The PhD project is funded by the FP7 project “Sustainable Nanotechnologies” (SUN). SUN is the first project to address the entire lifecycle and ensure a holistic safety evaluation of nanotechnologies. The project integrates the results into tools and guidelines for sustainable manufacturing, easily accessible by industries, regulators and other stakeholders.
The project will incorporate scientific findings from over 30 European projects, national and international research programs and transatlantic co-operations to develop:
(i) methods and tools to predict nanomaterials exposure and effects on humans and ecosystems,
(ii) implementable processes to reduce hazard and exposure to nanomaterials in different lifecycle stages,
(iii) innovative technological solutions for risk management in industrial settings, and
(iv) guidance on best practices for securing both nano-manufacturing processes and nanomaterials ultimate fate, including development of approaches for safe disposal and recycling.
The PhD project at DTU Environment will be an integrated part of Work Package 3 and 7 of the SUN project that deal with “Environmental release, fate and exposure” and “Safe production, handling and disposal”, respectively.
Responsibilities and tasks
The overall aim of the PhD project is i) to evaluate the applicability of current waste characterization methods for addressing waste containing Nano-Objects, their Agglomerates and Aggregates (NOAA) and (ii) to attempt quantification of the release of NOAA in selected waste treatment processes.
Specific focus will be on:
- Testing methods that are currently used for sampling and characterizing solid waste materials on NOAA containing waste
- Qualitatively estimating the air emissions from thermal treatment of NOAA-containing waste based on nanomaterials and matrix properties
- Laboratory investigations of thermal properties of selected nanomaterials and waste matrices
- Prepare guidelines for safe management of waste flows containing NOAA considering different types of waste treatment
- Develop strategies for improved product design, aiming at minimizing release of NOAA to the environment during waste treatment
- Assisting in the develop risk management guidelines for NOAA
