Conversion of Waste to Catalysts and other Value-added Products

将废物转化为催化剂和其他增值产品

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-03882
• 负责人: Hill, Josephine
• 金额: $ 4.01万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=716640
• 关键词: Conversion; Waste; Catalysts; other; Value

"What if waste wasn't?" is a slogan used by several companies to challenge our view of the byproducts from different processes. Even if a process was 100% efficient, all products deteriorate over time and so waste would still be generated. Ideally the byproducts and spent products could be reused in the same or a different process (the so called "circular economy"). Waste materials represent tremendous resources that are inexpensive, accessible, and abundant. Because waste contains many different components, however, the materials generally cannot directly replace pure feedstocks in existing processes. The process and the waste material must be carefully matched to consider the compositions, reactions, and possible interactions throughout the entire system. Even after careful matching, the waste materials may require some processing before being reused. In my research group, we have developed new methods to prepare catalysts from waste materials. Catalysts are substances that increase reaction rates and selectively produce desired products. Used in 90% of all industrial processes, catalysts cannot only be prepared from the millions of tonnes of waste that are available but also convert this waste to value-added products. This proposal describes my plans to reuse two waste products that are primarily made of carbon - petroleum coke produced from heavy oil and bitumen processing, and carbon black from recycled tires. The petroleum coke will be converted to i. solid acid catalysts for the conversion of waste plastics to carbon fibres and nanotubes, and ii. sulfide catalysts that can be used to partially upgrade bitumen to increase its value and make it more easily transportable. The carbon black will be added to cement to catalyze the hydration reactions and ultimately improve the qualities of the concrete. The latter application is a natural extension of our work with carbon. We will continue to explore applications for which carbon-based waste materials are suitable. Through this work, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate students will be trained to conduct thorough, impactful research by preparing, characterizing, and testing different catalysts. Teamwork and collaboration will promote communication and facilitate diverse ways of approaching different problems. These are all skills that are required by industry to maintain a strong and innovative workforce and stimulate the Canadian economy.

“如果没有浪费怎么办？”这是多家公司使用的口号，以挑战我们对不同流程副产品的看法。即使流程 100% 有效，所有产品都会随着时间的推移而变质，因此仍然会产生废物。理想情况下，副产品和废产品可以在相同或不同的过程中重复使用（所谓的“循环经济”）。废料代表着巨大的资源，廉价、易得且丰富。然而，由于废物含有许多不同的成分，这些材料通常不能直接替代现有工艺中的纯原料。工艺和废料必须仔细匹配，以考虑整个系统的成分、反应和可能的相互作用。即使经过仔细匹配，废料在重新使用之前也可能需要进行一些处理。 在我的研究小组中，我们开发了从废料中制备催化剂的新方法。催化剂是提高反应速率并选择性地产生所需产物的物质。催化剂用于 90% 的工业流程，不仅可以从数百万吨可用废物中制备，还可以将这些废物转化为增值产品。该提案描述了我计划再利用两种主要由碳制成的废物——重油和沥青加工中产生的石油焦，以及回收轮胎中产生的炭黑。石油焦将转化为 i。用于将废塑料转化为碳纤维和纳米管的固体酸催化剂，以及ii．硫化物催化剂可用于部分升级沥青，以增加其价值并使其更易于运输。炭黑将添加到水泥中以催化水化反应并最终提高混凝土的质量。后一种应用是我们碳工作的自然延伸。我们将继续探索碳基废料的适合应用。 通过这项工作，博士后研究员、研究生和本科生将接受培训，通过准备、表征和测试不同的催化剂来进行彻底、有影响力的研究。团队合作和协作将促进沟通并促进解决不同问题的多种方式。这些都是工业界维持强大和创新的劳动力队伍并刺激加拿大经济所需的技能。