Solving Plastic Waste CRC PhD Scholarship (External)

Status

Closed

Opens

Closes

Scholarship Value

AU$42,000 stipend per year (tax free)

Length of Scholarship

3 years / 3 EFTSL

Number Available

1

Funding Type

This PhD project aims to recover contaminant free fuel-grade oil from waste soft plastics (such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP)) through pyrolysis process. 

The research will begin with detailed characterization of the feedstock (material) to understand its thermal behaviour, composition and structures. Key methods that will be used include microscopy (optical, scanning electron, transmission electron, etc) and spectroscopy (X-ray diffraction (XRD), gas-chromatography and mass-spectrometry (GC-MS), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)) among others. Then, a pilot-scale 20L batch pyrolysis reactor will be used to optimize pyrolysis process conditions to maximise oil yield with no wax formation. The project will develop a process model using ASPEN PLUS software to understand and optimise product yields and reaction kinetics which is crucial to determine product quality. Proper control of reaction rates/mechanisms and identifying factors that influence the reaction can help minimise undesirable byproducts, leading to higher quality products. The project will develop reaction kinetic model using CHEMKIN II software. The produced oil will then be analysed using GC-MS, TGA, FTIR, etc to evaluate their fuel quality and chemical structure. Produced oil quality and material behaviour will be mapped and a correlation between them will be developed to understand oil quality and its pertinent contaminants. In addition, a techno-economic analysis will be conducted to evaluate its large-scale application.

The applicant must:

  1. Be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident, or a New Zealand citizen.
  2. Have either a Master degree either by research or with a substantial element (typically one-third) of research work within it, from a university or any other approved institution or Bachelor degree in an appropriate discipline (mentioned in selection criteria) with first-class or second-class honours conferred by a university or any other approved institution.
  3. Meet CQUniversity PhD admission requirements.
  4. Enrol as a full-time PhD candidate. 

Applicants should have:

  • Qualifications around clean energy areas including mechanical engineering, energy engineering, renewable and sustainable energy engineering, process engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, energy and environmental scientists; and
  • Some record of publications or significant research experience.
  1. Applicants are required to submit the supporting documentation directly to principal supervisor Professor Mohammad Rasul via email: m.rasul@cqu.edu.au.
  2. Applications are assessed by the supervisory team and shortlisted applicants are interviewed by CQUniversity and Solving Plastic Waste CRC representatives.
  3. The supervisory team will nominate a preferred applicant.
  4. Applicants will be notified via email.

Please provide a CV, cover letter addressing the selection criteria, and academic transcripts.

For further information, contact the Principal Supervisor Professor Mohammad Rasul via:

 

Donor names: Solving Plastic Waste CRC and CQUniversity