KTP Research Associate in Waste Plastic Processing - School of Chemical Engineering

KTP Research Associate in Waste Plastic Processing - 81784

Position Details

Area: School of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the £27,025 to £29,515, with potential progression once in post to £33,199

Hours: Full time

Duration: Fixed term for up to 24 months

Location: Primarily based via secondment, to Recycling Technologies Ltd, Swindon, UK

Closing Date: 18 August 2019

Background

This is an exciting opportunity to work on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham and Recycling Technologies Ltd (RT).

RT has created a commercially attractive way to recycle plastic waste and has demonstrated its capability by generating high quality products. The aim of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership is to assist Recycling Technologies by increasing understanding of the chemical reactions in the reactor generating and streamlining, and improving, the pyrolysis process.

RT relies on plastic waste stream in a mixed form, which is considered hard-to-recycle. This waste feedstock varies in type and quality, depending on the source and other factors, with different waste streams posing different technical challenges. Whilst RT has developed the RT7000 machine, its aim is to provide machines which are more energy efficient, transportable and able to process more complex plastic waste. This would satisfy the wider market need, allowing RT to be the enabler of a circular economy for plastics.

The successful applicant will be responsible for enhancing understanding and knowledge of the pyrolysis process and propose new ways to ensure that product quality is retained with a wider range of plastic waste.

This Knowledge Transfer Partnership will involve the employment of two KTP Associates who will work together on the overall project. The successful applicants will be employed by the University of Birmingham but will be primarily based at Recycling Technologies' premises in Swindon.

About Recycling Technologies:

Recycling Technologies is creating value from residual plastic waste on a global scale. Recycling Technologies has developed a process to economically recycle mixed plastic waste - that is currently disposed of in landfill or incinerators - into a valuable hydrocarbon product, named Plaxx®, with multiple uses in the wax and petrochemical sectors. Award-winning Plaxx® can be used by polymer manufacturers to make new plastic thereby propelling plastic into the circular economy. Find out more at www.recyclingtechnologies.co.uk

About Knowledge Transfer Partnerships:

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme is a government-funded technology transfer initiative that supports partnerships between business and universities, placing graduates on challenging, high profile projects. Further information is available at: www.birmingham.ac.uk/ktp

Summary of Role

In this role you will have a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of plastic recycling and the transformation of the plastics waste management industry by developing a circular economy solution. You will be challenged to develop analysis techniques to extract novel data, from novel systems, using innovative techniques, test theoretically sound concepts at scale and to deliver commercial outputs.

Specifically, you will:

• Develop robust characterisation procedures for waste-derived products.
• Current knowledge of lab-scale pyrolytic processes to full-scale commercial operation, maximising value derived from plastic waste streams moving to a circular economy model for plastic waste.
• Develop new kinetic and thermodynamic models that can be applied at commercial scale, to extend current understanding of polymer degradation chemistry.

You will work independently and, in some cases, simultaneously with the second KTP Associate to deliver outputs. You will be strongly supported both by your Academic Supervisors and by a variety of colleagues (including researchers, doctoral students and technicians) at the University as well as staff at RT to ensure that deliverables are met, and milestones are achieved.

Commercial experience is not essential as you will get an intense practical hands-on experience working in RT, which is continually recruiting staff and is experienced in inducting new people on-site and integrating them within the business.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

• Conduct a state-of-the-art review of the chemical nature of plastic waste
• Conduct plastic waste sampling and characterisation
• Carry out various analytical tests on the plastic waste streams
• Undertake an extensive testing programme on the conversion of plastic waste streams in the pyrolysis reactor
• Develop thermodynamic experiments and associated model
• Develop chemical kinetics experiments and associated model
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Analyse, interpret, correlate and compare research data as directed
• Present research outputs, including reports and drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Develop or adapt techniques, models and methods
• Provide guidance as required to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of the research
• Attend the KTP training programme
• Attend regular meetings

Person Specification

• First degree (minimum 2i, BEng/MEng/BSc/MSci) in Applied Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Chemistry or Chemical Engineering; OR a First degree at 2ii with a further higher qualification (Masters degree) in these or related areas.
• Lab experience is extremely desirable, in experimental design and its application.
• Knowledge of kinetic and thermodynamic modelling; experience desirable
• Practical experience of applying relevant skills and techniques
• Ability to analyse information and communicate effectively
• Ability to interact professionally with a wide variety of personnel, including management, technical, production operators, customers and integrators
• Ability to balance team and individual goals
• Ability to access and organise resources successfully
• Adaptability and self-motivation
• Ability to resolve problems having identified and assessed them
• A passion to translate applied research into commercial application
• Enthusiasm and ability to take 'ownership' of their project, be goal orientated, focused in all respects including financial management, knowledge embedding, time and resource management.

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof Gary Leeke; g.a.leeke@bham.ac.uk