Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Discovery of efficient Enzyme-like Metal Organic frameworks to activate biomethane at low temperature

Project description

Advancing hybrid catalysis for sustainable chemical production

The chemical industry faces increasing pressure to develop sustainable processes that convert abundant, low-cost feedstocks into valuable chemicals. Current methods often rely on fossil-based resources, making the transition to greener alternatives essential. One such challenge lies in efficiently converting methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into useful chemicals like methanol. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DEMO project aims to train doctoral candidates, equipping them with hands-on, computational, and transferable skills in hybrid catalysis. By combining nine world-class research groups from seven countries, DEMO will leverage cutting-edge techniques in machine learning, organic chemistry, spectroscopy, and reactor engineering to discover innovative catalysts using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), driving both scientific progress and industry applications.

Objective

The main objective in DEMO is to provide high-level hands-on, computational and transferable skill training to 13 Doctoral Candidates (DC) through a Joint Doctorate Program and to create a new generation of experts in hybrid catalysis. DEMO uses light (C1-C4) alkanes as example to study the conversion of a sustainable molecule (biomethane) into a relevant chemical in industry (methanol). This project combines 9 world-class research groups, experts in chemical engineering, organic chemistry, catalysis, modelling and spectroscopy from 7 countries. The 9 partners in academic (3), research centre (3), SME (2) and industrial (1) fields will provide recruited DCs with unique perspectives, preparing DCs for their personal career in research with specific skillsets. DEMO will integrate machine learning, organic chemistry, ab initio modelling, high-throughput and reactor engineering and in situ spectroscopy to discover enzyme-like species in Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs). Specifically, DEMO will follow an interconnected strategy to discover optimal catalyst candidates: a) virtually generate a dataset with active species in MOFs and screen via Machine Learning; b) test the dataset value of a large sample dataset via experimental high-throughput engineering and modelling; c) understand testing outputs through in situ spectroscopy, titration kinetics and modelling; d) optimise protocols for synthetic materials towards biological analogies and engineer reaction conditions to search solvation phenomena. This way, DEMO expects to have a broad impact on the scientific community, EU industry and society by providing high-quality training in hybrid catalysis.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN-JD - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks - Joint Doctorates

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA
Net EU contribution
€ 503 942,40
Address
BARRIO SARRIENA S N
48940 Leioa
Spain
Region
Noreste País Vasco Bizkaia
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (4)

Partners (9)