Optimisation of Batch Reactive Distillation Process

About the Project

Although the batch reactive distillation process outperforms traditional reactor-distillation processes, due to simultaneous reaction and separation of products for many reaction systems, synthesis of many esters obtained via esterification with alcohols (such as methanol, ethanol) are still challenging. These alcohols make the process very difficult due to problems of keeping the reactants together when one of the reactants (in this case alcohols) has the lowest boiling point than the reaction products. To overcome this challenge, our team has developed several novel reactive distillation column configurations in recent years.

With the aid of model-based techniques, the aim of this project is to study many other unexplored reaction systems using these novel configurations and to generate and evaluate more novel configurations. Design and operation parameters of the selected configurations will be optimised while maximising productivity/profit/conversion of limiting reactant, minimising cost/energy consumption.

How to apply

Formal applications can be submitted via the University of Bradford web site; applicants will need to register an account, select 'Postgraduate Research' as the course type, and then use the keywords 'chemical engineering'. Applicants should then specify the project title in the 'Research Proposal' section.

Funding Notes

This is a self-funded PhD project; applicants will be expected to pay their own fees or have a suitable source of third-party funding. A bench fee may also apply to this project, in addition to the tuition fees. UK students may be able to apply for a Doctoral Loan from Student Finance for financial support.