Project 1. Capture and conversion of CO2: from nanoscale to process project
One of the main causes of global warming has been attributed to the escalation of the greenhouse effect, due to the increased concentration of carbon dioxide (among other gases) in the Earth’s atmosphere. Most power plants in the world operate by burning fuels, and exhaust gases are one of the main anthropogenic sources of CO2 emissions. Although there is an ongoing debate on the real role of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions on global warming, the amount of CO2 emitted is undoubtedly a potential raw material for producing organic molecules of interest, from fuels to high value-added polymers. However, there are several challenges to overcome in order CO2 is considered a feasible reagent. In addition to being a very oxidized and extremely stable molecule, in exhaust gases it is presented in low concentrations (5-14%, vol) at atmospheric pressure and usually along with other contaminants (water vapor, NOx, SOx, …). All these factors limit the separation of CO2 in a purity degree usually required for conversion. In this context, there is a growing interest of the scientific community to identify heterogeneous catalysts that convert CO2 into valuable molecules, which is currently an open and active field of research. A group of researchers linked to GP in Chemical Engineering (PGEQ/ UFC) has consolidated experience in the development of materials and processes focused on adsorption-based separations, focusing on CO2 capture. In the last 15 years, international collaborations have been established with the University of Malaga and the University of Leipzig. The research has not only experimental character (synthesis and characterization of materials), but also molecular scale phenomena simulation and the performance of the reaction and separation process itself. Concerning this last aspect, the PGEQ team initiated recent interactions with groups from the universities of Missouri, Melbourne and Alberta. We have also received contributions from researchers with a background in Chemistry, regarding the synthesis and characterization of solids with catalytic properties to convert CO2 into molecules of interest. In this particular aspect, there is an already international collaboration initiated with IRCE-Lyon. The main objective of this project is to consolidate a network of researchers of international excellence to investigate different and complementary aspects of the capture and conversion of CO2.
