Postdoc Chemical recycling of plastics: developing dissolution and depolymerization processes

Are you interested in the design and development of new, sustainable processes for chemical recycling of plastics? Then this research position in our SPOT team (sustainable polymer technologies, https://spot.vito.be/en) is what you look for! Development and optimization of chemical recycling processes, a shift to alternative resources, improved functionality, less waste, lower costs and increased efficiencies: these are the challenges industry and society are facing nowadays. For the industrial uptake of these innovative processes and products, VITO derisks the industrial investments by process development and demonstration of the developed processes both at lab scale and pilot scale. For supporting these development actions, we are looking for a chemical engineer to design plastics chemical recycling processes fit for upscaling, validate in lab testing and develop methodologies from waste characterization and preprocessing, to chemical reaction design and product delivery of defined specs.

Within the team we work on various topics such as mapping available end-of-life materials, the characterization, design and development of technologies for plastics chemical recycling, mainly focusing on solvent based processes. To advance the understanding and technology development, we are looking for a postdoc to develop industrially relevant and scalable chemical recycling processes of plastics. You are able to identify problems, develop chemical reactions and design chemical recycling processes in close collaboration with the expert colleagues in the team.

To strengthen this research, we are looking for a 2 year research position to work within our Sustainable Polymer Technologies (SPOT) team. The focus of the research will be twofold, (1) contribute to the development of an efficient dissolution approach to recover intact polymers, as well as (2) the development of a chemical recycling method to chemically recycle heterogenous oxygen- and nitrogen-containing polymer waste into multifunctional depolymerization products which will be subsequently re-polymerized to generate a wide array of functional materials.

More information available on www.vito.be

Closing date for applications: 30/09/2025

Starting date: flexible, latest at 1/11/2025

Project description

This position fits within the broader context of the chemical recycling of plastics towards new building blocks, either in the form of intact polymers or converted building blocks with added value. The work comprises technology development, detailed analytical characterization and assessment of potential functionalities for application.

The following tasks/actions are foreseen in our project to be conducted by the candidate, focusing on the separation/fractionation/purification of polymer waste with a focus on selected O/N-containing polymers (epoxies, polyurethanes, in extension polyamides), and this both via modelling and experimental work:

• Active literature survey, keeping up to date with relevant articles and patents in the fields

• Detailing out the work protocol after discussion with the experts involved

• Execution of the work in laboratory

• Data interpretation and plan for next possible steps: in discussion with experts

• Execution of the experiments/tasks in a timely and efficient manner according to the overall project planning

• Preparing presentations for the meetings/reports.

• Scientific output and/or patent submission as a result of the work would be highly recommended

• Ensure compliance with VITO’s Health & Safety Policy, and take a proactive approach to ensure all experimental work is safe

In order to make your mark in this position, we believe these are some of the thing you need, should have or be able to:

• PhD in Chemical Engineering

• Background plastics is essential, experience in plastics characterization and recycling is a plus

• Knowledge on working on process development is an asset, as well as conceptual design know how.

• You have a result-driven character capable of translating theory to practice and vice versa and are able to find solutions.

• You are proactive, motivated and an excellent team player who enjoys working in a multidisciplinary environment

• You are interested to acquire hands-on experience by running innovative experimental set-ups.

• You are fluent in English and eager to write scientific papers and/or patents

Contact persons for more information:

Kathy Elst (kathy.elst@vito.be )