Doctoral position on wastewaters treatment/ environmental/ green chemistry

Highlights:

1. The presence of important concentrations of dyestuffs in wastewaters presents a great and dual problem to face: colour and chemicals (toxicity and/or mutagenicity). Dyestuffs are designed to resist the atmospheric conditions and, so, the classical and generalist biological aerobic plants are inadequate to treat them. During the last decade, several methods of colour removal and/or chemical decomposition from wastewaters containing dyestuffs, and particularly azo dyes, have been found effective and potentially applicable for scaling up.
   In particular, processes to treat wastewaters in reductive atmosphere in presence of microorganisms placed over active carbon (BAC, biological active carbon treatments) seem to be really indicated to be the new technological approach. The synergistic effect of bioreaction, adsorption and the action of AC as redox mediator has permitted to obtain, as preliminary results, very high conversions at very short times of reaction.
2. The objective of the proposed study is to go deeper in the use of this new technique for environmental purposes, try to overcome the technical limitations observed using membrane technologies and check the possibility to expand the use of BAC systems for non environmental purposes
3. Requirements: A master degree (or equivalent), ending before September 2010, is required with excellent academic records in chemical/environmental/process engineering, applied chemistry or closely related areas. Good knowledge of English is mandatory.
4. Previous research experience will be considered as a valuable asset. The candidate will join the Doctorate Program in Chemical, Environmental and Process Engineering, which holds the Quality Mention of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, to start a three-year research period before obtaining the doctorate degree.
5. Benefits: The CREPI group is an internationally recognized leader in applications of Chemical Engineering for the treatment and recovery of wastewater and the reduction and valorisation of wastes using advanced oxidation processes, membrane technology and biotechnologic solutions. The group will support the attendance to international congresses and, at least, a three-month stay in a foreigner research laboratory. The position is fully funded with an attractive remuneration package.
6. Application: Deadline: 20th June, 2010
7. Please send an application letter, two-page CV, transcription of academic records and references to Dr. Fabregat. Tentative start date: October 2010.
8. More information at:
1. http://www.urv.es/en_index.html
   http://www.etseq.urv.es/DEQ/
   http://www.etseq.urv.es/DEQ/Doctorat/web/
9. Project Supervisor: Dr. Azael Fabregat Llangostera
   
   Chemical Reaction Engineering & Process Intensification Group (CREPI)
   Department of Chemical Engineering, University Rovira i Virgili
   e-mail: afabrega@urv.cat (http://www.etseq.urv.es/CREPI/)
10. Telephone: + 34 977 55 9643
11. Fax: + 34 977 55 9621