Project description
Context: In the context of the energy transition, the growing use of biomass as a renewable energy source is being encouraged, particularly as a replacement for fossil fuel in residential heating. At the same time, the incineration of municipal and industrial waste remains a common practice for managing non-recyclable residual materials. However, these combustion processes are accompanied by the emission of concerning atmospheric pollutants such as dioxins, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and fine particulate matter. Current flue gas treatment technologies, although partially effective, struggle to meet increasingly stringent environmental performance requirements. In this context, the development of innovative, high-performance, and economically viable solutions for flue gas depollution has become a priority.
PhD project objective: Design, characterize, and test adsorbent materials derived from activated industrial ashes, with or without doping by enzymes or microorganisms, to capture atmospheric pollutants generated by combustion processes.
Main responsibilities:
- Synthesis and activation of adsorbent materials from fly ash and inorganic residues
- Functionalization of materials
- Sorption studies of targeted pollutants
- Validation of the adsorption process in column and pilot-scale setups
- Analysis of sorbent stability, regeneration, and performance
- Contribution to the writing of scientific publications and participation in conferences
Benefits:
- Supervision by an interdisciplinary team (process engineering, microbiology, environmental sciences)
- Possibility of internships in practical settings
- Access to advanced research infrastructure
Start date
Winter 2026
Research supervision
Supervisor: Louis-César Pasquier, INRS Professor
Co-supervisor: Tarek Rouissi, INRS Professor
Study program
PhD in Water sciences or Earth Sciences (program details in French only)
Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre, INRS
Funding
Doctoral scholarship: CAD $27,000/year for 3 years (renewable for a 4th year depending on progress).
Required qualifications
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in chemical engineering, materials science, environmental engineering, or a related field
- Strong analytical skills, interest in experimentation and modelling
- Candidates with experience or knowledge in the following areas are encouraged to apply:
– Expertise in physicochemical characterization of materials (BET, XRD, FTIR, etc.), mass spectrometry
– Experience in gas treatment processes, adsorption, or reaction engineering is an asset
How to apply
Please use the form below to send your application as soon as possible including all the following documents in PDF: (1) cover letter (2 pages max), (2) full CV, (3) all transcripts (Bachelor’s and Master’s degree), (4) contact information for two referees, and (5) any other relevant diploma or document (ex. publication).