Overview

This PhD project targets a key challenge in sustainable process engineering: translating microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) technology from lab-scale innovation to robust, industrial deployment. The research will sit at the interface of reaction engineering, process systems engineering, and industrial deployment. You will develop and optimise scalable MEC systems for real industrial wastewater, focusing on process intensification, dynamic operation, and resource recovery. The project combines modelling, pilot-scale experimentation, and techno-economic assessment to establish MECs as viable unit operations within next-generation wastewater treatment plants. You will contribute to technology being developed for real-world deployment with water utilities and food & beverage manufacturers, working closely with the spinout company METzero Technologies.

Research Objectives

1. Process Intensification & Scale-Up: Design and evaluate scalable MEC configurations. Apply computational fluid dynamics and transport modelling to resolve flow distribution, mass transfer limitations, and electrode performance. Validate models using lab and pilot-scale systems, linking hydrodynamics to electrochemical performance.
2. Energy Integration & Process Optimisation: Develop rigorous energy balances and dynamic process models for MEC operation. Investigate integration with plant-wide energy systems and existing infrastructure. Quantify performance using industry-relevant metrics, supporting scale-up decisions and economic viability.
3. Resource Recovery & Process Control: Optimise operating conditions for selective recovery of hydrogen, ammonia, and high-value nutrients. Conduct techno-economic and systems-level analysis for implementation in various sectors.