Carbon Quality Assessment of Valorising CO2 and Waste Plastics into Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals

About the Project

Achieving carbon neutrality targets by 2050 is widely recognised as the most formidable challenge globally, whilst simultaneously a key opportunity to build a greener future for the next generations. To reduce carbon emissions in Chemicals and Materials sector, the essential problem is currently the majority of the chemicals and materials are derived from fossil fuels, i.e., 88% for chemicals, plastic and rubber, and 91% for chemical industry. Thus, to achieve net-zero, the solution would be to avoid using carbons that are sourced from fossil resources and explore alternatives such as biomass, wastes (e.g., plastics), and CO2.

This project will explore the technical routes of converting CO2 and waste plastics into chemicals and materials. Typical pathways of converting CO2 into fuels and converting waste plastic into platform chemicals will be investigated. The overall aim is providing a carbon mapping strategy for CO2 and waste plastic conversion. Quantum Mechanics based atomistic simulations (adopting Density Functional Theory) will be carried out to explore reaction mechanisms of CO2and plastic conversion over catalysts surface, this will be followed by experimental validation to test the valorisation processes.

This innovated project is ideally suited to students with the creativity and motivation to solve engineering problems using scientific-based principles. The student may expect to build his/her career in the area of Environment, Sustainability and Green Chemistry.

The fully-funded studentship is part of the UKRI funded Future Leader Fellowship (FLF) that been awarded to the supervisor. The applicant will work closely with the PDRAs, other PhD students and academics in the FLF team. The candidate will be expected to participate in relevant national and international conferences, and develop journal papers within the research field.

In addition to undertaking cutting edge research, students are also registered for the Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Development (PGCert), which is a supplementary qualification that develops a student’s skills, networks and career prospects.

Information about the host department can be found by visiting:

www.strath.ac.uk/engineering/chemicalprocessengineering

www.strath.ac.uk/courses/research/chemicalprocessengineering/

Funding Notes

This PhD provides funding for fees and stipend for a home student. Applications are invited from candidates who have achieved, or are predicted, a first class or upper second class honours in Chemical Engineering/Chemistry, or an equivalent qualification at Master level. Experience in Computational modelling using Density Functional Theory on reaction mechanism would be advantageous.