Advanced Characterisation of biochar hydropyrolysis and related techniques

Advanced Characterisation of biochar by hydropyrolysis and related techniques (Fixed Term)

Location
Jubilee Campus

Salary
£35,608 to £47,389 per annum, depending on skills and experience.

Reference
ENG
1618926

The Biochar Demonstrator is a £4.5M project funded by BBSCR as part of the £30M Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) programme. The Demonstrator has addressed uncertainties concerning the extent and scope of deployment of biochar, its stability with respect to carbon sequestration, and to quantify the effects on ecosystem services by establishing the most ambitious and comprehensive large‑scale demonstration programme to date, involving the deployment of over 200 tonnes of biochar.

The Demonstrator is led by the University of Nottingham (Principal Investigator: Prof. Colin Snape) and involves 3 other academic/research institute partners (Universities of Bangor and Leeds, and Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre), together with over 10 other project partners spanning biochar production, the agricultural sector and other stakeholders, including local government. A key topic being addressed is the assessment of biochar persistence which is fundamental to payments received for carbon sequestration.

The method developed at the University of Nottingham, hydropyrolysis (HyPy) is gaining momentum and is already included in the latest version of Carbon Standards International, C‑Sink methodology. HyPy uses high‑pressure hydrogen to remove the labile material from biochar leaving aromatic structures comprising 8 rings or larger, which is defined as the persistent fraction with a lifetime of at least 1,000 years.

The successful applicant will conduct experiments to provide comparisons with other approaches being used to assess biochar persistence, including reflectance. Further, the labile fractions released by HyPy will be characterised using gas chromatography‑mass spectrometry (GC‑MS) to ascertain how composition depends upon feed stocks and pyrolysis conditions working with collaborating organisations.

The successful applicant will have a PhD in organic geochemistry or a related field and must have practical experience of HyPy and conducting hydrocarbon analysis by GC‑MS.

Your working hours will be 36.25 hours per week for a period of 4 months from 1/07/2026.

Your application will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as set out by UK Visas & Immigration.