Postgraduate research opportunities Hydrogen production from electrolysis of waste biomass

Established water electrolysis technologies rely on valuable high-purity water which adds significant demand pressure to worldwide resources needed for drinking water, irrigation and sanitation. Water electrolysis requires a high electrical energy input, while thermochemical routes to hydrogen production such as pyrolysis, gasification etc., may result in carbon emissions, or if biomass is used the source must be sufficiently dried to be suitable. This project focuses on the electrochemical conversion of wet/aqueous waste biomass feedstocks into hydrogen using a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis process, offering a promising avenue for large-scale, cost-effective hydrogen generation from sustainable feedstocks. The utilization of polyoxometalate (POM) materials as catalysts, specifically phosphomolybdic acid (PMA), has been explored to extract protons from biomass and facilitate electrolysis using renewable electricity. This process occurs at significantly lower voltages compared to conventional water electrolysis, resulting in reduced electricity demand and production costs. The two-stage electrolytic process combines a thermal digestion step with an electrochemical catalyst recovery step to produce hydrogen. Each step must be optimised to improve yield and minimise thermal and electrical energy requirement. While the electrochemical hydrogen production step uses relatively low electrical energy, it is currently unknown how much thermal energy input is required in the digestion step. In addition, the process has been demonstrated in small batch reactions but this must be scaled to a continuous process in order to be viable. This project will further develop our understanding of this route to green hydrogen production, investigating alternative catalysts, characterising the behaviour of different feedstocks, and measuring and modelling the energy balance of the process.

In addition to undertaking cutting edge research, students are also registered for the Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Development (PGCert), which is a supplementary qualification that develops a student’s skills, networks and career prospects.

• Chemical and Process Engineering
• PhD Chemical Engineering

Further information

This PhD project is initially offered on a self-funding basis. It is open to applicants with their own funding, or those applying to funding sources. However, excellent candidates will be eligible to be considered for a University scholarship.

The University of Strathclyde is a socially progressive institution that strives to ensure equality of opportunity and celebrates the diversity of its student and staff community. Strathclyde is people-oriented and collaborative, offering a supportive and flexible working culture with a deep commitment to our equality, diversity and inclusion charters, initiatives, groups and networks.

We strongly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnicity, women, LGBT+, and disabled candidates and candidates from lower socio-economic groups and care-experienced backgrounds.