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South Africa

Biography

Dr Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa holds a PhD in Microbial Biotechnology from the University of the Free State (UFS) with speciality in Biotechnological application of bacterial consortia for wastewater bioremediation. In his MSc and PhD research studies, he focused on the developments of wastewater bioremediation systems using indigenous bacteria enriched, characterized and applied to remediate industrial chemical contaminants with no secondary contaminants. The developed biotechnological technologies are environmentally friendly and have been adopted for onsite treatment of wastewater from mines having different contaminants that are environmentally harmful with potential to cause health conditions including cancers and neurological conditions if left untreated.

Dr Moloantoa has been involved in various applied and environmental microbiology projects in the past 10 years of his academic research and has participated in 9 scientific conferences and authored 4 publications. When not conducting research, Dr Moloantoa has always been involved in the teaching and learning platform facilitating undergraduate theory and practical sessions including supervision of postgraduate students. He served as a part time lecture for over 5 years at Central University of Technology (CUT), served as a Tutor Practical and Demonstrator for over 9 years at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and University of the Free State (UFS). He is a member of Water Institute of South Africa (WISA) and South African Society for Microbiology (SASM), Applied Centre for Climate and Earth System Sciences (ACCESS) and an Alumni at FameLab represented Free State province in 2014.

Post his academic era as a Postgraduate student, he joined a Research and Development as a researcher in a Wastewater and Environmental Management company conducting research, developing water testing kits and doing consultations for industries with wastewater challenges. As an academic and scientist at heart, Dr Moloantoa joined the South African Grape and Wine Research Institute (SAGWRI) as a Postdoctoral research fellow hosted at Stellenbosch University where he conducted research on development of Biocontrol agents against Pathogenic fungi affecting grapes and wine on a microbial and molecular level.

After his hands on experience in Wine Microbiology developing Bio-control agents against pathogenic fungi, Dr Moloantoa joined the School of Life Science in the department of Microbiology within the college of Agriculture, Engineering and Sciences as a lecturer and researcher. Dr Moloantoa's research interest are in Environmental Microbiology, Biogeochemistry and applied Biotechnology.

Activities

Employment (6)

University of KwaZulu-Natal: Durban, South Africa, ZA

2022-09-01 to present | Lecturer (Microbiology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Stellenbosch University Faculty of Science: Stellenbosch, Western Cape, ZA

2022-05-01 to 2022-08-30 | Postdoctoral Researcher (Viticulture and Oenology )
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

i-labwater and i-Water Solutions: Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA

2022-02 to 2022-04 | Researcher and consultant (Research and Development)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Central University of Technology: Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA

2017 to 2021 | Lecturer (Life and Environmental Sciences)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

University of the Free State: Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA

2011 to 2018 | Research assistant (Microbiology and Biochemistry)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

University of South Africa: Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA

2015 to 2015 | Tutor (Life Sciences)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Education and qualifications (4)

University of the Free State: Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA

2015-04-06 to 2021-12-28 | PhD - Microbial Biotechnology (Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

University of the Free State: Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA

2012-07-02 to 2015-02-27 | MSc - Biotechnology (Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

University of the Free State: Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA

2011-01-05 to 2012-06-19 | Honors - Biochemistry (Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

University of the Free State: Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA

2008-02-02 to 2010-12-04 | BSc - Medical Microbiology and Biochemistry (Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Professional activities (2)

South African Society for Microbiology: Cape Town, South Africa, ZA

2023-09-23 to 2025-09-30 | Council Member (Department of Microbiology)
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Water Institute of South Africa: Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, ZA

2023-02-01 to 2024-02-01 | Ordinary member (Department of Microbiology)
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Funding (1)

Industrial wastewater bioremediation and heavy metal bio-precipitation.

2024-03 to 2024-12 | Grant
UCDP - University Capacity Development Programme (Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, ZA)
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Works (9)

Cyanobacteria Harmful Algae Blooms: Causes, Impacts, and Risk Management

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution
2024-01 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0049-6979
Part of ISSN: 1573-2932
Contributors: Aboi Igwaran; Adeoye John Kayode; Karabelo M. Moloantoa; Zenzile P. Khetsha; John Onolame Unuofin
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Biowaste biorefineries in South Africa: Current status, opportunities, and research and development needs

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
2023-12 | Journal article
Contributors: Patrick T. Sekoai; Viren Chunilall; Kwanele Msele; Lindiswa Buthelezi; Jonas Johakimu; Jerome Andrew; Manqoba Zungu; Karabelo Moloantoa; Nontuthuko Maningi; Olivier Habimana et al.
Source: check_circle
Crossref

Evaluating the effects of pH and temperature on sulphate-reducing bacteria and modelling of their effects in stirred bioreactors

Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability
2023-12-31 | Journal article
Contributors: Karabelo Moloantoa; Zenzile Khetsha; Mokgaotsa Mochane; John Unuofin; Abdon Atangana; Errol Cason; Esta van Heerden; Julio Castillo
Source: check_circle
Crossref

Metagenomic assessment of nitrate-contaminated mine wastewaters and optimization of complete denitrification by indigenous enriched bacteria

Frontiers in Environmental Science
2023-03-31 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 2296-665X
Contributors: Karabelo M. Moloantoa; Zenzile P. Khetsha; Gueguim E. B. Kana; Maleke M. Maleke; Esta Van Heerden; Julio C. Castillo; Errol D. Cason
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

The biobleaching potential of laccase produced from mandarin peelings: Impetus for a circular bio-based economy in textile biofinishing

Arabian Journal of Chemistry
2022-12 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1878-5352
Contributors: Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa; John O. Unuofin; Karabelo M. Moloantoa; Zenzile P. Khetsha
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Nitrate Water Contamination from Industrial Activities and Complete Denitrification as a Remediation Option

Water
2022-03 | Journal article | Author
Contributors: Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa; Zenzile P. Khetsha; Esta van Heerden; Julio C. Castillo; Errol Duncan Cason
Source: check_circle
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Using Biostimulants Containing Phytohormones to Recover Hail-Damaged Essential Oil Plants

Revisiting Plant Biostimulants [Working Title]
2022-02-04 | Book chapter
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Environmental Implications of Microbial Bioplastics for a Sustainable Future

Microbial Polymers
2021 | Book chapter
Part of ISBN: 9789811600449
Part of ISBN: 9789811600456
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Biomineralization and Bioaccumulation of Europium by a Thermophilic Metal Resistant Bacterium

Frontiers in Microbiology
2019-01-30 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1664-302X
Source: Self-asserted source
Karabelo Macmillan Moloantoa

Peer review (6 reviews for 5 publications/grants)

Review activity for Environmental science and pollution research international (2)
Review activity for Green chemistry letters and reviews. (1)
Review activity for International journal of molecular sciences. (1)
Review activity for Journal of basic microbiology. (1)
Review activity for Minerals. (1)