PhD Student Separation of vitality ingredients 3/3
Dutch Separation Technology Institute (DSTI)
Many foods contain antioxidants (phytochemicals), primarily to improve their shelf-life, but away from that, antioxidants are also known to convey health benefits. Obviously, the level of antioxidants in the food (after processing) needs to be such that an appreciable shelf-life is guaranteed, and this may imply that antioxidant needs to be supplemented to the food. Within DSTI, we develop new methods to isolate these components, to be used in healthy food products. At present, there are no large-scale technologies available to isolate polyphenols from large process streams cost-effectively, that don't use environmentally unfriendly toxic solvents.
In this project a separation toolbox, based on molecular affinity will be developed and applied in several industrial cases brought by the project partners, in which also food matrix effects have to be taken into account. Primary food targets are liquid streams of green and black tea. The first activity of all partners involved in the project will be to define the scope of the toolbox in more detail. We propose to build on the Product Driven Process Synthesis methodology and to refine the toolbox further while applying it to the designed separation systems.
Within this project we have a vacancy for a PhD student on the conceptual design of processes for the isolation of vital ingredients from concentrated streams. The PhD student will study the properties of selected components and foods, and from this derive rules on how to design processes to isolate these ingredients while retaining their functionality.
The foods will be concentrated; this implies that they may be concentrated slurries or even pastes or solids. This means that many conventional separation technologies, such as filtration or centrifugation cannot be easily applied. Recently developed methods to handle these concentrated foods will therefore be evaluated experimentally and in theory, which will be the basis for the conceptual process design.
The work will be carried out in close collaboration with another PhD student and a post-doctorate fellow, located at two different universities, and with two companies.
For more information please contact prof.dr.ir. R.M. Boom (tel.+31 317 482884) or email remko.boomatwur.nl.
Requirements
Affinity and background in process technology to apply. You should have a MSc degree in food or chemical engineering or similar, from a Dutch university, or equivalent.
The candidate should have excellent communicative skills, be familiar with the basis of process engineering and the basis of process design, and be willing to explore new and unknown paths. Furthermore, the candidate is: Analytic in approaching problems, creative, innovative and both result & team oriented.
Conditions of employment
We offer a full-time contract for 4 years, with an intermediate evaluation after one year. Your salary will be in line with the Dutch standards for PhD students and Post Docs.
Furthermore, you will also benefit from the opportunity to do research that is scientifically challenging and of industrial relevance. At last, you can expect extra support towards your next career step within the DSTI network and benefit from other attractive secondary labor conditions.
Organisation
DSTI (Dutch Separation Technology Institute)
DSTI (Dutch Separation Technology Institute) is a partnership in which industry, universities and knowledge institutes work closely together to develop breakthrough technologies for application in different sectors of the process industry. "Together we can take bigger steps, have more impact, and share the risks".
So far, over 55 companies from the Food, Pharmaceutical, Oil and Gas, Chemical and Process Water Industries, together with 10 knowledge centers, have joined DSTI. The estimated budget is EUR 80 million. The research program covers all aspects from (fundamental) knowledge generation to technology implementation.
DSTI Partners include: Afira Aker Solutions Akzo Nobel Albemarle Aquamarijn Aquastill BAC Bodec Process Technology Bronswerk CDS Cofely DSM ECN Elektrolyse Project Evodos FeyeCon D&I FIB Industriële bedrijven Fluxxion Frames Friesland Campina Freeze Tec GCA GTI Heineken Huntsman IPCOS Larox Logisticon LyondellBasell MACT Mahle Mallinckrodt Baker Ministry of Economic Affairs Mosaic Systems NIZO Food Research Norit X-Flow NL-GUTS Organon Perdix Pervatech Proxcys Purac ResQLab Royal Cosun RWTH-Aachen University Sabic Schering Plough Screening Devices Shell Solsep Syncom Synthon TNO TOP TU Delft TU Eindhoven Unilever Universteit Twente Vito Wageningen Universiteit & Research Centre Wintershall Zeton
Additional information
Please make sure to check the other DSTI vacancies in this project:
www.academictransfer.com/2146
www.academictransfer.com/2147
To apply for this postition, visit AcademicTransfer for the original posting, and many other PhD vacancies.
Job Title PhD Student Separation of vitality ingredients 3/3
POST DETAILS
Org Name Dutch Separation Technology Institute (DSTI)
Contact Person
Tel
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E-Mail
City Wageningen
State/Province N
Country Netherlands
Application Deadline 31-Jan-10
