Masters Compare - Find your perfect masters course.
Masters Compare - Find your perfect masters course.
Deadline: 29 November 2026
South West, All England
| The removal of persistent pollutants from water, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other emerging contaminants, is one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing society. Advanced photocatalytic processes offer considerable potential for degrading these highly stable compounds using light-driven reactions, but significant challenges remain in identifying effective catalysts, understanding degradation mechanisms, and designing processes that can be realistically implemented at large scale. This PhD project aims to develop modelling and simulation tools to identify and optimise photocatalytic materials and treatment processes for the removal of PFAS and other persistent pollutants. The project will primarily focus on computational research, supported by targeted laboratory experiments to validate key findings and generate data for model development. The student will investigate reaction kinetics, degradation mechanisms, and transformation pathways to understand how catalyst properties and operating conditions influence pollutant destruction. Particular emphasis will be placed on PFAS degradation, including the formation and fate of intermediate compounds, with the aim of maximising contaminant removal while minimising undesirable by-products. Advanced process models will be developed to evaluate catalyst performance, reactor design, and operating conditions. These models will be used to identify optimal treatment strategies and determine the factors that control process efficiency and robustness. The work will also incorporate environmental and economic performance indicators within the modelling framework, enabling the comparison of alternative catalysts and process configurations based not only on treatment performance but also on metrics such as energy demand, material requirements, catalyst utilisation, and overall process sustainability. By combining photocatalysis, reaction engineering, computational modelling, and experimental validation, this project will provide new insights into the design of efficient and scalable treatment technologies for persistent pollutants. The outcomes will support the development of next-generation photocatalytic water treatment systems capable of addressing emerging environmental contaminants while contributing to more sustainable water management practices. |
Applicants must have, or be about to obtain, a UK Honours degree 1st or 2.1, or international equivalent. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.
Non-UK applicants, who are not currently studying in the UK, must meet the programme’s English language requirement before the application deadline – no exceptions will be considered.
Applicants will be considered for a studentship. Studentships cover tuition fees, provide a £1k per annum training support fee, and a maintenance stipend (£21,805 2026/27 rate). International students will be required to cover the cost of a Student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge from personal funds.
Informal enquiries are encouraged. Direct these to [email protected]
Please follow the below instructions carefully.
You must make a formal application via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Chemical Engineering
Please note that you can apply for a maximum of two PhD projects on this programme.
In the ‘Funding Your Studies’ section, you must select ‘University of Bath URSA’ from one of the drop-down menus.
In the ‘Your PhD project’ section, you must quote the project title in the PhD project title field, and you must quote the lead supervisor’s name in the field ‘Name of intended supervisor at University of Bath.’
If you are applying for two projects, you must quote the project title for your second choice project in the field ‘Project 2 Title’ and the lead supervisor’s name in ‘Name of intended supervisor for 2nd choice project at University of Bath.
You must ensure that you follow the above steps correctly. Failure to complete these steps will cause errors in the automated processing of your application and may mean that you are not considered for a particular project.
The Faculty of Engineering and Design at the University of Bath has studentships available for Home and Overseas students. However, in line with UKRI policy, the number of studentships available to Overseas students are capped.
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Wed 21 Oct 2026