Student project descriptions
New renewable and recyclable Polymers
In our group, we work on more sustainable alternatives for fossil-based polymers. From recycled, CO2- or bio-based building blocks, new polyesters can be produced with unique properties. For example, the famous PET bottle can deform when exposed to boiling water, while polyesters produced in our group allow for usage above 100 °C. Would you be interested in making new polyesters and analysing their properties? Please reach out if you want to learn more about this project.
| Duration: | > 5 months |
| Level: | Master/Bachelor/HBO |
| Daily supervisor: | Angus McLuskie (a.f.mcluskie@uva.nl) |
Chemical depolymerisation towards the recycling of polyesters
Plastic waste has vast environmental consequences. Polyesters are recycled on a commercial scale only via mechanical methods (separation, cleaning, melt-processing), and the number of recycling loops are limited. Chemical recycling entails the chemical breakdown of polymers to monomeric building blocks, which can be re-polymerised. This project will focus on the chemical depolymerisation of high glycolic acid polyesters with a vision towards recycling.
Are you interested in applying your skills in organic chemistry towards the recycling of plastics? Please reach out for more information.
| Duration: | > 6 months |
| Level: | Master/Bachelor/HBO |
| Daily supervisor: | Angus McLuskie (a.f.mcluskie@uva.nl) |
Acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass
Biomass is a renewable resource for chemicals that will play an important role in replacing fossil resources. (Ligno)cellulosic materials, such as wood and many types of textiles, are of particular interest due to their availability as residue from forestry and waste streams. This means there is no risk of competition with food systems. The sugars stored in plant mass can be extracted via treatment with concentrated acid. This technology was first developed in the early 20th century but has not yet made it to factory scale. The available project investigates extension of the scope and optimisation of the hydrolysis of textile waste. We ask academic questions whilst keeping the industrial context in mind, aiming for a sustainable chemical future. Let me know if you want to join this endeavour!
| Duration: | > 5 months |
| Level: | Master/Bachelor/HBO |
| Daily supervisor: | Emma Caarls (e.s.caarls@uva.nl) |
Separation of sugar from biomass hydrolysate
Biomass is a renewable resource for chemicals that will play an important role in replacing fossil resources. (Ligno)cellulosic materials, such as wood and many types of textile, are of particular interest due to their availability as residue from forestry and waste streams. This means there is no risk of competition with food systems. The sugars stored in plant mass can be extracted via treatment with concentrated acid. This technology was first developed in the early 20th century but has not yet made it to factory scale. The available project investigates options for separation of glucose from biomass hydrolysate, with approaches based in organic chemistry. Separation is the important missing link towards viable scale-up. We ask academic questions whilst keeping the industrial context in mind, aiming for a sustainable chemical future. Let me know if you want to join this endeavour!
| Duration: | > 5 months |
| Level: | Master/Bachelor/HBO |
| Daily supervisor: | Emma Caarls (e.s.caarls@uva.nl) |
Biobased furanic compounds – exploring new circular routes
Do you want to contribute to development of new routes for bio-based monomer production? At Avantium, we develop new types of polymers from biomass, CO2 and waste. Avantium’s most developed technology is the production of furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a monomer for polyethylene furanoate (PEF), which is a plastic with superior properties to PET. In this project, we use 5-(chloromethyl)furfural (CMF), that can be obtained in high yield from biomass or textile waste, to synthesize different types of furanic compounds and develop new chemical routes to FDCA. We would like scale up the synthesis of two intermediates from CMF, and study recycling of solvents. In the end, this will be part of a recycling process from textile waste to bio-based plastic. Would you like to contribute to a sustainable process in an industrial environment? Then this project might be something for you. Feel free to reach out for more information!
| Duration: | > 5 months |
| Level: | Master/Bachelor/HBO |
| Daily supervisor: | Anna Kenbeek (a.r.h.kenbeek@uva.nl) |
Fed-batch oxidation of biobased furanic compounds to monomer for bioplastic
Do you want to contribute to development bio-based monomer production from cellulose? Are you interested in scaling up and optimizing a reaction at conditions relevant to an industrial process?
At Avantium, we develop new types of polymers from biomass, CO2 and waste. Avantium’s most developed technology is the production of furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from sugar. FDCA is a monomer for polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a plastic with superior properties to PET. In this project, we oxidize different types of furanic compounds that can be made from cellulose to the monomer FDCA, using a Co/Mn/Br catalyst in acetic acid. The Co/Mn/Br catalyst is broadly used for para-Xylene oxidation, but when applying it to a different starting material, there are many new aspects to discover. The experiments will be performed in a fed-batch reactor with an in-line measurement system, giving better insight into the process. This will help us to answer questions including: What is the preferred reaction pathway? Does the solvent react with the substrates? Which byproducts are formed, and how do we purify FDCA? And finally, how can we optimize the conditions to get the highest FDCA yield?
In the end, your project will be part of a recycling process from textile waste to bio-based plastic. Would you like to contribute to a sustainable process in an industrial environment? Then this project might be something for you. Feel free to reach out for more information!
| Duration: |
6-9 months |
| Level: | Master |
| Daily supervisor: | Anna Kenbeek (a.r.h.kenbeek@uva.nl) |
Exploring the ideal furanic intermediate towards the synthesis of a bio-based plastic monomer
In the pursuit of a more sustainable economy, Avantium has already accomplished the synthesis of furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from fructose syrup. FDCA is the key monomer of the new bio-based plastic polyethylene furanoate (PEF), which is the future of several applications, with packaging being one of the most applicable by replacing polyethylene terephthalate (PET). We are currently striving to upgrade our technology by incorporating textile waste to our feedstock arsenal. The key intermediate in the overall process is 5-(chloromethyl)furfural (CMF), which needs to be transformed into a suitable furanic intermediate by, for example, substitution or oxidation, which can then be finally oxidized to FDCA. Several substitution and oxidation reactions will be explored during this project, attempting to reveal the most suitable intermediate. Do you have an interest in organic chemistry towards a more sustainable future? Feel free to contact!
| Duration: | > 5 months |
| Level: | Master/Bachelor/HBO |
| Daily supervisor: | Vasileios Papadopoulos (v.papadopoulos@uva.nl) |