Status
Scientific disciplines
Research direction
Process Design and Modeling
Affiliate site
Lyon
Context: Plastic recycling and valorisation is one of the major stakes of European research. Indeed, only 30 % of plastic wastes are recycled nowadays in Europe because of a lack of technologies. Hydroconversion is a promising process since it allows converting plastics into smaller molecules that may be used to produce new recycled plastics, and at the same time, it allows purifying the plastics from their pollutants, colorants and mineral fillers.
Description: To date, hydroconversion process optimisation is hardly achievable because plastics transformation mechanisms under process conditions are poorly known. The objective of this work is to elucidate reaction pathways and to determine plastics hydroconversion process performances. An important number of pilot tests are planned in order to understand operating conditions effects (temperature, pressure, residence time) on conversion. Effects of solvents and pollutants on conversion, selectivity and catalysts deactivation will also be studied. The development of an innovative method to formally visualise reaction pathways thanks to isotopic labelling of plastics and solvents with 2H, 13C, 15N, 18O et 34S atoms, will be part of this thesis work. This study will be conducted in a close partnership with the Institute of Analytical Sciences (ISA). Reaction scheme and obtained reaction kinetics will finally have to be integrated in a reactor model that will enable extrapolating the process at larger scales. The PhD student will have to acquire skills on analytical methods, chemical species reactivity and modelling, and will become a complete researcher at the heart of two complementary entities.
Keywords: Plastics chemical recycling, Modelling, Kinetic, Isotopic labelling
- Academic supervisor Dr Clémence NIKITINE (HDR), IFPEN, ORCID 0000-0003-2642-4349
- Doctoral School ED206 – Chemistry doctoral school of University of Lyon
- IFPEN supervisor Dr Jean-Patrick BARBÉ, ORCID 0009-0002-1423-8872
- PhD location IFP Energies nouvelles, Lyon, France & Institut des Sciences Analytiques, Villeurbanne, France
- Duration and start date 3 years, starting in fourth quarter 2024
- Employer IFPEN
- Academic requirements University Master degree in chemical engineering, process engineering
- Language requirements Fluency in French or English, willingness to learn French
- Other requirements Interests for experimentation, reactor and kinetics modelling. Mastering one or more programming languages is required.
To apply, please send your cover letter and CV before end of June 2024 to the IFPEN supervisor indicated below.