Next-Generation Sustainable Aviation Fuels: Molecular Design, Catalysis and Advanced Characterisation

This project will investigate the production and characterisation of SAF derived from a range of feedstocks, including waste cooking oil, vegetable oils, animal fats, algae-derived lipids, lignocellulosic biomass, municipal waste, and captured CO₂. These resources will be converted into aviation-range hydrocarbons (C8–C16), primarily alkanes, using catalytic and thermochemical pathways such as Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA), Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ), pyrolysis, gasification, and Fischer–Tropsch synthesis.

The research will focus on how feedstock composition and processing conditions (temperature, pressure, catalyst type, and reaction environment) influence conversion efficiency, selectivity, and final fuel composition. A key aim is to establish structure–property relationships linking molecular-level composition to fuel performance.

Produced SAF samples will be evaluated using standard aviation fuel tests, including density, viscosity, flash point, freezing point, calorific value, and oxidation stability. Advanced analytical techniques such as Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) will be used to determine detailed molecular composition and thermophysical properties.

The project will compare results against Jet A-1 aviation fuel standards to assess suitability for drop-in application and scalability in support of the aviation sector’s transition to net-zero emissions.

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate with a strong background in chemistry or a closely related discipline. The ideal applicant will hold a First-Class Honours degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related subject, with a strong interest in sustainable energy, catalysis, or fuel chemistry.