Plasma catalysis over zeolites for the conversion of plastic waste into sustainable aviation fuels

Description

Plastic waste is one of the most pressing environmental challenges today, with millions of tonnes accumulating annually. Traditional recycling methods often result in downcycled products, while incineration releases harmful greenhouse gases. This PhD project aims to address these issues by developing a novel plasma-catalytic process for converting plastic waste into sustainable aviation fuels. The research will leverage zeolites, versatile catalysts with tunable properties, and non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology, which uses partially ionised gases to activate chemical bonds under mild conditions. 

The candidate will explore the integration of plasma catalysis with zeolite-based catalysts to optimize the conversion of plastic waste into valuable fuels and chemicals. Specific objectives include: optimizing the plasma-catalytic process, designing advanced reactors, synthesizing and tailoring zeolite catalysts, and investigating the reaction mechanisms governing plasma-zeolite interactions. This research will provide valuable insights into enhancing the energy efficiency and selectivity of the process while minimizing emissions, contributing to both the reduction of plastic waste and the production of sustainable fuels. 

The project will be structured across four years, with the first two years spent at the University of Liverpool (UoL) and the following two years at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan. In the first year, the student will conduct a comprehensive literature review and work on reactor design, catalyst screening, and basic plasma diagnostics. In the second year, the focus will shift to testing different plastic feedstocks, optimizing NTP parameters, and understanding the correlation between catalysts and selectivity. In the third year, the candidate will engineer zeolite catalysts and delve into the detailed reaction mechanisms using advanced in situ characterisation and plasma modeling techniques. The final year will focus on optimizing operational parameters, evaluating product selectivity, and preparing the PhD thesis. 

This project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), and aims to position both the UK and Taiwan as global leaders in sustainable plastic waste-to-fuel technologies.