PhD: Lab BECCS Reactor for Biochar & Bioenergy

University of Nottingham; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Nottingham invites applications for a fully funded PhD project focused on developing a laboratory-scale multifunctional reactor that can operate as a biochar/bio-syngas generator and as a BECCS reactor.

The successful candidate will work with academic researchers and industrial partners to advance low-carbon technologies for greenhouse gas removal and sustainable energy generation, starting with simulated streams and progressing to real flue gases.

Qualifications

• Experience in lab-based reactor studies or biomass thermochemical processing.
• Familiarity with characterization techniques used for biochar and sorbents.
• Collaboration with industry partners and academic researchers on experimental design.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a commercial furnace manufacturer to conceptually design a lab-scale electrically heated furnace housing the multifunctional reactor.
• Manufacture at least two reactor configurations (fluidised-bed and fixed-bed) for biochar production and BECCS evaluation.
• Carry out biochar production experiments with various biomass feedstocks and characterize biochar using BET, SEM, XRD and TGA.
• Conduct CO2 capture experiments using calcium-based sorbents and alternative solid sorbents, including biochar-derived sorbents.
• Progress from simulated CO2-containing streams to experiments with real CO2-containing flue gases.

Skills

Biochar production

CO2 capture

Laboratory analysis

BET analysis

SEM

XRD

TGA

Tools

BET

SEM

XRD

TGA

Job description

University of Nottingham invites applications for a fully funded PhD project focused on developing a laboratory-scale multifunctional reactor that can operate as a biochar/bio-syngas generator and as a BECCS reactor.

The successful candidate will work with academic researchers and industrial partners to advance low-carbon technologies for greenhouse gas removal and sustainable energy generation, starting with simulated streams and progressing to real flue gases.