PhD Candidate Development of Humin Based Recyclable Networks

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Testo originale dell'annuncio (in inglese)

Welcome to Maastricht University! Join a public-private partnership working on the development of humin based recyclable networks for adhesive and composite applications. In this PhD project, you will contribute to the development of renewable and more sustainable materials by exploring the potential of humins as recyclable thermoset resins. PhD Candidate Development of Humin Based Recyclable Networks Our goal: to develop recyclable, non-persistent thermoset resins based on humins, creating more sustainable alternatives for conventional materials. Your colleagues: The project is part of the NWO project KICHumins (A route towards non persistent crosslinked humin resins). The project is a public-private partnership consisting of academic (Maastricht University, Leiden University, University of Amsterdam) and industrial partners (Avantium, Kappi, Gemsjäger ski) in the field of materials science, environmental/health science and socio-economics. The PhD candidate will be appointed at the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM) of Maastricht University, which is part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. You will work in the group of Professor Katrien Bernaerts, which focusses on the synthesis and design of polymer materials with tunable properties and recyclability exploiting the functionality of biobased building blocks. You will operate from the Brightlands-Chemelot Campus in Geleen (NL), where the labs are located. What you do Humins, unavoidable by-products of acid-catalyzed carbohydrate conversion in biorefineries, are typically burned for energy. This project valorizes humins by developing recyclable, non-persistent thermoset resins based on their inherent reactivity. Applications include bio-based composites with natural fibers for durable goods. Designed to be recyclable and minimize microplastic persistence, these thermosets offer a renewable, more sustainable alternative to conventional materials. To ensure these materials are safe, their degradation products and leachates will be identified and tested using ecotoxicological assays. Persistence, fate, bioaccumulation and potential effects will be assessed under realistic environmental conditions to confirm that both the resins and their breakdown products are non-toxic and environmentally benign. Following a LCA and risk assessment combined approach we thus can advise to make materials safe and sustainable by design. Successful implementation requires overcoming market “lock-in” effects, including resistance to process changes, stakeholder awareness and perceived risks, and regulatory hurdles. Societal concerns will be integrated early in development to ensure the materials are safe, affordable, and user-friendly. The project will also explore behavioural drivers, incentives, and innovative business models to stimulate adoption across the value chain—from producers to end-users. The role of Maastricht University in this project is to cover the materials part of the work. The PhD candidate will use humins from Avantium to make recyclable networks and study their physico-chemical properties. Their applicability will be studied as composites for skis and adhesives for timber panels, in close collaboration with the project partners Gemsjäger ski and Kappi. Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you. What you bring We’re not looking for checkboxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this? You have excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills, allowing you to collaborate effectively with both academic and industrial partners. You are results-driven, inventive, and creative, take ownership of your work, act with accountability, and are focused on achieving impactful outcomes. Furthermore, you bring: a MSc degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related fields; excellent skills in organic synthesis, polymer synthesis and chemical characterization