Project description
Improved catalysts could boost electrochemical reduction of nitrate
Nitrate (NO3) is a ubiquitous surface and groundwater contaminant. Excess NO3 amounts pose a great concern for human health and cause eutrophication of water systems, which is detrimental to many organisms. Conventional point-of-use treatment methods may lead to sludge and brine solutions. Electrochemical strategies for reducing NO3 to the innocuous gaseous form of nitrogen will help address these issues. However, further research on efficient electrocatalysts is needed, as well as production scale-up, to successfully commercialise electrochemical remediation techniques. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the NITRATE project will focus on three key areas: nano-electrocatalyst synthesis and benchmarking, reactor construction and evaluation in actual water matrices and alternative catalysts based on cheaper metal oxide semiconductors.
Objective
Efficient management of nitrogen cycle imbalance is a critical need of this century. Water with elevated NO3- level is harmful to human and environmental health. Conventional treatment has limitations for point of use treatment and may generate sludge and/or brine solutions. Electrochemical processes are transformative chemical-free technologies that can reduce NO3- to innocuous N2 without sludge production. However, further research in efficient electrocatalysts and scale-up is required for technology implementation. In this project, research aims to overcome challenges of nitrate electrochemical remediation in three phases: (i) nano-electrocatalyst synthesis and benchmarking, (ii) reactor design/construction and evaluation in actual water matrices, (iii) study of alternative electrocatalyst materials.
First, different electrodic materials will be evaluated in terms of kinetic reduction and selectivity towards N2. I hypothesize that application of nanoparticle binary and tertiary Pt/Pd alloys with other metals (Cu, Sn, In) will lead to higher N2 selectivity and enhanced electrochemical reduction because the preferential performance characteristics of different metals combined into one electrode material. Use of nanoparticles in tridimensional modified electrodes will improve mass transfer towards/from electrode surface increasing treatment performance as well as reduce catalyst mass requirement. Second, design and construction of different electrochemical reactors for nitrate remediation will catalyze the development of electrochemical technology towards implementation. Reactors will be assessed from the treatment of actual water matrices (brine, groundwater, tap and surface water) and techno-economic analysis. Last, catalysts based on cheaper metal oxide semiconductors will be explored as alternative electrocatalysts to reduce capital costs associated to material selection. Electrocatalytic properties will be benchmarked by scanning electrochemical microscopy.
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.
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry inorganic compounds
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis electrocatalysis
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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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.
75794 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.