Descripción del proyecto
Sistemas catalíticos basados en líquidos iónicos para la valorización de los residuos plásticos
Los plásticos utilizados a diario generan una gran cantidad de residuos, lo que supone una carga enorme para el medio ambiente y las especies vivas. Sin embargo, menos del 9 % del plástico se recicla. Existen diferentes formas de valorizar los residuos plásticos, pero no todas son económicamente viables. La búsqueda de una fuente de energía descarbonizada y de bajo coste también reviste una importancia primordial. Financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Innovación, el equipo del proyecto WASTE2H2 abordará dos retos importantes que afectan a nuestra sociedad y a la sostenibilidad del planeta: la gestión inteligente de los residuos plásticos producidos anualmente y la generación de energía eficiente, de bajo coste y descarbonizada. Para abordar ambos retos, en WASTE2H2 se propone un proceso rentable que combina sistemas catalíticos basados en líquidos iónicos con la irradiación de microondas para producir selectivamente H2 limpio y materiales de carbono valiosos a partir de residuos plásticos.
Objetivo
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.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme
Convocatoria de propuestas
HORIZON-EIC-2023-PATHFINDEROPEN-01
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaRégimen de financiación
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC GrantsCoordinador
01510 Minano Alava
España