R&D internship
the break fluid internship
Imane Lamkhantach, bioscience engineering student – Catalytic Technology major at KU Leuven, did an internship in the R&D department at Proviron.
In addition to her interests in chemistry and sustainability, Imane appreciates life’s simple moments, like spending time with friends and family, going for walks, and exploring new places. With her ever-inquisitive scientific mindset, she is always up for a challenge. Next year, she will begin her thesis year.
My internship at Proviron gave me a much better idea of what working in industrial R&D looks like. It strengthened my interest in chemistry, sustainability and process optimisation.
Imane Lamkhantach
Can you tell us something about your internship?
During my internship at Proviron, I had the opportunity to work in the R&D department on the recycling and purification of brake fluids. I worked on two main projects. The first project focused on the decolorization of recycled brake fluid. The second project was about testing and evaluating a continuous setup.
I performed many laboratory experiments and used several analytical techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, HPLC, gas chromatography, Karl Fischer titrations, turbidity measurements and colorimetric analyses. I also processed and interpreted a lot of experimental data and discussed the results with my supervisors.
I learned many new practical skills, but I also learned that research does not always go as planned. Sometimes experiments give unexpected results, and those results can teach you just as much as the successful ones.
How did you learn about Proviron and how did you end up doing an internship?
I shared my interests in chemistry, sustainability and industrial R&D with one of my professors. He thought that Proviron would be a good match for me and suggested the company.
After reading more about Proviron and the projects they work on, I became very interested, especially because they combine chemistry with sustainability and process optimisation. From my first conversations with the company, I had a very good feeling, and I was excited to start my internship there.
How was your experience at Proviron?
My experience at Proviron was honestly very positive. From the first day, everyone was very welcoming and willing to help me. Even though I was only an intern, I felt like part of the team. I always felt comfortable asking questions and sharing my ideas.
I especially enjoyed seeing how different people in the company work together, from operators and researchers to managers and directors. It gave me a much better understanding of how industrial R&D works in real life.
Which funny anecdote will you remember for sure?
I will definitely remember the time when I accidentally threw away the magnetic stir bar together with my sample. I would hear a loud ‘plonk’ in the waste bin and immediately realise what I had done. Luckily, we had a long magnet to get it back out again.
And you might think I learned my lesson after the first time… but no. It happened four times during my internship! At least by the end of my internship, I became very good at fishing magnetic stir bars out of the bin.
If this testimonial was a time capsule, what would you definitely put in?
I would put one of the small bottles with differently coloured brake fluids in the time capsule. For me, those bottles represent my whole internship: experimenting, sometimes failing, learning new things and finally seeing the difference that small changes can make.
And maybe I would also put my laboratory notebook inside, because it contains four months of experiments, ideas, mistakes and many valuable lessons.
My internship at Proviron gave me a much better idea of what working in industrial R&D looks like. It strengthened my interest in chemistry, sustainability and process optimisation. I am very grateful for this experience and for all the people at Proviron who helped me during these four months.
Thank you, Proviron!
Imane