PhD Studentship: Enzymatic degradation of rubber to functional materials

Updated: over 2 years ago
Location: Nottingham, SCOTLAND
Deadline: 01 Sep 2021

Reference
ENG1493
Closing Date
Wednesday, 1st September 2021
Department
Chemical & Environmental Engineering

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship (3 years) within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham. The student will work with an interdisciplinary supervisory team with expertise in biocatalysis (Dr. Anca Pordea) and materials chemistry (Prof. Derek Irvine).

Project title: Enzymatic degradation of rubber to functional materials

The recovery and repurposing of waste derived from polymer-based material can provide a solution to this very serious environmental concern. The emergence of enzymes that can degrade industrial polymers promises to revolutionise our approach to circular economy. Enzymes are renewable and they catalyse reactions in a specific manner, thereby offering the potential to control the outcome of degradation. Whilst enzymes have been engineered to degrade PET, the enzymatic degradation of inert polymers such as polyolefins and rubbers remains an unsolved challenge. 

We propose to explore the enzymatic degradation of rubber into valuable materials. Latex clearing proteins (Lcp’s) have been shown to degrade natural rubber (latex) into oligomers. Preliminary data also suggests that synthetic rubbers, including poly(trans-1,4-isoprene), can be enzymatically degraded. The resulting oligomers have potentially valuable applications as materials with novel properties and characteristics. In this project, we will engineer Lcp’s to expand its substrate scope to synthetic polymers and to tune the properties of the resulting oligomer product mixtures. The resulting oligomeric material will be characterised and explored for different applications.

The ideal candidate will have knowledge in (bio)chemistry, biocatalysis, biotechnology or related subjects and be interested in materials science and polymer chemistry. The studentship is an exciting research collaboration between supervisors based within the Centre for Additive Manufacturing (https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/cfam/ ) and the Sustainable Process Technologies Research Group (https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/sustainable-process-technologies-research-group/index.aspx ). A collaboration with the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI, US) is in place, to look at oligomer valorisation. The student will have access to equipment and expertise at the forefront of polymer chemistry and of biotechnology research areas.

Eligibility

•    Due to funding restrictions, the position is only available for UK candidates

•    Candidates must possess or expect to obtain, a 2:1 or first class degree in Physical Sciences, Biotechnology or related discipline. 

•    Candidates will be available to start on 1st October 2021.

How to apply

Please send a copy of your covering letter, CV and academic transcripts to [email protected] referring to the project title.  

Closing date: 1 September 2021.



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