Dr Mpingana Ndilimeke Akawa
Senior Lecturer: Analytical Chemistry
Qualifications
Biography
Biography
Dr. Akawa is a Senior Lecturer in the Biology, Chemistry and Physics Department with expertise in Environmental and Analytical Chemistry, water quality assessment and Nanomaterials for Environmental Applications. She holds a PhD in Chemistry and has extensive experience in teaching, research, and supervision at tertiary level.
Her research interests include sustainable water and sanitation systems, environmental pollution control and remediation, biofuel research, and the development of innovative materials for environmental applications. She is also interested in sustainable environmental technologies and green chemistry approaches for environmental applications.
Research Focus
- Use of nano-adsorbents and green extraction technologies for environmental and analytical chemistry applications
- Water quality assessment
- Assessment of trace metals and emerging pollutants in complex matrices
Teaching
Undergraduate: Analytical Principles and Practice (APP601S) and Environmental Chemistry (ENC602S)
Postgraduate: Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Chemometrics (AAC811S) and Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Remediation (EPM821S)
Community Development Activities
Publications
Mpingana N. Akawa, K.M. Dimpe, P.N. Nomngongo, Amine - functionalized magnetic activated carbon as an adsorbent for preconcentration and determination of acidic drugs in environmental water samples using HPLC - DAD, Open Chem. 18 (2020): 1218–1229.
Mpingana N. Akawa, K.M. Dimpe, P.N. Nomngongo, Ultrasonic assisted magnetic solid phase extraction based on the use of magnetic waste-tyre derived activated carbon modified with methyltrioctylammonium chloride adsorbent for the preconcentration and analysis of non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in wastewater (Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 14 (9) (2021): 103329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2021.103329
Mpingana N. Akawa, K.M. Dimpe, P.N. Nomngongo, An adsorbent composed of alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone and activated carbon (AC@PVP@Alginate) for ultrasound-assisted dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction (UA-Dµ-SPE) of nevirapine and zidovudine in environmental water samples(Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management,16 (2021): 100559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2021.100559).
Mpingana N. Akawa, K.M. Dimpe, P.N. Nomngongo, Vortex-assisted supramolecular solvent dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of ketoprofen and naproxen from environmental water before chromatographic analysis: response surfacemethodology optimization. ((Journal of Analytical Science and Technology,13, 47 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40543-022-00361-2
Denga Ramutshatsha-Makhwedzha, Pamela Mitah Mnisi, Mpingana Ndilimeke Akawa, Mapula Lucey Mavhungu, Mukuna Patrick Mubiayi, Adsorptive removal of Congo Red from wastewater using Magnetite@ZnO@Zeolite composite. Discover Water (2026) 6:44, https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-026-00359-6
Book Chapter
Denga Ramutshatsha-Makhwedzha, Mpingana Ndilimeke Akawa. Synthesis, modifications, characterization, and application of composites for heavy metal adsorption. Composites and Biocomposites for Heavy Metal Adsorption (2026), Pages 35-52, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-31528-2.00002-0
