Recyclable Bio-based Polymers for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Treatment

Join the Future of Sustainable Water Treatment!

Are you passionate about creating a cleaner, greener world? For decades, the water industry has used flocculants including metal salts and synthetic polymers such as polyacrylamides, to aggregate and remove contaminants from water. However, metal salts generate large, potentially-toxic sludges, and synthetic polymers are fossil-fuel-derived and toxic to aquatic ecosystem. Both are single-use chemicals which eventually end up in landfills with the sludge, thereby contaminating land.

PhD Opportunity:

This exciting PhD project aims to create novel, sustainable flocculants derived from bio-inspired sources that can be removed from the sludge after separation and be reused. Flocculants will be based on chitosan, cellulose and dextran, which are naturally abundant. Since most natural contaminants are negatively-charged and/or hydrophobic, biopolymers will be modified with groups that modulate these properties such that they bind to- or detach from the contaminants with changes to either pH, light or temperature. These novel reusable biopolymers will enhance contaminant removal, lower dose requirements, toxicity and sludge volumes, leading to sustainable processes.

Scholarship Details

This project is part of the prestigious National Industry PhD program. The successful candidate will receive a generous stipend of $55,438 per annum, including:

• $38,438 per annum from the Research Training Program (2025 rate)
• $10,000 per annum top-up from our Industry Partner
• $7,000 per annum top-up from the National Industry PhD Program

Additionally, you'll join the Campus Plus national network for professional development, enhancing your career prospects.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to domestic and international candidates
• Background in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering

How to Apply

Ready to make a difference? Send your CV and academic transcripts to Naras Hanumanth Rao at n.hanumanthrao@unsw.edu.au by 15 April 2025.