Water Chemistry: Understanding the role of Nitrogen in Disinfection By-Products PhD

Studying PhD of Water Chemistry: Understanding the role of Nitrogen in Disinfection By-Products at Cranfield University in the United Kingdom:

 

This PhD program is a fully funded course held at the EPSRC Center for PhD Training in Water Infrastructure and Resilience. The WIRe program focuses on the development of personal and technical skills and equips students with advanced experimental facilities and the ability to travel abroad. This course provides insights into the formation of nitrogenous disinfection by products (NDBPs) to minimize their concentrations by evaluating nitrogen in source water and removing it through treatment. This is in line with the reduction of operations and investment decisions of water companies to minimize the possibility of future risk when producing drinking water.

There is a lot of pressure on water resources, most of which is due to population growth and development; on the other hand, climate change exacerbates these pressures. This will make the water extracted for drinking water production more affected by wastewater treatment effluent and increase the growth of algae and agricultural runoff due to climate change. These factors indicate the presence of organic nitrogen levels in significant and increasing concentrations in drinking water sources. Thus, these compounds are opposed to removal by conventional treatment technologies, which increase the level of organic hydrogen in the treated waters and affect the formation of NDBPs. When organic matter in drinking water sources reacts with disinfectants, disinfection is formed by the products; in addition to organic matter, reactants can include organic nitrogen, iodide, and bromide.

During this course, students will first develop analytical methods for haloacetamides, halonitromethanes, haloacetonitriles, nitrosamines, and organic nitrogen, then will examine the effect of source waters containing various types of organic nitrogen on NDBP formation, and finally will investigate the effect of treatment processes on the removal of organic nitrogen compounds and the formation of NDBPs.

Other benefits of this course include working with UKWIR. Students will also have the opportunity to become a dynamic, competent, and confident researcher with transferable skills (leadership, project management, and communication) with an international network of collaborators. Students will also enjoy a professional, focused, and dynamic environment and will become part of the Cranfield Doctoral Network. The network is made up of research staff and students and provides a platform for researchers to collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment and share their ideas. The purpose of forming the network is to encourage a dynamic and effective research culture based on knowledge and diversity of activities. The transferable skills curriculum, along with a dedicated program of events and seminars, provides students with the opportunity to network and gain social opportunities. After graduation, students can work in the water department or do research in academia.

 

Admission requirements of doctoral degree in Water Chemistry: Understanding the role of Nitrogen in Disinfection By-Products:

 

To study this course, students are required to have a first or upper-second class UK honours degree in a related field (such as chemistry or chemical engineering). Moreover, they need to have a background in watershed chemistry and water treatment. They are also expected to be interested in industrial research, have excellent communication skills, and be self-motivated. Having previous experience in the water sector would be helpful but not essential.

Funding

The course provides a scholarship of up to £19,000/ year plus fees for four years (sponsored by EPSRC and UKWIR Ltd). UK and international students can benefit from this scholarship, but only 30% of international students are supported due to funding rules.

 

Language requirements of doctoral degree in Water Chemistry: Understanding the role of Nitrogen in Disinfection By-Products:

 

To study this course, students must prove their ability to communicate in English, but if they do not have the required entry skills, they can apply for one of our EAP courses. The point that students should pay attention to is that the validity of our accepted exams is only for two years. Also, students must show all the elements of the test results in one test because the combination of scores in two or more tests is not acceptable. In addition, all test scores will be reviewed by test providers.

Cranfield requires students to have a minimum test score of: 7 on IELTS (none of the components should be less than 5.5), 100 on TOEFL (the minimum acceptable scores for the skills are: speaking 20, reading 18, listening 17, and writing 17), 68 on Pearson PTE (none of the components should be less than 59), 190 on Cambridge Assessment English (none of the components should be less than 160), overall pass on Language Cert (none of the components should be less than 33), or overall pass on Trinity College London.

 

Other living expenses needed for studying doctoral degree in Water Chemistry: Understanding the role of Nitrogen in Disinfection By-Products:

 

Single student:

Accommodation: £500-£1000/Month

Food: £260-£325/Month

Travel: £40-£50/Month

General expenses: £150-£200/Month

Accommodation fee (for couples and families):

Couple: £2,500

Couple with one child: £2,700

Couple with two children: £3,000

Couple with three children: £3,200

Additional guidance:

Food: £70-£80/weakly per one person

Clothing and Laundry:

• Weekly launderette for one person: £5-£8
• Winter clothing estimate for one person: £350-£450

TV: £159/year

 

University Deadlines:

31 May 2022

Start date: 26 Sep 2022