Project description
Recycling of polyamide waste
Plastic waste is a major environmental issue, especially polyamide waste (such as fishing nets, carpets, etc.) which is mainly landfilled or incinerated. Due to their robust chemical structure, polyamides are challenging to break down, making conventional recycling methods ineffective. The need for better recycling solutions has thus never been more urgent. In this context, the ERC-funded UPCYCLON project aims to address this issue by using a new chemical upcycling process to convert polyamide waste into valuable new polymers. This method, developed from breakthroughs in the ERC ReNewHydrides project, provides an unprecedented and simple access to new polymers, currently unavailable using established synthetic routes. These polymers might have a wide range of applications including post-combustion capture, polymer synthesis and wastewater treatments.
Objective
The accumulation of plastic waste presents a global and urgent challenge, necessitating the development of more environmentally friendly mechanical and chemical recycling methods. This challenge is particularly acute for polyamides materials, commonly known as nylons (e.g. fishing nets, carpets, etc.), which are mostly either deposited in landfills or incinerated due to the lack of efficient recycling techniques. With UPCYCLON, we propose to capitalize on breakthroughs achieved through ERC ReNewHydrides, focusing on a disruptive chemical upcycling process for polyamides. This pioneering innovation provides, via a novel catalytic conversion operating under mild conditions, an unprecedented access to new nitrogen-containing polymers, currently unavailable using established synthetic routes. These polymers, with anticipated physicochemical properties such as high thermal stability and potent chelating capabilities, promise diverse applications ranging from CO2 capture to polyurethane synthesis and wastewater treatments. In addition, this approach to polyamide waste management represents an innovative and commercially significant endeavor, particularly for polyamide producers facing pressure from new European policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to swiftly develop sustainable solutions for waste recycling or management.
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. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes wastewater treatment processes
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences polyurethane
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-POC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
75015 Paris
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.