Postdoc position in Recycling Plastic Waste via Mechanochemistry (1.0 FTE)

Updated: over 1 year ago
Job Type: Temporary
Deadline: 23 Aug 2022

In this role you will use your background in chemistry, catalysis, polymer science and/or mechanochemistry to discover new recycling technologies for plastics using mechanochemistry. You will enter a relatively unexplored field of chemistry together with an expanding team of 6 PhD students. The focus of the project is to develop new ball-milling- and extrusion-assisted conversion of polyolefins to chemical building blocks, such as monomers, aromatics, and other hydrocarbons. This to understand the fundamental mechanism of chain cleavage of polyolefins due to mechanical force. You will be using EPR, MALDI TOF MS, GPC and TGA as well as a plethora of other spectroscopic techniques available in the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis (ICC) section. In addition, catalyst design for the same process will be part of your research task, which allows you to become an expert in mechanocatalysis.

This fundamental research project aims to make a positive impact on the plastic waste problem. To achieve this mechanochemical and mechanistic fundamentals of polyolefin conversion are combined with the possibility to develop a viable recycling technology. You will be applying for patents and closely work with companies. There are also possibilities for outreach, e.g. via webinars or open days of the university.

You will closely work with at least one PhD student and help 5 other PhD students with their related topics, all on chemical conversion of polyolefins to useful chemicals. Within the ICC section there is plenty of opportunity for further collaboration with PIs, Postdocs and PhD students working on various operando spectroscopy techniques to study catalysts. Your main tasks will be:

  • develop a new chemical recycling technology based on mechanochemistry;
  • overcome the challenge of performing reactions inside a shaking ball mill at elevated temperatures and under gas atmosphere;
  • understand the fundamental mechanism of mechanochemical polymer chain cleavage;
  • develop a strong knowledge base for mechanochemistry of polyolefins;
  • advise, supervise and work closely with other team members;
  • excel in a top chemistry group with an extensive variety of state-of-the-art equipment.


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