Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014) and an outstanding 66% of the work of Loughborough’s academic staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF was judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, compared to a national average figure of 43%. In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Doctoral College, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career. In an attempt to improve sustainability there is a strong social drive for a transition from fossil-based fuels to alternatives, such as bio-based ones. Bio-refineries can utilise lignocellulosic biomass to produce fuels and chemical commodities in such a green and sustainable manner. Yet this process has several issues, including a high demand for hydrogen and the formation of aqueous oxygenated hydrocarbon waste. Aqueous phase reforming (AQR) represents a viable process to produce hydrogen and light alkanes from the aqueous waste streams, resolving these issues. Key to enabling AQR is the preparation of active, stable and affordable heterogenous catalysts. The project will take a novel approach to designing affordable nickel catalysts, supported on functional mixed metal oxides, for the AQR process. In addition to catalyst testing, the candidate will employ a range of advanced characterisation techniques to understand the fundamental processes behind the observed catalytic trends. Initially, single or controlled mixtures of model compounds (such as glycerol or sorbitol) will be used in the AQR process to gain fundamental understanding of the process. As the project evolves, the candidate will have the opportunity to increase the complexity of the AQR process and the impact of the work by studying realistic aqueous waste streams, containing multiple hydrocarbons and potential catalyst poisons. To mitigate the deactivation of catalysts the candidate will investigate catalyst regeneration strategies uniquely accessible to mixed metal oxide supports. Applicants will be required to be highly motivated and willing to spend time at national facilities. In addition, the applicant will have the opportunity to interact with the UK Catalysis Hub, and so willingness to travel is required.