Adaptive processing of natural feedstocks
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Inst of Particle Science & Engineering
Abstract
Natural factories / plants / are capable of synthesising very complex functional molecules, which are then often mimicked for their function (as a drug, a fragrance, etc) through chemical synthesis. Such syntheses are not always feasible. In most cases the required transformations cannot be readily achieved due to the labile nature of the functional groups on the molecule of interest. Hence, using natural feedstocks as libraries of unique high-value molecules, and as factories that can be optimised to produce higher quantities of the desired molecules, is the approach that is potentially hugely rewarding, leading to creation of new markets. This route may also lead to the reduction of environmental impact of chemical technologies through avoiding the use of non-renewable feedstocks, complete utilisation of plant biomass and integrating plant feedstocks utilisation with energy and fertiliser technologies. This project will develop new adaptive processing technologies tackling main factors inducing variability in the overall process and consecutively affecting primary plant processing as well as downstream biodigestion and separation processes.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Yulong Ding (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Koumpouras G
(2007)
The effect of adsorbent characteristics on the performance of a continuous sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming process
in Chemical Engineering Science
Yang W
(2007)
Milling of sucrose
in Powder Technology
Wen D
(2007)
Heat transfer of gas-solid two-phase mixtures flowing through a packed bed
in Chemical Engineering Science
Wang S
(2007)
Numerical Simulations of Flow Behaviour of Agglomerates of Nano-Size Particles in Bubbling and Spouted Beds with an Agglomerate-Based Approach
in Food and Bioproducts Processing
Dou B
(2009)
Hydrogen production by sorption-enhanced steam reforming of glycerol.
in Bioresource technology
Chen H
(2009)
Rheological behaviour of nanofluids containing tube / rod-like nanoparticles
in Powder Technology
Chen H
(2009)
Rheological behaviour of ethylene glycol-titanate nanotube nanofluids
in Journal of Nanoparticle Research
Li X
(2009)
Antimicrobial activities of ZnO powder-coated PVC film to inactivate food pathogens
in International Journal of Food Science & Technology
Dou B
(2009)
Thermogravimetric kinetics of crude glycerol.
in Bioresource technology
Zhang L
(2009)
Mechanistic investigation into antibacterial behaviour of suspensions of ZnO nanoparticles against E. coli
in Journal of Nanoparticle Research
Description | The most important outputs from this project are that we developed a method for encapsulating phase change materials particularly paraffin wax, a low value by product from processing of natural feedstock, with inorganic nanoparticles particularly silica. This led to subsequent development of a new area of research on thermal energy storage using composite phase change materials. The area has expanded significantly in recent years and with multimillion pounds of support from both industrial companies and the research council, some 20 researchers in my team are now working in the area. |
Exploitation Route | The route for the findings to be used was defined at the beginning of the project, namely to disseminate to industry as well as to publish through academic papers. Initially, energy companies were not a priority for the dissemination but have become a priority now. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Energy,Environment |
Description | The method developed from the work has been used in subsequent research and development for different material systems for thermal energy storage, particularly encapsulation of salts with metal oxide, and metal with another immiscible metal, which can be used for a much larger temperature range. The subsequent work on this area has led to 2 patents and multi-million pound research funds from both EPRSC and industrial companies e.g. SGRI & CRRC in recent years. |
Sector | Chemicals,Energy,Environment |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Description | Abengoa Solar |
Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Leeds-IPSE483360 |
Organisation | Abengoa |
Department | Abengoa Solar |
Sector | Private |
Country | Spain |
Start | 01/2012 |
End | 12/2014 |
Description | EPSRC Programme Grant |
Amount | £4,227,886 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P00945X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2016 |
End | 11/2021 |
Description | EPSRC Programme Grant |
Amount | £5,590,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K002252/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2012 |
End | 09/2017 |
Description | Energy Stoage Grand Challenge |
Amount | £924,591 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P003435/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2016 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | External collaboration grants |
Amount | £430,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | SGRI Project No 1 |
Organisation | State Grid Corporation of China |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 01/2015 |
End | 10/2017 |
Description | External collaborative research |
Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | SGRI Project No 2 |
Organisation | State Grid Corporation of China |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 12/2015 |
End | 11/2018 |
Description | External collaborative research |
Amount | £92,500 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Corex - understanding |
Organisation | Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 03/2012 |
End | 09/2014 |
Description | Procter & Gamble |
Amount | £36,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Structured Particles |
Organisation | Procter & Gamble |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 10/2010 |
End | 09/2013 |
Description | Reduce of End Use Energy Demand |
Amount | £1,573,522 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P004709/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2016 |
End | 12/2020 |
Description | Studentship |
Amount | £36,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Structured Particles |
Organisation | Procter & Gamble |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 10/2010 |
End | 09/2013 |