PhD Study : Feedback control sensors for water disinfection

Summary

The problem:

Water borne diseases from drinking unsafe water contribute to high incidence of illness in developing regions.  At least 1.8 billion people globally use a source of drinking water that is faecally contaminated and thus likely to lead to diarrheal illness: nearly 1,000 children die each day due to preventable water and sanitation-related diarrhoeal diseases. In 2010, the UN General Assembly explicitly recognised the human right to water and sanitation. Everyone has the right to sufficient, continuous, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use.  Low cost technologies for safe drinking water have significant potential to improve the health of communities who rely on unsafe water, and thus improve their quality of life through reduced illnesses, reduced absence from employment, improved school attendance, improved family life, and less stress on females (normally responsible for water in households).

The innovative solution:

In the developed World, chlorination of water supplies has effectively irradiated waterborne disease.   There have been attempts to introduce chlorination of water supplies in developing regions, however, this intervention is not readily adopted or sustained. One of the most obvious reasons is that over dosing of chlorine (> 3 ppm, either from tablets, bleach, or bleaching powder) results in unacceptable taste and odour (many of us experience this in tap water).  Also, there are negative health implications of overdosing chlorine including the formation of disinfection by-products which may be carcinogenic. Under dosing of chlorine (<0.5 ppm) means that disinfection may not be effective.  The chlorine demand of the water means that dose based on volume is not effective for controlling the free chlorine concentration.  Therefore, the development of sensors for the determination of free chlorine and feedback control of dosing would be a major step forward in quality assurance for low cost disinfection systems in low to middle income countries (LMICs).

Interdisciplinarity of the project:

The project requires an understanding of water chemistry, the measurement of free chlorine and chlorine demand, and a need for nanomaterials research for electrochemical sensing of free chlorine.  For feedback control of dosing systems, it is necessary to integrate electronics, signal processing, actuators and mechanical components i.e. mechatronics. The testing of disinfection of water requires knowledge of water microbiology and microbiological methods.

This project integrates chemistry, microbiology and mechatronic engineering. This project is directly linked to the GCRF SAFEWATER project funded under the Global Challenges Research Fund UKRI. www.safewater-research.com.

The successful candidate will work as part of a large transdisciplinary team in the Ulster Safewater Research Centre. Eligible candidates should have a primary degree in the physical sciences or engineering.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,237 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

Interdisciplinary Competition