General information

Reference

2025-3878  

Position description

Category

F12 Management of polluted soils and waste - Engineer / Researcher

Job title

PhD Proposal Experimental studies of PFAS chemical destruction

Contract

Thesis

Contractual hours

Full-time

Contract duration

36 months

Context and contributions of the position

Joining the French Geological Survey (BRGM) means becoming part of France's leading public institution for Earth Science applications bringing together 1,000 wholeheartedly committed experts across 29 bases in Mainland and Overseas France.

BRGM focuses on enhancing geological knowledge and understanding of surface and sub-surface-related phenomena, with a view to meeting the challenges of environmental changes through innovative projects with societal implications.

This project focuses on the chemical destruction of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) present in waters recovered from soil-washing and contaminated water treatment processes. Concentrations of PFAS are relatively high, since pumped waters undergo preconcentration by various methods.
Several remediation techniques effectively destroy PFAS, yet short-chain PFAS remain highly persistent. Moreover, different PFAS classes—such as PFCAs (perfluorocarboxylic acids) and PFSAs (perfluorosulfonic acids)—respond differently to degradation.

Job description

At minimum, three destruction methods will be tested: photolysis/photo-oxidation, moderate-temperature defluorination, and sonocavitation. Some of these methods have already been pretested at BRGM on long-chain PFAS. New experiments will address long, short, and ultra-short chains, the latter being the most challenging to degrade.
The aim is to evaluate each technique on various PFAS types, clarify the applicability limits of the most promising methods, then develop a treatment train combining all or some of these techniques to overcome individual process limitations.

The PhD thesis aims to develop methods for destroying PFAS in aqueous effluents recovered after in situ soil washing and subsequent concentration steps. The doctoral candidate will test several treatment techniques—at minimum photolysis/photo-oxidation, moderate-temperature defluorination, and sonocavitation. Treatability tests will be carried out in small vials, with scale-up experiments on volumes of up to 2–5 L for the most promising treatment conditions. Degradation by-products will be identified using a semi-qualitative approach, and fluoride production will be monitored. Degradation pathways (daughter molecules) will also be elucidated.
Parametric studies will determine the optimal operating conditions (e.g., stoichiometry, medium composition, additives, reaction time), and the limits of each technique will be established. All analyses will be performed at BRGM, though PFAS quantification itself is not part of the thesis. A mechanistic understanding via chemical modeling is planned.

Profile

Requested start date : 05/01/2025
Education : PhD
Experience : 1 - 5 years

Master's degree (or engineering diploma) in process engineering or organic chemistry. Prior experience in chemical modeling (e.g., density functional theory or molecular dynamics) is a plus but not required. Familiarity with liquid, gas, and ion chromatography would be an asset.
Ability to integrate and collaborate within a multidisciplinary team composed of modelers, thermodynamicists, interface physico-chemists, electrochemists, mineralogists, geochemists, microbiologists, geophysicists, numerical modelers, experimentalists, etc. Initiative; autonomy in organizing daily work; ability to disseminate knowledge internally (mentoring interns) and externally (conference presentations); proficiency in English (reading, writing, speaking).

PhD Proposal (3 years)
Experimental studies of PFAS chemical destruction, optimizing for short- and ultra-short-chain PFAS

Research Laboratories:
BRGM (French Geological Survey), 45100 Orléans (France)
Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris - Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene of Emerging Elements and Contaminants Team - UMR7154
Contacts:
Stéfan Colombano, s.colombano@brgm.fr ; Maxime Cochennec, m.cochennec@brgm.fr ; Amélie Cavelan, a.cavelan@brgm.fr
Eric van Hullebusch, vanhullebusch@ipgp.fr

Working conditions

Within an environment that promotes a healthy work/life balance, particularly thanks to remote working, BRGM prides itself on providing a friendly and caring place to work.

Awarded HRS4R certification in 2021, we are committed to supporting you throughout your career at BRGM. We provide you with a range of tools for developing your skills and expertise, with scope for career progression and geographic mobility.

At BRGM, you will gain from such benefits as days off compensating for unpaid overtime, a company canteen, sports facilities as well as holiday and leisure options.

At BRGM, you are guaranteed a transparent recruitment process. It is easy to apply! Please send us your application (up-to-date CV and cover letter) by 09/11/2025.
Because diversity matters to us at BRGM, all of our job vacancies are open to everyone!
We will examine your application as soon as the closing date has passed. If your application is short-listed, we will contact you for recruitment interviews during which you will have the opportunity to talk with the recruitment and HR departments as well as a cross-functional department.

Position location

Job location

France, Centre-Val de Loire, Loiret (45)

Location