PhD Studentship: Next-generation Electrified Membrane Reactor for Chemicals Production

This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded and home students (UK residents or holders of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status) are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is

The project objectives are:
• Design and test an electrified configuration for relevant chemical production starting from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
• Proof-of-concept, modelling and energy analysis of new intensified modular units (membrane and reactor).

The research project foresees three key activities:
Development of Selective membrane separation. New class of membrane will be considered to accelerate the separation of H2O to boost the CO2 hydrogenation to relevant chemicals such as olefins.
Proof-of-concept of the intensified reactor that combines new membranes and catalysts assisted with electricity generation. At reactor scale, key testing will involve the fundamental understanding of integrating catalyst and membrane and power supply (induction or plasma) on the product distribution and thermal management. CO2 conversion and olefins yields are the relevant KPIs.
Development and validation of the reactor model and its implementation into a flowsheet simulation study to assess the integrated process. It will be used for process optimisation using simulation tools as well as to provide a relevant design for techno-economics and environmental analysis.

The link between process operation and optimisation will be particularly challenging for dynamic processes operated with modular units with frequent start-up and shutdown and with frequent changes in the operating conditions.

The project will benefit from first-class facilities and equipment, which are available at the University of Manchester. The selected candidate will work closely with a research team of research staff with expertise in the area of chemical and process engineering and a pool of skilled technicians that will support research activities.
This project is linked with two ongoing Horizon Europe projects in which the University of Manchester and Zefira BV are partnered to deploy membrane-based technologies in which >25 partners across Europe are jointly working to demonstrate the new technologies at pre-commercial scale.

Research training
This thesis falls within the fields of Process Integration, Catalysis and Fluid Separation. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to continue his/her career development by acquiring further soft skills, including problem-solving and the ability to communicate results (presentation and technical writing).
The environment
The Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Manchester (ranked 15th in the QS World University Ranking 2026) is a world leader in industrially relevant research and teaching in Chemical Engineering and related subjects. We undertake leading-edge, multidisciplinary and creative research on a wide range of topics and we provide a world of possibilities for students pursuing skills and understanding.

Applicants should have or expect to achieve at least a 2.1 honours degree (or equivalent) in Chemical, Process and Mechanical Engineering, Materials
Candidates with a good background in process modelling, catlysis and reaction engineering and experience in process simulation (e.g. Aspen, Python, C++) are particularly welcome.

We strongly recommend that you contact Prof. Vincenzo Spallina (vincenzo.spallina@manchester.ac.uk) for this project before you apply. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

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