Project description
Innovative solution for CO2 and PET plastic recycling
The EU has aligned itself with the Paris Agreement to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions or better. It aims to cut emissions by 40 % and increase the share of renewables to 32 % by 2030. However, the emergence of new challenges has prompted the EU to seek innovative solutions. The EU-funded PHOENIX project aims to provide one such solution by establishing a novel strategy and technologies for converting CO2 into propanol and transforming PET plastic waste into glycolic acid, yielding dual benefits. The project will also develop a photovoltaic system with high energy generation and electrocatalysts for the conversion of CO2 and PET.
Objective
To combat global warming, achieving net-zero or net-negative CO2 emissions is imperative. The EU, aligning with the Paris Agreement, aims to reduce emissions by 40% and increase renewables share to 32% by 2030. Another challenge that the globe faces is the massive accumulation of PET plastic waste, prompting the EU to seek innovative recycling solutions. Solar-powered systems offer a clean, cost-effective alternative by converting CO2 into fuels while simultaneously recycling PET waste into high-value products. Moreover, integrating PET oxidation also aims to overcome the substantial overpotential loss associated with conventional reactions, making the process more efficient. The project PHOENIX seeks to facilitate the step-wise conversion of CO2 (initially from CO2 to CO, followed by converting CO into propanol) and simultaneously transform PET plastic waste into glycolic acid through an innovative strategy. The proposed concept stems from designing a multi-reactor CO2 reduction pathway that smoothly integrates photovoltaic-electrolyzer (PV-EC) and photoelectrochemical (PEC) technologies. To facilitate these processes, PHOENIX will develop and integrate an advanced tandem photovoltaic system that generates> 2 V, novel electrocatalysts that convert CO to n-PrOH and PET to glycolic acid and efficient photoelectrodes. Finally, the PHOENIX concept will also be validated to TRL 3-4 through a lab-scale demonstration, identifying and tackling the environmental impact through Life Cycle Assessment and evaluating the materials' recyclability. PHOENIX addresses two pressing global issues in a high-risk/high-return kind of approach, ultimately promoting a breakthrough in the renewable energy sector.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecycling
- natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysiselectrocatalysis
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysis
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyphotovoltaic
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Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
3001 Leuven
Belgium