stillingsbetegnelse:
PhD position: Next Generation Methanol to Formaldehyde Selective Oxidation Catalysts

jobbeskrivelse:
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering – CHEC research centre. A PhD position is available within the above mentioned research project on development and fundamental understanding of methanol to formaldehyde oxidation catalysts. The position is funded by The Independent Research Council, the Technical University of Denmark and Haldor Topsøe A/S. The present PhD position aims at experimental studies of novel catalyst synthesis methods, structural characterization, kinetics and reaction mechanism studies. Formaldehyde (CH2O) is a highly important chemical intermediate prepared from methanol. Approximately 13 million ton is produced annually, ranking it around no. 25 on the list of top chemicals produced. Formaldehyde is a highly versatile chemical employed by the chemical and other industries to produce a large number of products used in daily life, and new processes for production of chemicals using bio-molecules and formaldehyde instead of crude oil are being explored. It is the most important industrially produced aldehyde and can seldom, if ever, be replaced by other chemicals. Industrially formaldehyde is synthesized from methanol by the following processes: 1.Partial oxidation and dehydrogenation at 680 - 720°C with air in the presence of silver crystals, steam and excess methanol with complete methanol conversion. 2.Partial oxidation and dehydrogenation at 600 - 750°C with air in the presence of crystalline silver or silver gauze, steam and excess methanol with recycle of unconverted methanol. 3.Selective oxidation of methanol at 250 - 400°C with excess air in the presence of iron molybdate catalysts with complete methanol conversion. The third option is the dominant industrial process for large-scale production due to a higher single pass conversion and better selectivity than the silver based catalytic routes. This process will be the focus in this project. The project will include the following activities: •Literature survey of selective oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde using iron molybdate and other catalyst systems. •Catalyst synthesis using different techniques, e.g. solid state synthesis, hydrothermal synthesis and co-precipitation •Structural and chemical characterization using e.g. XRD, BET, TPR and electron microscopy. •Experimental investigation of the catalytic activity, kinetics and catalyst deactivation using an in-house micro-reactor setup. •Investigating the reaction mechanism using in-situ spectroscopy (e.g EXAFS and DRIFTS) and transient techniques. Qualifications Candidates should have a master's degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, physics or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the master's degree in engineering. Candidates with knowledge in catalysis, synthesis and characterization will be preferred. Candidates should be interested in an experimentally based PhD project where most of the research time is spent in the laboratory, speak and write English fluently, have good communications skills and be interested in teamwork with a postdoc. Approval and Enrolment The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide. Assessment The assessment of the applicants will be made by Professor Anker Degn Jensen. We offer We offer an interesting and challenging job in an international environment focusing on education, research, public-sector consultancy and innovation, which contribute to enhancing the economy and improving social welfare. The specific project will be carried out in close collaboration with a postdoc at DTU Chemical Engineering and the company Haldor Topsøe A/S. We strive for academic excellence, collegial respect and freedom tempered by responsibility. The Technical University o

Arbejdsgiver Navn: Danmarks Tekniske Universitet

Arbejdsgiver telefonnummer: 45252525

Arbejdsgiver faxnummer: 45881799

Job kort beskrivelse:
Undervisning og forskning på universiteter og højere læreranstalter

land: Danmark

region: Hovedstaden

krævede uddannelse: Ikke angivet

Kilde til jobtilbud: AMS, Offentlige arbejdsformidlinger, Danmark