PhD Studentship: Improving the lifecycle of complex domestic waste

Area

Engineering

Location

UK Other

Closing Date

Wednesday 19 August 2026

Reference

ENG404

Improving the lifecycle of complex domestic waste

The increasing use of multilayer materials and mixed‑fibre textiles has created significant challenges for recycling, as these materials are difficult to separate yet retain valuable functional properties such as flexibility, durability, and water resistance. As a result, large volumes are currently downcycled or sent to landfill.

This PhD addresses the lack of systematic approaches for identifying and repurposing such complex waste streams. The project will focus on understanding the relationships between material composition, structure, and residual properties, and how these can be exploited in alternative applications.

The research will combine detailed materials characterisation (e.g. microscopy, compositional and structural analysis) with th...