Closed vacancies
The adsorption team of the Department of Chemical Engineering (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) is looking for a PhD researcher (targeting a Baekeland project) to research drying of gaseous flows using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) techniques, together with a large world-wide company active in Belgium. The focus is on fabricating, characterizing and testing novel adsorbent structures in a PSA application, from lab to pilot scale. A significant portion of the work involves simulation and process modelling. To this purpose, you can make use of the available setups (including pilot), synthesis knowhow and tools, and modelling expertise and software within both the university as company.
The adsorption team of the Department of Chemical Engineering (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) is looking for a PhD researcher to research the adsorptive separation of oxygen-rich gaseous streams emerging within a novel integrated carbon utilization process, this in the scope of a VLAIO funded project involving multiple partners. The focus is on fabricating and testing adsorbent structures for their oxygen separating performance: (I) formulating, shaping, characterizing adsorbents and (II) evaluating these for oxygen recovery (cyclic experiments, process modelling). To this purpose, you can make use of the available setups, synthesis knowhow and tools, and modelling expertise within the team.
This position fits within the broader context of the chemical recycling of plastics towards new building blocks, either in the form of intact polymers or converted building blocks with added value. The work comprises technology development, detailed analytical characterization and assessment of potential functionalities for application.
The following tasks/actions are foreseen in our project to be conducted by the candidate, focusing on the separation/fractionation/purification of polymer waste with a focus on selected thermoplasts, and oxygenates (polyesters, polycarbonates and polyethers), and this both via modelling and experimental work:
- Active literature survey, keeping up to date with relevant articles and patents in the fields
- Detailing out the work protocol after discussion with the experts involved
- Execution of the work in laboratory
- Data interpretation and plan for next possible steps: in discussion with experts
- Execution of the experiments/tasks in a timely and efficient manner according to the overall project planning
- Preparing presentations for the meetings/reports.
- Scientific output and/or patent submission as a result of the work would be highly recommended
- Ensure compliance with VITO’s Health & Safety Policy, and take a proactive approach to ensure all experimental work is safe
The adsorption team of the Department of Chemical Engineering (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) is looking for a PhD researcher (targeting a Baekeland project) to research the adsorptive removal of organic trace (ppm level) components in gaseous flow, together with a large world-wide company active in Belgium. The focus is on (I) using available adsorbents in a novel electric desorption concept to test and compare separation performance on labscale, (II) and prepare structured materials based on the available core materials and evaluate performance. To this purpose, you can make use of the available setups (electric desorption), synthesis knowhow and tools, and modelling expertise within both the university as company.
The Chair Industrial and Circular Water Technology facilitates the transfer of academic research to industry and society. The main research focus is on creating a more sustainable industrial water production and management, mainly through technological innovations. The research chair therefore currently focuses on a number of key topics, namely (i) process intensification & selective separation, (ii) cooling water conditioning and corrosion,(iii) alternative water sources and (iv) the sustainability of water treatment technologies. The goal is to boost innovations within the industrial water cycle and anker them into practice, to make this cycle more efficient and sustainable and prep industry for the future. The findings of the chair, in combination with the collaboration with industry, should result in economic savings, growth and increased productivity for the end user. Communication is key, by bringing different stakeholders within the water sector together, exchange information and coordinate action.
To even further increase practical relevance of the chair, we are looking for a new senior team member, who helps to translate industrial problems into relevant scientific questions and projects; and vice versa supports the rapid deployment of novel research in a practical setting. This requires a constant debate with (new) industrial stakeholders.
The adsorption team of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel aims at the development of separation processes for a sustainable chemistry. In this project, we will develop new processes for the recovery of valuable chemicals from renewable resources (lignin oil). In this multi-partner project, new catalytic and separation processes are studied. At the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, process models for the downstream processing of the lignin oil have to be developed using Aspen Plus. The duration of this project is 1.5 years. The team of Prof. Denayer has extended know-how in the field; the well-equipped research lab contains all possible tools for the in-depth study of adsorption separation processes.
The adsorption team of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel aims at the development of separation processes for a sustainable chemistry. In this project, we will develop new processes for CO2 capture. In this large, multidisciplinary and multi-partner project, new processes for intensified CO2 capture will be studied. At the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, we will develop and study new adsorptive processes based on the use of alternative heating and regeneration methods. This includes both modeling and experimental work. The team of Prof. Denayer has extended know-how in the field; the well-equipped research lab contains all possible tools for the in-depth study of adsorption separation processes.
The adsorption team of the Department of Chemical Engineering (Prof. J. Denayer) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel aims at the development of better and sustainable separation processes. In the present project, an industrial Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) process is optimized. A fully equipped 2-bed pilot PSA unit is available in the research unit, allowing to obtain very accurate data for the cyclic separation process. In this project, pilot plant tests will be combined with detailed modeling of the PSA process to achieve an improvement of process performance in terms of power consumption, productivity etc. Besides, a full characterization of the adsorption properties of the materials used in this separation will be carried out via a range of experimental methods (gravimetry, volumetry, calorimetry, porosimetry,…) available in the research group.
Optimization of industrial processes, a shift to alternative resources, improved functionality, less waste, lower costs and increased efficiencies: these are the challenges industry and society are facing nowadays.
The Elec team of VITO, part of the business unit separation and conversion technologies, focuses on electro-synthesis; utilizing green electricity to produce chemical building blocks and e-fuels. The focus of the team is to invent new pathways and to bring these innovations to the market.
To accelerate these electrochemical innovations, we are hiring several postdocs for electrochemical research and development. More information about VITO and our research topics is available on www.vito.be