Develop, design and evaluate a sustainable marine litter-to-methanol process
Plastic pollution in the oceans is a growing worldwide problem. It endangers marine life, pollutes ecosystems and contributes to health problems for us. According to European Parliamentary Research Service, an estimated 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year, and the associated cost is between €259 million and €695 million. The project aims to develop a integrate system to convert marine litter to methanol by hydrothermal carbonisation, gasification and syngas-to-methanol process. The key questions will be answered in the project are: 1) develop a hydrothermal carbonisation process which can use seawater as the reaction medium; 2) develop a gasification process which can safely handle hydrochar with high nitrogen and high chlorine content; and 3) the economic feasibility, sustainability and social impact of such marine litter-to-methanol process. The success of the project will lead to scientific and technological advances in marine waste management and a potential opportunity to build a demonstration system. The Fellow is a well-trained researcher in the area of thermal conversion of biomass and other solid waste. The Fellow has extensive industrial experience of C1 chemical and derivate products high-value process for three years. The proposed project is an excellent opportunity for the candidate to bring his industrial experience back to university and restart his independent research career.