or
Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here.
These projects are open to students worldwide, but have no funding attached. Therefore, the successful applicant will be expected to fund tuition fees at the relevant level (home or international) and any applicable additional research costs. Please consider this before applying.
This project will focus on facing the global challenge of reducing landfilling by revalorising wastes of different nature (e.g. plastic waste, agroforestry and food/drinks industry waste streams) to produce added-value materials/chemicals to facilitate energy transition and tackle greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions (i.e. CO2).
The research candidate will investigate the sustainable conversion of wastes into porous sorbents (of different nature and composition), and gases (e.g. H2). Formed products in the solid and gaseous fraction will then be fully characterised. Solid materials will be tested for gas separation application (i.e. elimination of undesired gaseous species and/or impurities from industrial gaseous mixtures, such as CO2 from flue gas). Gas fraction will be analysed for its potential to be used as energy vector.
The above will involve experimental activities such as the application of green, conventional and unconventional thermochemical conversion treatments to the selected wastes, surface modification, materials characterisation, evaluation of gas adsorption (uptakes) at equilibrium and dynamic conditions, adsorption selectivity determination, adsorption-desorption kinetics evaluation, among others. Knowledge on materials and energy balances, and thermochemical conversion treatments is essential.
Knowledge on gas spectrometry, microwave heating, and materials science is desired.
Applicants who would like to explore a specific innovative idea within the scope of this project are welcomed and encouraged. For the later, a brief and concise description of the idea (maximum 2 pages) should be submitted as part of the application.
Essential Background:
Decisions will be based on academic merit. The successful applicant should have, or expect to obtain, a UK Honours Degree at 2.1 (or equivalent) in Chemical Engineering or any related discipline, such as BSc in Chemistry, Materials Science.
Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, Microwave Heating, Gas Separation Processes, Adsorption, Mass and Energy Balances knowledge an advantage.
Further information:
This project requires knowledge of some of the following: thermochemical conversion treatments of materials, materials surface modification, materials characterisation: namely N2 sorption to determine textural properties (BET, micropore volume, total pore volume, average pore diameter…), gas chromatography (product analysis and quantification), FTIR, XRD, TGA, porosimeter. Organic chemistry, physical chemistry, reactor design and kinetics/reactor dynamics, thermodynamics and heat transfer, gas separation processes, adsorption principles, kinetics of adsorption and desorption, etc.
Microsoft Office package (specially Excel, Word, Power Point).
The knowledge of any other software such as Matlab, Aspen Hysys (Adsorption) will be valuable.
Application Procedure:
Formal applications can be completed online: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/pgap/login.php
You should apply for Engineering (PhD) to ensure your application is passed to the correct team for processing.
Please clearly note the name of the lead supervisor and project title on the application form. If you do not include these details, it may not be considered for the studentship.
Your application must include: A personal statement, an up-to-date copy of your academic CV, and clear copies of your educational certificates and transcripts.
Please note: you DO NOT need to provide a research proposal with this application.
If you require any additional assistance in submitting your application or have any queries about the application process, please don't hesitate to contact us at pgrs-admissions@abdn.ac.uk
This is a self-funding project open to students worldwide. Our typical start dates for this programme are February or October.
Fees for this programme can be found here Finance and Funding | Study Here | The University of Aberdeen (abdn.ac.uk)
Additional research costs / bench fees of £3,000 per annum will also be required.
The university will respond to you directly. You will have a FindAPhD account to view your sent enquiries and receive email alerts with new PhD opportunities and guidance to help you choose the right programme.
Log in to save time sending your enquiry and view previously sent enquiries
The information you submit to University of Aberdeen will only be used by them or their data partners to deal with your enquiry, according to their privacy notice. For more information on how we use and store your data, please read our privacy statement.
Based on your current searches we recommend the following search filters.
Check out our other PhDs in Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Start a New search with our database of over 4,000 PhDs
Based on your current search criteria we thought you might be interested in these.
PhD position in Structural Engineering - High-performance steel/aluminium structures, sustainable structures with green and recycled materials, structural resilience of steel structures under hazards
University of Canterbury
University of Bath URSA Project: Culturally Driven Sustainable Materials: Transforming Local Waste into High-Performance Structural Solutions
University of Bath
PhD position in Organometallic Catalysis: New Catalytic Methods for Green Organic Synthesis / CO2 utilisation / Plastic Recycling
University of St Andrews