Repositório do LNEG
Repositório Científico do Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia
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Optimised photocatalytic H2 production using nanostructured low cost and sustainable photocatalysts
Publication . Esteves, M. Alexandra; Brites, Maria João de Sousa; Capelo, Anabela; Pinheiro, Carla I.C.; Lanham, Ana; Ramos, Diana; Pedro, Guilherme
ABSTRACT: The SPECTRUM project aims to design, develop, prototype, and test lab-scale solar collectors that effectively utilise the entire solar spectrum to cogenerate heat, electricity and hydrogen. SPECTRUM Work package 1 is dedicated to the optimization of the photocatalytic process of industrial wastewater (IWW) treatment and hydrogen generation and is divided in four tasks. This deliverable D1.3 provides an account of the activities carried out in Task 1.3, “Optimization of Photocatalytic H₂ Production Process at Laboratory Scale,” as well as the results achieved during its duration. The photocatalysts developed in Task 1.2, “Development of nanostructured low cost and sustainable photocatalyst”, were tested for hydrogen production in a slurry type batch reactor using UV radiation as light source. In these preliminary assays, synthetic aqueous solutions containing ethanol or glycerol as sacrificial agent (SA) were used to test the performance of a first series of copper decorated TiO2 nanoparticles (NP) photocatalysts. A comprehensive series of experiments enabled the selection of the most effective photocatalyst, Cu-decorated TiO2 nanoparticles with 6 weight % of copper (Cu/TNP-6). This photocatalyst was then utilized with aqueous solutions of ethanol or glycerol to optimize three key operational parameters — pH, photocatalyst concentration, and sacrificial agent concentration. The same methodology was subsequently applied to evaluate the performance of two additional copper-based photocatalyst sets developed in Task 1.2: copper-decorated TiO₂ nanotubes and copper/biochar-decorated TiO₂ nanoparticles.
Development of nanostructured sustainable photocatalysts for industrial wastewater remediation with co-generation of H2
Publication . Esteves, M. Alexandra; Brites, Maria João de Sousa; Capelo, Anabela; Pasquini, Luca; Mazzaro, Raffaello
ABSTRACT: The SPECTRUM project aims to design, develop, prototype, and test lab-scale solar collectors that effectively utilize the entire solar spectrum to cogenerate heat, electricity and hydrogen using industrial wastewater. This report presents the results of the activities developed in Task 1.2 Development of nanostructured low cost and sustainable photocatalysts of SPECTRUM’s Work Package 1, Optimization of the photocatalytic process of wastewater treatment and hydrogen generation. One of the Specific Objectives (SO1) of the SPECTRUM project is to develop low cost and sustainable nanostructured photocatalysts for synergetic pollutants degradation and H2 generation. With this goal, nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photocatalysts were developed using copper as an efficient and economical co-catalyst, suitable for large-scale hydrogen production systems. Two series of copper-decorated TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized, one based on TiO2 nanoparticles (NP) (Series I) and another based on TiO2 nanotubes (NT) (Series II).
D4.1: NECP Man0EUvRE vision: Analyses of the NECPs of the considered countries
Publication . Charousset-Brignol, Sandrine; Calmels, Marie-Ann Evans; Arvesen, Anders; Kaltsas, Ilias; Kirkil, Gokhan; Gutjahr, Sandra Franziska; T.Szabó, Ágnes Csilla; Kochems, Johannes; Nienhaus, Kristina; Eschmann, Jonas; Baldauf, Thomas; Moskalenko, Nikita; Mantilla, Carlos; Lechón, Yolanda; Couto, António; Sousa, Viviane; Graça, Pedro; Mathisen, Siri; Estanqueiro, Ana
ABSTRACT: The development of the energy system at both national and European levels requires effective coordination between national and European energy transition plans, to ensure consistency. The overall aim of this project is to improve and coordinate energy system modelling across Europe and provide open scientific evidence and research-based results that facilitate ambitious emissions reductions for a clean energy transition (CET), while incorporating the measures suggested in REPowerEU and recent policy suggestions of the Fit for 55 package and the Net Zero Industrial act. The objectives of Man0EUvRE are: 1. To develop robust pathways for the European energy system that meet climate targets towards net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and consider current policies like the REPowerEU plan. 2. To provide feedback and advice to the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of the individual EU countries. 3. To improve a set of models for conducting energy transition studies at both European and national level, which can support NECP generation, evaluation and future updates. 4. To publish consistent energy system modelling datasets and scenario projections at both European and national level. 5. To strengthen the coordination between national energy plans and EU-wide transition goals. As part of the Clean Energy for all Europeans package, the EU member states have submitted national energy and climate plans (NECP) covering the period 2021-2030 and addressing how the country will work towards the binding targets common for the EU. NECPs are conducted in each member state individually, each one having its own representation of European strategies and pathways. One objective of Man0EuvRE was then to evaluate the current available NECPs or equivalent for countries included in Man0EuvRE, to develop a methodology for how Man0EUvRE models can be used in NECP analyses and how national results could be replicated to other countries, to communicate with stakeholders and to develop advice and recommendations to the NECP responsible in each country.
Man0EUvRE: Deliverable 3.1: Executive Summaries of Case Studies
Publication . Esmaeili Aliabadi, Danial; Mantilla, Carlos; Lechón, Yolanda; Haaskjold, Kristina; Sazon, Thor Alexis; Seljom, Pernille; Forsberg, Jonas; Krook Riekkola, Anna; Arvesen, Anders; Mathisen, Siri; Belsnes, Michael Martin; Nienhaus, Kristina; Baldauf, Thomas; Eschmann, Jonas; Kochems, Johannes; Gutjahr, Sandra Franziska; Kirkil, Gokhan; Kaltsas, Ilias; Kannavou, Maria; Charousset-Brignol, Sandrine; Couto, António; Estanqueiro, Ana; Sousa, Viviane; Graça, Pedro; Barani, Mostafa; Löffler, Konstantin
ABSTRACT: European energy systems across the case studies collectively show that Europe can become both self-reliant and an exporter of low-carbon energy carriers if policies and investments unlock regional strengths and the right flexibility instruments are put in place. Southern states with abundant solar energy (e.g. Portugal, Spain, Greece, Turkey) can scale renewables and electrolysis. Scandinavia’s hydropower offers system-scale flexibility that stabilises high variable renewable energy (VRE) penetration, and cross-model comparisons demonstrate that combining broad, cross-sectoral modelling with detailed power-system studies reveals complementary roles for exports, seasonal storage and short-term balancing. Studies of Germany and Hungary underline the critical role of dispatchable, negative-emission options—such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)—to avoid reliance on fossil backstops, while agent-based macroeconomic results show that changing global energy factor prices will reshape (not necessarily hollow out) industrial activity.
Upcycling post-consumer household textiles into a biodegradable thermoplastic
Publication . Rodrigues, Thomas; Matias, João; Moura, Patrícia; Abreu, Mariana; Gírio, Francisco; Braga, Adelaide; Dias, J. C.; Rovisco, Ana; Fortunato, Elvira; Torres, Cristiana A. V.; Reis, Maria A.; Marques, Susana; Freitas, Filomena; Silva, Carla J.
ABSTRACT: This study demonstrates the biological valorization of post-consumer cotton-based towels, a significant household textile waste stream, into poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) P(3HB), a biodegradable and biocompatible thermoplastic. The textile waste was mechanically defibrillated, and pre-treated by freezing in NaOH/urea, rendering the cellulose fibers more accessible to saccharification, which was achieved by hydrolysis with Cellic (R) CTec3 cellulase. The resulting hydrolysate, with a glucose concentration of 102.3 g/L, was used to supply glucose as the carbon source for the batch bioreactor cultivation of the bacterium Burkholderia thailandensis E264. With an initial glucose concentration of 40 g/L, a maximum P(3HB) production of 9.17 +/- 1.01 g/L was observed after 53 h of cultivation, corresponding to an overall volumetric productivity of 0.165 g/(L h) and a product yield of 0.218 g/g. The P(3HB) exhibited an average molecular weight of 497 kDa and a polydispersity index of 2.6, with melting and thermal degradation temperatures of 170 and 291 degrees C, respectively, crystallinity index of 78.8%. Importantly, its tensile properties (Young's Modulus of 563 +/- 62 MPa and tensile strength of 27 +/- 2 MPa) were comparable to P(3HB) produced by other bacteria, including commercial products. The findings of this study demonstrate the feasibility of upcycling cotton-based household waste into a value-added sustainable and biodegradable material with properties matching those of commercial thermoplastics.