Energy Innovation: MSc (Research) Scholarship at Swansea: Upcycling surgical facemasks

Energy Innovation: MSc (Research) Scholarship at Swansea: Upcycling surgical facemasks

Energy Innovation: Fully Funded KESS II MSc by Research Scholarship: Upcycling surgical facemasks to nanotube wires

*This scholarships is a component funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for East Wales.*

Given the recent high demand for surgical masks there’s a requirement to seek out an end of life plan which will prevent landfilling. Researchers at Swansea University’s Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI) will perform work to stop the disposal of healthcare products to landfill. Currently, these materials have one life and are then discarded in landfill sites. However, ESRI researcher Dr Alvin Orbaek White has developed new and novel technology which will convert these materials into conduction cables. In short, this work can prevent the build-up of fabric in landfill sites, causing psychological relive to patients, and it also can decrease the prices to the economic sponsor and therefore the lower the negative impact to the environment as an entire .

PPE materials are essentially made from plastic layer and thin films. Plastics are made from carbon then are carbon nanotubes, graphene and carbon fibre. We are using waste plastic materials as feedstock to form carbon nanomaterials. On a weight/weight basis that’s creating a ~100 fold increase in value for an equivalent carbon. Plus, it could have untold positive environmental impact too.

The research are going to be carried in two tandem paths.

Path one: the researcher will perform chemical reactions so as to organize plastic materials for chemical recycling. Chemical recycling entails the utilization of chemical vapour deposition (CVD) process to make carbon nanotubes, and/or graphene. especially , the researcher will specialise in developing an easy , single protocol for converting mixed streams of plastics (and similar materials) into nanomaterials. Materials are characterized using scanning microscopy , Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. All skills, training, and background are going to be delivered to the researcher. This path are going to be lab based at ESRI.

Path two: the experimental work are going to be complimented by use of modelling software. Software like Ansys and Comsol are going to be wont to study this process by making a digital twin of the method . This work is therefore compliant with must work from home if necessary but it are often administered within the ESRI office space too.

Risk mitigation: This project has been created with potential interruptions thanks to COVID-19 in mind. The modelling work are often administered remotely through VPN access to Swansea University’s servers and software. The laboratory work are going to be administered when it’s safe, and can be first informed by the modelling processes.

Eligibility

• Candidates should have a 2.1 or above in their undergraduate degree in any of the physical sciences or engineering subjects. they ought to even be eligible for UK Fees.
• Candidates must be wanting to learn, be willing to fail but not be deterred.
• We would normally expect the tutorial and English requirements to be met by point of application. For details on the University’s English entry requirements, please visit –
• For this scholarship students must also have:

a home address in East Wales (details below)* at the time of registration and enrolment
the right to require up paid add the East Wales Area* on completion of the scholarship
East Wales * area covers: Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Newport, Monmouthshire, Powys, Wrexham and Flintshire

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Benefits

The studentship covers the complete cost of UK tuition fees, plus a stipend. The bursary are going to be limited to a maximum of £11,937 p.a. dependent upon the applicant’s financial circumstances.

There will even be additional funds available for research expenses.

Please note that students receiving KESS II EAST support aren’t eligible for Postgraduate academic degree loan.