Description of the thesis topic

Project Background:
Plastics are ubiquitous in our daily lives, with global production reaching 460 million tons per year in 2019. This massive use leads to widespread environmental contamination by micro- and nano-plastics, posing major challenges for industries—particularly the agri-food sector—in terms of quality, safety, and human health. In light of these issues, it is crucial to precisely identify these contaminants and their sources in order to optimize industrial processes and reduce contamination.

Objectives and Methodology:
This PhD project, conducted in partnership with K+S France, a key player in the sector, aims to identify and quantify plastic organic impurities at both the nano (10 nm to 1 μm) and micro (+2 μm) scales in this type of salt. To achieve this, advanced analytical techniques will be employed, including total organic carbon (TOC) measurement, light scattering (static – SLS and dynamic – DLS), X-ray scattering, tensiometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), as well as IR and Raman micro-spectroscopy. These methods will enable the development of a robust protocol to detect and quantify such contaminants at extremely low concentrations (ppb).

The project is carried out through a close collaboration between three laboratories of the University of Bordeaux (LCPO, CRPP, and ISM) and will lead to a better understanding of contamination levels. It will also clearly identify potential sources of micro- and nano-plastics while proposing concrete solutions to reduce them. In parallel, the PhD candidate will work closely with the industrial partner to adapt these analytical methods to industrial processes, identify critical contamination points, and actively contribute to the implementation of effective remediation strategies.

Work Context

The Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO) is a joint research unit affiliated with CNRS, the University of Bordeaux, and Bordeaux INP (http://www.lcpo.fr). The LCPO is composed of four research teams and includes around 150 members, of which approximately 50 are permanent staff. With over 40 years of expertise in polymer chemistry, the LCPO's research focuses on:
Developing innovative methodologies for precision polymer synthesis, including biomimetic and green chemistry approaches,
Designing functional polymer materials through macromolecular engineering and self-assembly, particularly in the fields of renewable materials, healthcare, and energy,
Building long-lasting collaborations with industrial and socio-economic partners.

The selected candidate will be supervised by Étienne Grau and Véronique Coma (Team 2), as well as Olivier Sandre and Christophe Schatz (Team 3). They will work in close collaboration with the teams at K+S France. Applicants must hold a Master's degree and/or engineering degree with expertise in Polymer Science or Colloid Science.

Team 2, titled “Biopolymers and Bio-based Polymers” and led by Henri Cramail, focuses on the valorization of bio-based resources and the development of green chemistry methodologies to synthesize environmentally friendly polymer materials. Main research areas include:
Depolymerization of lignocellulosic biomass and valorization of the resulting products (oligolignins, phenols, saccharinic acids, oligosaccharides),
Development of bio-based monomers, mainly derived from lipids, and their polymerization (polyesters, non-isocyanate polyurethanes, polyamides, epoxy networks),
Chemical modification of polysaccharides, mainly cellulose and chitosan, for the development of functional materials.