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The aim of this project is to develop a novel plasma technology for dairy and meat industry to effectively deal with enteric methane emissions. A significant portion (ca. 43%) of agricultural GHG emissions is methane, and most of that (ca. 80%) is produced by enteric fermentation, i.e. by belching cattle. Currently there is no economically feasible way to treat methane that is present in low concentrations, below 1 vol-%. The goal of the project is to develop novel technologies for methane oxidation to less harmful carbon dioxide, thus reducing the GWP of the enteric emissions by 96%. The CANMILK project focuses on developing plasma technology to remove enteric methane emissions inside animal barns and thereby tackling the biggest singular agricultural GHG source. CANMILK is an international collaborative project between multiple industrial and academic partners.
In this project, the PhD candidate will perform experiments to understand the reaction mechanisms of trace-methane removal using plasma discharges. This will be achieved by using gas analysis (e.g. GC, FTIR) alongside state-of-the-art in-situ laser and optical diagnostic techniques (Raman and Thomson scattering). With this combined diagnostic approach, we will be able to map gas composition, density, and temperature throughout the reactor and in-doing so determine local chemical kinetics data. This data will be used to validate chemical kinetic models that are being developed at a partner university.
The successful candidate is expected to perform laboratory experiments to evaluate processes occurring in plasma discharges. Experiments will be performed in our new laboratory, located at Chemelot, 20 km North of Maastricht. You will work independently to collect, analyse, and evaluate experimental data. You will join a small team working on similar (i.e. plasma and spectroscopy) experiments. We expect that you will regularly discuss, share, and present your work with fellow team members, colleagues, collaborative partners, and wider audiences at international conferences. We expect you will write a number of high-quality scientific articles, ultimately culminating in your PhD thesis.
Fixed-term contract: a period of 1 year, which will be extended for another 3 years after positive evaluation.
Starting date: September 2022
Located in the heart of Europe, UM is the most international university in the Netherlands with half of our students and one third of academic staff coming from abroad. In total, UM has around 22,000 students and circa 5,000 employees and represents 100 different nationalities. Maastricht University is a stimulating environment where research and teaching are complementary, where innovation is our focus and where talent can flourish. Research is characterised by a multidisciplinary, thematic, and collaborative approach, and with education, forms the core of UM.
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Faculty of Science and Engineering
The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) is home to several outstanding departments and institutions covering education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as well as the liberal arts and sciences.
We are part of the newly created Circular Engineering Department in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Maastricht University. Our research group is uniquely situated in the heart of the Dutch chemical industry at the Brightlands Chemelot campus, 20 km north of Maastricht. Our strong links with industry give excellent opportunity to build collaborations and partnerships, giving good prospects for a future career in industry. Our group has a strong expertise in plasma science, with each of our respective members having an established international reputation for high quality scientific output in the fields of plasma chemistry, plasma modelling, spectroscopy, and laser diagnostics. We have excellent international connections with esteemed laboratories, and we therefore expect the applicant will have the opportunity to work abroad during their PhD.
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