Towards selective chemical recycling of textile fibres through mechano-catalysis

Global textile production has almost tripled since the 1970’s while manufacturers switched to synthetic fibres which now comprise 60-70% of all textiles. The end‑of‑life management of polyester, polyamide, polyurethane and their blends remains sub‑optimal at best. The development of sustainable technologies is crucial, such as the chemical recycling of polycondensed polymer fibres into reusable monomers. Mechanochemistry, which drives chemical transformations via mechanical energy, is a particularly promising approach to “difficult to process” solid waste like fibres that eliminates dangerous and expensive solvents.
Your mission will be to study the depolymerisation of textile fibres via a mechano-catalytic approach using two different milling technologies and different homogenous and heterogeneous catalysts. You will first convert different fibres separately and then work with fibre mixtures to achieve selective depolymerization. Rationalisation of results will be undertaken through modelling to derive mechanistic insights and guide process optimization.
This research will provide fundamental understanding of the mechanism and descriptors of mechano-catalysed reactions.
As this position is part of the MSCA Doctoral Network “MECAT”, you will integrate an international consortium of researchers and benefit from a specialized training and career development plan. The work will take place at IFPEN in Lyon (Solaize, France) and includes two research stays at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Germany) and at Syensqo (chemicals and materials company, Lyon). 

Keywords: synthetic fibres, recycling, depolymerization, mechanochemistry, mechano-catalysis 

• Academic supervisor    Dr Kim LARMIER, IFPEN,  ORCID : 0000-0002-5199-1516
• Doctoral School    ED206, Chimie de Lyon, ENS Lyon
• IFPEN supervisor    Dr Ana Teresa FIALHO BATISTA,  ORCID : 0000-0001-9905-3898
• PhD location    IFPEN, Lyon, France
• Duration and start date    3 years, starting in the fourth quarter 2026 at the earliest
• Employer    IFPEN
• Funding    Funding by the EU Marie Skłodowska‑Curie DN “MECAT” pending signature of the grant agreement
• Academic requirements    University master degree in chemical sciences, chemical engineering
• Language requirements    Fluent in English, willingness to learn French
• Mandatory requirements    Candidates should not be in possession of a doctoral degree and must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date
• Other requirements    Liking for laboratory work; Programming skills appreciated

To apply, please send your cover letter and CV to the IFPEN supervisor indicated here below. The recruitment will be subject to specific procedures, notably through a consortium wide Selection Committee.