Application of Electrodialysis for Acid and Alkali Recycling in Indirect Mineral Carbonation
Not stated
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
- Application deadline
- Year-round applications
About the project
About the Project The steel and cement industry contributes approximately 8% and 7% of CO 2 emissions worldwide. The project will be built on the concluded EPSRC/UKCCSRC that addresses CO 2 sequestration in the steel and cement sectors using the Indirect Mineral Carbonation process. Indirect mineral carbonation is a promising pathway for permanent CO₂ sequestration, converting alkaline earth minerals into stable carbonates. However, its large-scale implementation is hindered by high operational costs and chemical consumption, particularly acids and alkalis used during mineral dissolution and carbonation steps. This research proposes the integration of electrodialysis (ED) technology to recycle and regenerate acids and alkalis within the indirect mineral carbonation process, enhancing its economic and environmental sustainability. The study will investigate the optimisation of electrodialyzer configurations for selective ion separation and recovery under varying operational conditions (current density, membrane type, flow rate, and feed concentration). Experimental work will evaluate recovery efficiency, energy consumption, membrane stability, and process scalability. A techno-economic and life cycle assessment will be conducted to compare the integrated system with conventional single-use chemical processes. The expected outcome is the development of a closed-loop carbonation system with reduced chemical input, lower waste generation, and improved energy efficiency. This research aims to advance carbon capture and utilisation technologies, contributing to sustainable industrial decarbonisation and circular chemical processing. How to apply Formal applications can be submitted via the University of Bradford web site ; applicants will need to register an account, select 'Postgraduate Research' as the course and then use the keywords 'chemical engineering'. Applicants should then specify the project title in the 'Research Proposal' section. About the University of Bradford Bradford is a research-active University supporting the highest-quality research. We excel in applying our research to benefit our stakeholders by working with employers and organisations world-wide across the private, public, voluntary and community sectors and actively encourage and support our postgraduate researchers to engage in research and business development activities. Positive Action Statement At the University of Bradford our vision is a world of inclusion and equality of opportunity, where people want to, and can, make a difference. We place equality and diversity, inclusion, and a commitment to social mobility at the centre of our mission and ethos. In working to make a difference we are committed to addressing systemic inequality and disadvantages experienced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students. Under sections 158-159 of the Equality Act 2010, positive action can be taken where protected group members are under-represented. At Bradford, our data show that people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic groups who are UK nationals are significantly under-represented at the postgraduate researcher level. These are lawful measures designed to address systemic and structural issues which result in the under-representation of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students in PGR studies.