EPSRC Supported EngD: Developing Digital Tools for Sustainable Surface Cleaning Towards Net Zero Solutions

Surface cleaning is a key and fundamental process in many domestic and industrial applications. Despite considerable amount of research on cleaning, there exists some knowledge gaps about the microscale interactions between cleaning agents and foulants on the surface. This project aims to develop a computational framework to describe and model the microscale physico-chemical processes taking place on the fouled surfaces, and to establish the underpinning cleaning mechanisms.

We will study the mechanical, hydrodynamic, and chemical removal of surface food foulants focusing on modelling the cleaning processes across 100s nm to 100s mm length-scales. Considering the extended Sinner’s circle (Wilson et al., FBP 135 (2022) 156–164), we will investigate a broad parameter space including the effect of mechanical action, fluid flow, chemical interactions, time, and temperature, as well as foulant composition and surface characteristics. We will analyse the physical properties of different types of food foulants e.g., high-carbohydrate (starch), high-lipid (fat), and high-protein (whey protein), and their combination on different surfaces from available experimental data (Herrera-Marquez et al., J. Clean. Prod. 261 (2020) 121254, Bistis et al., J. Food Eng. 366 (2024) 111858) as well as those in literature. The analysis will feed into the implementation of the cohesive and adhesive properties of foulants and model the penetration of surfactants and water into different fouled layers by simulating the dissolution, swelling, emulsification, and removal of the fouled materials.

The computational techniques are a hybrid combination of particle-based methods e.g., the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD), and Mass Spring Model (MSM), which are capable to resolve different foulant types, their interfaces and fronts, and physio-chemical interactions with other fluid and solid materials.

It is envisaged that developing a modelling tool for cleaning processes would unveil the intricate microscale cleaning mechanisms and provide us in-depth knowledge for developing innovative and effective solutions for cleaning foulants on surfaces.

The project will be supervised by Dr Amin Rahmat.

Funding notes:

To be eligible for EPSRC funding candidates must have at least a 2(1) in an Engineering or Scientific discipline or a 2(2) plus MSc.

To apply please email your cv to cdt-formulation@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

Open to UK nationals only due to funding restrictions.

For details on the Engineering Doctorate scheme visit the homepage: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/chemical-engineering/postgraduate/eng-d/index.aspx

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