From waste to value-added products: sustainable catalytic valorization of waste materials

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Energy and environmental issues are key concerns today. The usage of fossil fuels has expanded fast to meet the enormous energy demands, resulting in a significant detrimental impact on the environment. The use of fossil fuels for energy generation accounts for around one-third of all anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Furthermore, several industrial activities (oil refineries, cement plants, iron and steel industry, and aluminium manufacturing) release massive volumes of CO2 into the atmosphere on a yearly basis. As sustainable alternatives, one can mention substitute fuels (e.g., hydrogen or renewables) and carbon capture and sequestration. First, conversion of biomass (abundant, clean, and renewable) is considered one of the promising hydrogen production approaches. Second, as capture leads to almost pure CO2, viewing CO2 as a resource rather than a waste, its conversion into value-added compounds (including alternative fuels) offers an attractive and efficient alternative to CO2 storage via chemical recycling. A potential utilization of 1300 to 4800 MtCO2/year to produce valuable chemicals and alternative fuels is anticipated by 2050. The development of intensified catalytic processes with high efficiency is essential from both an environmental and an economic standpoint. This research programme is aimed at combining the valorization of various types of waste materials into value-added products in the context of environmental protection, sustainable development, and energy crisis management. Because this research programme focuses on different aspects of environmental engineering, all students involved in different projects will have the opportunity to interact with each other and share their knowledge, skills, and talents. They will be trained in important research fields such as catalysis, industrial residue/waste valorisation, and CO2 chemical recycling into high-value products, preparing them for careers in academic, research, and industrial area.