job description
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PhD Scholarships in Understanding Pyrolysis Bio-Oil Hydrotreating
We offer you the unique opportunity to join the UpBio project, which aims to increase and accelerate the utilization of advanced bio-oils. The goal of this PhD program is to deepen the understanding of the complex hydroprocessing of advanced bio-oils through well-defined model compound studies. Another goal is to further understand how the presence of specific inhibitors/toxins affects the hydroprocessing of major oxygenated compounds. Finally, the goal of the project is to develop a kinetic model to predict the hydroprocessing of advanced bio-oils, including the effects of inhibitors. Partners in the project include Topsoe, Valmet, Alfa Laval, Maersk, Crossbridge Energy, the Danish Energy Cluster, the University of Copenhagen and the Technical University of Denmark. The candidate will interact closely with the partners, especially researchers at Topsoe and the University of Copenhagen. You will work in the CHEC research group in Chemical Engineering at DTU in a dynamic and international research environment.
You must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points), or a similar degree equivalent to a two-year master’s degree, specializing in chemical engineering or chemistry/physics, and must have knowledge/experience in mathematical modeling of chemical processes/reactors. Candidates must be self-planning and strongly motivated, and have good skills in working with other researchers in the research centers of UpBio and CECC.
offer requirements
Responsibilities and Qualifications More specifically, the position will involve the following tasks:
Conduct a literature study on advanced hydrotreating of bio-oils and model compounds as a basis for PhD research. Conduct systematic experimental studies on the hydroprocessing of representative mixtures of model compounds utilizing a newly established continuous drip-bed reactor setup consisting of two tandem reactors. Additional experiments can also be performed in the batch reactor. Hydrotreating experiments will be conducted in the presence of representative catalyst poisons (relevant nitrogen-containing substances). Catalyst deactivation will also be studied to understand the effect of different model compounds on coking, etc. Develop a kinetic model for the reactions occurring during the hydrotreating process. The kinetic model should be implemented in a drip-bed reactor model, including the relevant mass transfer steps, and the parameters in the kinetic model should be estimated. Test the kinetic model against data from actual advanced bio-oil hydrotreating.
You must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points), or a similar degree equivalent to a two-year master’s degree, specializing in chemical engineering or chemistry/physics, and must have knowledge/experience in mathematical modeling of chemical processes/reactors. Candidates must be self-planning and strongly motivated, and have good skills in working with other researchers in the research centers of UpBio and CECC.
offer benefits/salary
APPROVAL AND ENROLLMENT Doctoral degree fellowships are subject to academic approval and candidates will be admitted to a general degree program at DTU. For information on our admission requirements and a general plan for a doctoral program of study, please see DTU’s Rules for Doctoral Education. We offer DTU is a leading technical university recognized globally for excellence in research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer you a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We pursue academic excellence in an environment of respect for colleagues, academic freedom and responsibility. Salary and terms of employment Appointment will be based on a collective agreement with the Danish Federation of Professional Associations. Allowances will be agreed with the relevant trade unions. The appointment will be for a period of 3 years, starting as soon as possible. Click here to learn more about careers at DTU.