The Project is divided into 7 Work Packages (WP):
- WP1 deals with the study and optimisation of challenging catalytic reactions in synthesis reactors, focusing on the design, modification and/or optimisation of catalysts and catalytic reactions to match with the requirements of the membrane separation processes studied in WP2.
- WP2 and 3 deal with the study of the membrane processes, in single-step, cascades or hybrid systems, applied to the complex media studied in WP1. The membrane processes in study are organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN), membrane distillation (MD) and/or pervaporation (PV).
- WP4 deals with the theoretical and conceptual design of a sustainable production process using membrane separation processes applied to homogeneously catalysed reactions.
- WP5, 6 and 7 are related to the communication, dissemination, network-wide trainings, events organisation, and management of the Project.
To avoid repetition, the details on the progress of each WP are given in Section 1 of the Technical Report 1 Part B. Briefly in this summary, the main achievements are:
- All doctoral candidates (DCs) have been successfully recruited and started their PhD study, with the last ones starting in June 2024.
- The Consortium Agreement have been signed in May 2025.
- Joint Doctorate Agreements have been signed for 11 of 13 DCs, with delay for the remaining 2 DCs whose agreements have to be signed between universities in Torun (Poland) and Lisbon (Portugal). The details are given in Sectioni 1.2.7 of Technical Report 1 Part B.
- Initial results demonstrate that the scientific progress of the project is on track, with only deviations for 3 DCs (detailed in Section 5, Technical Report 1 Part B) which do not affect the overall objectives of the project.
- In WP1, reaction pathways were identified for all the reactions. Some taget compounds were already successfully synthesized with good conversion rate (mostly 100%) and repeatability (mostly 95%). Catalysts have also been modified by molecularly enlarging techniques to be suitable for membrane separation purpose. The major challenges in this WP, which will be addressed in the second part of the project, are the optimisation of the reactions to achieve better yield and the purification of the target products. Also in this WP, the reaction media created by DCs working in WP1 are supplied to DCs working in WP2 for membrane separation experiments.
- In WP2 and 3, commercial OSN membranes have been tested and selected to fit the requirements of the project. Most filtration experiments were performed on single-step mode on individual model compounds (either lab made or commercial) with fewer experiments on actual reaction mixtures (due to the limit in volume), which will be rolled out in the second period. So far, good rejections (more than 90%) have been obtained and agreement between the filtration behavior of the model compounds and real mixtures has been demonstrated, paving the way for a successful second part of the study.
- In WP4, bibliographical study was conducted by all DCs (compiled in Deliverable 4.1) and constant exchanges between the DCs have occurred during their daily research tasks as well as during the meetings and summer schools of the network. The DCs were also divided into groups working on dedicated topics, ensuring a success delivery of the WP.
- All DCs have also received complementary skill trainings, both theoretical and practical, during the 3 summer schools successfully held by the network, with a 4th one planned in 2026.
