Development of an innovative sensor for aerosol toxicology

IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) est un acteur majeur de la recherche et de la formation dans les domaines de l’énergie, du transport et de l’environnement. De la recherche à l’industrie, l’innovation technologique est au cœur de son action, articulée autour de quatre priorités stratégiques : CLIMAT, ENVIRONNEMENT ET ÉCONOMIE CIRCULAIRE, ÉNERGIES RENOUVELABLES, MOBILITÉ DURABLE et HYDROCARBURES RESPONSABLES.

L’engagement d’IFPEN en faveur d’un mix énergétique durable se traduit par des actions visant :

• à gagner en efficacité énergétique ;
• à réduire les émissions de CO2 et de polluants ;
• à améliorer l’empreinte environnementale de l’industrie et des transports ;

tout en répondant à la demande mondiale en mobilité, en énergie et en produits pour la chimie.

Dans cet objectif, IFPEN développe des solutions permettant, d’une part, d’utiliser des sources d’énergie alternatives et, d’autre part, d’améliorer les technologies existantes liées à l’exploitation des énergies fossiles.

Development of an innovative sensor for aerosol toxicology

In 2021, the WHO revised its air quality guidelines for exposure to PM 2.5 and PM10 particles, reducing them to 5 and 15 µg/m³ respectively. This means that even today, 99% of French are exposed to levels of particulate matter that are potentially harmful to their health. The number and mass of particles are monitored in France, but their chemical/toxicological characteristics are not systematically measured. An innovative approach to estimating particle toxicology is the measurement of oxidative potential. This marker estimates the health impact of an aerosol on a simulated human lung fluid.

Standard laboratory methods of sampling, storing and analysis oxidative potential of aerosols are functional, but very costly and time-consuming. This means that only occasional monitoring of this air quality marker is possible. In the long term, this internship is in line with the strategic objective of exploring innovative approaches to democratize the measurement of oxidative potential and improve air quality monitoring throughout France.

This internship has two objectives :

The first is to carry out a bibliographical study that brings together and synthesizes established protocols and new innovative approaches for measuring the oxidative potential of suspended particles.

The second objective is to propose a benchtop experiment for a novel oxidative potential sampler and analyser with the possibility to test it on a test bench dedicated to air quality.

The internship is divided in the following tasks:

• 5 months of bibliographical study and synthesis of the state of the art
• 5 months to propose innovative concepts using the cutting-edge equipment at IFPEN
• 1 month for writing internship report and preparation for master thesis defense

Requested profile and skills:

Master 2 (Bac+5) or final year of engineering school motivated to carry out research and development work in the exciting field of air quality.

The student will be integrated into a dynamic team specialized in "optical diagnostics": research engineers, specialized technicians, within a project dedicated to air quality.

Skills required: 

• Good knowledge of English to study scientific literature and analyse it critically
• Ability to work as part of a team and to communicate on your work.
• A taste for getting your hands dirty in a laboratory setting
• Chemical online analysis
• Spectrometric techniques

Duration and dates: 6 months between February and August 2024

Practical information: The internship will take place at IFP Energies nouvelles in Rueil-Malmaison (west of Paris) The intern will be granted with a financial compensation (unless granted otherwise).

Interested ? Send a letter of motivation and a CV !