Lethiwe Debra Mthembu

About

I was born and raised in Durban's Folweni Township. Reading, singing, traveling, and photography are among my interests and activities. I am a woman who is respectful, humble, and dedicated. Winning the 2017 L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship in Sub-Saharan Africa is one of my proudest accomplishments so far.

I visited two universities for research collaboration which led to two publications:
1. University of New Delhi (India, New Delhi) in 2014 for 1 month
2. Technische Universitat Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH) (German, Hamburg-Harburg) in 2015 for 2 months

I presented my study at local conferences:
1. 5th International IUPAC Green Chemistry Conference (Poster presenter) in 2014 at Elangeni hotel (Durban).
2. DUT Postgraduate Research Day (Oral presenter) in 2014 at DUT (Steve Biko Campus) in Durban
3. 42nd National Convention of South African Chemical Institute Conference (Oral presenter) in 2015 at Elangeni hotel (Durban).
4. 43rd South African Chemical Institute (SACI) National Convention (Oral presenter) in 2018 at CSIR-ICC (South Africa, Pretoria)

and I have also presented my research internationally (oral presentations):
1. 7th International Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry in 2015 at Hitotsubashi University, Hitotsubashi Hall (Japan,Tokyo).
2. 8th IUPAC International Conference on Green Chemistry at Shangri-La Hotel (Thailand, Bangkok), 2018
3. 5th International Symposium on Green Chemistry (ISGC 2019) at Espace Encan Quai Louis Prunier – 17033 (France, La Rochelle)

Current study areas of interest include biofuels, biochemicals derived from biomass, and ionic liquids.
Ionic liquids are being used to replace hazardous catalysts in the synthesis of value-added goods from biomass.

I am the Founder and President of Sakhisizwe Academy Npo, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting high school students in Mathematics and Science. Donations and volunteers are both much welcomed.

Employment

• Durban University of Technology Post-doctoral Researcher
  2022 - Present
• Durban University of Technology Lecturer
  2021 - 2022
• Durban University of Technology Research Assistant
  2021 - 2021
• Mangosuthu University of Technology Chemistry Lecturer
  2020 - 2020
• Mangosuthu University of Technology Lecturer
  2020 - 2020
• Durban University of Technology Teaching Assistant/Tutor
  2015 - 2019
• Mangosuthu University of Technology Teaching Assistant and Tutor
  2012 - 2014
• Arkema Resins In-service trainee
  2011 - 2012

Education

Education history is unavailable.

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (9)

• Conversion of Biomass-Derived Levulinic Acid into γ-Valerolactone Using Methanesulfonic Acid: An Optimization Study Using Response Surface Methodology
  Fermentation 2023 DOI: 10.3390/fermentation9030288
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• Advances in Biomass-Based Levulinic Acid Production
  Waste and Biomass Valorization 2023 DOI: 10.1007/s12649-022-01948-x
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• Esterification of levulinic acid to ethyl levulinate: optimization of process conditions using commercial levulinic acid and extension to the use of levulinic acid derived from depithed sugarcane bagasse
  Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery 2021 DOI: 10.1007/s13399-021-01632-5
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• Optimization of Levulinic Acid Production from Depithed Sugarcane Bagasse in 1- Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate [EMim][HSO4]
  Waste and Biomass Valorization 2021 DOI: 10.1007/s12649-020-01221-z
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• Catalytic Condensation of Depithed Sugarcane Bagasse Derived Levulinic Acid into Diphenolic Acid
  BioResources 2021
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• Valorization of Sugarcane Bagasse to a Platform Chemical (Levulinic Acid) Catalysed by 1-Butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate ([BMMim][BF4])
  Waste and Biomass Valorization 2021 DOI: 10.1007/s12649-020-00997-4
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• Levulinic acid production integrated into a sugarcane bagasse based biorefinery using thermal-enzymatic pretreatment
  Industrial Crops and Products 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.02.010
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• Enzymatic saccharification of acid/alkali pre-treated, mill-run, and depithed sugarcane bagasse
  Thandeka Mkhize, Lethiwe Debra Mthembu, Rishi Gupta +4 more
  BioResources 2016 DOI: 10.15376/biores.11.3.6267-6285
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• Production of levulinic acid from sugarcane bagasse
  Durban University of Technology 2016
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