Open Positions

One way of recovering P from wastewater is the precipitation and crystallization of struvite. The kinetics of precipitation and crystallization are of decisive importance for the efficiency of the process. The measurement and description of the kinetics of the precipitation and crystallization processes are important methods for understanding the influences of various process parameters such as temperature, flocculant concentration and the flow field and for optimizing the process.

In this doctoral project, an inline measurement system based on dynamic extinction spectroscopy with high temporal and spatial resolution is to be developed, constructed and applied in order to measure the kinetics of the precipitation and crystallization processes during the formation of struvite in a test reactor with wastewater and to determine the decisive process influencing variables. The measurement method used involves passing a beam of light through the forming suspension and analyzing the measured transmission signal to determine the concentration and size of the particles in the nanometer and micrometer range. The data obtained is also used to model micro-processes of aggregation and fracture of the crystals formed using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and the Population Balance Method (PBM).

The most important scientific questions of this PhD will be:

-  Can the kinetics of the rapid microprocesses of the aggregate formation and breakage be obtained from the transmission signal despite disturbance variables in the process?
-  How should the optical system of the dynamic extinction sensor be set up in order to measure the high particle concentrations? 
-  Can the microscopic material functions for the population balance models of precipitation and crystallisation be obtained using extinction spectroscopy?

Requirements for applicants:

-  Excellent Master degree (M.Sc.) or equivalent in process engineering or physics
-  Experience relating to experimental particle measurement techniques, optical sensors and DEM/PBM simulation is beneficial though not essential 
-  Proficient in the English language and willingness to learn German (for non-German speaking persons)  

Application:

You can send your application for this PhD topic to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sergiy Antonyuk: sergiy.antonyuk[at]mv.rptu.de