Organisation/Company: Swansea University
Department: Central Research
Field: Engineering » Chemical Engineering
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions: PhD Positions
Country: United Kingdom
Application Deadline: 5 May 2025 - 12:46 (Europe/London)
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 35
Offer Starting Date: 1 Oct 2025
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by an EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
In the UK, industries such as pharmaceuticals, food processing, and agriculture generate significant amounts of organic wastewater. Annually, the UK produces 2.4 billion cubic meters of wastewater, with about 50-70% being organic. Environmental regulations, including the Water Resources Act 1991, the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and the Water Industry Act 1991, mandate that wastewater must be treated before being discharged into the environment. Thus, these industries require effective wastewater treatment solutions to mitigate environmental impacts and comply with regulations.
However, conventional treatment technologies face limitations related to high energy consumption and inefficiencies in removing toxic non-biodegradable organics. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are also energy-intensive. To reduce emissions while maintaining the benefits of AOPs, this project explores catalytic means of organic wastewater treatment. Heterogeneous catalysis, an emerging technology, offers the potential to enhance treatment efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and minimize sludge production. This technology uses solid catalysts such as titanium dioxide, activated carbon, and zeolite-supported materials.
This project aligns with the Net-Zero Water Industry's goal of minimizing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Minimum English Language Requirement: IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each component) or Swansea University recognised equivalent.
This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26). Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.
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