as pH, contact time, and initial concentration were also determined. The optimal conditions found were 120 minutes of contact time and a pH of 5. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cu(II) and Co(II) was 5.8343 mg/g and 4.7148 mg/g, respectively using n-GCHM while that using GCHM@Fe3O4 the monolayer capacity was 4.7148 mg/g for Cu(II) and 8.1499 mg/g for Co(II). The high percentage removal of Cu(II) was 70.5% with n-GCHM and 89.4% for Co(II) with GCHM@Fe3O4, all to the pH 5. The experimental data fit well to Pseudo-first-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm models for both metal ions. The experimental data conformed adequately to the film diffusion model for both metal ions at pH 5 with n-GCHM, but the Co(II) results fit well to the particle diffusion model with GCHM@Fe3O4. The molecular orbital approach (MOs) has shown that the HOMO and LUMO was located on the arginine (-NCN-) and LUMO on glutamine (-NCO-). The quantum adsorption mechanism has shown that the binding energy of Cu(II) and Co(II) on imine functional group (arginine) was of -60604.399 eV and -53649.06 eV, respectively. On -NCO- functional group (glutamine), the binding energy was of -58587.608 eV and -51632.618 eV, respectively for Cu(II) and Co(II).
Exploring the adoption of social media as a reputation management tool in crisis communication: The case study of an institution of higher learning
(Vaal University of Technology, 2024-03) Mafatle, Mahlapane Lydia; Manana, K. P. P.; Mbatha, Blessing, Prof.
The study aimed to explore the role of social media during a crisis at a higher education institution, and how social media is used to manage reputation. The study had three objectives: to investigate the role of social media in crisis communication at a higher education institution, to examine the types of social media used in crisis communication at the institution, and to explore the benefits and challenges of using social media for reputation management. A qualitative approach was adopted, and data was collected through focus group discussions with students and senior managers from the Communications Department, who were selected using purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, with the researcher transcribing all recorded data. The study found that various social media platforms were utilised, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, institutional websites, Flickr, Instagram, and YouTube. It also found that social media platforms played a crucial role in enhancing work productivity and creativity. Furthermore, social media was used for information dissemination and quick communication with university stakeholders. The institution used social media as a tool for managing reputation by ensuring the dissemination of relevant information to stakeholders. Additionally, social media played a fundamental role in attracting prospective students and transforming the way information is disseminated by the institution. However, there is still room for improvement.
Determining first-year students' awareness and perceptions of the student support office: a case of a university of technology in South Africa
(Vaal University of Technology, 2023-11-25) Mashatola, Ngwako Stephen; Manana, Knowledge; Mbatha, Blessing, Prof.
The student support service’s role in helping first-year students adapt and concentrate on their studies at institutions of higher learning could not be emphasised enough. Students who use the student service are likely to transition well and have positive academic experiences. Through communication, the student support services should draw the attention of stakeholders to the available services. This study aimed to determine first-year students’ level of awareness and perception of student support services at the University of Technology in South Africa across all faculties. The objectives of the study were as follows: To determine first-year students’ awareness of the Student Support Services office across all the selected University of Technology in South Africa faculties. • To assess first-year students’ perceptions of the Student Support Services office at the above university of technology. • To determine a relationship between awareness, perceptions, and the intentions to use the Student Support Services office. • To determine whether awareness and perceptions impact the intention to use the Student Support Services office. A quantitative design was employed by distributing a self-administered questionnaire to survey the level of awareness, perception, and intention to use variables from 308 respondents who were on campus and volunteered to respond to the questionnaire. The sample was made of most of the respondents (67%) who were females, followed by males, who constituted 31.17%. The respondents who identified themselves as ‘other’ constituted 0.97%. The results revealed that students are not fully aware of the student support services. There is a correlation between awareness and perception. There is no correlation between awareness and intention to use. However, there is a correlation between perception and intention to use the student support services. Results illuminate that being aware of the student support service is insufficient for stakeholders to visit the office for help. Instead, the perception must be better to impact the students’ intention to use the student support services.
Modelling of the biomethane production from foodwaste using anaerobic digestion
(Vaal University of Technology, 2023-01) Matobole, Gloria Kgomotso; Rutto, Hilary, Prof.; Matheri, Anthony Njuguna, Dr.; Seodigeng, Tumisang, Prof.
Global urbanisation as well as economic growth has caused organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) to be generated at an alarming rate. In developing countries this waste tends to be mishandled and disposed inappropriately at illegal dumping site and landfills. This lack of proper solid waste management negatively affects the environment due to the production of landfill gases and leachates. Food waste accounts for a larger portion OFMSW and its organic content is quite high. It is known to decompose easily when buried due its 80 % water content and this results in the creation of methane, a greenhouse gas. To counteract this, a process of anaerobic digestion can be used to treat foodwaste by generating biogas to be used for energy generation. This will also deal with the reduction of waste volumes at the dumping sites. The main purpose of this work was the biodegradability experiments, modelling and simulations of anaerobic digestion of food waste. This was achieved by two experimental. The first BMP tests were conducted on University’s canteen’s food waste which was used as substrate. The substrate had the volatile solids (%VS) of 21 %, moisture content of 78 % and total solids (%TS) of 22%. Two different types of inoculum, primary and digested sludge were used in batch reactors, at mesophilic temperature of 37 °C. Food waste inoculated with digested sludge resulted in methane yield of 357 Nml/g VS and its data fitted the first order kinetic model with k being 0.034 day-1, with R2 of 0.847. Whereas food waste inoculated with primary sludge also resulted in methane yield of 357 Nml/g VS and its data also fitted the first order kinetic model with k being 0.278 day-1 with R2 of 0.98. The second experiment fruit and vegetable waste was the substrate sourced from a local fruit and vegetable market. Pretreatment of the substrate (fruit and vegetable waste) preceded the BMP tests. The pretreatment method used in this instance was ultrasonic to assist in the improvement substrate’s biodegradability. Three sonication times of 10, 20, 45 min were under investigation; operated at an amplitude of 8 μm and 20 MHz .BMP tests were performed on ultrasonic pre-treated substrate which was inoculated with sludge. The pretreated samples contained volatile solids (%VS) of 82.1 %, total solids (%TS) of 17.9%, moisture content of 82.1 % and C/N of 26%. BMP tests in this instance were performed at mesophillic temperature of 35 °C. The sonication time of 45 min resulted in the highest cumulative methane production of 238 ±7.64 mL/g VS. This yield was 43 % higher than the untreated sample. 20 minutes for pretreatment sonication time, resulted in the cumulative methane production of 210.4 ±3.82 mL/g VS. Finally, sonication time of 10 minutes resulted in the least methane yield of 173 ±3.18 mL/g VS, with only 22 % increase in the yield. It was concluded that an increase in ultrasonic pretreatment time, resulted in an increased the methane yield. The last part of the study involved the use of a statistics software package, IBM SPSS Statistics, for curve fitting as well as an estimation of kinetic parameters of the models. The models which were investigated to fit the experimental data were original, modified and co-digestion Gompertz models as well as the original, modified and co-digestion Richards models. It was concluded that co-digestion Richard’s model fits the experimental data perfectly and it is recommended that this model can be used as is for fitting other substrates the have a two-step graph. modified Richard’s model is the perfect fit for all data under investigation. Codigestion modified Richards model has the highest correlation, with R2 of approximately 1 for all the fits, this is tabulated below. This shows clearly shows the perfection of the fit on the data at hand.