Sustainable Processing of Energy Materials from Waste
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Chemical Engineering
Abstract
This project aims at developing new processes for waste remanufacturing based on hydrothermal and microwave treatments to yield sustainable products such as advanced carbon materials and chemicals, which in turn could be manufactured into battery devices
Hydrothermal or microwave conversion of waste will result in a liquid phase containing important chemicals such as levulinic acid (LA) and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF), which are platform intermediates for a range of products including solvents and precursors of polymers, pharmaceuticals, plasticizers and other biofuels. We will separate these chemicals from the aqueous phase using preparative chromatography and convert them into other useful products using the carbon catalysts produced from the solid phase of the waste conversion. This will thus close the loop in biowaste product utilization.
In parallel, we will also use the solid carbon materials to manufacture anode materials for Li and Na ion batteries. We will test the performance of these waste-derived electrodes in half- and, based on the best performant materials, full cells.
We will evaluate the environmental impact of the manufacturing of these products at each life cycle, their cost compared with other products on the market, and we will perform multiscale modelling to predict the ability of these processes and products to be upscaled.
Our proposed collaborative research activities have the potential to reduce environmental pollution and find new and innovative ways to recycle/remanufacture waste into advanced materials. In addition, the resulting biofuels and batteries from our processes will help the UK achieve its targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and introduce more renewables.
A team of highly qualified researchers has been brought together for this project, including two top research institutions in the UK (QMUL and UCL) and two in China (Tsinghua and Chinese Academic of Science) and researchers with complementary expertise in hydrothermal and microwave manufacturing, heterogeneous catalysis, biowaste conversion, carbon materials and battery research. This project will train two PDRAs and two PhD students in the UK which will interact closely with two PDRAs in China.
This grant will ensure the continuation of long lasting collaborations between the UK and China, will help prevent pollution and waste in both countries, and develop sustainable technologies for manufacturing advanced carbons, chemicals and batteries.
Hydrothermal or microwave conversion of waste will result in a liquid phase containing important chemicals such as levulinic acid (LA) and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF), which are platform intermediates for a range of products including solvents and precursors of polymers, pharmaceuticals, plasticizers and other biofuels. We will separate these chemicals from the aqueous phase using preparative chromatography and convert them into other useful products using the carbon catalysts produced from the solid phase of the waste conversion. This will thus close the loop in biowaste product utilization.
In parallel, we will also use the solid carbon materials to manufacture anode materials for Li and Na ion batteries. We will test the performance of these waste-derived electrodes in half- and, based on the best performant materials, full cells.
We will evaluate the environmental impact of the manufacturing of these products at each life cycle, their cost compared with other products on the market, and we will perform multiscale modelling to predict the ability of these processes and products to be upscaled.
Our proposed collaborative research activities have the potential to reduce environmental pollution and find new and innovative ways to recycle/remanufacture waste into advanced materials. In addition, the resulting biofuels and batteries from our processes will help the UK achieve its targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and introduce more renewables.
A team of highly qualified researchers has been brought together for this project, including two top research institutions in the UK (QMUL and UCL) and two in China (Tsinghua and Chinese Academic of Science) and researchers with complementary expertise in hydrothermal and microwave manufacturing, heterogeneous catalysis, biowaste conversion, carbon materials and battery research. This project will train two PDRAs and two PhD students in the UK which will interact closely with two PDRAs in China.
This grant will ensure the continuation of long lasting collaborations between the UK and China, will help prevent pollution and waste in both countries, and develop sustainable technologies for manufacturing advanced carbons, chemicals and batteries.
Planned Impact
The need to reduce pollution, waste, the world's dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating contributions to man-made climate change is the most important of grand challenges of this century.
Our proposed research activities will contribute to this mission by unlocking new technologies for waste remanufacturing by accessing sustainable carbon materials, chemicals, liquid fuels, green solvents and battery electrodes from bio- and plastic waste.
The outcomes of the research will lead to:
i) Preventing waste generation and environmental pollution
ii) Mitigating landfills and methane emissions
iii) Creating sustainable high-importance value-added products from waste
iv) Replace fossil derived fuels and chemicals with waste-derived counterparts
v) Increasing the percentage of renewables used for electricity generation by implementing affordable and low-cost energy storage solutions
vi) Reducing the environmental impact of materials and chemicals manufacturing
vii) Creating new business opportunities for the waste sector and the battery industry
viii) Connecting the waste sector with the advanced chemicals production and batteries, stimulating a circular economy
Our proposed research activities will have a major impact on a range of stakeholders.
1. The waste producing industries, via our novel bio- and plastic-waste conversion processes
2. Catalyst manufacturers via creating affordable catalysts without critical metals
3. The chemicals industry, through the development of new catalytic production routes and separation technologies for platform bio-derived chemicals.
4. The energy, vehicle and transport industry, via creating low cost and affordable batteries promoting electric cars and a higher percentage of renewable utilization
5. Software industry, via the development of new models to assess sustainability, risk-assessment and economics.
6. Waste sector who will be interested to implement our proposed technologies at a larger scale
7. Help China's targets to reduce pollution/waste and GHG emissions
To ensure accelerated routes to impact we have contacted a company from the waste sector in the UK and a company working in battery manufacturing in China. This puts us in the strong position of having a dialogue with direct beneficiaries of our proposed technologies and end users. The PI has also very good connections with other battery manufacturers in the UK such as Faradion and Johnson Matthey with whom she is currently collaborating on a Na-ion battery grants. The success of this proposal will thus be crucial to link the waste sector with end users and to stimulate a circular economy. Likewise, the PI in China has good connections with the waste sector. We will contact companies working in waste collection and recycling in China once we have demonstrated initial progress.
The project will train two PDRA researchers and two PhD students in cross- and multidisciplinary science-driven technologies to contribute to the creation of the next generation of research leaders in sustainable waste remanufacturing processes and green products.
Our proposed research activities will contribute to this mission by unlocking new technologies for waste remanufacturing by accessing sustainable carbon materials, chemicals, liquid fuels, green solvents and battery electrodes from bio- and plastic waste.
The outcomes of the research will lead to:
i) Preventing waste generation and environmental pollution
ii) Mitigating landfills and methane emissions
iii) Creating sustainable high-importance value-added products from waste
iv) Replace fossil derived fuels and chemicals with waste-derived counterparts
v) Increasing the percentage of renewables used for electricity generation by implementing affordable and low-cost energy storage solutions
vi) Reducing the environmental impact of materials and chemicals manufacturing
vii) Creating new business opportunities for the waste sector and the battery industry
viii) Connecting the waste sector with the advanced chemicals production and batteries, stimulating a circular economy
Our proposed research activities will have a major impact on a range of stakeholders.
1. The waste producing industries, via our novel bio- and plastic-waste conversion processes
2. Catalyst manufacturers via creating affordable catalysts without critical metals
3. The chemicals industry, through the development of new catalytic production routes and separation technologies for platform bio-derived chemicals.
4. The energy, vehicle and transport industry, via creating low cost and affordable batteries promoting electric cars and a higher percentage of renewable utilization
5. Software industry, via the development of new models to assess sustainability, risk-assessment and economics.
6. Waste sector who will be interested to implement our proposed technologies at a larger scale
7. Help China's targets to reduce pollution/waste and GHG emissions
To ensure accelerated routes to impact we have contacted a company from the waste sector in the UK and a company working in battery manufacturing in China. This puts us in the strong position of having a dialogue with direct beneficiaries of our proposed technologies and end users. The PI has also very good connections with other battery manufacturers in the UK such as Faradion and Johnson Matthey with whom she is currently collaborating on a Na-ion battery grants. The success of this proposal will thus be crucial to link the waste sector with end users and to stimulate a circular economy. Likewise, the PI in China has good connections with the waste sector. We will contact companies working in waste collection and recycling in China once we have demonstrated initial progress.
The project will train two PDRA researchers and two PhD students in cross- and multidisciplinary science-driven technologies to contribute to the creation of the next generation of research leaders in sustainable waste remanufacturing processes and green products.
Publications
Alptekin H
(2020)
Sodium Storage Mechanism Investigations through Structural Changes in Hard Carbons
in ACS Applied Energy Materials
An X
(2023)
Sodium-Directed Photon-Induced Assembly Strategy for Preparing Multisite Catalysts with High Atomic Utilization Efficiency.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Au H
(2020)
A revised mechanistic model for sodium insertion in hard carbons
in Energy & Environmental Science
Bennedsen N
(2021)
Heterogeneous Formic Acid Production by Hydrogenation of CO 2 Catalyzed by Ir-bpy Embedded in Polyphenylene Porous Organic Polymers
in ChemCatChem
Bian J
(2021)
Energy Platform for Directed Charge Transfer in the Cascade Z-Scheme Heterojunction: CO 2 Photoreduction without a Cocatalyst
in Angewandte Chemie
Bian J
(2022)
Strategies and reaction systems for solar-driven CO2 reduction by water
in Carbon Neutrality
Bian J
(2021)
Energy Platform for Directed Charge Transfer in the Cascade Z-Scheme Heterojunction: CO2 Photoreduction without a Cocatalyst.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
De Tomas C
(2023)
Doping carbon electrodes with sulfur achieves reversible sodium ion storage
in Journal of Physics: Energy
Du W
(2021)
A Multiscale X-Ray Tomography Study of the Cycled-Induced Degradation in Magnesium-Sulfur Batteries.
in Small methods
Feng J
(2021)
Progress and perspective of interface design in garnet electrolyte-based all-solid-state batteries
in Carbon Energy
Gadipelli S
(2023)
Structure-guided Capacitance Relationships in Oxidized Graphene Porous Materials Based Supercapacitors
in ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS
Gadipelli S
(2023)
Understanding and Optimizing Capacitance Performance in Reduced Graphene-Oxide Based Supercapacitors
in Small Methods
Gadipelli S
(2020)
Superior Multifunctional Activity of Nanoporous Carbons with Widely Tunable Porosity: Enhanced Storage Capacities for Carbon-Dioxide, Hydrogen, Water, and Electric Charge
in Advanced Energy Materials
Gadipelli S
(2019)
Size-Related Electrochemical Performance in Active Carbon Nanostructures: A MOFs-Derived Carbons Case Study.
in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
Gong Z
(2022)
Photocatalytic Methane Conversion to C1 Oxygenates over Palladium and Oxygen Vacancies Co-Decorated TiO 2
in Solar RRL
Guan X
(2023)
Cascade NH 3 Oxidation and N 2 O Decomposition via Bifunctional Co and Cu Catalysts
in ACS Catalysis
Guan X
(2022)
Designing Reactive Bridging O2- at the Atomic Cu-O-Fe Site for Selective NH3 Oxidation.
in ACS catalysis
Guo J
(2021)
Self-activated cathode substrates in rechargeable zinc-air batteries
in Energy Storage Materials
Guo Z
(2021)
Strategies for High Energy Density Dual-Ion Batteries Using Carbon-Based Cathodes
in Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research
Guo Z
(2023)
Sodium Dual-Ion Batteries with Concentrated Electrolytes.
in ChemSusChem
Guo Z
(2023)
Investigating The Superior Performance of Hard Carbon Anodes in Sodium-Ion Compared with lithium- and potassium-Ion Batteries.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Hao Z
(2022)
Reversible lithium storage in sp2 hydrocarbon frameworks
in Journal of Energy Chemistry
Hérou S
(2021)
High-Density Lignin-Derived Carbon Nanofiber Supercapacitors with Enhanced Volumetric Energy Density.
in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
Jiang C
(2021)
Crystallinity-Modulated Co 2- x V x O 4 Nanoplates for Efficient Electrochemical Water Oxidation
in ACS Catalysis
Jiao H
(2022)
On-demand continuous H 2 release by methanol dehydrogenation and reforming via photocatalysis in a membrane reactor
in Green Chemistry
Jiao H
(2022)
Insights on Carbon Neutrality by Photocatalytic Conversion of Small Molecules into Value-Added Chemicals or Fuels.
in Accounts of materials research
Jorge A
(2019)
3D Carbon Materials for Efficient Oxygen and Hydrogen Electrocatalysis
in Advanced Energy Materials
Kang L
(2020)
Design, Identification, and Evolution of a Surface Ruthenium(II/III) Single Site for CO Activation
in Angewandte Chemie
Kang L
(2021)
Design, Identification, and Evolution of a Surface Ruthenium(II/III) Single Site for CO Activation.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Kang L
(2021)
The Electrophilicity of Surface Carbon Species in the Redox Reactions of CuO-CeO 2 Catalysts
in Angewandte Chemie
Kang L
(2021)
The Electrophilicity of Surface Carbon Species in the Redox Reactions of CuO-CeO2 Catalysts.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Kong D
(2020)
A Metal-Free Oxygenated Covalent Triazine 2-D Photocatalyst Works Effectively from the Ultraviolet to Near-Infrared Spectrum for Water Oxidation Apart from Water Reduction.
in ACS applied energy materials
Li C
(2020)
Molecular Cobalt Catalysts Grafted onto Polymers for Efficient Hydrogen Generation Cathodes
in Solar RRL
Li J
(2020)
High-Performance Zinc-Air Batteries with Scalable Metal-Organic Frameworks and Platinum Carbon Black Bifunctional Catalysts.
in ACS applied materials & interfaces
Li X
(2023)
Efficient hole abstraction for highly selective oxidative coupling of methane by Au-sputtered TiO2 photocatalysts
in Nature Energy
Li X
(2023)
PdCu nanoalloy decorated photocatalysts for efficient and selective oxidative coupling of methane in flow reactors.
in Nature communications
Liu H
(2021)
A life cycle assessment of hard carbon anodes for sodium-ion batteries.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Liu Y
(2020)
Polyphenylene-Based Solid Acid as an Efficient Catalyst for Activation and Hydration of Alkynes.
in Chemistry of materials : a publication of the American Chemical Society
Liu Y
(2023)
Improving CO2 photoconversion with ionic liquid and Co single atoms
in Nature Communications
Luca R
(2021)
Current Imbalance in Parallel Battery Strings Measured Using a Hall-Effect Sensor Array
in Energy Technology
Luo L
(2022)
Synergy of Pd atoms and oxygen vacancies on In2O3 for methane conversion under visible light.
in Nature communications
Luo L
(2021)
Binary Au-Cu Reaction Sites Decorated ZnO for Selective Methane Oxidation to C1 Oxygenates with Nearly 100% Selectivity at Room Temperature
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Ma J
(2022)
Charge carrier dynamics and reaction intermediates in heterogeneous photocatalysis by time-resolved spectroscopies.
in Chemical Society reviews
Mercer M
(2023)
Sodiation energetics in pore size controlled hard carbons determined via entropy profiling
in Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Miao TJ
(2021)
In Situ Investigation of Charge Performance in Anatase TiO2 Powder for Methane Conversion by Vis-NIR Spectroscopy.
in ACS catalysis
Olsson E
(2022)
Investigating the Role of Surface Roughness and Defects on EC Breakdown, as a Precursor to SEI Formation in Hard Carbon Sodium-Ion Battery Anodes.
in Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Olsson E
(2021)
Defects in Hard Carbon: Where Are They Located and How Does the Location Affect Alkaline Metal Storage?
in Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Rana Z
(2022)
A new high: Cannabis as a budding source of carbon-based materials for electrochemical power sources
in Current Opinion in Electrochemistry
Ribadeneyra MC
(2022)
A facile and sustainable one-pot approach to the aqueous and low-temperature PET-to-UiO-66(Zr) upcycling.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
| Description | 1) We have discovered that it is possible to turn plastic into advanced carbon materials using innovative catalytic autogenic processes happening under pressure. We have focused mostly on non-recyclable polymers such as polystyrene (PS) and Nylon but have expanded also to polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) since these waste streams are are very abundant and persistent. Carbon materials produced from the above plastic precursors show interesting morphologies that can be tuned by controlling the pressure inside the sealed reactor where the decomposition takes place at temperatures around 600-700C. Different types of carbons can be obtained also when the plastics are combined in varying ratios. We have optimised the process for obtaining hard carbons from the above waste feedstocks and have also been able to produce hybrid carbons that incorporate high capacity elements, such as tin and tin oxide. Carbons with these high capacity additives have shown promising results when tested as electrodes in Na-ion batteries and will be further studied as Li-ion electrodes. We have started a collaborative work that aims to generate a life cycle assessment for our waste-derived carbon electrodes to be able to evaluate their environmental impact and price reduction in comparison to other carbons used for the same purposes but produced from primary resources. 2) We have been able to prove the conversion of PET into a Zr-based metal organic framework (MOF) in an aqueous medium. MOF structures are normally very valuable as frameworks for heterogeneous catalysis in a wide variety of applications. Zr-MOFs are very popular but so far their synthesis from plastic precursors has only be carried out in organic solvents. Therefore, our aqueous route for their synthesis represents a sustainable approach to produce a high-value material. We have used different Zr precursors (ZrCl4 or ZrO2), terephthalic acid precursors (terephthalic acid or PET), and mild acid environments to optimise the synthesis of this material. 3) We have also explored the use of biomass-derived waste to produce valuable chemicals and carbons through hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC). We have successfully converted biomass into 5-HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural) and Levulinic acid, two important bio-based commodity chemicals, and also into well structured and controlled hydrothermal carbons. We are now investigating the use of biomass-derived hydrothermal carbons as heterogenous catalysts for oxidation and reduction of 5-HMF and levulinic acid respectively. Additionally, we are exploring higher pressures, temperatures and different environments (CO2, N2, air) to enable further control on the microstructure of these carbons and, in turn, on the ability of storing sodium ions when assembled as hard-carbon electrodes in batteries. 4) We have explored the usage of polyvinyl carbonate (PVC) waste as a chlorination agent in organic chemistry. Characterisation is still ongoing to prove the feasibility of this concept. 5) We have discovered a way to convert PET with Sn acetate into high performance anodes for Na ion batteries with high capacity which we plant tio protect using IP |
| Exploitation Route | This grant sets up a unique way to look at plastic waste, i.e. use it as a raw materials to be upgraded into advanced electrode materials for batteries as well as use polyvinyl chloride chloride as a chlorination agent in organic chemistry to improve the green character of chlorinations while enabling the dechlorination/recycling of PVC. Hard carbons produced from plastic waste would be an extremely appealing strategy for up-cycling otherwise incinerated or land-filled waste. Provided that we are able to offer materials with competitive energy storage capacity and long-term stability, our findings have the potential to generate a locally sourced and low-cost route for the production of truly sustainable (e.g. using non geopolitically compromised and non critical elements) high added-value batteries. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Creative Economy,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | We have done significant outreach activities ie how life will be in 200 and also gained a seed fund from the ICL Faculty of Engineering and we plan a patent and moving towards commercialisation activities |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Energy |
| Impact Types | Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | STFC Experimental Design Award |
| Amount | £4,814 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2021 |
| End | 07/2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with Shell |
| Organisation | Shell Global Solutions International BV |
| Department | Shell Chemicals in Europe |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are performing research on discovering low cost anode materials for Na ion batteries and test their electrochemical interfaces to achieve high reversible Coulombic efficiency. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They funded two PhD students and one PDRA to complement the ISCF project and deliver the next generation on na ion batteries and they will provide some access to Shell laboratories in Amsterdam. |
| Impact | Is to early to list outputs as this was funded end of 2019 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | CPE Sustainable Energy Symposium (Imperial College London), 'Processable Energy Storage Materials: From Batteries to Sustainable Fuels' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Symposium to share research outputs across Imperial College on energy storage materials, devices, policy and sustainability. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering (Imperial College London) based on the theme of "Molecular Engineering in Next Generation Batteries" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Seminar series to engage with other researchers in our institutions working on energy materials, sustainability and life cycle analysis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | MRS Conference Fall 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference talk on carbons produced from bio-derived resources for different types of energy storage devices such as vanadium redox-flow and Na-ion batteries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Scientific opinion on the future of batteries and on how clean electric cars are |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | BBC Radio 4 Programme "Inside science" interviewed members of the Titirici Group to answer a listeners question: how clean are electric cars? We were able to talk about upcycling waste, plastics an biomass, into cost-efficient energy materials. The programme aired on the 16th of June 2020 at 4.30 pm and it was possible to listen to it around the globe. We have stablished a solid professional relationship with the programme´s team, which gives us prospects of collaborating and participating in other outreach events with them. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000d8st |
| Description | The future of transportation: open day to show research done in Imperial College |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Titirici group was invited to participate in a open day to show what is being done towards the decarbonisation of transportation. We were able to show how by converting biomass and plastic waste our group is able to produce carbons with certain properties that give these materials the ability of storing energy. In such way, people were able to receive the message of our main research proposal: cost-effective and green energy materials from waste sources. In addition, we were able to engage the public with our idea of circular economy in industries and electrically powered vehicles. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/106294/the-future-of-transport/ |