Creating Sustainable Fuel from Ocean Microplastics Using Plasma Conversion

The successful PhD student will be co-supervised and work alongside our external partner Hydrogen Refinery.

This studentship is open to students worldwide *please see funding notes below

Renewable Energy is one of the fastest growing sectors addressing the most important challenges of our age.  Offshore renewables, energy distribution, and the environmental impacts of constructing and decommissioning the infrastructure are some one of the most pressing research themes faced by the UK and beyond.  The Net Zero Maritime Energy Solutions Centre (N0MES) for Doctoral Training is creating the future specialist workforce needed by our industrial partners through PhD projects finding solutions to real-life industrial needs. N0MES offers 4-year PhD studentships for exceptional researchers. With the support of the University of Liverpool (UoL), Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and over 30 maritime energy sector partners, N0MES postgraduate researchers will pursue new, engineering-centred, interdisciplinary research.

N0MES CDT Theme A: Energy Generation

Marine plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the ecosystem, creating an urgent need to address the problem. Traditional methods of mitigating oceanic microplastic pollution, such as clean up or prevention, face immense challenges due to the scale of the issue and the difficulty of removing microplastics from water systems once they disperse. One promising alternative solution is to develop a direct conversion method that can transform these microplastics into fuel species, which can then be used as marine transport fuel.

Non-thermal plasma technology, which can activate gases and compounds as radicals, excited species, ions, etc., offers a promising route to break stable C-C/C-N bonds in common plastics using intermittent renewable energy. However, an efficient combination of non-thermal plasma and catalysts needs to be developed. Therefore, this project aims to rationally develop catalysts for the plasma conversion of marine plastic into transport fuels, suitable for marine and offshore energy use.

This project provides a novel solution to the marine microplastic issue by converting microplastics into sustainable transportation fuels through plasma-based technology. This approach addresses two major concerns: ocean pollution and the demand for cleaner fuel alternatives.

Application Information

We want all our staff and students to feel that Liverpool is an inclusive and welcoming environment that actively celebrates and encourages diversity. We are committed to working with students to make all reasonable project adaptations including supporting those with caring responsibilities, disabilities or other personal circumstances. For example, if you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students Allowance on top of your studentship to help cover the costs of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result. We believe everyone deserves an excellent education and encourage students from all backgrounds and personal circumstances to apply.

Applicant Eligibility

Candidates will have, or be due to obtain, a master’s degree or equivalent from a reputable university in a relevant subject OR a First in a relevant bachelor’s degree. 

Important Application Process

Please submit your application to the University of Liverpool here: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/postgraduate-research/how-to-apply/

Follow the guidance notes here: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/postgraduate-research/how-to-apply/

Candidates wishing to discuss the research project should contact the primary supervisor - see supervisor section at top of page.

Those wishing to discuss the application process should contact CDT Manager, Matt Fulton, at the University of Liverpool [n0mescdt@liverpool.ac.uk].