Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ZEOBIOCHEM (Advanced Zeolite Catalysis for Sustainable Biorefinery to Produce Value-added Chemicals)
Reporting period: 2019-12-01 to 2023-03-31
This ZEOBIOCHEM RISE project assembles an international multidisciplinary consortium with complementary expertise in zeolite chemistry, heterogeneous catalysis, catalytic reaction engineering, biomass conversion and life cycle assessment (LCA), and aims at developing novel functionalised hierarchical zeolites (including the new methods for making them) and highly efficient catalysis for application in biorefineries. Eample where they can be used include the upgrading of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil to narrow molecule range fuels, green solvent synthesis using lactic acid and bio-ethanol and catalytic upgrading of biomass-derived surgar platforms to value-added C5/C6 bio-chemicals). The research innovation will be underpinned by the international and intersectoral collaboration, innovation, staff exchanges, knowledge sharing and the dissemination, exploitation and communication of project findings. Additionally, we will also carry out an LCA and techno-economic analysis (TEA) of the methods and processes developed to guide their sustainable developments, as well as highlighting the environmental benefits of zeolite-catalysed biorefining. Ultimately, the project will establish a truly internationally-leading R&I network with research excellence to (i) deliver a new generation of hierarchical zeolites and methods for novel zeolites-promoted eco-efficient transformations of bio-feedstocks, and (ii) train and develop the personnel in the consortium with new R&I and transferable skills, which will firmly support our progress toward the climate-neural economy. The ZEOBIOCHEM project aims to establish, develop and sustain the long-term collaborations between academic institutions and industries in the European Union with academic partners in China, Japan and Thailand to advance the relevant fields (i.e. hierarchical zeolites, structured zeolites and zeolite-catalysed biorefining) beyond the state-of-the-art. The collaboration is centred on the goal of beyond the current state-of-the-art of zeolite development and zeolite-based catalysis for biorefining through research innovation and staff exchanges with world-leading researchers in zeolites synthesis, zeolite catalysis, biomass and bio-feedstock conversion, process intensification and life cycle assessment (LCA).
Overall, during the period from 12/2019 to 03/2023, the progress of the ZEOBIOCHEM project was very satisfactory regarding technical development, dissemination and research outputs. Deliverables including D1, D2, D3, D14, D16 and D18 were delivered on time and submitted. Relevant partners will deliver the technical reports as D5 (by UA), D7 (by QUB) and D12 (by UoM) by September 2023. Regarding milestones (MS), eight out 12 milestones (MS), i.e. MS1, MS2, MS3, MS4, MS6, MS7, MS10 and MS12, were achieved successfully. 50+ peer-reviewed journal articles were published and most of them are Green or Gold Open Access for sharing the knowledge gained via the research cooperation between the EU/UK and TC partners within the consortium, as well as that developed with other partners outside of the project. Total 20 researchers were recorded, and about 108 person-month research secondment (out of 174 person-month was proposed by the project) was delivered and recorded. We will detail the progress of the project in reference to objectives set by the proposal below.
In detail, we have established the technical methods to enable the activity functionalisation of hierarchical zeolites (e.g. the control of Si/Al ratios for tuning Brønsted acidity and inclusion of noble metals for multi-functionality) using the post-synthesis microwave (MW) modification and surfactant-templating methods. Based on that, comprehensive characterisation was carried out to establish the synthesis (or modification)-property relation for the tailor-made zeolites. With the new hierarchical zeolites, we have developed many new catalysts (including the structured catalysts based on SiC foams) for the proposed biorefinery cases (such as ethyl lactate synthesis and sugar/biooils upgrading), which were investigated thoroughly. Finally, relevant LCA and TEA studies were performed to analyse the carbon footprints and environmental impacts of these catalytic biorefinery systems, as well as pointing out the relevant 'hot spots' for further optimisation and development and economic benefits/shortcomings.
In detail, we have established the technical methods to enable the activity functionalisation of hierarchical zeolites (e.g. the control of Si/Al ratios for tuning Brønsted acidity and inclusion of noble metals for multi-functionality) using the post-synthesis microwave (MW) modification and surfactant-templating methods. Based on that, comprehensive characterisation was carried out to establish the synthesis (or modification)-property relation for the tailor-made zeolites. With the new hierarchical zeolites, we have developed many new catalysts (including the structured catalysts based on SiC foams) for the proposed biorefinery cases (such as ethyl lactate synthesis and sugar/biooils upgrading), which were investigated thoroughly. Finally, relevant LCA and TEA studies were performed to analyse the carbon footprints and environmental impacts of these catalytic biorefinery systems, as well as pointing out the relevant 'hot spots' for further optimisation and development and economic benefits/shortcomings.
Till now the project has supported significant collaboration and innovation, and the consortium has published 54 peer-reviewed publications, delivered oral/poster presentations in 12 national/international conferences and hosted two workshop/conference. Hence, the project has demonstrated significant academic impact. The R&D effort of the project partners and collaborations has pushed the boundary of the field beyond of the state of the art with the new zeolitic materials, methods and catalytic applications, which was evidenced by the publications in top journals such as Nat. Commun., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Adv. Mater., etc. In the second period of the project, we will keep the momentum to continue the innovation and discovery, as well as considering the patenting of the results/findings for exploitation in the future. In addition, many researchers from the partners and TC partners benefitted the research exchanges, which enhanced their academic careers and widened their visions and experience for better development.