Investigation of direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines

About the Project

These projects are open to students worldwide, but have no funding attached. Therefore, the successful applicant will be expected to fund tuition fees at the relevant level (home or international) and any applicable additional research costs. Please consider this before applying.

Investigation of ion transport, and interfacial reaction mechanisms in advanced functional materials is fundamental to the development of efficient and sustainable separation processes for critical mineral extraction. This PhD project focuses on lithium recovery from geothermal brines, integrating principles of chemical engineering and materials science to investigate coupled fluid flow, mass transport, and surface reactions in porous and reactive materials.

The research will combine experimental synthesis and characterisation of advanced materials with quantitative evaluation of reactive transport processes. Experimental studies will examine adsorption kinetics, ion selectivity, and transport behaviour under conditions relevant to geothermal brines, while systematically varying material properties such as surface chemistry, pore architecture, and functionalisation. In parallel, advanced modelling approaches, including pore-scale and continuum-scale transport models, will be employed to analyse the governing mechanisms and to quantify the impact of key physicochemical parameters on process performance.

By integrating experimental observations with multiscale modelling frameworks, the project will assess the scalability and process-level performance of candidate materials for lithium extraction. The outcomes are expected to deliver mechanistic insight into ion-solid interactions and to support the rational design of next-generation separation materials and processes, contributing to the secure supply of critical minerals and the broader energy transition.

Decisions will be based on academic merit. The successful applicant should have, or expect to obtain, a UK Honours Degree at 2.1 (or equivalent) in Engineering (Fluid Mechanics, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering) or Chemistry

Sufficient research background and previous experience would be preferred.

Application Procedure:

Formal applications can be completed online: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/pgap/login.php.

You should apply for PhD in Engineering to ensure your application is passed to the correct team for processing.

Please clearly note the name of the lead supervisor and project titleon the application form. If you do not include these details, it may not be considered for the studentship.

Your application must include: A personal statement, an up-to-date copy of your academic CV, and clear copies of your educational certificates and transcripts.

Please note: you do not need to provide a research proposal with this application.

Informal enquiries can be made by contacting Dr A Sharifi at amin.sharifi@abdn.ac.uk. If you require any additional assistance in submitting your application or have any queries about the application process, please don't hesitate to contact us at researchadmissions@abdn.ac.uk

Funding Notes

This is a self-funding project open to students worldwide. Our typical start dates for this programme are February or October.

Fees for this programme can be found here Finance and Funding | Study Here | The University of Aberdeen

Additional research costs / bench fees may also apply and will be discussed prior to any offer being made.