Start date: June 2024
Summary: Working in the field of separative chemistry for the recycling of valuable materials considering the associated physical chemistry, the research project will aim to explore the interfaces of ultra-divided matter at the molecular and supramolecular scale and all the phenomena that occur there, particularly during an extraction, separation and complexation or ion exchange process, taking into account the meso- and macroscopic changes of these same systems.
Profile: Physico-chemist specializing in ultra-divided solid and liquid matter (complex fluids), including colloidal dispersions, lyotropic phases, electrolytes in solution or confined, and knowledge of the thermodynamics of associated phase transitions in fluid media. Knowledge of nanoparticle synthesis and/or formulation and solubilization and/or NMR and/or rheophysics and/or impedancemetry and electrochemistry would be highly appreciated. PhD in physical chemistry, specializing in ultra-divided solid and liquid matter.
Funding: CEA/DRF
Further information: To apply, click on the link https://www.emploi.cea.fr/offre-de-emploi/emploi-charge-e-recherche-physico-chimiste-h-f_30676.aspx
The Ph.D thesis proposed at ICSM are attached to the University of Montpellier and to the "Balard Chemical Sciences" Doctoral School of the University of Montpellier.
Starting date: October 2024
Laboratory: LMCT
Project: In this thesis, we propose to describe for the first time the coalescence of drops in a realistic way by a multi-scale approach to take into account the physicochemical aspects of the phenomena. Firstly, molecular dynamics simulations will allow us to propose a stochastic model where the probability of coalescence will be expressed as a function of geometric parameters (distance and size of drops). Then the role of physico-chemical quantities in the phenomenon will be systematically described (role of surface tension, presence of surfactants, viscosities, etc.).
More information here
Profile: Master of Physics - Master of Chemistry - Engineering School - ENS. After the thesis, the candidate can either continue in the academic field, with a high level of competence in modelling, or move towards industry by developing his/her dual competence in modelling and recycling.
Funding: CEA/DES
Further information: The candidate will join the LMCT group of ICSM and will be enrolled at the doctoral school ED459 Sciences Chimiques Balard of the University of Montpellier (France).
Contact: To apply, please contact Prof. Jean-François Dufrêche (jean-francois.dufreche@icsm.fr) & Dr. Bertrand Siboulet (bertrand.siboulet@cea.fr)
L2IA and LSFC proposal (06/03 to 28/08/2023)
Sludges, as the residue of the final stages of industrial processes, whether from petroleum processing, mining, or recycling, are rarely simple systems to analyze and/or treat. They are diverse and varied in terms of their chemistry, the size of the agglomerates, and the origin of their concentration, forming a compact and heterogeneous system characterized by a dry mass and a certain quantity of water but also sometimes of residual solvent. They can be either mainly rich in mineral particles (e.g. sludge from mining elution) or rich in organic particles (sludge from wastewater treatment plants) - the latter can emit a gaseous release by bacterial decomposition or other oxidation reaction. Their management remains very complicated because often the process of transport or displacement of sludge in order to allow an analysis, a reprocessing, or a valorization can neither be that applied to a solid (because extremely divided) nor that of a fluid. In the first case, drying is extremely energy consuming because water or solvents are "trapped" in the matrix, and in the second case, fluidization does not allow a re-dispersion of particles but phase demixing which is also difficult to manage because it is not very predictable.
The objective of this internship project is therefore to study a model sludge formulated from the precipitation of insoluble salts and iron hydroxide forming aggregates of variable submicron size dispersible in the aqueous phase. The first step will be to study the stability of the system as a function of a variation in osmotic pressure and ionic strength and to correlate the viscosity of the solutions to the concentration regulated by these thermodynamic variables in the range of high concentrations. The kinetics of water recovery and re-dispersion will be evaluated with or without external stresses (pressure fields), as well as rheological aspects.
The internship will be carried out between the L2IA and the LSFC and in close collaboration with the SEAD/LCBC laboratory of CEA Marcoule under the supervision of Arnaud Poulesquen and Jean-Baptiste Champenois.
For more information, please contact: Olivier DIAT (olivier.diat@cea.fr), Coralie PASQUIER (coralie.pasquier@cea.fr), or Rachel PFLIEGER (rachel.pflieger@cea.fr)
APPLICATION OPEN
