PhD and Postdoc opportunity : Systematic experimental analysis of biomass pretreatment in strong electrolytic media (Aachen, Germany)

The Chair of Process Systems Engineering (AVT.PT) is part of the Aachener Verfahrenstechnik at RWTH Aachen, consists of about 30 researchers and is directed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. W. Marquardt. The research is focused on the development of basic principles of mathematical modeling, the combination of experiments and modeling, conceptual process design, process operations and control as well as the development of numerical algorithms and software-tools. The algorithmic research is integrated in the graduate school AICES and in the German Research School of Simulation Sciences. The methodological aspect is complemented by applications in the process industries.

Your profile:
You have received an excellent master’s / doctoral degree (or equivalent) in chemical engineering, process systems engineering or a related field. The particular project will benefit from experience in molecular modeling (DFT, MD, etc.) or vibrational spectroscopy. Knowledge on analysis of solvent-solute interactions in complex systems will complement your profile. As this is an interdisciplinary project, good communication skills are required.

Your duties and responsibilities:
The limited access of biomacromolecules within the composite-like structure of biomass challenges their utilization for chemicals and fuels. An economic processing therefore requires a pretreatment step to enable fractionation and efficient conversion. One goal of the cluster of excellence ‘Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomas‘ at RWTH Aachen University is the development of novel processing strategies to selectively deconstruct biomass in its constituents and to convert them to platform molecules. However, the mechanisms of the developed pretreatment concepts are not precisely understood, which constrains the design and improvement.

The objective of this project is the analysis of biomass pretreatment with organic solvents of molecular and ionic nature. This includes precise quantification and systematic experiments to characterize the developed chemical concepts. In addition to comprehensive mass balances, it is envisaged to gain insight into the molecular interaction in the heterogeneous mixture. Analytical techniques like FT IR and FT Raman spectroscopy should be applied in-situ to unveil the strong interaction in the solvent and with biomass constituents. The complex data should be evaluated using indirect hard modeling of spectra. It is envisaged that the combination with the molecular structure enhances the quantification but also enables the monitoring of specific functional groups responsible for biomass pretreatment. These observations then should lead to more mechanistic understanding of biomass pretreatment. Benchmarking with state-of-the-art process design will identify the technical and economic potential of the studied pretreatment concept and help to improve the pretreatment concept. This integrated approach of systematic experimental analysis and process design should enable to design tailor-made biomass pretreatment and conversion processes.

Our offer:
The candidate will be employed as a regular employee. The candidate must meet required personal qualifications. The position is to be filled as soon as possible and is for a fixed term for 1 Year. A renewal is possible. The standard weekly hours will be 39,83 hours. The successful candidate has the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree. Salary is according to TV-L E13.
RWTH Aachen University has been certified as a « Family Friendly University ».
RWTH is committed to promoting the careers of women and therefore looks forward to receiving applications by female candidates. For positions in organizational units where women are underrepresented, in cases of equal qualification, ability and professional achievement, preference will be given to female applicants unless reasons specific to an individual candidate tilt the balance in his favors.
The University positively welcomes applications from suitably qualified disabled people.
Contact:
For further information, please contact
Herr Dipl.-Ing. Jörn Viell
Tel.: +49 (0) 80-97010
Fax: +49 (0) 80-92326
E-Mail: Joern.Viell@avt.rwth-aachen.de
You can also obtain further information from our websites: http://www.avt.rwth-aachen.de
Please send your application by 30.09.12 to
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt
RWTH Aachen
AVT – Lehrstuhl für Prozesstechnik
Templergraben 55
52056 Aachen
or submitted via mail to
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Marquardt
E-Mail: jobs.pt@avt.rwth-aachen.de
Applications by e-mail are questionable from a data protection point of view. The applicant is fully responsible for submitting an application by e-mail. It is recommended that applicants submit written applications by post.