About the Project
The department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Bath is inviting applications for the following fully funded PhD project/studentship, expected to commence in October 2023.
Project
Bristol Water, alike many water companies in the UK, has been dosing orthophosphate into its treated water to control the release of lead in its customers taps. Recently, the prices of phosphoric acid and caustic soda, required as co-chemical for pH elevation and corrosion control in the distribution network have sharply increased. Chemical usage accounts for almost a quarter of Bristol Water’s annual carbon footprint of 26,000 tCO2e, while phosphate usage is also considered unsustainable due to its environmental impact and diminishing global phosphate resources. Decreasing phosphate dosing or use of alternative, more efficient types of phosphate, is critical for the sustainability of Bristol Water’s business, complementary to removal of heritage lead pipes from networks. Bristol Water is interested in the opportunity to investigate alternative phosphate-based products to realise significant cost savings whilst maintaining effective plumbosolvency control. Orthophosphate forms a variety of lead phosphate and carbonate scales, with uncertain composition, varying locally. Solubility equilibria of scales depend on multiple major and minor factors, including pH, temperature and dissolved inorganics. Lead passivation on pipes may revert with changes in water quality and phosphate dosage. The regulatory upper limit of lead at customer taps will soon reduce from 10 μg/L to 5 μg/L. Given such boundary conditions, careful knowledge-based management of phosphate dosing, backed by data from comparative experimental studies under controlled conditions is required, especially when shifting from one product to another. The core of the PhD will be comparative studies using existing lead dissolution experimental stations at Bristol Water and a newly built already operating multi-channel rig at UoB labs. A variety of factors and operation conditions will be investigated to determine the efficacy of alternative products in comparison to conventional lead dissolution control in both an experimental and live site trial context. Deliverables include a literature review on recent advances on lead chemistry and control in drinking water distribution systems globally with a particular focus on the EU and UK. This will be the first comprehensive study to compare orthophosphate and alternative phosphate dosing in a full-scale UK drinking water network. Chemical engineers, environmental engineers, chemists and related undergraduate degrees would fit best for this project.
Candidate Requirements
Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, an honours degree at 2.1 or 1st (or non-UK equivalent). A Masters degree would be advantageous.
Enquiries and Applications
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Dr Jannis Wenk – j.h.wenk@bath.ac.uk
Formal applications should be made via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Chemical Engineering.
Please note that this is a generic application form. When completing the form, you must therefore identify your application as being for ‘EPSRC DTP studentship’ in Section 3 Finance (question 2), and you must quote the project title and lead supervisor’s name in the ‘Your research interests’ section. Failure to complete these steps will cause delays in the processing of you application and may result in you missing the application deadline.
More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.
Funding Eligibility
To be eligible for funding, you must qualify as a Home student.The eligibility criteria for Home fee status are detailed and too complex to be summarised here in full; however, as a general guide, the following applicants will normally qualify subject to meeting residency requirements:
- UK nationals (living in the UK or EEA/Switzerland)
- Irish nationals (living in the UK or EEA/Switzerland)
- Those with Indefinite Leave to Remain
- EU nationals with pre-settled or settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Additional information may be found on our fee status guidance webpage, on the GOV.UK website and on the UKCISA website.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups.
If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.
Keywords
drinking water treatment, distribution systems, lead dissolution, heritage lead, water quality, Bristol Water, orthophosphate, lead release, phosphoric acid, caustic soda, chemical usage, carbon footprint, phosphorous-based compounds, Net Zero 2030, polyphosphate-based product, cost savings, solubility equilibria, lead passivation, lead dissolution experimental stations, experimental trial, live site trial, literature review, UK drinking water network, scaling.
Funding Notes
Candidates applying for this project will be considered for a fully funded 3.5-year studentship, co-funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC DTP) and Bristol Water Aquasmart Inc (subject to contract). This full funding covers tuition fees, a maintenance stipend at the UKRI rate (£17668 in 2022/23), and research/training expenses budget.
