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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project Template
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Use one form per project
Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012
In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that
your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name & contact details:
School:
Dr. Xinmin Zhan
Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Informatics
National University of Ireland, Galway
Tel: 00353-(0)91-495239; e-mail: xinmin.zhan@nuigalway.ie
Engineering and Informatics
Has project been agreed with head (or
nominee) of proposed registration school?
Research Centre / group affiliation:
Ryan Institute
Research group / centre website:
PI website / link to CV:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/civileng/Staff/xinminzhan.html
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
If you are already involved in relevant scholarly activities relating to Brazil, please mention them here.
Research activities ongoing in my research group are in three key areas including: (1)
recovery of organic waste and biomass for use as sustainable, clean energy and for building a
smart agriculture; (2) interactions between climate change and the waste treatment
infrastructure: adaption to climate change risks; and (3) development of cost-effective and
efficient technologies for domestic and industrial wastewater treatment. Our laboratory is
well equipped and we have actively published in top journals in these areas.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
Use of algae to remove nitrogen and recover high-value products from digested animal
manure
The economic development, population growth and demand for a better quality of life have
resulted in the growth of the animal farming industry. This industry generates a large
amount of wastewater and waste. It is one of the largest agricultural pollution sources in
every country, particularly in developing countries. Thus, pollution control and prevention
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
for the animal farming industry is critical and will be of increasing importance for the
sustainable development of this industry. Anaerobic digestion of animal manure is a
sustainable practice because of the production of renewable energy. However, the
digestate still contains high concentrations of nutrients, particularly high nitrogen. For
intensive animal farming, like pig farming, treatment of the digestate is necessary before
discharge. We have developed a number of technologies for nitrogen removal from
digestate. In this PhD research, we will grow algae in pig manure digestate. We have already
attained an algal species capable of efficient uptake of high nitrogen. The algae harvested
will be utilized as animal diet or generation of biodiesel or biogas. The technical and
economic feasibility will be studied.
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
NUI Galway projects should emphasise features that are not typically available in Brazil – specific equipment,
multi-disciplinarity, aspects of structured programme, links with industry, placements, links with other research
groups etc.
This project is highly multidisciplinary, combining the disciplines of environmental
engineering, fermentation, biorefinery, and agriculture. It is in collaboration with Teagasc (the
Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,
Iowa State University, USA, and Yangtze Delta Region Research Institute, China. This research
is a leading-edge study. My research group offers a wide range of facilities, such as fermentor,
HPLC and GC, suitable for application to the project.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Biochemical engineering, biotechnology, environmental engineering and science, agricultural
engineering and science
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences)
Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Minerals, Minerals Technology
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Bioprospecting and Biodiversity
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
X
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _ _Y___
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _____
Suitable for either/Don’t know: _____