KTH in Stockholm is the largest and oldest technical university in Sweden. No less than one-third of Sweden’s technical research and engineering education capacity at university level is provided by KTH. Education and research spans from natural sciences to all branches of engineering and includes architecture, industrial management and urban planning. There are a total of just over 15,000 first and second level students and more than 1,600 doctoral students. KTH has almost 4,300 employees.

The School of Chemical Science and Engineering includes the areas Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Fibre and Polymer technology. It encompasses both fundamental and applied chemical sciences and seeks sustainable development through scientific excellence. Many research activities are interdisciplinary across the borders from chemistry to materials science, environmental science, biochemistry, biology and medicine. The School offers a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Science and Engineering, Higher Education Diploma in Chemical Engineering and three international Master programs Chemical Engineering for Energy and the Environment, Macromolecular Materials and Molecular Science and Engineering. We cooperate also with the Master programs Energy and Environment, Materials design and Biotechnology.

Project description

Novel hydrometallurgical methods for rare earth metals

The group of rare earth metals includes scandium, yttrium and all 15 lanthanides, e.g. lanthanum, cerium, neodymium and erbium. They are often found together in nature at low concentrations in various minerals. Due to their chemical similarity they are difficult to separate from each other. Rare earth metals provide unique spectroscopic and magnetic properties, and are needed for a wide variety of products, such as catalysts, hybrid vehicles, rechargeable batteries, mobile phones, plasma televisions, disk drives and catalytic converters. The industrial demand for rare earth metals is increasing. Today about 94% of all rare earth metals are produced in China, however, some are found in commonly existing minerals in Sweden. The purpose of the project is to develop novel hydrometallurgical processes for the separation and the purification of rare earth metals from liquors of the Swedish mining industry. Three techniques will be investigated: precipitation, selective chromatography and liquid membrane extraction. Each subproject will involve aspects of inorganic chemistry, chemical engineering science and applied process development. The work will be performed in cooperation between the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Technology, KTH, and IVL, the Swedish Environmental Research Institute. The project is financed by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research.

Employment

Form of employment: Time-limited
Work time: Full time
Salary: According to KTH regulations for PhD students
Start date: By agreement
Number of vacant jobs: 3

Eligibility and Assessment Criteria

A suitable background for the project is an undergraduate degree in chemistry or chemical engineering at Master level. Applicants should have an interest for chemical laboratory work as well as for process development, and be able to work with modeling and computer simulation.

Application

Last day to apply: 2012-03-05
Reference number: K-2012-0042

Applications should be submitted to:
Britt-Mari Rydberg
KTH
Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology
Teknikringen 42
S-100 44 STOCKHOLM

or by e-mail to: britt@ket.kth.se

Please indicate reference number K-2012-0042 in the e-mail subject.
The applications should include attested copies of exam documentation

Contacts

Åke Rasmuson, Professor
Phone: +46 8 790 82 27
rasmuson@ket.kht.se

Trade Union representative:

Lars Abrahamsson, SACO
Phone: +46 8 790 70 58
lars.abrahamsson@ee.kth.se