Project description
Micropores against climate change
Modern chemistry struggles with cascade reactions, processes in which one reaction feeds into another. These often fail because different reactions interfere with each other or stall at equilibrium. With this in mind, the ERC-funded CaZeo project is turning to zeolites. These microporous minerals can compartmentalise reactions inside their tiny channels. As a test case, CaZeo uses zeolites to convert CO2 into valuable esters in a single step while blocking unwanted side reactions. Beyond this, the project explores the conversion of waste polymers into useful building blocks and the production of reactive molecules from safe precursors. By re-integrating CO2 into chemical products and recycling nitrogen-rich waste, CaZeo offers a path towards safer, cleaner, and more sustainable industrial chemistry.
Objective
CaZeo uses zeolites to overcome thermodynamic barriers in cascade processes, instrumentalizing the zeolite micropores to compartmentalize the reaction space. As a pilot case, the endergonic hydrogenation of CO2 to CO inside a small-pore zeolite is coupled to an exergonic homogeneously catalyzed carbonylation of an alkene outside the zeolite, yielding in one step an ester product with a CO2-derived functional group. Critically, undesired alkene hydrogenation is impeded by the narrow zeolite channels. CaZeo’s overall chemical targets include: (i) to re-integrate CO2 into oxygenated compounds, like esters, aldehydes, glycolaldehyde, isoprenol etc., in which at least one oxygenated function is sourced from CO2, via a Reverse Water Gas Shift Reaction to CO, or via selective CO2 hydrogenation to HCHO; (ii) to use zeolites as generators of small, reactive (or even toxic) molecules like isocyanates or isocyanides, starting from safe precursors like N,N-dialkylureas or N-alkylformamides; (iii) to upgrade polyamide-6,6 by ammonolysis and an ensuing zeolite-catalyzed reaction that convergently transforms the N-functionalized molecular mixture to valuable 1,6-hexanediamine. In CaZeo’s conceptual framework, reactions are spatially partitioned and orthogonalized to each other, overcoming the incompatibility conundrum of catalytic cascades and the equilibrium limitations of isolated reactions. In a more advanced development, pore systems with different diameters within one zeolite crystal are used as compartments. Advanced X-ray absorption spectroscopy monitors the monometallic or cooperative bimetallic active sites in the zeolites. The spatial organization is visualized with high-resolution electron and fluorescence micro(spectro)scopies, giving shape to the envisioned compartments. CaZeo provides catalytic technology that is safe and sustainable, recycles nitrogen-containing (waste) polymers to high quality building blocks, and re-integrates CO2 in chemicals.
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.
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aldehydes
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry inorganic compounds
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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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)
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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 - HORIZON ERC 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-ADG
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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.
3000 LEUVEN
Belgium
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.