Lots of work has been carried out during the first 36 months of the project by all the partners.
In WP1, the requirements and parameters for the photocatalysts and for both PCFR1 and PCFR2 were defined. Moreover, Leitat tried to increase the solubility of CO2 in water, because of the results obtained, it was decided to work in “wet” CO2 for the rest of the project.
In WP2, NUIG has been working on the synthesis and optimisation of 2D-COF catalysts achieving different options that will be tested in the following months to select the best one and test it in the real NEFERTITI system. This synthesis takes more than 10 steps and thus, results in low yields. Nevertheless, the catalyst can be obtained in very high purity. During the last months, the anchoring of this catalyst has also been studied and will be ready soon for the final tests. Different strategies based on metal-glass interactions have been selected. Moreover, light harvesting systems have been developed and will be optimized in the following months (LSC and lens system).
Regarding the synthesis of alcohols from CO and H2 in WP3, PKU has been working on the development of more than 5 different types of photocatalysts, including different metals such as Ni, Ti, Fe, Rh, Cu, Mn, Li among others. Finally, a Rh based catalyst was selected as the best option for the reaction, achieving c2+ alcohols in more than 35-40% selectivity. In the same way as WP2, different techniques for the anchoring of the catalyst were studied and the results will be obtained in the following months. The light harvesting systems in this case were the same ones that were found in WP2.
In WP4, UBU has been working on the development of a CFD model to help in the scaling up process and try to optimise the big scale system. In addition, SOCAR started with the conditioning of their facilities to test the big scale system in the following months. In parallel, Leitat is studying the water/ethanol purification through a previously synthetized membrane using pervaporation technique.
In parallel to the experimental results, a toxicological evaluation of the materials used was developed in WP5 by UBU. In addition, LCA and human and environmental assessment will be finished in the following months.
In WP6, STRATA together with Leitat has developed all the communication and dissemination material of the project, including the roll-up, the leaflet and the diptics. Moreover, the website of the project has been developed.
The project was disseminated through conferences and workshops, and it was exploited by means of scientific publications.
Finally, all the project has been coordinated by Leitat through WP7. Among other activities, regular meetings were held online to share and discuss the results with all the partners. Moreover, hybrid meetings were held every 6 months.
