Materials/ Chemical Engineering: Fully Funded KESS II MSc by Research Scholarship: Cadmium Metal...

*This scholarships is part funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for West Wales and the Valleys.*

MSc by Research Scholarship for UK or EU applicants in the field of: Materials/Chemicals Engineering

Start date: October 2021

The aim of this project is to develop recyclable nanofilter to recover as during treatment targeted pollutants from metal mine water discharges and gain their utilisation in other commodity valuable applications.

The heavy metal pollution in water has a significant negative impact on water quality and ecological health of our waterbodies, which influences individual and community well-being, and economic development. The continual release of metals from underground workings through point source discharges as acid mine drainage and as diffuse source discrete discharges from spoil heaps and erosion of contaminated sediment cause derogation of quality on our surface and ground waterbodies. The removal of heavy metals is globally a high priority topic. So far, several conventional technologies such as chemical precipitation, adsorption, membrane filtration, and biological treatment have been applied for sequestration of heavy metal ions from water. Adsorption has proven to be one of the most attractive options, but developing a specific sorbent for particular metal ion pollutants is a crucial factor in adsorption process. Developing less expensive and durable adsorption filters remains a challenge. In this project, we will develop low cost, bio-waste derived nano-adsorbent for filtering priority substance cadmium from metal mine discharges. This part will be collaborative work with Natural Resources Wales and University College of London. Later, the possibility of these metal mine pollutant coated filters will be tested in photocatalysis applications (fuel generation, environmental clean-up).

The successful applicant will work under the supervision of Dr Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu and Dr Moritz F. Kuehnel . The project will involve both lab and field based studies. The student will have the opportunity to acquire a range of skill sets including nanomaterial synthesis, chemical analysis (GC-MS, HPLC) from other collaborators (University College of London). The successful student will also utilise our world-class facilities available at SPECIFIC, College of Engineering, Swansea University.

This R&D is particularly attractive as recyclable, nanofilters can be widely applied in water treatment, energy, environmental clean-up and energy applications.

Scholarships are collaborative awards with external partners including SMEs and micro companies, as well as public and third sector organisations. The scholarship provides 1 year funding with a 3 month period to complete the thesis. The achievement of a postgraduate skills development award, PSDA, is compulsory for each KESS 2 scholar and is based on a 40 credit award.