Project description
Turning waste into jet fuel to tackle the climate impact of travel
Wealthier societies generate more wet waste and demand more air travel. These are both significant drivers of climate change. Converting organic waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and hydrotreating (HT) shows promise, but technical and economic hurdles remain. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CalSAF project will work towards developing low-cost, high-resolution thermal-analysis tools to improve these processes. Backed by a global network of experts, the project aims to unlock new insights into HTL and HT reactions, helping pave the way for cleaner skies and smarter waste use.
Objective
Wet waste and long-distance travel are unavoidable consequences of wealthier societies; unfortunately, they both contribute to climate change. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and biocrude hydrotreating (HT) can convert wet wastes into sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), but for this to become a reality, some pressing challenges need to be addressed.
CalSAF is Dr. Matteo Pecchi’s career development program, designed to develop differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods that can provide high-resolution information on the HTL and HT process development in-situ, at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods using batch reactors and chemical analyses.
Dr. Pecchi’s training is supported by an international collaboration of world-leading universities and experts in the hydrothermal field, leveraging their cutting-edge experience and equipment. This collaboration aims to facilitate his transition into an independent researcher and expert in thermochemical processes for waste valorisation, which is central to his long-term career goals.
If successful, CalSAF will uncover new insights into the mechanisms and kinetics of HTL and HT, addressing key challenges that currently hinder industrial SAF production from wet waste. These challenges include the high costs and time associated with HTL screening campaigns and the lack of data for effective control to prevent clogging in HT reactors. The impact on both waste management and fuel production sectors will generate significant environmental, social, and economic benefits, including reducing emissions, decreasing pollution and health risks, and opening a potentially multi-million-euro market.
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
- natural sciences chemical sciences analytical chemistry calorimetry
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences climatology climatic changes
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials biofuels
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
39100 Bolzano
Italy
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.