Interfaces and spectroscopy
A Combined Computational and Spectroscopic Study of Structure and Charge Transfer Dynamics of Ionic Liquids in Heterogeneous Environments
Investigation of innovative materials with focus on electrode-electrolyte interfaces.
Funded by EPSRC/NSF; collaboration with Chemistry Department and Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh.
Dirty Stories
What dirt from historic textiles can tell Spectroscopic investigation of cleaning residues from textile conservation to find information about life in the 18th century.
Funded by RSE; collaboration with University of Glasgow.
Spectroscopic Studies of Fisher Tropsch Catalysis under operating conditions.
Conversion of coal, biomass or methane to synthesis gas creates a route to the formation of liquid fuels using Fisher Trosch synthesis. Although this is a well-studies reaction, our system permits simultaneous reactor (GC) and FTIR analysis of the system while operating at elevated temperatures and pressures. This permits assessment both qualitatively and quantitatively of the species formed on the catalyst surface and allows correlations to be drawn with products formed and eluted into the gas phase product stream.
University of Aberdeen studentship, Ingen GLT.
Water treatments
Novel Zero Valent Iron Systems for Arsenic Removal
The products of corrosion of zero valent iron have been shown to be effective in the removal of inorganic arsenic species from aqueous systems. Our current research aims to significantly enhance the rate at which such systems may remove arsenic and evaluate the robustness of such systems when exposed to water containing a distribution of contaminants.
University of Aberdeen DTA Studentship
Biodegradation of organic xenobiotics.
The aim of this research is to develop biological processes based on mixed cultures of microorganisms to remove organic xenobiotics, which are usually considered poorly biodegradable, from industrial and urban wastewaters. We investigate the ability of microorganisms to use xenobiotics as only carbon and energy source, even when they are present at very low concentration. Currently we are investigating the removal of Bisphenol-A and plan to extend the study to other substances in the future.
Simultaneous photocatalytic removal of nitrates and organics.
Nitrates as generally found in waters which have been exposed to run off from land used for agricultural and exposed to nitrogen based fertilizers. Although the majority of photocatalytic studies are focussed on the oxidation of organics, the procedure also allows to remove nitrates through selective reduction to form nitrogen and avoid formation of nitrite and ammonium. Our work focusses on the use of doped titania (either using cationic dopants or composites and using metals and mixed metals) to optimise selectivity and reduction activity for nitrate removal.
DTA/Johnson Matthey studentship
Energy
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell Development
Direct carbon fuel cells offer a source of dc power which may potentially significantly enhance generation efficiencies and reduce CO2 emissions from carbon-based materials when compared to traditional thermal plant.
University of Aberdeen Energy Theme Studentship in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry.
Bioethanol production from organic waste
The aim of this research is to develop innovative processes for bioethanol production from organic wastes and, in general, from lignocellulosic materials. Examples of potential waste feedstock for bioethanol production include: agricultural waste, forestry residues, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, etc. The investigated processes make use of mixed cultures of microorganisms to carry out all the steps required to convert lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol, i.e. lignin and cellulose hydrolysis and glucose (or xylose) fermentation to ethanol .
Development of Raman spectroscopy for monitoring of bioreactors
Application of shifted-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) in combination with chemometric methods for monitoring the algal production of antiviral exopolysaccharides.
Funded by German Research Foundation DFG; collaboration with University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
The Green Concrete Project
The aim of this integrated, multi-million dollar research project is to create the next generation of low carbon and carbon negative cements, their production methods, their performance in concretes (including the effective use of recycled and synthetic aggregates) and their use in new functionally enhance concrete products.
Funded by the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development, Qatar. 2012 - 2016.
Full-scale performance evaluation of energy use and emissions reduction in dynamic breathing building construction.
This RD&D project encompassed the design, implementation, performance evaluation and accreditation of the world’s first dynamically insulated roof systems, fitted to a detached dwelling in Balerno (nr Edinburgh) – see www.dbb-project.com for further information.
Funded by the Carbon Trust, CALA Homes and The Environmental Building Partnership Ltd. 2006 – 2008.
Carbon Capture Optimization in Solids: understanding surface-fluid interactions
Carbon dioxide sorption at high temperatures in solid oxide material would be a cost effective capture technology. However, surface-fluid interactions, especially under the presence of water or impurities, are not well understood, hampering the optimization of sorbent type and thermodynamic conditions to be used in a cost-competitive carbon capture industry
University of Aberdeen College of Physical Science and Engineering Studentship.
Wettability of CO2/crude-oil/brine/rock in the North Sea at Carbon Storage Conditions
The integrated approach advocated in this project, combining identification and property assessment of reservoir minerals, characteristics of storage sites in the North Sea; a systematic study of the contact angle of CO2, brines and rocks; and a scaled-up understanding of the CO2 migration in a reservoir taken into account these more realistic surface properties, will be used to understand and model capillary pressure and residual trapping in North sea deep saline reservoirs. This yields to underpin uncertainties and assess potential for carbon mitigation in geological reservoirs.