Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ELOBIO (ELectrOlysis of BIOmass)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31
The long-term vision of the ELOBIO project is the large-scale production of green hydrogen from renewable cellulosic biomass in fully integrated biorefineries with a circular bio-economy approach from the biomass supplier up to the final bio-products and green hydrogen. The ELOBIO consortium aims to answer the challenge “Novel routes to green hydrogen production” by advancing biomass electrolysis as a novel technological means of green H2 production. The project targets the assembly of a functional electrolyser capable of simultaneously producing pure green H2 and value-added decarbonized chemicals from renewable lignocellulosic biomass, including lignocellulosic from wood/forestry and residues from agriculture, with low energy input (technology transfer from TRL 1 to 4). These electrolysis cell prototypes comprise a selective cathode for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and an anode capable of selectively oxidizing aldose-type sugars (xylose and glucose) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), which can be extracted after primary refining of the cellulosic material available from the abundant biomass feedstock worldwide. Combined, these molecules constitute an appropriate representative model to demonstrate the conceptual electrocatalytic valorization of biomass with cogeneration of pure green H2, with a view to extending it to a broader range of chemicals derived from lignocellulosic biomass treatment. Furthermore, critical materials such as platinum group metals, cobalt, or polymeric membranes are banned from consideration.
The ELOBIO consortium has determined the operating conditions for the future ELOBIO electrolyzers. These conditions enable the combination of good electrical conductivity, a mild pH value, stability of biomass molecules and a reduced carbon footprint.
A library of scalable synthesis methods was employed to craft Ni-based anode materials. The electrochemical properties of this initial series of catalysts were investigated using a test protocol established to standardize experiments among partners. Promising initial results (> 10 mA/cm² at < 1.5 V) were obtained for Ni-supported on carbon. DFT results, coupled with the development of the first validated microkinetic model for HMF-electrooxidation on standard electrodes, will lead to further optimization of catalysts for the electrooxidation of glucose and HMF. In parallel, Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) cathode materials based on non-critical materials were prepared and tested. Good HER performances have already been achieved with Mo-based electrodes.
A small-scale technical flow electrochemical cell has been designed, constructed, and tested. This cell will be utilized in the coming months to determine the key parameters of the prototype electrolysis cell.
The goal and scope of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) study were defined. The data collection process for the Life Cycle Inventory was identified, initialised and started. Due to the incomplete identification of all processes in the existing literature, novel approaches for data generation will be applied and developed. These approaches could contribute to method development in the field of sustainability assessment of early-stage technologies.
A library of scalable synthesis methods was employed to craft Ni-based anode materials. The electrochemical properties of this initial series of catalysts were investigated using a test protocol established to standardize experiments among partners. Promising initial results (> 10 mA/cm² at < 1.5 V) were obtained for Ni-supported on carbon. DFT results, coupled with the development of the first validated microkinetic model for HMF-electrooxidation on standard electrodes, will lead to further optimization of catalysts for the electrooxidation of glucose and HMF. In parallel, Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) cathode materials based on non-critical materials were prepared and tested. Good HER performances have already been achieved with Mo-based electrodes.
A small-scale technical flow electrochemical cell has been designed, constructed, and tested. This cell will be utilized in the coming months to determine the key parameters of the prototype electrolysis cell.
The goal and scope of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) study were defined. The data collection process for the Life Cycle Inventory was identified, initialised and started. Due to the incomplete identification of all processes in the existing literature, novel approaches for data generation will be applied and developed. These approaches could contribute to method development in the field of sustainability assessment of early-stage technologies.
The results achieved during the first year of the project are expected to pave the way for the development of active, stable, and selectively non-critical anode and cathode materials. The economic impacts associated with this scientific impact include a potential reduction of energy costs for hydrogen production by 1€ kgH2-1 and the anticipated profit for the targeted decarbonized chemical platforms (FDCA, gluconic and glucaric acids, xylonic and xylaric acids), ranging from 20 to 90 €/kg H2.