Paid Masters Thesis: Experimental Process

Welcome to the sustainable world of BEST

BEST - Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH is the competence center in Austria that conducts pre-competitive industry-related research in the field of bioenergy and biobased economy.

At BEST we work as a team to actively shape the transition to a sustainable and climate friendly bioeconomy.

Your talent and your passion for research and science are explicitly needed with us. Collaborate with us on interesting and promising tasks and develop your scientific creativity. Join us on our approach to a more environmentally and climate friendly future

Team player? Enthusiastic? Open-minded? Then you are exactly right at BEST.

Tasks

The aim of the work is to further develop and optimize the pyrolysis process by creating mass and energy balances at the GreenCarbon Lab infrastructure at BEST, using a wide variety of biogenic raw and residual materials (e.g. walnut shells, spelt husks, short rotation wood,...).

BEST's GreenCarbon Lab has an electrically heated rotary kiln with a nominal capacity of 3 kg/h and an auto-thermally heated twin-screw reactor with a nominal capacity of approx. 60 kg/h input mass flow. These plants can be used to produce a wide variety of carbon products (biochar, bio-oil and gas), which can be applied in agriculture, steel production or composite materials. In order to adapt the product properties, process temperatures and residence times as well as the process control are changed. From targeted experiments with different biogenic raw materials and residues and with the help of mass and energy balances, measures for process development and optimization are derived and implemented directly.

Your tasks
- Independent research of the necessary literature
- Planning and guided execution of pyrolysis experiments
- Independent evaluation of the data generated in the experiments

**Requirements**:

- Basic technical and scientific training - basic knowledge of thermal conversion processes (combustion, pyrolysis,...)
- Motivation to work independently and hands-on mentality
- Experience in working with technical equipment is an advantage
- Study admission for an Austrian university, EU visa, residence permit

**Benefits**:

- Together we contribute to defossilization and improvement of the circular economy
- Work with us beyond the borders of Austria in our international projects
- Become visible with us as a co-author of scientific publications and presentations for our partners in industry and science
- Become part of our motivated, multidisciplinary team
- Financial compensation based on student staff salary scheme