Oxford Engineering to lead £6.7m programme to scale up sustainable sonochemistry

Oxford Engineering will lead a new £6.7 million research programme to unlock the potential of sonochemistry for sustainable chemical processing, bringing together experts from across the UK to develop scalable technologies that reduce pollution, lower energy use and recover valuable materials from waste.

The six-year programme, SOUNDCHEM: Scalable Sound Solutions for Sustainable Chemical Processes, is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and will begin on 1 October 2026. Led by Professor James Kwan, the programme brings together researchers from the University of Oxford, the Universities of Glasgow, Surrey and Birmingham, supported by more than 20 academic and industrial partners.

Sonochemistry uses ultrasound to enhance chemical reactions and processes, offering a promising route to cleaner, more energy-efficient manufacturing. Although the field has demonstrated significant potential in areas including chemical extraction, material synthesis, wastewater treatment and polymer production, industrial adoption has remained limited. SOUNDCHEM aims to bridge this gap by developing scalable approaches that can be deployed across the chemical, energy and environmental sectors.

The programme will tackle three major industrial challenges: reducing energy use and pollution, replacing fossil-fuel-based chemical processes with greener alternatives, and recovering valuable resources from industrial waste. By bringing together expertise in acoustics, chemistry, mathematics and engineering, the team aims to establish sonochemistry as a mature, unified discipline capable of delivering real-world impact and supporting the UK's Net Zero ambitions.

Oxford will lead the overall programme, contributing expertise in sonochemical reactor engineering, catalysis, systems engineering and green chemistry. Researchers will focus on acoustic simulations, reactor design and scale-up, sustainable chemical synthesis including hydrogen production and carbon dioxide conversion—alongside systems integration, techno-economic assessment and life-cycle analysis.

The programme will also work closely with Oxford University Innovation to support the translation and commercialisation of promising technologies. The programme has a total full economic cost of £6.69 million, including approximately £2.76 million for Oxford's contribution. In addition, more than 20 project partners are providing £1.39 million in combined in-kind and cash support. Partners include researchers from Virginia Tech and industrial organisations including EDF, Topsoe, SCGC and WEEE Scotland.

Professor James Kwan, who will lead the programme, said:

"This award will be transformational for the field of sonochemistry, providing not only a deeper understanding of the complexity of sonochemical processes, but also real pathways towards new electrified chemical processes that are urgently needed. A programme of this magnitude gives us the time, flexibility and collective effort needed to move beyond the current challenges facing the field. It will allow us to rethink the future of sonochemistry and create technologies that deliver meaningful real-world impact."

The programme will begin on 1 October 2026 and run for six years, with researchers working alongside academic and industrial partners to accelerate the development and deployment of scalable sonochemical technologies for a more sustainable future.