Project description
Ionic liquid-based catalytic systems for plastic waste valorisation
Plastics used on a daily basis create an enormous amount of waste, putting a huge strain on the environment and living species. However, less than 9 % of the plastic is recycled. There are different ways to valorise plastic waste (PW), but not all are economically viable. The search for a source of decarbonised and low-cost energy is also of paramount importance. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the WASTE2H2 project will address two important challenges affecting our society and the planet's sustainability: the smart management of the PW yearly produced and the generation of efficient, low-cost and decarbonised energy. In tackling both challenges, WASTE2H2 proposes a cost efficient process combining ionic liquid-based catalytic systems with microwave irradiation to selectively produce clean H2 and valuable carbon materials from PW.
Objective
Daily basis used plastics cause a huge amount of waste having an enormous impact on the environment and living species at the end-of-life of plastics disposal. In fact, around 300 million tons of plastic are produced annually in the world and only small percentage, less than 9% according to UNEP, of this plastic is recycled, 12% is incinerated and the 79% left generates big contamination problems. There are already different ways, not all of them economically viable, to valorize plastic waste (PW) e.g. chemical recycling to feedstocks and energy. The smart management and valorization of PW generated is a major challenge to be addressed by the scientific community. Furthermore, the decarbonization of all sectors of activity becomes of paramount importance and hydrogen is set to play a key role in decarbonizing hard-to-electrify sectors, as well as represent a zero-carbon feedstock for chemicals and fuel production. But for H2 to play the desired role in the energy transition, the scientific community must face the big challenge of decarbonizing H2 production at a competitive cost. Consequently, WASTE2H2 is proposing a novel method where innovative Ionic Liquid-based catalytic systems are combined with microwave (MW) irradiation to selectively produce highly pure clean H2 and valuable decarbonized chemicals (solid carbon) from PW, addressing simultaneously PW remediation and global climate change mitigation.
WASTE2H2 add to novelty significant breakthroughs vs. other routes for PW management and H2 production: i) plastic waste deconstruction by single-step method powered by renewable electricity and working under mild conditions; ii) fast production of highly pure H2; iii) valuable solid carbon production as sole decarbonized co-product, with easy recovery for its commercialization; iv) expected long lifespan of catalytic system, easy recovery and reuse; v) reducing significantly the energy consumption due to MWs; and vi) high potential to reduce H2 production cost.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC GrantsCoordinator
01510 Minano Alava
Spain