Chemical Engineering
Asphalt recycling gained prominence since the 1970s, partly initiated by the oil crisis influencing the availability of bitumen as binder material. Since then, recycled and reclaimed asphalt continued to be part of the mix used in road and pavements providing a cost effective and environmentally friendly option with a potential to decarbonising the industry. Recent examples of roads using recycled asphalt include: 50% recycled asphalt was used in paving a section of M25 between junctions 25 and 26 and a section of A388 Bournemouth Spur Road, Dorset was paved using all the old road materials.
Rolled asphalt pavement comprises of different courses primarily the wearing, binder, base, subbase and capping layer. The degree of compaction determines the stiffness and strength of material along with its resistance to deformation and durability of the mixture. Compaction of the asphalt along with the binder results from the operation of the paving/construction equipment to impart systematic static, shearing and vibrational loads to achieve the required properties of each of the aforementioned course. The pavement is expected to withstand the design traffic load.
In the drive towards net zero carbon emission, there is an urgent need to significantly increase the use of the 100% recyclable Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in pavement construction. This poses significant challenges in the design and optimisation of the production and construction processes for which this current project seeks to address. For instance, is it possible to better characterise the RAP in terms of material properties to provide a more accurate initial assessment of its recycling readiness? Is it possible to match to assess, based on the RAP's material characteristics and the prevailing loading regimes, whether it would meet the required highway standards?
The aim of the project is to develop a deeper understanding of the RAP pavement construction and establish an experimentally calibrated numerical model to predict the compaction mechanics of recycled asphalt pavements during construction as well as operational period. The model will integrate the mechanics at different length scales. Experimental programme will include time-resolved (4D) X-ray tomography to capture the micromechanics of the granular assembly.
This PhD project is advertised as a part of the Edinburgh Research Partnership in Engineering, a joint partnership between the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University. The successful candidate will be supervised by a team consisting of academics from the University of Edinburgh and Heriot Watt University (HWU). The Heriot-Watt University supervisor for this project will be Dr Elma Charalampidou. Some of the experiments involving micro x-ray CT system will be undertaken at HWU.
The selection process is in two phases:
Stage 1: Interested candidates should contact Dr Amer Syed at Amer.Syed@ed.ac.uk by 7 February 2025 with their CV and a covering email. Potential candidates will be invited to an interview. Selected candidate will progress to Stage 2.
Stage 2: Selected candidate will complete a formal application to the University of Edinburgh by 12 February 2025. This application will be assessed by a panel for funding. Please note that this studentship attracts enhanced stipend, while the exact details yet to be finalised, for 2024, it was £21,400 per annum.
Home and overseas students are encouraged to apply.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Tuition fees + stipend are available for Home/EU and International students.
From sandcastles to powder metallurgy, granular materials are ubiquitous in engineering and natural environment. Understanding their behaviour under a range of loading conditions is essential in ensuring the structural integrity of the granular system e.g., landslides, chemical/pharmaceutical applications such as compacted tablets, food processing etc.
The mechanical response of a granular assembly depends on the interaction of the individual grains. In most of the natural and engineering systems, this interaction is further complicated by the presence of fluids and temperature gradient resulting in convective mass transport. The thermomechanical behaviour of the granular assembly depends on the temperature/concentration gradient, viscosity of the fluid, variation in fluid saturation, compressibility of the fluid etc. The presence of fluid would also influence the relative motion of the particles, especially in case of particles with varying size and shapes, and directly contribute to the nature of compaction and flow of the granular assembly.
The aim of the project is to develop a deeper understanding of the mechanics of granular assemblies subjected to convective mass transport and to formulate a multiscale multiphysics model to predict the thermomechanical behaviour of granular assemblies. The model will be developed and calibrated using high quality experimental data acquired at multiple length scales. Custom designed experiments will be conducted in an x-ray CT environment to study the micromechanics of the underlying processes using time resolved x-ray tomography (in 4D).
There are four application areas for this project and the successful candidate would be able to select one of these areas.
Geological/geophysical application: Geothermal systems, particularly Enhanced Geothermal Systems where the energy from underground hot rock/fractured rock is used to generate electricity.
Steel production: Porous coke in the granular assembly of the blast furnace charge provides energy, heat and gas required to reduce the iron ore. Improved design of the granular assembly has potential to minimise the CO2 emission in the steel making process.
Recycled Asphalt Pavements: Reclaimed and recycled asphalt are used in road pavements providing a cost effective and environmentally friendly option with a potential in decarbonising the industry.
Powder bed fusion, a metal additive manufacturing technique: The nature of granular assembly of metal powder bed informs the quality of the finished product.
This PhD project is advertised as a part of the Edinburgh Research Partnership in Engineering, a joint partnership between the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University. The successful candidate will be supervised by a team consisting of academics from the University of Edinburgh and Heriot Watt University (HWU). The Heriot-Watt University supervisor for this project will be Dr Elma Charalampidou. Some of the experiments involving micro x-ray CT system will be undertaken at HWU.
The selection process is in two phases:
Stage 1: Interested candidates should contact Dr Amer Syed at Amer.Syed@ed.ac.uk by 7 February 2025 with their CV and a covering email. Potential candidates will be invited to an interview. Selected candidate will progress to Stage 2.
Stage 2: Selected candidate will complete a formal application to the University of Edinburgh by 12 February 2025. This application will be assessed by a panel for funding. Please note that this studentship attracts enhanced stipend, while the exact details are yet to be finalised, for 2024, it was £21,400 per annum.
Home and overseas students are encouraged to apply.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Tuition fees + stipend are available for Home/EU and International students.
The importance of clustering, or microphase separation, is increasingly recognized, with applications in many technologies including nanomaterials and pharmaceutical crystallization. It is also important in nature; for example the membraneless organelles within biological cells. However, the mechanisms leading to such clusters are not completely understood.
This project aims to improve understanding of microphase separation in complex coacervates. These particular clusters, or microphases, are formed by, for example, mixtures of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes and might also describe some membraneless organelles.
To this end, the successful candidate will develop thermodynamic models of equilibrium clustering in binary mixtures with competing short-range and long-range interactions. The aim is to model and understand the link between particle interactions and microphase separation in complex coacervates.
It is expected that the applicant will have a good degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or any other related subject. We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who want to develop expertise in molecular theories of fluids. Prior experience in this area is useful but not a requirement.
The successful student, depending on eligibility, will have opportunities for teaching and further training with in the university, as well as participation in the intellectual community provided by the School of Engineering’s Institute for Materials and Processes, in which they will be based.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or any other related subject possibly supported by an MSc Degree. Prior experience in molecular theories of fluids is useful but not a requirement.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
Nucleate boiling is a type of boiling mechanism where the heat is transferred from a hot surface to a liquid through the formation and release of vapor bubbles. This process occurs at discrete points on the surface where the liquid is in direct contact with heat. During nucleate boiling, small bubbles of vapor form at nucleation sites, typically surface imperfections, and grow until they are buoyant enough to detach and rise through the liquid. Surface modification is a passive method to increase heat transfer in nucleate boiling by controlling bubble nucleation and detachment using structures or coatings that modify a surfaces morphological parameters.
Recently, we developed new techniques to modify surfaces with regions that could act as nucleation sites and provide easy bubble detachment. These patterned liquid-like surfaces are based on Slippery Covalently Attached Liquid-like Surfaces (SCALS). In this experimental project, you will tackle questions involving nucleate boiling on patterned liquid-like surfaces: we are interested in understanding how these surfaces act under boiling conditions and their effects on the efficiency of heat transfer and maintaining a stable heat flux. By answering questions like these, you will be pushing the boundaries of knowledge in this field and kick-start your postgraduate career.
If successful, you will become a member of the Wetting, Interfacial Sciences and Engineering Group within the Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids at the School of Engineering. You will join a vibrant community of PhD students, postdoctoral research associates and academics working in various aspects of surfaces and wetting, and will develop as a scientist benefiting from our track record, which includes publications in top journals, international collaborations and contributions to key international conferences.
Please note that the supervision team will include:
Principal supervisor
Dr Gary Wells: https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/dr-gary-wells
Assistant supervisors
Professor Glen McHale: https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/professor-glen-mchale
Dr Rodrigo Ledesma Aguilar: https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/dr-rodrigo-ledesma-aguilar
Please note that if a suitable candidate is found prior to the closing date, then the position will be closed and the advert will be removed.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree.
We expect that you will have a good degree in Engineering or Physics with an experimental and modelling background. We are particularly interested to hear from applicants with experience in surfaces, fluids and/or phase change.
Please note that if a suitable candidate is found prior to the closing date, then the position will be closed and the advert will be removed.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
Recent research has shown that aqueous amino acid salts (AAS) are effective carbon capture solutions. They offer advantages over the usual amine-based carbon capture solutions due to their reduced toxicity, corrosivity, volatility and cost whilst also having good stability and high capacity.
Especially, it has been shown that some AAS solutions phase separate after absorbing CO2. Importantly, phase separating carbon capture solutions could lead to reduced regeneration energy penalties for carbon capture processes since the regenerate can easily be separated and has reduced water content. Thus, AAS solutions are promising candidates for both direct air capture (DAC) and post-combustion (PC) carbon capture processes.
Moreover, it is also known that some aqueous AA solutions exhibit microphase separation. Although the mechanism is currently unknown, this phenomenon is thought to be important in crystallization processes. It might also have implications for the origin of life since AAs and carbon dioxide are thought to be key ingredients of the primordial soup.
This project aims to understand the key driving forces that lead to both bulk and microphase separating AA and AAS solutions, especially for carbon capture processes. The successful student will use molecular simulations to model and understand this behaviour at the microscale.
It is expected that the applicant will have a good degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or any other related subject. We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who want to develop expertise in the molecular simulation of fluids. Prior experience in this area is useful but not a requirement.
The successful student, depending on eligibility, will have opportunities for teaching and further training with in the university, as well as participation in the intellectual community provided by the School of Engineering’s Institute for Materials and Processes, in which they will be based.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or any other related subject possibly supported by an MSc Degree. Prior experience in molecular simulation of fluids is useful but not a requirement.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
A plastic wear model for ductile materials was recently developed within the supervisor’s group, based on the discrete element method (DEM). An initial model developed for flat
surfaces [1] has since been extended to arbitrarily shaped closed surfaces representing abradable particles. Each particle is essentially a multi-sphere clump in which the non-interacting constituent spheres are arranged to form a hollow shell. A constituent sphere is displaced in the direction of the local normal to the surface once a material yield criterion has been met. This has been implemented in a fork of the open-source LAMMPS [2] code.
This implementation, which enables one form of permanent change of a particle’s shape, can be extended to another: plastic deformation. Even in dense sheared granular systems, the contact network is constantly changing, i.e., interparticle contacts are highly transient [3]. This raises the question of whether elasto-plastic contact models, e.g., [4-5], which retain no memory of plastic deformation once a contact has been lost in the simulation, are suitable for all scenarios.
This project will initially extend the simulation framework developed for particle abrasion to capture plastic deformation. This framework will then be applied to explore the role of plasticity in granular systems, and assess the scenarios in which simpler elasto-plastic contact models can give acceptable results.
Informal queries from potential applicants can be directed to Dr Kevin Hanley (k.hanley@ed.ac.uk).
References
[1] Capozza, R. & Hanley, K.J. (2022): A comprehensive model of plastic wear based on the discrete element method. Powder Technology, 410, 117864
[2] Thompson, A.P. et al. (2022): LAMMPS - a flexible simulation tool for particle-based materials modeling at the atomic, meso, and continuum scales. Computer Physics Communications, 271, 108171
[3] Hanley, K.J., Huang, X., O’Sullivan, C. & Kwok, F. C.-Y. (2014): Temporal variation of contact networks in granular materials. Granular Matter, 16, 41–54
[4] Luding, S. (2008): Cohesive, frictional powders: contact models for tension. Granular Matter, 10, 235–246
[5] Thakur, S.C., Morrissey, J.P., Sun, J., Chen, J.F. & Ooi, J.Y. (2014): Micromechanical analysis of cohesive granular materials using the discrete element method with an adhesive elasto-plastic contact model. Granular Matter, 16, 383–400
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
If we stretch a material, such as a rubber band, in one direction we observe it contracts in the lateral direction. However, a material can be designed to be counterintuitive so that when it is stretched in one direction it also expands in the lateral direction. A material with this unusual property is called a mechanical metamaterial (an auxetic material). The pore sizes in such materials can therefore be changed by strain. A mechanical metamaterial with a hydrophobic surface can be converted by strain to a super-water-repellent material or to a porous material.
In this project, the focus will be on creating hydrophobic mechanical metamaterials using foams and characterizing their properties when in contact with different liquids. The project will also consider a possible application in the programmable separation of oil-water mixtures and de-fouling of materials. The project will investigate whether strain might be used as a switch to allow oil to either be blocked to to pass through the material and whether strain can be used to release particulates blocking the material when it is used as a filter.
The PhD researcher will be part of the Wetting, Interfacial Sciences and Engineering Group within the Institute for Multiscale Thermofliuds. You will join a vibrant community of PhD students, postdoctoral research associates and academics working in various aspects of surfaces and wetting. The student will attain skills in materials preparation, surface coating, construction of experimental set-ups, and measurement techniques and characterization techniques.
It is expected that the applicant will have a good degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, physics, or a related discipline.
Please note that if a suitable candidate is found prior to the closing date, then the position will be closed and the advert will be removed.
For further information on this project, please refer to the following website: http://www.naturesraincoats.com/
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
A wide spectrum of target thermoplastic materials can be manufactured by tailoring polymer blends to achieve particular combinations of end-user performance (e.g. mechanical, electrical, structural support) properties, important in various industrial sectors, especially in extreme-condition environments. These polymeric material classes include the widely used polyolefins (PE, PP), but also others derived from higher-MW monomers (PS, PVC, PVP, PC, PTFE, etc. ). The key challenge here is to computationally predict (and experimentally confirm) optimal blend compositions which can be manufactured reasonably easily (high processability via extrusion, blow moulding, etc.), in order to achieve formulated products which achieve (or exceed) the said end-user properties, under reasonable total (fixed+operating) cost per unit mass.
Over the years, the UoE Polymer Engineering Laboratory has compiled a wealth of experimental datasets for many blend-condition combinations (virgin/recycled feedstocks, input molecules, temperatures, extrusion/moulding settings, product macro-dimensions) e.g. Polymers 2023, 15(21), 4200 (https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15214200). Constructing first-principles mathematical models which combine macromolecular physical chemistry (e.g. Flory-Huggins theory) descriptions with mass/heat balances towards end-product property estimation, rigorous unit operation (e.g. extruder) design and optimisation is extremely cumbersome, both due to mathematical complexity, but even more so due to the extreme and pervasive parametric uncertainty hampering such efforts.
Therefore, this PhD project aims to combine state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) methodologies in order to explore optimal blending and processing conditions for polymeric material classes, towards developing materials which will achieve high performance indices for key target properties, while also ensuring high processability and cost-optimal manufacturing at scale.
Strong computational skills, an interest in statistics, and prior experience in numerical methods/software (MATLAB, Python) are essential; prior ML-based project work is desirable.
https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/dr-dimitrios-i-gerogiorgis
https://vasileioskoutsos.wixsite.com/softmaterials
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
An undergraduate degree in Chemical/Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related area (Physics, Chemistry), with a strong background in computational modelling.
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
Membrane fouling – the deposition of organic and inorganic matter on the membrane surface – is a major technical obstacle affecting membrane-based water treatment processes. Fouling results in decreased membrane permeance, selectivity, and shorter useful life due to irreversible fouling. Despite significant efforts to mitigate fouling through, e.g., low-fouling membrane coatings, fouling is inevitable due to the high convective fluxes driving foulants to the membrane surface. Consequently, physical and chemical cleaning strategies, known collectively as cleaning-in-place (CiP) protocols, are indispensable to ensure the sustainable use of membrane technology in water treatment.
Most CiP formulations entail proprietary mixtures of buffered surfactants and chelants that dissolve organic foulants and disperse colloidal metal-organic complexes. Application of CiP solutions often follows manufacturer-specified cleaning conditions, including cross-flow velocity, duration and frequency of cleaning cycles. Such operating conditions, however, are not optimised for specific feed water and foulant chemistries. Moreover, the important influence of CiP solution temperature is often neglected. Solution temperature plays a key role in membrane cleaning, as the interactions responsible for foulant adhesion to the membrane become weaker with rising temperature1. However, the role of temperature in CiP has not been studied systematically. Incomplete knowledge about the influence of operating conditions has hindered development of efficient CiP protocols.
This PhD project will formulate tailored CiP strategies for membranes in Scottish Water (SW) treatment plants. The overarching goal is twofold: i) to identify the CiP temperature resulting in optimal membrane performance; ii) to identify CiP formulations (or mixtures thereof) suitable for application at ambient feed water temperatures (i.e., in cold water). Considering that CiP at SW membrane plants is often carried out at ambient water temperature (Tamb = 10 °C or lower), we anticipate significant improvements in cleaning efficiency if CiP were carried out at slightly higher temperatures. The cost of CiP operations at above-ambient temperatures will be weighed against the improvement in process performance (stemming from mitigated fouling) by a technoeconomic analysis. Lastly, we will perform a life cycle assessment of CiP protocols to identify CiP candidates meeting SW’s sustainability goals.
Training and mentoring
This project offers a unique training opportunity in the fundamentals of colloid and interface science, as well as membrane-based processes for water quality control. The student will be mentored by a supervisory team with complementary expertise, who will provide training in a wide variety of experimental techniques. In addition, the student will acquire industrial experience through a placement at a Scottish Water membrane plant.
References
(1) BinAhmed, S.; Hozalski, R. M.; Romero-Vargas Castrillón, S. Feed Temperature Effects on Organic Fouling of Reverse Osmosis Membranes: Competition of Interfacial and Transport Properties. ACS ES&T Eng. 2021, 1 (3), 591–602. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.0c00258.
(2) Porcelli, N.; Judd, S. Chemical Cleaning of Potable Water Membranes: The Cost Benefit of Optimisation. Water Res. 2010, 44 (5), 1389–1398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2009.11.020.
Please note that applications will be reviewed on a continuing basis until the position is filled. Thus, the advert might close for applications before the closing date.
Further information about the supervisor (Dr S Romero-Vargas):
https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/santiago-romero-vargas-castrillon
Further information about the co-supervisor (Prof A Lips):
https://www.edinburghcomplexfluids.com/people/individual/alex-lips
The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity
This is a challenging and ambitious project, requiring a student who is dedicated and enthusiastic about asking, and tackling, fundamental and applied problems. The successful applicant will have been awarded an undergraduate degree at the time of appointment (1st Class or high 2:1, preferably supported by an MSc) in chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, physics, environmental engineering, or a cognate field. Strong background in physical sciences is required, along with excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Prior research experience in colloid & interface science is highly desirable. While the project is primarily experimental, good or strong quantitative skills are also highly desirable.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere, as explained below.
PhD studentships managed by the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh are available every year through a competitive process.
Applicants interested in applying for a University-administered award should e-mail the supervisors (Santiago@ed.ac.uk, alips@ed.ac.uk) as soon as possible to begin discussions, explaining how your experience meets the Applicant Requirements given above. Application deadlines vary from mid-January to late March.
Please note that most studentships are available only to Home Students (International students not eligible).
To qualify as a Home student, you must fulfil one of the following criteria:
- You are a UK student
- You are an EU student with settled/pre-settled status who also has 3 years residency in the UK/EEA/Gibraltar/Switzerland immediately before the start of your Programme.