Scientific Advisor: Isabel Maria Delgado Jana Marrucho Ferreira (ist129097)
Co-advisor(s): Rui Miguel Galhano dos Santos Lopes (ist34214), CERENA/DEQ.
Organic Unit: Centre for Structural Chemistry
Scholarship Theme: EcoRemove Project
Duration: 12 months
Maximum Duration Including Renewals: 24 months

Objectives
1. Analyze the state of the art
Identify existing methodologies for ink removal from PP and PE polymers and understand the mechanisms involved.
2. Select suitable solvents
Use thermodynamic tools to predict the affinity between solvents, polymers, and inks, carrying out a screening of the
best candidates.
3. Experimentally validate the selected solvents
Evaluate, at laboratory scale, the efficiency of the solvents in ink removal.
4.Characterize the materials after treatment
Determine the thermochemical and mechanical properties of the polymer films after cleaning, ensuring there is no
significant degradation.
5. Assess solvent recyclability
Study the recovery, reuse, and performance of the solvents over multiple cycles.
6. Optimize the cleaning process
Adjust operating parameters (time, temperature, concentration, etc.) to maximize efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and
sustainability.
Work Plan
The work plan comprises the following stages:
1. Literature review and goal definition
Review the state of the art and define specific objectives for each system: PP–ink and PE–ink.
2. Preliminary solvent selection (screening)
Use thermodynamic property prediction tools to identify the most promising solvents for each polymer–ink system.3. Laboratory testingTest the selected solvents on laboratory-scale samples, evaluating their effectiveness in ink removal.4. Material characterizationCarry out thermochemical and mechanical characterization of the polymer films after the cleaning process.5. Solvent recyclability assessmentStudy the recovery and reuse of the solvents used in the process.6. Process optimizationAdjust operating conditions to maximize process efficiency, sustainability, and feasibility.

Contest Procedure
Applications must be exclusively submitted on the
admissions platform
of the
Instituto Superior Técnico
at
https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/fenixedu-admissions 
and requires registration and validation of the candidate's identity.
Applications are only accepted when the form available in the platform is correctly filled, submitted and locked withoutany validation errors. The mandatory documentation to submit in the scholarship aplication includes:
Curriculum Vitae
Proof of Qualifications (or declaration of honor in case you do not yet have the certificate)
Proof of Registration/Enrolment
Motivation Letter
The application submission deadlines can be viewed in the admissions platform.
The results of the contest will be made available in the same admissions platform.