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ESR 8

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ESR 8
Odour characterization, monitoring, control and removal from recycled plastics

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  • TITLE: Odour characterization, monitoring, control and removal from recycled plastics

  • HOST: Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany)

  • MAIN SUPERVISOR: Prof. dr. A. Büttner (FAU)

  • CO-SUPERVISOR: Prof. dr. S. De Meester (UG)

  • START DATE: 01.06.2020

  • DURATION: 36 months

  • REQUIRED DEGREE: Master of Science degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, chemical engineering, chemical sensing and chemical sensor technology, food chemistry, or related fields

  • REQUIRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS: 

    • Knowledge or prior experience in analytical chemistry, aroma chemistry, organic chemical synthesis, chemical sensing and chemical sensor technology, food chemistry, or related fields , and/or chemical engineering

    • Excellent communication and organization skills

    • Fluent in written and spoken English

    • Sstrong team player skills and enthusiasm about working self-dependently in interdisciplinary environments

  • DESCRIPTION: The candidate will optimize and apply chemo-analytical methods based on the extraction of volatile and odorous compounds and subsequent analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled to olfactometry to identify marker compounds contributing to the odor of recycled plastics, and elucidate their formation pathways and origin. Modifications of the recycling process will be developed and applied to evaluate their usefulness in reducing the odor load of the materials, with a focus on washing processes. Sensor technologies will be selected and evaluated with regard to their use for in-process quality control to enable application-oriented recycling processes

  • OBJECTIVES: The objective is to characterize the causative odour-active constituents in recycled plastics by using smell-guided chemo-analytical methods. The knowledge of the molecular underpinnings of the respective smells will be used for guiding odour-minimization technologies. Another focus will be on the identification and adaptation of sensor strategies for in-line detection and monitoring of odour emissions in recycling processes

  • PLANNED SECONDMENTS: UG to perform washing tests on a semi-continuous friction washer, testing different washing media (cold/hot water, caustic, detergents, solvents, etc.), including process design for recovery of washing media (M18-M24); Fraunhofer IIS to select and test sensor technologies for monitoring odour emissions (M36-M38)

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