Resonant Acoustic Mixing facility for sustainable chemical manufacturing

Lead Research Organisation: University of Birmingham
Department Name: School of Chemistry

Abstract

The aim of this RAM Facility, to be established by our team of researchers in Chemistry, Engineering and Chemical Engineering, and in partnership with Resodyn Acoustic Mixers, the pioneering developer and only manufacturer of this technology, is to create in the UK an internationally visible hotbed of innovation in sustainable processes and materials. It will be a globally unique, self-sustained resource to help researchers and industries kick-start green chemical manufacturing in the UK through innovative technologies, sustainable product portfolios and potentially creation of spin-outs. The potential to advance both research and sustainable manufacturing is evident by almost 50 Support Letters that provide a cross-section of potential users and problems that can be addressed at the RAM Facility. The letters come from a wide community, including senior and early career researchers from the UK and abroad, interdisciplinary centres, as well as UK and international SMEs and large industries. Letters also demonstrate alignment and complementarity with many UK research centres and national facilities.

The objectives of the RAM Facility are to enable and promote sustainability-oriented innovation in fundamental science and chemical manufacturing. This is summarised in a set of Science and Technology Challenges that will advance mechanochemistry for clean manufacturing, recycling and waste valorisation, discovery and development of materials for green, sustainable technologies (nanomaterials, battery materials, supercapacitors), and many other areas. This will advance diverse science disciplines (chemical, civil, and mechanical engineering, chemistry, physics, geosciences, metallurgy and materials, and applied mathematics) and industry sectors, including (but not limited to) additive manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, agricultural, chemical, defence, FMCG, food, green energy, and pharmaceutical sectors. Through small- and large pilot-scale instruments, the facility will uniquely support fundamental science of mechanochemistry and enable new concepts for sustainable manufacturing to be explored and immediately advanced to high TRLs. Only 10 pilot-scale systems have been installed in the world, all of them within industry sites, making our vision to place such a system into a truly "open" RAM Facility, centrally located, easily accessible and supported by dedicated staff, with access based on competitive and transparent research excellence, EDI and RRI criteria, truly transformative and of high impact for new sustainable technologies.

Publications

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Title Small-scale RAM instrument 
Description The LabRAM II instrument enables performing Resonant Acoustic Mixing at a scale of up to 500 grams, at accelerations of 0-100 g. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2024 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The availability of the fully accessible LabRAM II instrument indicates that the UK RAM Facility is capable of operating. 
 
Description RAM Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The RAM Workshop was the first in a series of regular annual workshops on the Resonant Acoustic Mixing (RAM) technology and its applications. It was organised in partnership with the instrumentation developer Resodyn, as outlined in the EPSRC project, and was a component of the Birmigham Symposium for Mechanochemistry and Sustainability, which enabled it to have a reach of approximately 100 participanst coming from different areas of industry and academia (students, post-doctoral researchers, PIs).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://uobsustmech.weebly.com/