"GSMI: Postdoctoral researcher in acid gas neutralization using carbonates"

As part of its commitment to the circular economy and industrial waste valorization, and through the strategic partnership with the OCP-GSMI department, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is launching a one-year postdoctoral research position. The project focuses on testing and optimizing treatment processes that use calcium carbonate-rich materials extracted from phosphate mine waste. These materials will be assessed for their capacity to neutralize acid gases (SOx, HF) emitted from industrial chemical operations.

The selected candidate will join a multidisciplinary team and contribute to the scientific and technical advancement of sustainable construction materials. He/She will investigate and optimize the use of concentrated calcium carbonate from phosphate mine interlayers in acidic gas neutralization.

Position description

The postdoctoral will have the following tasks:

• Conduct mineralogical and chemical characterization of calcite-rich interlayers using XRD, XRF, TGA, and SEM techniques.
• Investigate the dissolution kinetics of calcite under various conditions (pH, particle size, temperature).
• Design and test lab-scale reactors for wet scrubbing of acid gases (SOx, HF) using mine-derived carbonates.
• Investigate the effects of impurities (P, F, Mg…) on gas neutralization efficiency.
• Supervise MSc students or interns involved in the project activities.
• Write scientific reports and publications, and present results in project meetings and international conferences.

Desired profile

The position is intended for a PhD holder in environmental engineering, geochemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field, with a strong interest in gas-liquid-solid reaction systems. The ideal candidate should have experience in carbonate chemistry, and reactor design or process development. A keen interest in circular economy solutions, sustainable gas neutralization, and industrial by-product valorization is essential.

Required Knowledge:

• Solid knowledge of acid-base equilibria, and carbonate system modeling.
• Good understanding of calcium carbonate behavior and dissolution kinetics.
• Hands-on experience with experimental gas neutralization setups.
• Proficiency in mineral characterization tools (XRD, XRF, TGA, SEM).
• Proficiency in laboratory analysis techniques (pH, ion chromatography, titration, ICP, etc.).
• Knowledge of the geochemistry of carbonates and thermodynamic modeling.

Required skills

• Strong writing and presentation skills in English and/or French.
• Autonomous, organized, and motivated, with scientific curiosity, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving mindset.