Bio-based porous materials for hydrogen storage and environmental applications

The project addresses an innovative and multidisciplinary idea that can open up further advances in the field of high-tech bio-based products, wastes conversion, porous materials, alternative energy storage, environmental remediation and sustainable design. This project aims to valorise a bio-based active rich carbon by-product, resulted as a solid phase from thermochemical conversion of biomass wastes, into an unprecedented polymeric cryogel with tailored porosity. The porosity and geometry of the new bio-based material can be controlled within broad limits of the experimental parameters specific to each stage and according with targeted applications. The research activities proposed in the project, also involve extensive testing and applications of the achieved composites in two high interest current trends: (i) in the fields of clean/renewable energy sources for hydrogen storage and (ii) in reducing the environmental impact (promising substrate in wastewater/gas streams purification). All the research will be conducted using the latest state of the art analytical tools, jointly agreed standard procedures and specific investigation and characterization tools (TGA, FT-IR, XPS, DLS, BET, SEM/TEM and AFM). The proposal goal is timely and in line with two important in progress EU initiatives: Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (bbi.europa.eu) and Hydrogen Europe (hydrogeneurope.eu).

Project concept

Project Dissemination:

5 articles published in ISI ranked journals (Q1 and Q2).
4 works communicated at international conferences.
3 scientific reports.
1 webpage.