RII Track-2 FEC. Collaborative Research and Education on Synergized Transformational Solar Chemical Looping and Photo-Ultrasonic Renewable Biomass Refinery

非技术描述将生物质转化为能量的方法包括在有氧气的情况下燃烧（燃烧），在控制氧气和/或蒸汽量的高温下反应（气化），以及在没有氧气的情况下在高温下分解（热解）。该项目侧重于生物质热解生产燃料和生物炭，然后对生物炭进行化学改性，用于二氧化碳捕获、水净化和食品生产等相关应用。该项目是跨学科的，由三个州的四个机构（杰克逊州立大学、密西西比大学、特拉华大学和怀俄明大学）合作完成。该项目旨在通过与该地区的少数民族服务机构（msi）合作，雇用和指导早期职业教师和博士后，以及培训研究生和本科生，使劳动力多样化。技术描述本项目利用太阳能化学催化和蒸汽热解，旨在从生物质（如玉米秸秆）中生产液体燃料和增值生物炭。目标是开发生物质精炼厂的技术，使其产生净零或负二氧化碳排放。该项目将实验工作与基于密度泛函理论（DFT）的计算相结合，以更好地理解化学循环能源生产系统中的热力学、动力学和输运。生物炭的光化学、超声化学和功能化将使用石墨烯相关的纳米结构，并使二氧化碳捕获和利用、水净化和土壤质量改善成为可能。该项目是跨学科的，涉及生物质转化的科学和工程问题，将有助于材料化学、多相催化和反应理论的进步。每个合作机构都带来了互补的研究专长，并将在食品、能源和水相关领域聘请新的教师。该项目旨在通过与该地区少数民族服务机构、国家实验室以及其他国家和国际机构建立伙伴关系，使劳动力多样化。

Non-technical descriptionMethods to convert biomass into energy involve burning in the presence of oxygen (combustion), reaction at high temperature with controlled amount of oxygen and /or steam (gasification), and decomposition at elevated temperature in the absence of oxygen (pyrolysis). This project focuses on biomass pyrolysis to produce fuels and biochar and then chemically modify biochar for use in applications related to carbon dioxide capture, water purification, and food production. The project is interdisciplinary and is a collaboration among four institutions (Jackson State University, University of Mississippi, University of Delaware, and the University of Wyoming) in three states. The project aims to diversify the workforce through partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in the region, hiring and mentoring of early career faculty and postdoctoral fellows, and training of graduate and undergraduate students.Technical descriptionUsing solar energy with chemical catalysis and steam pyrolysis, this project aims to produce liquid fuels and value-added biochar from biomass (e.g. corn stover). The goal is to develop technologies for biomass refineries that produce net zero or negative CO2 emission. The project combines experimental work with computations based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) to better understand the thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport in the chemical looping energy production system. The photochemical and ultrasonic chemistry and functionalization of biochar will use graphene related nanostructures and enable technologies for CO2 capture and utilization, water purification, and soil quality improvement. The project is interdisciplinary and addresses science and engineering issues in biomass conversion and will contribute to advances in materials chemistry, heterogeneous catalysis, and reaction theories. Each of the collaborating institutions brings complementary expertise in research and will hire new faculty in the areas related to Food, Energy, and Water. The project seeks to diversify the workforce through partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions in the region, national laboratories, and other national and international institutions.