CDU PhD student awarded Postgraduate research award

A PhD student from Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) Energy Research Institute has been awarded the highly competitive 2023 Postgraduate Research Award (PGRA) by the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Higher Degree by Research student Angel Alberto Aguilar Morones was recognised with this award for his contributions to developing processes for recycling fire-retardant e-waste.

Brominated flame retardants (BFR) are chemicals added to plastics, together with other materials, to make them flame retardant.

We greatly benefit from these flame retarded plastics – because of them, it is unusual for our computers and TV sets to ignite. Unfortunately, plastics with BFR are not recyclable and end up being disposed in landfills or in incineration.

Mr Aguilar-Morones' research aims to use X-ray absorption spectroscopy technique (XAS), at the Australian Synchrotron (AS) facilities, to better understand how to convert plastics containing BFR to valuable products such as bromine or hydrocarbon oils.  Such products could then be used to make new flame-retarded plastics for example.   

Whilst the research is in its early stages, Mr Aguilar-Morones is hopeful it will lead to an industrial process that would be safe for people and the environment.

“I hope to develop new methods for recycling BRFs and preventing them from entering the environment,” Mr Aguilar-Morones said.

“I am honoured to be awarded the PGRA and I look forward to continuing my research on e-waste and making a real difference in the world.”

Mr Aguilar-Morones’ supervisor Professor Bogdan Dlugogorski, who is a world-renowned expert in chemical engineering is confident his research will be impactful.

"Angel looks at plastics containing BFR as valuable resource to produce important chemicals, such as bromine, antimony and high-value oils”, “Angel is a highly talented and motivated researcher," Professor Dlugogorski said.

"By combing his experimental work at CDU with the cutting-edge analysis to be conducted at ANSTO, Angel has very high chance to develop circularity for plastics containing brominated flame retardants.”

The PGRA is given to outstanding PhD students in the fields of nuclear science and engineering.