PhD OPPORTUNITY AT IMPERIAL COLLEGE MEMBRANE SEPARATIONS IN HYDROCARBON PROCESSING Shell Imperial College PhD CASE Studentship Project

t Deadline: 4th March 2014 Latest Start Date: October 2014 Petroleum refining is the most energy intensive manufacturing intensity in advanced economies. In its simplest form refining separates the starting crude into a range of hydrocarbon streams that are used as fuels or chemical feedstocks. Conventional separation technology for crude oil involves extensive use of distillation which exploits boiling point differences; however the phase changes involved during distillation in converting liquids into vapour result in high energy consumption so much so that fully half the energy used in refining is used in atmospheric and vacuum distillation. This project will work on developing a completely new approach to refining using organic stable, selective membranes. If membrane separations can be used instead of or in conjunction with distillation, then energy consumption can be dramatically reduced. This is because membranes separate molecules based on their size or charge. If this separation is in the liquid phase, it requires only hydraulic pressure as a driving force. Theoretical calculations show the energy for a given separation can be reduced by at least a factor of 10x. However this will require membranes that are stable in refinery streams and which offer useful separating power for molecules of interest. The project will involve research into developing new membranes, and particularly organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes, that are resistant to crude and refinery streams, and which can perform at elevated temperatures. The initial phases of the project will deal with membrane formation and performance. In the latter stages we will apply these membranes to enhance and/or replace key refinery separations, demonstrating performance in the laboratory and using process modelling tools to make simulations of the effect on large scale systems. The project would involve an experimental component, complemented by process design and simulation work. The project is supported by Shell, and would involve interactions with Shell Engineers and Technologists and some time working in Shell facilities. The project is ideally suited to a Chemical Engineering or related disciplines student who seeks to carry out cutting edge research into new separations technology; is ambitious about using technical advances to reduce energy consumption and so contribute to the global energy challenge, and who has an interest in the oil and gas area. As it is a CASE award, only candidates who are UK Nationals, or European Citizens who have been resident in the UK for at least three years, are eligible.You must also have a first class or high 2.1 degree. All fees are covered and a tax free bursary of 17,500 per annum. If you are interested, please send your CV via email no later than 4th March 2014 to: Professor Andrew Livingston Department of Chemical Engineering Imperial College London SW7 2AZ a.livingston@imperial.ac.uk