Our institute supports independent research of Ph.D. students through the Internal grant agency. Students can apply for up to 50,000 CZK to cover the material costs, carry out experiments, or travel expenses covering the Ph.D. student’s trip to a conference.
IGA 2024 awardees. From left to right Mark Terentyak, Kateřina Nyklíčková, Natalie Jaklová and Antonín Šperlich
From 1 January 2024, four projects were supported for the following twelve months, i.e. until the end of this year:
- Natalie Jaklová: Continuity of Trazodone Synthesis in a Solid–Liquid System using Microreactors
Mgr. Natalie Jaklová completed her master’s studies in Medicinal Chemistry at the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, from 2019 to 2021. Since 2021, she has been working at the ICPF in the Research Group of Microreactors and is currently in the third year of her doctoral studies in the Chemistry and Chemical Technologies Program (Department of Inorganic Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology, UCT Prague). She is being supervised by Associate Professor Dr. Ing. Petr Klusoň, DSc., and specialist supervisor Ing. Petr Stavárek, Ph.D. The title of her dissertation is Utilization of Microreactors for the Study of Reactions in the Field of Preparation and Production of Special Chemicals.
The proposed project is based on a previous study of the continuous N-alkylation reaction under phase-transfer catalysis conditions. While the previously conducted reaction occurs in a liquid–liquid environment, the new approach of the project involves performing this reaction in a flow apparatus in a solid–liquid environment. The project aims to verify the acquired procedures and insights by applying them to the synthesis of the drug Trazodone.
2. Kateřina Nyklíčková: Influence of the Geometric Parameters of the 3D Structured Bed on the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of the Sprinkler Reactor
Ing. Kateřina Nyklíčková completed her master’s studies in Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, UCT Prague, from 2021 to 2023. Since 2023, she has been working at the ICPF in the Research Group of Microreactors and is currently in the first year of her doctoral studies in the Chemical and Process Engineering Program (Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, UCT Prague). She is being supervised by Ing. Petr Stavárek, Ph.D. The title of her dissertation is Study of Transport Properties of 3D Structured Materials Depending on Their Topology and Geometry.
The proposed project is focused on studying the influence of geometric parameters of 3D structured beds in a trickle-bed reactor on hydrodynamic characteristics under conditions of single-phase and two-phase flow. This builds upon a previous experimental study of a parametric set of POCS structures to complement the results obtained through computer-based CFD simulations and enable a more detailed understanding of the impact of individual geometric parameters on flow characteristics.
3. Antonín Šperlich: Use of a Dense Medium Separator Device for the Production of Suitable Solid Fuel from WEEE Plastic Waste
Ing. Antonín Šperlich completed his master’s studies in Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, UCT Prague, from 2019 to 2021. Since 2022, he has been working at the ICPF in the Research Group of Waste Management and Sustainable Technologies and is currently in the second year of his doctoral studies in the Energy and Fuels Program (Department of Power Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Technology, UCT Prague). He is being supervised by Ing. Michal Šyc, Ph.D. The title of his dissertation is Material Recovery of Low-grade Metal Bearing Wastes.
The proposed project addresses the issue of generating a significant amount of plastics during the processing of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), which is challenging to recycle. These plastics could potentially be used as solid fuel, but they need to be sorted beforehand. The aim is to evaluate the use of LARCODEMS equipment (dense media separator – DMS) for the selective separation of plastics and to determine the impact of dense media on their separation for the production of suitable solid fuel, considering the halogen content in the products.
4. Mark Terentyak: Influence of the Composition of the Culture Medium on Gas Solubility and Mass Transfer in a Bubbling Column
Ing. Mark Terentyak completed his master’s studies in Biotechnology and Bioengineering at the Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, UCT Prague, from 2020 to 2022. Since 2022, he has been working at the ICPF in the Research Group of Multiphase Reactors and is currently in the second year of his doctoral studies in the Biotechnology Program (Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, UCT Prague). He is being supervised by Ing. Mária Zedníková, Ph.D., and specialist supervisor Dr. Sandra Kordač Orvalho, Ph.D. The title of his dissertation is Influence of the Physical Properties of the Medium on Oxygen Transfer in a Bubble Column Bioreactor.
The proposed project is related to the solubility of gases and their transfer between phases, where the composition of the cultivation medium is a crucial element influencing cell growth, mass transfer, and the overall economy of the entire process. The project aims to describe the influence of the medium composition on mass transfer in a bubble column and to develop a simple model capable of predicting gas solubility in media based on their composition.