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Activity Funded

Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials

Laboratório de Processos de Separação e Reacção - Laboratório de Catálise e Materiais

Reference
UIDP/50020/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Programático

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes LSRE-LCM is a leading national R&D Unit in the field of Chemical Engineering and has achieved international recognition in many areas. Its activities have strong impact in the development of the scientific and technological system, not only through its scientific production reflected by its outputs, but also in technology transfer to the industrial sector reflected by the creation of spin-offs and contracts with industry. In 2018-2022 LSRE-LCM aims to strengthen its leading position, opening new interfaces into other fields such as bio-based and natural products, nanotechnology and synthetic fuels. Research is strongly based on previously acquired competences by the 4 Research Groups. CYCLIC ADSORPTION/REACTION PROCESSES. The goal of this group is the development of innovative cyclic separation technologies (PSA, SMB, ESA) applied to challenging or novel industrial separations and through process intensification, combining reaction and separation (PSAR, SMBR, PermSMBR), reduce plant footprint and production cost, and promote industry economic competitiveness. Main research areas are: Cyclic Adsorption Processes; Process Intensification. PRODUCT ENGINEERING. The goal of this group is centred on the development of more efficient and environmentally sustainable processes and products, with an industrial-driven perspective focusing on end-use technologies and high added-value products by means of existing know-how and capacities in emergent fields of research, with emphasis on product technology transfer to industry. Main research areas are: Mixing in Chemical Reactors; Micro/Nano Structured Materials; Agro-Food-Bio Valorisation; Perfume engineering; Polymer Engineering; CFD and Process Simulation. THERMODYNAMICS& ENVIRONMENT. This group aims at: development of applied thermodynamics for separation problems using green technologies; characterization of new biotech solvents; measurement/modelling of thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria; efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies for pollution abatement, waste reuse, recycling and valorization; water quality and water pollution studies. Major research areas are: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Water Management, Processes for Pollution Control; Waste Reuse, Recycling and Valorization. CATALYSIS AND CARBON MATERIALS. Activities of this group are strongly focused (but not limited to) on the intersection of the fields of Catalysis and Carbon Materials and aim at the development of: nanosized/nanostructured porous carbons with tuned properties; catalysts for air pollution control, biomass conversion, and synthesis of high added value products; catalysts/membranes for water purification/cleaning and wastewater treatment; semiconductor photocatalysts; electrocatalysts and carbon electrodes for energy conversion and storage. Main research areas are: Nanostructured Carbon Materials; Catalysis& Photocatalysis; Technologies in Environment and Sustainability; Energy, Fuels & Chemicals. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation The main scientific goals for each Research Group are: CYCLIC ADSORPTION/REACTION PROCESS Plans aim at strengthening leading position in model-based development of cyclic adsorption processes combining in-house modelling/simulation expertise and experimental set-ups (SMB gas/liquid phase, PSA, ESA, TSA, parametric pumping, expanded bed adsorption, membrane permeation, PermSMBR, supercritical chromatography/reaction). New capabilities will be explored, e.g. shaping of materials, 3D printing, and extreme condition processes. Separation processes will focus on difficult/new bulk separations, separations from diluted streams and impurity removal: olefins/paraffins separation by PSA/SMB with novel adsorbents; hexane isomers separations with MOFs by PSA/gas-phase SMB; nitrogen/monomers separations; CO2 capture with binderless zeolites or new structured composites by PTSA/ESA; syngas separation/H2 purification by PSA/cryogenic adsorption; SMB separation for glycerol valorisation; SMB control; high temperature/pressure SMB separations; expanded bed adsorption and gradient SMB separation of proteins; thermal parametric pumping for aniline industry process water purification and streams. Process intensification will focus on: supercritical SMBR for synthesis of solketal; SMBR and PermSMBR of valuable commodity synthesis; hybrid processes for xylenes isomerization/separation; PSAR for Water Gas Shift; gas-phase SMBR for oxidative dehydrogenation of light alkanes and oxidative coupling of methane for light olefins production; continuous electrocoagulation/microfiltration hybrid processes for drinking water purification. PRODUCT ENGINEERING Research work will draw from know-how and expertise acquired in specific topics, focusing on development of more efficient and environmentally sustainable processes and products in each main area. Mixing in Chemical Reactors: Simulation methodologies for chemical reactors bridging micromixing and reactor scales; NETmix based CO2 capture processes and synthetic fuels production. Micro/Nano Structured Materials: Encapsulation systems for protection and controlled release of active agents, e.g. Pickering emulsions and emulgels; Continuous processes for industrial production of these materials. Agro-Food-Bio Valorisation: Purification of compounds in the final evaporation/crystallization step of the V/S production process; New lignin derivate products, e.g. dicarboxylic acids, for renewable source monomers production. Perfume engineering: Understand evaporation of perfumes from different matrices; Assess skin absorption effect on perfume evaporation; Increase perfume life-time by microencapsulation; Develop a Flavour/Taste engineering methodology. Polymer Engineering: Reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) mechanisms to tailor structure and properties; Sustainable polymer materials from agro-industrial residues. CFD and Process Simulation: Bring CFD simulation expertise into local industries. THERMODYNAMICS& ENVIRONMENT Thermodynamics activities will focus on: Synthesis of ionic liquids with lower environmental impact based on choline cation and amino acids or carbohydrates as anions, for separation and purification of e.g. flavonoids, amino acids, vitamins; Characterization of new ionic liquids measuring their thermophysical properties; Study of new ATPS containing biodegradable polymers/ionic liquids and non-toxic salts (citrates, tartrates) for partitioning of biomolecules, e.g. vitamins; Studyof vitamins solubility in different aqueous systems; Modelling of thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria using a PC-SAFT equation of state. Environment activities will focus on development of: Multistage leachates treatment from sulphur rich hazardous waste landfills; Photocatalytic/photoelectrocatalytic membrane reactors, with oxidants addition (H2O2/Ozone) for elimination of recalcitrant pollutants; Ozonation microreactors for pre-oxidation of drinking water, disinfection of swimming pool water, decontamination of waters from recirculating aquaculture systems and air; Photocatalytic/photoelectrocatalytic microreactors for car exhaust gas treatment and for synthesis of high value organic chemicals; Optimized reflective surface material and geometry of sunlight collectors for microalgae production; As and Sb removal from waters using iron-coated cork and tannin-adsorbents; Tannin-materials for precious metals recovery from hydrometallurgical liquors. CATALYSIS AND CARBON MATERIALS Planned research will be organized in three areas, subdivided in three projects. Each project addresses various topics, strengthening the most significant achievements of the preceding period, and opening up new applications. Nanostructured Carbon Materials: Carbon materials with tuned properties; Carbon materials for catalysis; Advanced functional materials. We will focus on nanostructured carbons with tuned texture and surface chemistry, based on the recently developed methodologies for synthesis of hierarchical porous carbons and for heteroatom-doping. Environmental Technologies and Sustainability: Advanced Oxidation Processes; Catalytic Technologies for Water and Air Cleaning; Water Desalination and Purification. Removal of organic micropollutants will be addressed, taking advantage of the recently installed Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph with Mass Spectrometry, and the development of carbon-based catalytic membranes for water treatment, desalination and purification. Energy, Fuels& Chemicals: Solar fuels and chemicals; Electrochemical technologies for energy conversion and storage; Biomass conversion into fuels and chemicals. This is a recent area of research focused on the photocatalytic production of solar fuels and valuable chemicals, development of electrocatalysts for Fuel Cells and Electrolysers, electrodes for energy storage in supercapacitors, and selective catalysts and photocatalysts for biomass conversion into high added-value products.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade do Porto Laboratório de Processos de Separação e Reacção Laboratório de Catálise e Materiais (UP LSRE-LCM)
  • Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Engenharia (FEUP)

Other Institutions

  • Universidade de Leiria e Oeste (ULO)

Funding 525.000,00 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

525.000,00 €