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Type of project: BSc or MSc Thesis/internship
Starting date: Autumn 2023
Duration: 6 – 12 months
Location: Wetsus Research Institute, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
There are a few possibilities for allowances:
– The allowance for students is €200. The student can apply for ‘Wetsus Grant’ allowance (€200 extra; an internal committee decides if the allowance will be granted).
– Students can apply for Erasmus; (if the Erasmus grant is less than €400, the student can apply for the Wetsus Grant).
– Erasmus
*The Wetsus Grant allowance is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Grant Committee.
H2S is a toxic and corrosive gas that is present in many (bio-)gas streams and for which a biological treatment has been developed for its removal. The biological treatment consists of absorption of H2S into the process solution and the subsequent conversion to elemental sulfur crystals by sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB).
Recent research has shown that chemical driving forces alone cannot explain the highly efficient mass-transfer of H2S from gas to liquid phase in the absorber column. It is hypothesized that both the bacteria and sulfur crystals improve the mass-transfer through (bio)chemical reactions, a process that is called mass-transfer enhancement. In order to properly understand this, an integrated experimental-modelling approach is needed.
This offer, concentrating on lab experiments, will focus on running batch stirred-cell absorption experiments under different operating conditions. It also includes sampling and chemical analyses. The goal is to generate data that deepens our understanding of H2S absorption within the biological gas desulfurization process.
Responsibilities:
– Carrying out stirred-cell absorption experiments using bacteria and sulfur crystals;
– Interpretation of results;
– Partaking in scientific discussions, optimizing experiments;
– Designing new experiments if needed.
Benefits:
– Opportunity to contribute to highly relevant novel research with direct application in industry;
– Working in a highly international environment;
– Working in a team of PhDs and students;
– Valuable experience in various lab-techniques and carrying out research;
Requirements:
– Background in chemistry, chemical engineering, biotechnology or related degree;
– Interest in lab-work, extensive experience is not required;
– Willingness to work with a toxic gas;
– Actively enrolled in an MSc or (HBO) BSc degree and willing to come to Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, for a minimum of 6 months, starting in Autumn 2023;
– Fluent in English (speaking, writing and communication skills);
– Enthusiastic and excited to work in a team.
How to apply:
Upload a CV and a short motivation letter (1 A4 max) on what you want to learn from working on this project. Please do this via the required application form or send an email to joris.bergman@wetsus.nl. Suitable applicants will be invited for an online interview. Please note that Wetsus can offer internships to EU citizens only. Non-EU citizens need to be enrolled at a Dutch university to be eligible for this project.
