Modelling the PhAse BehaviouR of Impure CO₂ Streams for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Applications (MARCO2S)

We are recruiting for EPSRC & TWI (The Welding Institute) funded studentship  starting 1 October 2026. 

The project

The successful large-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) depends on the safe and efficient transport of large quantities of CO₂. In most CCS systems, captured CO₂ is not pure. It contains varying concentrations of impurities such as NOx, SOx, O₂, N₂, H₂S, CH₄, H₂, NH₃, and water. These impurities can significantly influence the phase behaviour of CO₂, affecting the pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) relationships that underpin the design and operation of CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure, including pipelines and ships.

This PhD project will investigate the PVT behaviour of impure CO₂ streams, including an evaluation of the applicability of existing thermodynamic models and equations of state (EOS), and the development of modified or improved versions for CCS applications, including their validation. Successful completion of the project will reduce related uncertainties in the design and operation of critical CCS infrastructure.

Department 

Brunel Engineering already has established expertise in the areas of geological CO₂ storage (Principal Supervisor: Dr Lee Hosking, Civil Engineering) and CO₂ capture (Co-Supervisor: Dr Salman Masoudi Soltani, Chemical Engineering). This project provides an opportunity to bridge these research activities and will facilitate a growing critical mass in whole system CCS research. There is a clear pathway to follow-on projects. For example, the proposed research aligns with the EPSRC’s “energy and decarbonisation” theme, and specifically the “carbon capture and storage” research area. Specifically, this relates to the EPSRC’s stated emphasis on innovation supporting the successful integration of CCS technologies into current energy systems and the secure long-term storage of CO₂.

Expected impacts of project

A range of thermodynamic models and equations of state (EOS) are currently used to predict the PVT relationships of CO₂ mixtures. However, these models often have limited accuracy in the presence of multiple impurities and can fail near critical and triple point conditions.

This PhD project will investigate the PVT behaviour of impure CO₂ streams by:

  • Evaluating existing EOS models and their applicability to CO₂ with multiple impurities.
  • Assessing their performance near phase boundaries and critical regions using available experimental datasets.
  • Developing improved or modified EOS models that better capture phase behaviour close to the edges of phase envelopes.
  • Validating the developed models against benchmark data and exploring their implications for CO₂ transport.

The research will integrate thermodynamics, fluid phase equilibria, and advanced modelling approaches to aid the development of more reliable CO₂ transport systems.

Funding

  • Stipend: approx. £23,805 (incl. Inner London weighting)
  • Fees: Full-time Home tuition fees covered
  • Duration: 42 months (3.5 years)
  • Limited studentships (max 30% of intake) are available for international applicants, including EU.

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

  • Expected 1st or 2:1 honours degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Design, Maths, Physics, Economics, or related discipline
  • Master’s degree desirable but not required
  • Evidence of relevant skills and strong communication ability
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively

How to apply

Submit the following documents as one PDF file to studentships@brunel.ac.uk

  • Application form
  • 1200 word research proposal (incl references, based on the project)
  • CV
  • Degree certificates & transcripts for Bachelors and Masters
  • English language qualification (if applicable)
  • Equal opportunities form
  • Contact details for two referees (one academic)

Deadline: noon on 12 June 2026
Interviews: June/July 2026

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Lee Hosking - Lee is a Senior Lecturer in Energy Geomechanics and Senior Tutor for Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research focuses on numerical modelling of subsurface environments. His models aim to predict heat and multiphase mass transfer, deformation and damage, and chemical interactions in geomaterials ranging from soils to fractured rock. For over 10 years, the main practical application of his research has been geological CO₂ storage with respect to storage capacity, injectivity, and migration/confinement. He has also worked on unconventional geothermal energy systems. Alongside his research, Lee teaches energy infrastructure engineering and climate change science and technology, and is Course Director for BEng/MEng Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering). Before joining Brunel in 2020, Lee was a postdoctoral researcher at the Geoenvironmental Research Centre, Cardiff University, where he performed research on CO₂ storage as part of the FLEXIS energy systems research project. He received his PhD from Cardiff University in 2014 for research on coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical behaviour during CO₂ injection in coalbeds, having graduated with an MEng Civil Engineering, also from Cardiff University. Lee's research has been funded by The Royal Society, the Engineering and Physcial Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and the UK CO₂ Capture and Storage Research Community (UKCCSRC). These projects have investigated key aspects of CO₂ storage linked with injection well integrity and the prediction and management of fluid injection-induced seismicity, and are being delivered alongside his partners across academia and industry. His professional affiliations include Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and memberships of the Editorial Board for the journal Deep Underground Science and Engineering, the UKCCSRC, British Geotechnical Association, and International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. Within Brunel's research environment, he is part of the Centre for Energy Efficient and Sustainable Technologies as well as the Two-Phase Flow and Heat Transfer and Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering research groups. Lee is always looking for talented and motivated PhD students as well as new collaborators for research projects.

Related Research Group(s)

Advanced Powertrain and Fuels

Advanced Powertrain and Fuels - We have particular strengths in improving the efficiency and reducing energy cost of existing engines through developing low temperature combustion processes and their controls and regenerative braking, as well as unique methodologies for the study of fuels and engines.