Prof Chris Bumby
Applications accepted all year round
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
Conventional production of iron and steel via carbothermic reduction of iron ore is responsible for approximately 15% of the global consumption of coal, and around 7% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Electrowinning is an alternative process for the production of iron which does not require the input of coking coal and can produce extremely high purity iron.
This PhD project will investigate new techniques and strategies for the electrochemical production of iron from New Zealand titanomagnetite ironsand – an abundant and low-cost source of iron ore. In particular, the work will focus on the use of non-aqueous electrolyte systems and ion-selective membranes in order to enhance electrical efficiency, targeting an industrially feasible process for the continuous electrochemical production of high purity iron and iron alloys.
The student will be part of a significant new research programme funded by the NZ government and will work alongside a collaborative team of researchers from Victoria University of Wellington, Callaghan Innovation (an NZ government research institute) and the University of Wollongong (Australia).
We are seeking applicants with an excellent academic record, strong practical and written skills, highly self-motivated and with an aptitude for learning new skills outside their existing discipline. Applicants should hold either a First-class Honours degree or MSc/MEng related to one of the following disciplines: Materials Science/Metallurgy, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Physics.
This PhD project will be co-supervised by Dr. Chris Bumby and Professor Thomas Nann at Victoria University of Wellington. For more information about this project, please email [Email Address Removed]
Keywords: Electrochemistry, Electro-chemistry, metal electro-deposition, electro-winning, electro-refining, ionic liquids, green chemistry
Funding Notes
The successful PhD student will receive a PhD scholarship comprising an annual stipend of NZ$25,000 p.a. for 3 years and payment of all university student fees.
Applicants will need to meet all requirements for enrolment in the PhD programme at Victoria University of Wellington (including demonstrated English language competence).
For more details on the criteria for acceptance to enrol for PhD study at Victoria University see here: http://www.victoria.ac.nz/fgr/prospective-phds/qualifications-required