Microfluidic Devices for Sustainable Biofuels Production

This PhD project aims to develop and optimise microfluidic reactors for the continuous, efficient, and sustainable transesterification of various feedstocks into various sustainable biofuels. Traditional batch processes for biofuels production face limitations, including mass transfer inefficiencies, high energy consumption, and poor scalability for decentralised production. Microfluidic technology offers a promising platform due to enhanced mixing, heat transfer, and reaction control at the microscale level.

This research will design, fabricate, and evaluate novel microfluidic devices using renewable and waste-derived feedstock, with an emphasis on low-quality feedstocks such as waste cooking oil and novel feedstock from black soldier fly. Key objectives include investigating the reaction kinetics, catalyst integration (e.g., immobilised enzymes or heterogeneous catalysts), and process intensification under varying flow rates, temperatures, and catalyst configurations. Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) will be conducted to compare the microfluidic approach with conventional processes.

The project aligns with sustainable energy goals by offering a scalable, low-energy, and decentralised pathway for biofuels production.