We offer supervision for bachelor's and master's theses in the field of process engineering.

Why a Bachelor or Master in Process Engineering? The "Young Process Engineers" created a brochure that offers an insight into the diverse and exciting tasks of a process engineer. Get more information!, opens a file (sorry, only in german available)

Inquire about current topics directly with Prof. Hlawitschka mark.hlawitschka(at)jku.at.

Lithium-ion batteries have become an indispensable part of our everyday lives. At the end of their service life, the batteries can be used as a secondary source of raw materials. In addition to lithium, the elements cobalt and nickel are of particular interest. They are found in the active material of the rechargeable battery. Using chemical processes, the metals are first broken down and separated hydrometallurgically.

We offer bachelor theses on the following topics:

Power-to-gas aims to provide technologies for the energy future that are capable of storing renewable
energies efficiently. One of this methods is methanisation of the greenhouse gas CO2 and electrolytic
hydrogen, since methane has great energy values and good storability. In addition to catalytic
methanation, the focus is shifting to biological methanation using archaea. In this process,
methanation takes place at comparatively low temperatures. The frequently used stirred tank is well
researched, but has severe downsides, like additional energy input and low mass transfer.

More info in pdf.

The cement production releases approximately 0.6 tons CO₂ per ton cement. Rohrdorfer, opens an external URL in a new window, a local supplier of cement in Upper Austria and Bavaria, reduces these emissions from “unavoidable-classified” 500kt per anno to net zero. Thus to reach this ambitious goals, we seek a candidate to develop with our net-zero-emission team a head-to-tail carbon capture and utilization miniplant as preparation for a larger industry pilot at scale of 1 ton CO₂ per day. Central aim is to engineer and monitor the carbon capture and electrolysis and to optimize Faraday, CO₂- and energy efficiencies. The practical work will be focused on engineering, modeling and in-field testing & documentation of the miniplant such that we are able to implement the pilot. The work will be carried out at the JKU in Linz and the Zementwerk Hatschek in Gmunden. This miniplant is its first-of-a-kind carbon capture and utilization plant in Austria´s energy-intense industry.

The master-thesis will be funded by Rohrdorfer , opens an external URL in a new window(employment included).

Candidates may apply to: Mark Hlawitschka (JKU, mark.hlawitschka(at)jku.at) or to

Philipp Stadler, Carbon Processing & CCX, Philipp.stadler(at)rohrdorfer.eu

Membrane distillation for desalination is an attractive research topic worldwide.
This technology for water treatment, especially for desalination of seawater and highly saline industrial waste streams using low-carbon energy sources, such as low-carbon waste heat or solar energy.
A topic of the future!

Tasks:

• Scientific processing of the membrane distillation crystallisation project (MDC).
• Carrying out investigations on fractional crystallisation and characterisation of NaCl, CaCO3 and MgSO4.
• Investigate nucleation and growth kinetics in the presence of seeds in AGMDC.
• Determination of suitable operating conditions to control the shape, size, size distribution and polymorphism of crystals in a metastable concentration/temperature zone.
• Set-up of the MDC facility.
• Extensive measurements at the MDC facility.

You are also welcome to develop a research topic (e.g. for a student research project or doctoral thesis).

For further information, please contact  Prof. Mark Hlawitschka.