Outline

Within the framework of the FEDER / Occitanie Region project entitled "BeesWax Decontamination Processes", the Laboratory of Chemical Engineering (LGC) is looking for a post-doc collaborator to evaluate the efficacy of physicochemical processes for the depollution of recycled beeswax and thus the protection of colonies. The general objective of the project is to develop an innovative process for the decontamination of beeswax that allows either to fix the phytosanitary residues present on a solid, or to destroy them (without generating toxic secondary products). It is a continuation of the numerous studies conducted at the LGC on the reduction of pollution generated by pesticides or micro-pollutants.

The work of the post-doc will consist in developing the experimental tools necessary for the realization of the feasibility tests for the proposed techniques, then to lead and to interpret these experiments in order to optimize the operating conditions allowing the degradation of the pesticides contained in beeswax without altering its intrinsic qualities. The post-doc will also highlight the possible synergistic effects between the techniques studied. Finally, he/she will analyze the efficiency of the processes in terms of their transferability at an industrial scale and taking into account the specific constraints of the industrial partner. For that purpose, a kinetic study will be carried out on the selected process(es) for their scale-up. The safety and interest of the selected treatments will then be evaluated on hive tests, with the raw and treated waxes.

Duration

12-month post-doc offer startingJanuary 1, 2020

Eligibility

The recruited person must hold a PhD in chemical engineering / process engineering or chemistry, preferably in connection with chemical reaction and multiphase reactor engineering. He/she should ideally possesses general knowledge on the mechanisms of generation of oxidizing active species and chemical degradation of pollutants by Advanced Oxidation Processes. He/she will have to show organization, rigour and autonomy. He/she will work in close connection with the LGC researchers involved in the project, as well as with the collaborators of the LAPLACE laboratory and Remuaux, the apiculture company partner of the project. Finally, a good level in spoken and written English is required.

Keywords: Chemical Engineering / Process Engineering (in particular Multiphase Reactor Engineering), Depollution, Advanced Oxidation Processes

Contacts:

Carine JULCOUR: Senior Researcher, carine.julcour@ensiacet.fr +33 (0)5 34 32 37 09

Philippe DESTRAC: Research Engineer, philippe.destrac@ensiacet.fr  +33 (0)5 34 32 37 08

Expected response by email (resume and letter of motivation) before November 1, 2019