PhD Position Designing a Nature-inspired Engineering Tool to Address Soil Pollution

The use of non-renewable resources is causing global-scale environmental problems, which threaten the stability of our planet earth. The safe operating space to maintain liveable conditions on earth has been formulated in the planetary boundaries, of which several are already overstepped. Many of these problems are caused by human interruptions of biogeochemical cycles of the biogenic elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur leading to the creation of waste.

Zero Waste is a part of the university-wide theme of Sustainable Prosperity presented in the University of Amsterdam’s (UvA) 2021-2026 strategic plan. With Zero Waste, the UvA Faculty of Science (FNWI) aims to contribute to alleviating these environmental problems resulting from the current linear use of resources by (re-)designing processes, materials, and products to keep materials in closed cycles while meeting our needs.

Zero Waste will strongly connect to education at the Faculty of Science, especially to the new BSc programme Science and Design that focusses on four interdisciplinary themes: 1) high-tech designer materials, 2) renewable energy and resources, 3) engineering life and health, and 4) information science, modelling and simulation. Six Science & Design Doctorates will form the start of the Zero Waste research theme. They will work together in physical proximity and intensive interaction to strengthen the common aspects of the projects, while researching a broad range of topics. Physically, research and demonstration activities and part of the research of the theme can be carried out in SustainaLab , the new Matrix ONE building at Amsterdam Science Park .

Chlorinated volatile organic contaminants (CVOCs) are produced world-wide in large quantities for use e.g. as solvents and degreasing compounds. Through spillages, leakages, etc. such compounds find their way into soils where they persist as dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs). As such they form one of the most wide-spread forms of pollution on Earth and threaten ecosystems, groundwater and human health worldwide. In the present project we aspire to design a nature-inspired geotechnical engineering concept as part of a circular, sustainable design to reduce waste and soil pollution. The project builds on the SoSEAL barrier concept previously developed by us. The SoSEAL barrier reduces the in-situ permeability of the sub-surface using the flocculation of aluminium (Al)-Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) complexes in soil pores to block them in a way that mimics naturally occurring soil forming processes in Podzols. In the present project, we aspire to take SoSEAL concept a step further and combine sustainable Al sources with existing waste-streams as a source of DOM to design a tailored permeability barrier to isolate CVOCs in contaminated soils while simultaneously stimulating their microbial degradation, thus leading to the (partial) removal of the CVOCs over time.

Key research questions are.

• What properties should the Al/Fe-DOM complexes have in order to achieve the required properties in the barrier? 
• How are the required properties of the Al/Fe-DOM complexes related to the required organic-matter characteristics?
• How can these characteristics be measured in a quantitative manner in order to design required production recipes and injection/delivery methods in the lab and the field?
• What measurement/monitoring strategies are required to quantitatively test the performance in both laboratory as well as field settings to assess the performance of the engineered Al/Fe-DOM-CVOC system?

To tackle these questions, we have set up a partnership between the UvA, the Technical University Delft, and the consultancy firm TAUW and contractor Heijmans. You will play a key role in this research consortium and will help answering the research questions by: i) studying the fundamental processes causing Al/Fe-DOM flocculation, and ii) studying the behavior of the precipitates thus formed in the presence of CVOCs for creating 'designed' flocs with specific in-situ behavior.

What are you going to do

You are expected to:

• Perform high quality research that combines laboratory study with field research at a CVOC polluted site of a problem owner.
• Closely collaborate with all partners of the team, including performing one or more internships at TAUW and/or Heijmans.
• Publish your results in good peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Actively contribute to the teaching of the new Science for Design Bachelor program and possibly other relevant programs of the UvA.