Job description

This position is part of the European project "eLitre ─ Electrochemical recovery of nitrogen vectors from wastewater" funded in the Water4All Partnership on “Water for Circular Economy”. The consortium includes 5 european partners, 4 knowledge institutions and one industrial partner in the water and urban services sector.

A large fraction of European water suffers from eutrophication induced by high nitrate concentrations contained in agricultural runoff, while food production continues to heavily rely on ammonia-based fertilizers, a critical chemical with a large carbon footprint. eLitre proposes to develop integrated electrochemical and photobiological processes to address excess nitrate species in wastewater streams. The technology developed in eLitre could actively help remediate nitrate-contaminated water bodies while upgrading nutrients back into raw materials for fertilizer applications. eLitre’s direct path to impact lies in its contribution to water circularity and nutrient recovery and revalorization. With the electrochemical processing pathway, eLitre pursues the direct conversion of nitrate species dissolved in wastewater into ammonia, at high nitrogen conversion rates, selectivity, and rates. With this, eLitre could contribute to the enhancement of water circularity in both agricultural industries and urban settings, including resource recovery and valorisation and experimentally informed economic and environmental assessments.

The Postdoc will develop models of the eLitre technology and carry out technoeconomic and life cycle assessments to evaluate the impact of different technology configurations under different scenarios. The proposed solutions will be evaluated to see the capabilities for nitrate removal and recyclability in the context of the EU Nistrates Directive. The studies will be based on experimental observations from the tasks within the project enabling KPI-informed models. The project will offer insights on the cost and environmental impact of the technologies developed to improve performance on the path to viability.

The Process Systems Engineering (PSE) section at TUDelft is part of the Chemical Engineering Department and comprises a professional team dedicated to advanced computational research, with a collective focus on advancing the PSE field to bring new insights and sustainable developments.

Job requirements

• PhD in chemical engineering or a similar field.
• Experience in proces modelling, techno-economic assessment, and life cycle assesment.
• Interest in electrochemical processes.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

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