Intensified processes for catalytic recycling of waste products

重要的废物在不同的工业过程中不断产生。甘油和二氧化碳是其中的两种成分，不仅产量很大，而且预计在未来几十年还会增长。甘油是生物柴油生产过程中的主要副产物。每生产一吨生物柴油可生产约100公斤甘油。强烈的能源需求以及生物柴油在世界能源矩阵中的作用日益增加，逐渐增加了甘油的产量，并导致其在全球市场上供过于求。二氧化碳被认为是造成全球气候变化的主要因素。在所有人为排放的二氧化碳中，约有三分之一来自用于发电的化石燃料。此外，各种工业过程（炼油厂、水泥厂、钢铁部门和铝生产）每年向大气中排放大量的二氧化碳。****通过创新技术实现甘油增值的有希望的方法是强化过程耦合其与二氧化碳捕获的转换或使用太阳能。由于捕集过程导致几乎纯的二氧化碳流准备好进一步使用或封存，通过将二氧化碳视为资源而不是废物，其转化为含氧化合物（如替代燃料，如二甲醚，具有高能量效率和低排放的柴油的潜在替代品）是化学回收CO2封存的有趣且有效的替代方案。由于转化率低、产品收率低和选择性低，传统工艺的应用还不能在工业上得到接受。因此，从环境和经济的角度来看，开发高转化率的选择性催化工艺是必不可少的。该研究项目旨在通过强化催化过程将甘油和二氧化碳转化为高价值产品。我们的长期研究计划是通过强化催化过程将甘油和二氧化碳转化为增值产品。未来5年的短期研究计划将分为三个方向：强化蒸汽甘油重整制氢，强化光催化过程将甘油增值为增值产品，以及强化催化转化将二氧化碳增值为甲醇和二甲醚。****由于研究项目针对与环境工程相关的不同方面，所有参与不同项目的学生（4名博士，2名硕士和6名本科生）将有机会相互交流，分享他们的经验和技能。他们将接受重要研究领域的培训，如气体分离、工业残留物/废物增值、二氧化碳化学回收、氢气和高价值产品的生产、催化，从而为学术、研究和工业领域的就业市场做好准备

Important wastes are continuously produced in different industrial processes. Glycerol and carbon dioxide are among the components produced not only in very large amounts but which are expected to grow in coming decades. Glycerol is the main by-product of bio-diesel production process. Approximately 100 kg of glycerol is obtained for each ton of bio-diesel. Intense energy demand as well as increased role of biodiesel in the world energy matrix progressively increased glycerol production and caused its oversupply at the global market. CO2 is considered to have a major contribution to the global climate change. About one third of all anthropogenic CO2 emissions come from fossil fuels used for energy generation. In addition, various industrial processes (oil refineries, cement works, iron & steel sector and aluminum production) annually emit huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.****Promising approaches for glycerol valorization by innovative technologies are intensified process coupling its conversion with CO2 capture or using solar energy. As the capture process leads to almost pure CO2 flow ready for further use or sequestration, by considering CO2 as a resource instead of a waste, its conversion into oxygenated compounds (like alternative fuels such as dimethyl ether, a potential alternative to Diesel with high energetic efficiency and low emissions) is an interesting and efficient alternative to CO2 sequestration by chemical recycling. The application of conventional processes is not yet industrially acceptable due to the low conversions, product yield and selectivity. Thereby, development of a selective catalytic process with high conversion is essential from both of environmental and economic points of view. This research program is directed towards glycerol and CO2 valorization to high value products by intensified catalytic processes. Our long-term research program is directed towards glycerol and CO2 valorization to value-added products by intensified catalytic processes. The short-term research program for the next five years will be divided into three directions: H2 production by intensified steam glycerol reforming, glycerol valorization into value-added products by an intensified photocatalytic process, and CO2 valorization to methanol and dimethyl ether by intensified catalytic conversion.****As the research program is directed towards different aspects related to environmental engineering, all students involved in different projects (4 PhD, 2 MSc and 6 undergraduate) will have the opportunity to interact with each other and share their experience and their skills with one another. They will be trained in important research areas such as gas separations, industrial residues/waste valorization, CO2 chemical recycling, production of hydrogen and high-value products, catalysis, thus preparing them for the job market in both academic, research and industrial areas.***