Master/Ph.D. Students (4-5 Positions) - Waste Valorization and Environmental Materials Research Group

Project Name

TÜBİTAK 2232 Programme - Interfacial Modification of Sewage Sludge Derived-biochar for Enhanced Removal of Organophosphorus Pesticides (OPPs) from Water

Project summary 

Recently, an economical and sustainable wastewater treatment strategy, viz., the use of modified biochar, to remove organic pollutants from industrial wastewater is receiving great attention due to their high removal efficiency in a broad range of pH and temperature. However, the availability of the feedstock for the production of biochar is another issue. On the other side, the increasing production of sewage sludge (SS) from wastewater treatment plants has become a huge environmental problem worldwide and environmentally-friendly and cost-effective disposal of sewage sludge is the major challenge of wastewater treatment. With the advancement of pyrolysis technology, SS conversion into biochar as an efficient catalyst for environmental application shows great promise to sludge valorization. 

Project objectives 

This project plans to explore the most efficient, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly sewage sludge biochar-based catalysts, including their production route, physio-chemical characteristics, catalytic-applications for the removal of Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), reaction-mechanisms and degradation pathways. Additionally, this project will also demonstrate the effect of pyrolysis conditions (i.e., temperature, retention time, vacuum conditions and microwave-assisted pyrolysis, etc.) and modification methods on characteristics such as surface functional groups, magnetic properties and OPPs degradation competency of synthesized biochar. Furthermore, effect of modified SS-BC on reaction mechanism of OPPs will also be studied concerning economic feasibility and environmental sustainability. 

Eligibility criteria 

1. Basic degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering or Chemistry with practical work experience in carbonaceous material synthesis and thermochemical conversion process.
2. Good written and oral English language skills.
3. Preference will be given to candidates having published SCI papers as the first author (only for Ph.D. and Postdoc).

Stipend
Selected candidates will be offered 3-4 years’ stipend. 
1. Master Scholarship: 3500 TL per month
2. Ph.D. Scholarship: 4500 TL per month
3. Postdoctoral Researcher Scholarship: 6000 TL per month

Contact information 

Successful candidates will be working with Dr. Balal Yousaf and Prof. Dr. Ülkü Yetiş, as well as with our international collaborators. Please send us your CV and a letter of interest outlining your background and research achievements to “Principal Investigator/Scientist (Balal Yousaf)” (balal@metu.edu.tr

Positions starting time  

The start time will be February 2020, whenever, applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. 


Last Updated:
15/06/2021 - 16:39