Microwave Catalysis for Sustainable Solvent Production from Waste Carbon Resources

Solvents are essential to pharmaceutical manufacturing but are a major contributor to Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. This PhD project aims to develop a circular route to sustainable solvent production by converting waste carbon resources (CO₂, waste plastics, and biomass) into high-value, pharmaceutical-grade solvents.

This PhD project will explore innovative microwave-driven catalytic processes to enable efficient upcycling of waste carbon. The project will focus on the design of advanced microwave-responsive catalysts and the development of scalable reaction systems. You will investigate microwave–material interactions, catalyst performance, and process optimisation to deliver high-purity solvent production.

The project is highly interdisciplinary, spanning catalysis, reaction engineering, and sustainable manufacturing. The successful candidate will benefit from close collaboration with industrial partners, providing exposure to real-world process development, scale-up, and commercial translation.