Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VALZEO (Valorisation of agro-industrial waste to obtain zeolite-based composite materials and their use in environmental remediation and biofuel production)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-01-01 al 2024-12-31
Globally, 750 million tons of rice husks (RH) are produced annually, generating significant volumes of rice husk ash (RHA). Improper disposal of RHA causes pollution, health risks, and wastes high-silicon by-products. VALZEO transforms RHA into zeolite-based composite materials for environmental and energy applications. Persistent pollutants like pharmaceuticals, pesticides, dyes, and heavy metals contaminate water, threatening ecosystems and public health. Current water treatment systems struggle to address these pollutants. VALZEO employs advanced photocatalysis using zeolitic materials to degrade pollutants, contributing to SDG 6 and the EU Green Deal.
Increasing CO2 emissions highlight the need for clean energy alternatives. Waste cooking oil (WCO), a by-product of vegetable oil consumption, offers a sustainable biodiesel source. VALZEO develops cost-efficient zeolitic catalysts to convert WCO into biodiesel, supporting SDG 7 and EU renewable energy goals. The project addresses pollution and energy challenges by integrating expertise to promote a circular economy and boost EU competitiveness.
Objectives:
1. Develop zeolite-based materials for water remediation and biodiesel production.
2. Use photocatalysis to degrade pollutants with sunlight.
3. Create affordable catalysts for biodiesel production.
4. Transform agro-industrial waste into valuable products.
5. Enhance research capacity and collaboration through international partnerships.
6. Engage stakeholders to scale VALZEO technologies effectively.
Impact:
• Environmental: Reduce pollution and restore ecosystems.
• Economic: Drive RHA market growth and foster innovation.
• Social: Provide scalable water and energy solutions.
• Policy: Support the EU Green Deal, SDGs, and Circular Economy Strategy.
• Collaboration: Strengthen partnerships and promote open science.
Increasing CO2 emissions highlight the need for clean energy alternatives. Waste cooking oil (WCO), a by-product of vegetable oil consumption, offers a sustainable biodiesel source. VALZEO develops cost-efficient zeolitic catalysts to convert WCO into biodiesel, supporting SDG 7 and EU renewable energy goals. The project addresses pollution and energy challenges by integrating expertise to promote a circular economy and boost EU competitiveness.
Objectives:
1. Develop zeolite-based materials for water remediation and biodiesel production.
2. Use photocatalysis to degrade pollutants with sunlight.
3. Create affordable catalysts for biodiesel production.
4. Transform agro-industrial waste into valuable products.
5. Enhance research capacity and collaboration through international partnerships.
6. Engage stakeholders to scale VALZEO technologies effectively.
Impact:
• Environmental: Reduce pollution and restore ecosystems.
• Economic: Drive RHA market growth and foster innovation.
• Social: Provide scalable water and energy solutions.
• Policy: Support the EU Green Deal, SDGs, and Circular Economy Strategy.
• Collaboration: Strengthen partnerships and promote open science.
Development and Synthesis of Composite Materials
• Activities: Produced hierarchical zeolites modified with MONs and MOFs, optimizing synthesis for enhanced porosity and catalytic performance. Characterized materials using SEM, TEM, XRD, and BET analysis.
• Achievements: Synthesized zeolite-based composites with superior adsorption capacities and enhanced photocatalytic activity. Improved pollutant degradation and biodiesel production efficiency through MON and MOF integration.
Characterization and Valorization of RHA
• Activities: Conducted chemical and structural analysis of RHA for silica extraction. Optimized protocols to maximize silicon yield and purity.
• Achievements: Extracted high-purity silica, validating RHA as a sustainable feedstock for zeolite synthesis. Developed scalable RHA utilization processes, supporting circular economy goals.
Removal of Organic Pollutants
• Activities: Tested materials for adsorption and photodegradation of pollutants (pharmaceuticals, pesticides, dyes). Optimized photocatalytic processes.
• Achievements: Achieved high removal efficiencies for recalcitrant pollutants, validating the materials' potential for water treatment. Enhanced photocatalytic activity of zeolites combined with MONs and MOFs.
Heterogeneous Catalysis for Biodiesel
• Activities: Developed and tested zeolite-based catalysts for converting WCO into biodiesel, evaluating reaction efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Achievements: Developed cost-efficient catalysts, significantly improving biodiesel production efficiency and reducing costs, enhancing biodiesel as a competitive renewable energy source.
• Activities: Produced hierarchical zeolites modified with MONs and MOFs, optimizing synthesis for enhanced porosity and catalytic performance. Characterized materials using SEM, TEM, XRD, and BET analysis.
• Achievements: Synthesized zeolite-based composites with superior adsorption capacities and enhanced photocatalytic activity. Improved pollutant degradation and biodiesel production efficiency through MON and MOF integration.
Characterization and Valorization of RHA
• Activities: Conducted chemical and structural analysis of RHA for silica extraction. Optimized protocols to maximize silicon yield and purity.
• Achievements: Extracted high-purity silica, validating RHA as a sustainable feedstock for zeolite synthesis. Developed scalable RHA utilization processes, supporting circular economy goals.
Removal of Organic Pollutants
• Activities: Tested materials for adsorption and photodegradation of pollutants (pharmaceuticals, pesticides, dyes). Optimized photocatalytic processes.
• Achievements: Achieved high removal efficiencies for recalcitrant pollutants, validating the materials' potential for water treatment. Enhanced photocatalytic activity of zeolites combined with MONs and MOFs.
Heterogeneous Catalysis for Biodiesel
• Activities: Developed and tested zeolite-based catalysts for converting WCO into biodiesel, evaluating reaction efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Achievements: Developed cost-efficient catalysts, significantly improving biodiesel production efficiency and reducing costs, enhancing biodiesel as a competitive renewable energy source.
Results
1. Advanced Materials: Developed zeolite-based composites with MONs/MOFs for pollutant removal via photocatalysis and biodiesel production from WCO.
2. RHA Valorization: Optimized silica extraction from RHA, transforming waste into valuable feedstock, supporting the circular economy.
3. Water Treatment: Achieved efficient removal of persistent pollutants with sunlight-driven photocatalysis, offering scalable water remediation solutions.
4. Renewable Energy: Developed cost-effective catalysts for biodiesel production, improving efficiency and reducing costs.
5. Knowledge Sharing: Enhanced expertise through collaboration, promoting knowledge exchange among researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers.
Potential Impacts
1. Environmental: Addressed SDG 6 with innovative water treatment and SDG 7 by reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Economic: Boosted EU competitiveness in water and biofuel sectors, creating markets for RHA and biodiesel catalysts.
3. Policy: Advanced the EU Green Deal and Circular Economy Strategy, promoting renewable energy and decarbonization.
4. Social: Improved public health by addressing water pollution and created jobs in RHA processing and biodiesel production.
Key Needs for Further Uptake
1. Research: Refine material properties and study pollutant degradation pathways.
2. Demonstration: Expand pilot tests and collaborate with end-users to validate scalability.
3. Market Access: Engage investors and secure funding for commercialization.
4. Commercialization: Protect IP with patents and develop business plans.
5. Internationalization: Strengthen collaborations and expand to emerging markets.
6. Regulation: Include VALZEO technologies in EU standards and monitor compliance.
7. Stakeholder Engagement: Foster partnerships, expand outreach, and educate on VALZEO’s benefits.
1. Advanced Materials: Developed zeolite-based composites with MONs/MOFs for pollutant removal via photocatalysis and biodiesel production from WCO.
2. RHA Valorization: Optimized silica extraction from RHA, transforming waste into valuable feedstock, supporting the circular economy.
3. Water Treatment: Achieved efficient removal of persistent pollutants with sunlight-driven photocatalysis, offering scalable water remediation solutions.
4. Renewable Energy: Developed cost-effective catalysts for biodiesel production, improving efficiency and reducing costs.
5. Knowledge Sharing: Enhanced expertise through collaboration, promoting knowledge exchange among researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers.
Potential Impacts
1. Environmental: Addressed SDG 6 with innovative water treatment and SDG 7 by reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Economic: Boosted EU competitiveness in water and biofuel sectors, creating markets for RHA and biodiesel catalysts.
3. Policy: Advanced the EU Green Deal and Circular Economy Strategy, promoting renewable energy and decarbonization.
4. Social: Improved public health by addressing water pollution and created jobs in RHA processing and biodiesel production.
Key Needs for Further Uptake
1. Research: Refine material properties and study pollutant degradation pathways.
2. Demonstration: Expand pilot tests and collaborate with end-users to validate scalability.
3. Market Access: Engage investors and secure funding for commercialization.
4. Commercialization: Protect IP with patents and develop business plans.
5. Internationalization: Strengthen collaborations and expand to emerging markets.
6. Regulation: Include VALZEO technologies in EU standards and monitor compliance.
7. Stakeholder Engagement: Foster partnerships, expand outreach, and educate on VALZEO’s benefits.