Dr Matt Keith MEng, PhD, AMIChemE

Dr Matt Keith

School of Chemical Engineering
Assistant Professor

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0) 7904582955
Email
m.j.keith@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
Address
Chemical Engineering
University 麻豆精选
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Matt Keith is an Assistant Professor in the School of Chemical Engineering with a primary research interest in the recycling of complex materials.

Matt has published multiple research articles and conference papers alongside writing book chapters on the recycling of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRPs). His PhD research investigated the use of supercritical fluids and different catalysts in order to recover carbon fibres from CFRPs.

 Following his academic research, Matt worked within the Clean Air business of Johnson Matthey as an Applications Engineer (2019 - 21) and a Process Development Chemist (2021 - 22).

Upon returning to academia, Matt currently continues to conduct research into CFRPs, but also into other complex materials such as glass fibre reinforced composites (GFRPs), batteries and solar panels.

He is also an enthusiastic teacher and delivered multiple aspects of both the undergraduate and postgraduate chemical engineering courses during his PhD. He currently leads the second-year module Product Design Exercise in addition to lecturing in Sustainable Process Engineering. He also contributes to the delivery of undergraduate lab sessions and supports various outreach activities, including for the MSc Chemical Engineering course.

Qualifications

Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering:

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCert HE), 2024
  • PhD in Chemical Engineering, University 麻豆精选, 2020
  • MEng in Chemical Engineering, University 麻豆精选, 2015

Teaching

Current Modules

  • Product Design Exercise (Module Co-ordinator) [10 credits]
  • Sustainable Process Engineering [20 credits]
  • Labs & Data Analysis (Lab Co-ordinator) [10 credits]
  • Design for Climate Change (Module Co-ordinator) [10 credits]
  • Design Project (Project supervisor) [40 credits]

Postgraduate supervision

Primary Supervision:
1. Advanced recycling of next-generation bioplastics
2. Recycling of carbon fibre reinforced polymers using Deep Eutectic Solvents
3. Development of sustainable aviation fuels from microalgae

Secondary Supervision
1. Solvent based recycling of Neodynium-Iron-Boron magnets

Research

Matt's research has two main themes. The first focusses on the development of sustainable chemical processes, primarily for advanced recycling technologies and clean fuels. He is currently the primary supervisor for 3 PhD projects:
1. Advanced recycling of next-generation bioplastics
2. Recycling of carbon fibre reinforced polymers using Deep Eutectic Solvents
3. Development of sustainable aviation fuels from microalgae
He is also the academic lead for Innovate UK funded projects with the SME Deeptech Recycling who aim to scale an efficient chemical recycling process for end-of-life plastic wastes. He collaborates closely with the National Composites Centre (UK) as well as DLR (Germany) to deliver recycling processes for end-of-life composites and manufacturing waste.

The second theme involves chemical engineering education, specifically the integration of advanced digital tools such as generative artificial intelligence (GAI) with the aim of enhancing learning outcomes and teaching the ethical, responsible, and accurate use of these technologies. He also has an interest in progressing the incorporation of climate change education into existing curricula to ensure that future engineers are well equipped to address sustainability challenges. To complement these areas, Matt also regularly supervisors Masters' level research projects and summer internships.

Other activities

  • Member of the EPSRC Early Career Forum for Circular Economy & Manufacturing
  • Member of the British Plastics Federation Sustainability Committee
  • Reviewer for scientific journals: Polymer Degradation & Stability, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Quarterly
  • Reviewer of British Council research grants
  • Outreach activities for the BEng / MEng / MSc Chemical Engineering courses
  • Associate Member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Keith, M, Keiller, E, Windows-Yule, C, Kings, I & Robbins, P 2025, '', Education for Chemical Engineers, vol. 51, pp. 20-33.

Branfoot, C, Folkvord, H, Keith, M & Leeke, GA 2023, '', Polymer Degradation and Stability , vol. 215, 110447.

Keith, MJ, Leeke, GA, Khan, P & Ingram, A 2019, '', Polymer Degradation and Stability , vol. 166, pp. 188-201.

Keith, M, Roman Ramirez, L, Leeke, G & Ingram, A 2019, '', Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 161, pp. 225-234.

Conference contribution

Keith, M, Ingram, A & Leeke, G 2018, . in ECCM 2018 - 18th European Conference on Composite Materials. European Society for Composite Materials, 18th European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM 2018, Athens, Greece, 24/06/18. <>

Keith, M, Leeke, G & Ingram, A 2018, . in SAMPE Europe Conference 18 Southampton. SAMPE Europe, pp. 399-406, SAMPE Europe Conference 18 Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom, 11/09/18. <>

Keith, MJ, Oliveux, G & Leeke, GA 2016, . in ECCM 2016 - Proceeding of the 17th European Conference on Composite Materials. European Society for Composite Materials, 17th European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM 2016, Munich, Germany, 26/06/16.

Paper

Keith, M, Leeke, G & Ingram, A 2017, '', Paper presented at 21st International Conference on Composite Materials, Xi'an, China, 20/08/17 - 25/08/17.

Keith, MJ, Ingram, A & Leeke, G 2017, '', Paper presented at 21st International Conference on Composite Materials, Xi'an, China, 20/08/17 - 25/08/17. <>

Review article

Dickinson-Lomas, A, Keith, M, Brown, D & Jenkins, M 2025, '', Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol. 215, 108113.

Keith, M, Koller, M & Lackner, M 2024, '', Polymers, vol. 16, no. 12, 1621.