High Sulphur Loaded Activated Carbon Regeneration (CPL Industries)

The Centre wishes to recruit a chemistry or chemical engineering graduate with a first or high 2.1 (above 65% grade mark average) class honours degrees for the project summarised below, which starts 1 October 2018. The funding available restricts the project to UK students only. This project’s industrial partner is CPL Industries.

If you wish to apply, please send your CV and covering letter to the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Carbon Capture and Storage and Cleaner Fossil Energy: [Email Address Removed].

CPL Industries Limited is the UK’s market leader in the manufacture and supply of coal based, solid fuel used in domestic heating. CPL Carbon Link is part of CPL Industries Limited and is a division that is responsible for the purchase, regeneration and sale of activated carbon. The activated carbon currently purchased is coal based and is imported from China (95%) with the balance from Australia.
With prices of imported virgin carbon continuing an upward trend regeneration of spent activated carbon is becoming increasingly favoured. Using regenerated activated carbon where possible can provide significant savings for end users. Additionally, re-using activated carbon reduces the carbon footprint associated with the production of new activated carbon and the emissions associated with the shipping/transportation from the current supply sources.

A significant amount of this spent carbon that is now beneficial to regenerate has a high sulphur loading (up to 40%). Unfortunately, in conventional thermal regeneration in which steam is added H2SO4 is produced. This acid then attacks the equipment due to its corrosive nature. One possible way round this is to use microwave regeneration as an alternative technology, where different materials can be used to overcome the corrosion issue.

It is envisaged that the scope of the research programme will encompass the following:

• To identify which sulphur compounds are being devolatilised from the spent activated carbons during microwave regeneration and establish opportunities for re-use.
• Understand how to optimise the whole regeneration process to get sulphur levels to <2%
• Establish the preferred regeneration method for high sulphur carbon. A carbon wash, followed by either thermal, microwave or microwave on its own.
• Establish OPEX calculations