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DEVELOPMENT OF A LOW-COST CARBON MATERIAL FROM CHAR OF PYROLYSIS OF POST-CONSUMER MIXED PLASTIC WASTE AND ITS APPLICATION TO EFFLUENT PURIFICATION (CARBOPLASTIC)
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
The overall objective of the proposed CARBOPLASTIC project is to develop new scientific knowledge, capability, technology, and commercial products for plastic-derived carbons; thus impacting the way that Spain uses and innovates with sustainable carbon materials.
The research project will evaluate the performance of carbon materials derived from char of pyrolysis of post-consumer mixed plastic waste in biogas upgrading to biomethane and wastewater treatment. It covers all chemical engineering aspects from precursors (the nature of plastic waste) to processing (thermochemical conversion, porosity development, chemical functionalization) and application (CO2 capture and removal of pollutants from wastewater).
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
Objective 1: Study the pyrolysis of post-consumer mixed plastic waste to produce valuable products.
Experiments will be carried out in order to:
• Optimize the operating conditions to valuable chemical production;
• Provide a better understanding of the pyrolysis process of post-consumer mixed plastic waste.
Objective 2: Screen properties of char byproduct.
A framework for the development of Pedagogical Process Simulators (P2Si) using explanatory models and gamification
The char will be fully characterized in terms of physical (surface area, porosity, etc.) and chemical (pH, elemental analysis, ash composition, etc.) properties.
Objective 3: Upgrade properties of char for developing novel low-cost carbon materials through a unique set of functionalization protocols.
Submitting the crude chars to an upgrading by means of physical (with CO2 and/or steam) and/or chemical (with NH3, H3PO4, etc.) activation processes. Carbon materials will be further characterized and compared with raw chars and commercial activated carbons, in terms of physicochemical, structural and morphological features.
Objective 4: Evaluate the resulting carbon materials in advanced applications as adsorbents (biogas upgrading and pollutants removal in aqueous phase).
Assessing of the performance of carbon materials by evaluating their capacity to remove CO2 from landfilling gas and heavy metals, hydrocarbons and emerging pollutants from wastewaters.
A study of the interactions between the adsorbates and the carbon materials will be also performed, as well as the capacity of these carbon materials to adhere bacteria and fungi forming pollutants degrading stable biofilms.
Objective 5: Assess the socio-economic and environmental impact of char production, upgrading and application.
A thorough life cycle assessment (LCA) of char-based materials production and its proposed application under two scenarios: 1) char production from pyrolysis of post-consumer mixed plastic waste and its application in biogas upgrading; and 2) char production from pyrolysis of post-consumer mixed plastic waste and its application in removal of pollutants from wastewaters using SimaPro®, EIOLCA® software and spreadsheet modeling. Based on the LCA results, a socio-economic and environmental assessment for the break-even and viability of this technology will be performed.
Graphical scheme of objective 1.
SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE
Graphical scheme of objectives 2, 3 and 4.
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