Open PhD position
Title: “Preparation/characterization of activated carbon for CO2 gas adsorption
and separation”
Keywords
CO2 capture, adsorbents, activated carbon, gas, regeneration
Objectives
The main aim of this project is to synthetize efficient porous carbon materials for CO2 separation.
Other objectives are: (i) to increase the knowledge in science applicable CO2 separation technology
by adsorption and; (ii) to provide methods and guidelines for the preparation/modification of thesematerials.
Position and tasks
CATALPA is a 4 years PEPR research project, funded by the French “National Research Agency”(“ANR”) program”. The CATALPA project entitled « CO2 cApTure At Low or decarbonized energy
PenAlty », involves 5 academic partners, and one industrial collaborators (IFPEN). The IJL andEDYTEM Laboratories are two partners for the Work Package WP 1: “Innovative separative media
for low-carbon footprint CO2 capture processes”.
The work dedicated to WP1 will consist in preparing appropriate activated carbon with ultramicropores (pore diameters < 0.7 nm) and a surface chemistry enriched in electron donors (N, S, F,etc) able to selectively physisorb/desorb of CO2 from a gas mixture also containing CH4 and/or N2
and other minority components over a large pressure range (up to 20-30 bar).
Activated carbons and activated carbons-graphene oxide materials will be prepared by activating
naturally N-rich or S-rich biomass (chitosan, keratine, etc..) or a synthetic precursor (includinggraphene oxide) by a thermochemical activation (using NH3 as a doping agent and various activating
agents such as steam, KOH, NaOH, etc.). The application of post-thermal treatments (800°C-1500°C)
will allow to tailor the pore size distribution in order to enhance adsorption selectivity. Additionally,
the preparation of activated carbons by loading with supported metal oxides and or the saturation of
the activated carbons with solvents such as ionic liquids. Green chemistry principles will be followed
as far as it is possible.
The elaborated activated carbons will be characterized to determine their textural properties(determination of the micro/meso/macro porosity) and also their surface chemistry properties(oxygenated and nitrogenated groups, composition by elemental analysis, ICP analysis of the ashes,and XPS). The textural characteristics (porosity) of the materials will be determined by adsorptiondesorption of N2 at -196°C, CO2 at 0°C, Ar at -186°C and/or H2 at -196°C, depending of the solid one
gas or two gases will be used to obtain precise textural characterization and pore size distributions.
Chemical and structural characterization will be also conducted including elemental analysis, FTIR,PXRD, SEM, and TGA. The adsorption isotherms for pure gases (CH4, CO2) and their mixtures will
be determined and their adsorption enthalpies evaluated.
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Laboratoire Environnement Dynamiques Territoires Montagnes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc
Campus Scientifique - Savoie Technolac
Le Bourget-du-Lac 73376 Cedex

Reusability and breakthrough curves will be measured in a multicomponent adsorption unit at IJL.
Reusability will be addressed through repeated cycles of adsorption/desorption in the same small coadsorption unit. The best ACs will be produced in larger amounts in order to pelletize them and test
in a PSA/TSA unit equipped with two parallel columns already available at IJL. This will allow tooptimize the material CO2 separation efficiency and to better understand the adsorption properties inrelation with its structure texture structure and surface chemistry characteristics
The pH. D student will work on the WP1 tasks of the CATALPA project on two sites: EDYTEM
laboratory at University Savoie Mont Blanc (Le Bourget du Lac site) and Institut Jean Lamour atUniversity de Lorraine (Epinal site). The Ph. D student researcher will have to interact and collaboratewith the partners implied in the CATALPA project, and present the results in progress meetings.
Geographic Mobility
The position is open for a period of 36 months
Best starting date: September-December 2023
National mobility is required
ProfileThe candidate should have strong skills in materials chemistry, in adsorption phenomena onto solids,
and characterization of porous materials. The candidate possesses a background in materials
chemistry or chemistry-physics (Master or Engineer in materials science or chemistry). Good
experience in the laboratory experimental work in chemical and analysis techniques is required.
Knowledge in analytical chemistry will be positively considered.
The candidate is expected to produce independent and original research in the defined area, to becapable of working highly autonomous, to interact with the members of the group, to write progress
reports, and to participate in dissemination activities (publications, workshop, conferences andprogress meetings).
Required documents for the application- Short Curriculum Vitae and a covering letter showing your interest and especially addressing yourprofessional project- Recommendation letters.
- Scores and rank in the last formation
The selected candidates will be first interviewed by videoconference and then if possible interviewed
at the host research unit.
Contacts
Laurent Duclaux (Prof.), Laurent.Duclaux @univ-smb.fr +33 (0)479 758 805
Vanessa Fierro (Research Prof.), Vanessa.Fierro@univ-lorraine.fr +33 (0)372 749 677
Laurence Reinert (Assistant Prof.), Laurence.Reinert @univ-smb.fr +33 (0)479 758 122
SalaryFixed Term contract 36 Months
Gross salary estimation 1975 € / months

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Laboratoire Environnement Dynamiques Territoires Montagnes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc
Campus Scientifique - Savoie Technolac
Le Bourget-du-Lac 73376 Cedex

Workplace
EDYTEM, University Savoie Mont-Blanc, Le Bourget du Lac – Rhône-Alpes Auvergne – FranceInstitut Jean Lamour, University of Lorraine Epinal – Région Grand Est – FranceEmployer
University Savoie Mont-Blanc
With 14 000 students, a rich variety of multidisciplinary education and 19 research laboratories
internationally renowned, the University Savoie Mont-Blanc is a human-sized institution which
combines proximity with its territories and a wide perspective on Europe and the world.
The campus sites at Le Bourget-du-Lac offers particularly attractive living and studying conditions,at the center of an exceptional environment, between lakes and mountains.
The aim of the University Savoie Mont Blanc is, on the one hand to develop international projects,
joint award qualifications, and programs delivered in English, and on the other hand, wherever
possible, to encourage mobility for students, lecturers and researchers as well as for administrativestaff. Although present in 5 continents, with its 240 bilateral agreements, it has been able to take fulladvantage of its outstanding location on the borders of Switzerland and Italy to develop strong, special
relationships with the higher education establishments of these two countries.
Laboratory Environment Dynamics and Territories of the Mountain (EDYTEM)With a truly interdisciplinary approach, EDYTEM looks at the environment in the widest sense (itsclimate, chemistry, biology and ecology as well as the social, economic and political aspects),
studying archives, resources, changes and vulnerabilities and the players’ terms of commitment.
EDyTEM (Environnements, Dynamiques et Territoires de Montagne, UMR Université de Savoie
Mont Blanc/CNRS 5204) and its « Matières » team are focused on green chemistry synthesis andbiomass valorization processes, and particularly on the synthesis and characterization of porous
activated carbon materials for environmental adsorption applications. Over the past decade more than60 articles have been published in international scientific journal on porous carbon preparation andapplication, and more than 15 communications have been made in national and international research
projects on carbon materials; more than 10 research contracts have been operated with privatecompanies. More details are on the web site of “EDYTEM” (in French): https://edytem.osug.fr/
Institut Jean Lamour (IJL)
The biosourced materials at Institut Jean Lamour (IJL , UMR 7198, Université de Lorraine CNRS) isspecialized in porous materials for energy and environment. The two senior members of the team
involved in the project, Vanessa Fierro (VF) and Alain Celzard (AC), are world-renowned experts inthe area of gas separation by means of porous carbonaceous materials and in their synthesis,characterization and modeling: VF was awarded the 2020 CNRS silver medal and AC, a senior
member of the Institut Universitaire de France, was the 2019 recipient together with VF of thePettinos Award of the American Carbon Society. The experimental setups available at IJL include a
Pressure/Temperature Swing Adsorption (PSA/TSA) unit equipped with a mass spectrometer and anin-line chromatograph for output analysis and a multicomponent adsorption device (to be purchased).
This team is part of CarbBioLab (Laboratoire de carbones biosourcés), a common lab (2022-2026)
with Groupe Bordet, which elaborates in France and markets high-added-value activated carbons
from French woods.

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Laboratoire Environnement Dynamiques Territoires Montagnes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc
Campus Scientifique - Savoie Technolac
Le Bourget-du-Lac 73376 Cedex