Integrating Machine Learning and Carbonation Treatments for Sustainable Waste-Derived Cementitious Materials

About the Project

The construction industry’s transition to net zero demands new materials that reduce both waste and CO₂ emissions. Conventional Portland cement production accounts for around 7% of global CO₂ output, while millions of tonnes of alkaline industrial wastes, including steel slags, incinerator bottom ash (IBA), and construction and demolition waste (CDW), remain underutilised or landfilled. These wastes are rich in calcium and magnesium phases that can react with CO₂ through mineral carbonation, offering dual environmental benefits: permanent CO₂ sequestration and transformation into supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) that replace part of Portland cement.

However, the highly variable chemical and physical properties of these wastes, such as composition, particle size, and porosity, make it difficult to identify the most efficient treatment routes. This project will integrate machine learning (ML) with experimental carbonation treatments to accelerate the optimisation and deployment of waste-based SCMs. Experimental data will be used to train ML models that link waste properties, process parameters (CO₂ flow rate, solution chemistry, temperature), and cementitious performance (CO₂ uptake, reactivity, strength, durability). The models will guide targeted experiments, predict performance, and establish transferable workflows for efficient waste treatment and utilisation.

The research combines materials characterisation, process optimisation, and data-driven modelling to develop scalable and low-carbon solutions for the UK construction sector. Expected outcomes include structured datasets connecting waste properties to treatment performance, validated ML models for CO₂ sequestration and reactivity prediction, and design guidelines for waste–application matching. Overall, this work will advance digital and sustainable materials science, transforming heterogeneous industrial wastes into valuable components of circular, low-carbon concrete.

Interested candidates must have a good understanding of alternative cement binder systems, concrete sample preparation and testing, and analyses involving reaction mechanisms, mechanical performance and microstructural development.

The successful candidate will join the Manchester CREATES (Concrete Materials, Resource Efficiency and Advanced TEchnology for Sustainability) team. For more details on research team activities, please visit www.manchestercreates.com

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

Funding

This 3.5-year PhD is for self-funded students. Exceptional candidates will be considered for Faculty funding (this will include an annual tax-free stipend of £20,780 and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year).

At The University of Manchester, we offer a range of scholarships, studentships and awards at university, faculty and department level, to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers.

For more information, visit our funding page or search our funding database for specific scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

The start date is October 2026.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert will be removed once the position has been filled.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor for this project before you apply. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

How to apply

Apply online through our website: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor, if you already having funding or if you wish to be considered for available funding through the university, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.

Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

After you have applied you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

• Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications
• Interim Transcript of any university level qualifications in progress
• CV
• Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed. (This is mandatory for all applicants and the application will be put on hold without it).
• Contact details for two referees (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/work email address as we may need to verify the reference)
• English Language certificate (if applicable)

If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk.