Development of advanced adsorbents for gas separation processes

This experimental project will face the global challenge of reducing emissions from industrial activities. The research candidate will develop advanced adsorbent materials aiming at the separation of undesired species and/or impurities from industrial gas mixtures. The latter will involve the synthesis of materials (i.e. organic polymers), surface modification, characterisation, measurement of gas uptake at equilibrium, evaluation of the separation at dynamic conditions, determination of the adsorption selectivity, study of the kinetics of adsorption-desorption, among other characterisation techniques.

Developing cost-effective adsorbents aiming at separating impurities from different gas mixtures is a real and necessary challenge for the industry, especially the energy sector.

Reducing the costs and the associated energy penalties of gas separation processes are the driving forces that justify the development of new materials with the specific characteristics required for these applications. Adsorption of gaseous species on the surface and their regeneration at moderate temperatures in more efficient materials would be a cost-effective separation technology.

Several gas separation examples such as the removal of acidic gases (CO2 and H2S) from raw natural gas, post-combustion flue gas, impurities in biogas and bio-hydrogen (generated from the dark fermentation) are demanding more efficient adsorbents for the separation and purification of these industrially-produced gaseous mixtures. By removing the impurities in these mixtures, there will be a potential use of the gaseous components with high calorific values, such as methane and hydrogen, which can then be used as renewable sources of energy with zero or even negative emissions.

Nevertheless, forces of interaction adsorbate-adsorbent, as well as the key parameters that determine the success of these separations, such as the comparative effects of porous texture and surface chemistry, especially under the presence of water and other impurities, are yet to be further explored, impeding the optimization of the materials characteristics and processes conditions to be used in a cost-competitive industrial approach.

This project will face the global challenge of reducing emissions and the production of energy from renewable resources. The research candidate will develop advanced adsorbent materials aiming at the separation of undesired species and/or impurities from industrial gas mixtures. The latter will involve the synthesis or polymers, surface modification, characterisation, evaluation of gas uptakes at equilibrium and separation at dynamic conditions, adsorption selectivity, study of kinetics of adsorption-desorption, among other characterisation techniques.

The successful candidate should have, or expect to have, an Honours Degree at 2.1 or above (or equivalent) in Chemical Engineering or any related discipline, MEng in Chemistry or any related disciplines

Essential background: Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences.

Knowledge of: Materials science, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, Thermodynamics, adsorption kinetics, materials characterisation, reactor dynamics, gas separation processes, adsorption…