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

能源和环境问题是当今的主要关注点。为了满足巨大的能源需求，化石燃料的使用迅速扩大，对环境造成了严重的不利影响。使用化石燃料发电约占所有人为二氧化碳排放量的三分之一。此外，一些工业活动（炼油厂、水泥厂、钢铁工业和铝制造业）每年向大气中释放大量的二氧化碳。作为可持续的替代品，人们可以提到替代燃料（例如，氢或可再生能源）和碳捕获和封存。首先，生物质转化（丰富、清洁、可再生）被认为是有前途的制氢方法之一。其次，由于捕集会产生几乎纯的二氧化碳，将二氧化碳视为一种资源而不是废物，将其转化为增值化合物（包括替代燃料），通过化学回收提供了一种有吸引力且有效的替代二氧化碳储存的方法。预计到2050年，生产有价值的化学品和替代燃料的潜在利用率将达到1300至48亿吨二氧化碳/年。从环境和经济的角度来看，高效强化催化过程的发展是必不可少的。这项研究方案的目的是在环境保护、可持续发展和能源危机管理的范围内，将各种废物的价值转化为增值产品。由于这项研究计划侧重于环境工程的不同方面，所有参与不同项目的学生将有机会相互交流，分享他们的知识，技能和才能。他们将接受重要研究领域的培训，如催化、工业残渣/废物增值、二氧化碳化学回收成高价值产品，为他们在学术、研究和工业领域的职业生涯做好准备。

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.