Cutting edge research, innovative ideas and exciting collaborations were all on the agenda in January, as the second EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training Process Industries: Net Zero (PINZ CDT) Conference took place at Newcastle University.
The PINZ CDT is a collaboration between the Process Intensification Group at Newcastle University and the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence at the University of York. It is supporting the process sector in its transition to Net Zero through research with industry, and by training the next generation of process sector talent, with a focus on energy, feedstocks, and data.
The PINZ CDT conference, held on January 21st and 22nd at the Stephenson Building facility, was an opportunity for researchers, industry leaders and stakeholders to explore the latest progress in student-led research.
Businesses define PhD projects in partnership with the PINZ CDT’s academics and participating organisations benefit from four years of dedicated research time on their challenge areas or on developing new ideas. Companies including Proctor & Gamble, BOC, Durham Filtration, Northumbrian Water Group and Circular Carbon have already partnered with the PINZ CDT on co-created research projects.
Delegates at the conference were no doubt inspired by what they witnessed, as students from the first and second PINZ cohorts discussed solutions that could have a major impact on the process sector… and accelerate the transition to Net Zero.
Projects presented included:
- Investigating the impact of gigaton-scale Direct Air Capture on natural resources
- Improving the stability of soap bars towards stability
- Process development using 3D printed flow chemistry devices
- The optimisation of wastewater sludge collection logistics
- The development of sustainable manufacturing for confectionary products
- Reducing the carbon footprint of Syngenta processes via flow chemistry
- Bio-renewable antioxidants production for enhanced sustainability or polymeric materials
- Liquid fuels from Lignocellulosic residues
- Systematic investigation of pyrolysis process and products for sustainable biochar production
Speakers also included Dr Mark Corbett, Director of the Biorenewables Development Centre, who explored the commercialisation of new technology, renewable feedstocks, carbon capture and the challenges facing the chemical industry; and Karen Davies, Portfolio Manager of EPSRC, who provided an overview of the UK research and innovation landscape, including the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme.
Interested in how your business can work with the PINZ CDT? Visit the website here.
Marketing support for the PINZ CDT
Since 2025, we have been delivering a wide range of marketing services to the PINZ CDT, including animation, design and content marketing, to support process industry-focused campaigns, events and industry outreach – and much of this was on show at the conference.
You can find out more about our work for the PINZ CDT here.