- Current projects
- Past projects
-"Synthesis, characterization and
test of membranes for the separation of CO2 and purification of synthetic
natural gas (SNG)"
- "Development and study of a system based
on composite membranes for the purification of synthesis gas obtained
by gasification"
- "Effects of random defect distributions in
the barrier coating on the gas permeability of multilayer film"
- "Desulphurization of Natural Gas with Membranes
"
- CNR
-Synthesis, characterization and test of membranes for the separation
of CO2 and purification of synthetic natural gas (SNG)
Financed by ENEA MSE 2015
Unit coordinator: Prof. Maria Grazia De Angelis
The growing demand for natural gas has led research to consider methods
of production, in addition to the extraction, which make more secure
energy supply. Among the different methods is of particular interest
the conversion of coal, which is attractive from the economic point
of view, especially in regions with coal deposits too expensive for
direct exploitation. The synthetic natural gas (SNG) is a version, produced
by chemical reaction, of natural gas, which can be obtained from coal
(but also from biomass, waste or other material containing carbon) through
the gasification of the starting material, and subsequent methanation
of synthesis gas product. The SNG has proven to be an important contribution
to energy security and environmental sustainability, primarily because
it is a fuel that can be used in power plants more cleanly than coal,
and secondly because it can be distributed with existing infrastructure
. In addition, it reduces the dependence on countries extractors due
to general increased availability of coal than natural gas and oil.
However , downstream of the methanation process, the gaseous mixture
contains, in addition to the main component of interest ie methane,
also a number of other gases, including CO2 , H2 , N2 , water vapor
and traces of heavier hydrocarbons that must be separate to exploit
the full potential of the SNG . In this sense , the research activities
covered by the agreement has the aim of purifying the mixture containing
methane in order to help achieve the purity levels required by the gas
network .
The innovative technology used for this purpose will be that of the
membrane separation. The membranes are solid elements, in the form of
thin films, having the intrinsic ability to separate the components
of a gaseous mixture, on the basis of molecular size and chemical nature,
in presence of a sufficient driving force, usually represented by a
pressure gradient. In the process in question, to the membrane is supplied
a current of given flow rate, pressure and composition (and temperature),
which in part is rejected and form the so-called retentate, which is
at approximately the same feed pressure, and in part permeates through
the membrane to form the permeate, which is at atmospheric pressure
or lower (See Figure 1). Once the characteristics of the feed are fixed,
the characteristics of the permeate and, consequently, of the retentate
(flow, pressure and composition) depend only on the type of membrane
used, from its area and thickness, and on the operating conditions (pressure,
temperature, presence of impurities).
Report Ricerca di Sistema Elettrico
Accordo di Programma Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico - ENEA
Piano Annuale di Realizzazione 2014
Area: "Produzione di energia elettrica e protezione dell'ambiente"
Progetto: B.2 "Cattura
e sequestro della CO2 prodotta dall'utilizzo di combustibili fossili"
Obiettivo: b. "Studi e sperimentazioni concernenti la produzione
di SNG da CO e CO2"
-Development and study of a system based on composite membranes for the purification of synthesis gas obtained by gasification
Financed by SOTACARBO 2015-16 with INSTM
UDR Bologna proj INDBO01183
Unit coordinator: Prof. Maria Grazia De Angelis
The purpose of this contract is to provide Sotacarbo
innovative materials ( composite membranes of the original formulation
) , data ( preliminary characterization of the membranes ) and technical
support ( assistance in the design , development and use) to develop
a system to test , on a small scale, the feasibility of the process
in the composite membrane in the capture and removal of CO2 from the
synthesis gas obtained by gasification . The work is done within the
“Centre of Excellence on Clean energy” project , managed by
Sotacarbo S.p.A. and funded by the Regional Government of Sardinia.
Check for instance this publication ""Effect
of Graphene and Graphene Oxide Nanoplatelets on the Gas Permselectivity
and Aging Behavior of Poly(trimethylsilyl propyne) (PTMSP)"
-Effects of random defect distributions in the barrier coating
on the gas permeability of multilayer film
Financed by TETRAPAK
Unit coordinator: Prof. Marco Giacinti Baschetti
-Desulphurization of Natural Gas with Membranes
Financed by RENCO
Unit coordinator: Prof. Marco Giacinti Baschetti
-CNR 2014--
Unit coordinator: Prof. Ferruccio Doghieri
- NEWGENPAK Marie Curie Initial Training
Network
- MSE-ENEA 2011-2012
- BioHydro 2010-2011
- PRIN 08 Scaffolds 2010-2012
- BIOMATPACK COST Action
-NEWGENPAK Marie Curie Initial Training Network
Unit coordinator: Dr. Marco Giacinti Baschetti
"New Generation of Functional Cellulose Fibre Based
Packaging Materials for Sustainability"
The NEWGENPAK ITN is an interdisciplinary research training network of
8 European universities, 3 research institutes and 6 enterprises, three
of which are Full partners. Its primary aim is to create a European training
network designed to improve the career prospects of its 10 ESRs and 2
ERs in both the public and private sector. The network will deliver a
joint multidisciplinary research training programme which will encourage
and foster the growth of the researcher's skills in scientific expertise,
technological knowledge and professional aptitude. The key vehicle in
this strategy is a supervised personal, original research project in a
critical aspect of sustainable packaging.
The network has been designed to achieve the following objectives (i)
to conduct top-level research and training and devise innovative solutions
for specific EU needs in the area of sustainable packaging, (ii) to advance
the state-of-the-art in wood cellulose based sustainable packaging in
three specific areas (a) next generation packaging composites, (b) cellulose-fibre
based active packaging and (c) environmental, economic and societal aspects
of packaging production, (iii) to educate the next generation of researchers
inside a broad European research training network which includes universities,
research centres and industry, thereby accelerating the researchers advancement
to team leader status, (iv) to improve the career prospects of ERs and
ESRs through complementary training such as; writing and presentation
skills; language, effective communication and collaboration; project management
and finance; project/product cycles; entrepreneurship; IPR, (v) to create
an integrated, long-term sustainable packaging research and training base
in the EU by bringing together universities, research institutes and industrial
players active in key research disciplines.
Project Acronym: NEWGENPAK
Project Reference: 290098
Start Date: 2011-12-01
Duration: 48 months
Project Cost: 3.19 million euro
Contract Type: Networks for Initial Training (ITN)
End Date: 2015-11-30
Project Status: Execution
Project Funding: 3.19 million euro
Press:
Sheffield University
website
Horizon
2020
Postcodegazette
Participants:
IMERYS MINERALS LTD UNITED KINGDOM
AZIENDA SPECIALE INNOVHUB - STAZIONI SPERIMENTALI PER L'INDUSTRIA ITALY
CHESAPEAKE LIMITED UNITED KINGDOM
INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DEL EMBALAJE, TRANSPORTE Y LOGISTICA SPAIN
ZACHODNIOPOMORSKI UNIWERSYTET TECHNOLOGICZNY W SZCZECINIE POLAND
DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET DENMARK
BUMAGA BV NETHERLANDS
INSTITUT POLYTECHNIQUE DE GRENOBLE FRANCE
KARLSTADS UNIVERSITET SWEDEN
PAPIERTECHNISCHE STIFTUNG GERMANY
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM-UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA ITALY
-Accordo di Programma MSE-ENEA sulla Ricerca di Sistema Elettrico
Piano Annuale di Realizzazione 2011
Progetto 2.1.2 "Studi sulla Produzione Elettrica Locale da Biomasse
e Scarti"
"Studio di membrane polimeriche e processi a membrana per l'arricchimento
in metano del biogas"
I temi sviluppati nell'ambito del presente accordo di collaborazione tra ENEA e il Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, Mineraria e delle Tecnologie Ambientali dell'Università di Bologna riguardano un'analisi sperimentale di membrane polimeriche commerciali e non atte alla separazione della CO2 da metano, al fine di valutarne le potenzialità in condizioni il più possibile simili a quelle di reale utilizzo.
-BioHydro 2010-2011
Unit coordinator: Dr. Marco Giacinti Baschetti
"Combined biological production of methane and hydrogen
from wastes of the agro-food industry (Bio-Hydro)"
Bio-Hydro
is a research project involving three departments of the University of
Bologna (Italy) together with the Hera Group , a multi-utility company
managing services related to the water cycle, energy distribution and
the management of environmental services in the Emilia Romagna region
in Northern Italy. Bio-Hydro is financed by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Forestry (MIPAAF).
The project is aimed at developing a process for the combined biological production of hydrogen from the fermentation of wastes of the agro-food industry, and methane from the co-digestion of the organic residuals of the hydrogen production step together with other organic wastes, such as the manure or the organic fraction of urban solid waste. The main goal is the optimization of key sections of the production process, coupling the study of the biological reaction with the optimal design of the reactors and separation units to be utilized in the production phase.
With regard to the hydrogen-production step, the project aimes at increasing the H2 productivity by the use of biofilm reactors, as well as by placing a membrane separation system in the reactors recycling line. Indeed, this system can provide an efficient hydrogen removal from the reaction environment, in order to avoid the inhibition of the activity of hydrogen-producing bacteria and to prevent H2 consumption through interspecies microbial transfer.
The final aim of the project is to implement a lab-scale system for hydrogen and methane production from wastes of the agricultural and food industry, and to design the process scale-up to a pilot scale for pre-industrial applications. To obtain this result, the project has been divided in 7 research lines and 12 work-packages.
The research activity of the diffusion in pollymers groups is in RU 2:
Separation processes
Partners: University of Bologna – Dept. of Civil, Environmental and
Material Engineering, Dept. of Evolutionary and Experimental Biology,
HERA,
-PRIN 08 (2010-2011)
Local coordinator: Dr. Maria Grazia De Angelis
"Characterization and macroscopic modeling of the thermodynamic
behavior of binary and ternary polymers/solvent mixtures for the fabrication
of biomedical devices through thermally induced phase separation (TIPS)"
National project title INGEGNERIZZAZIONE E BIOFUNZIONALIZZAZIONE
DI SCAFFOLD PER INGEGNERIA DEI TESSUTI ( 20089CWS4C )
Partners:
BRUCATO Valerio (PALERMO)
GRISTINA Roberto (CNR)
NETTI Paolo Antonio (NAPOLI "Federico II") COORDINATOR
PRICL Sabrina (TRIESTE)
The availability of thermodynamic models suitable for the description
of the phase separation process both for correlation of experimental data
or as predictive tools is indeed very important to achieve the project
goals. These can be resumed in the development,of process-structure relationships
for scaffolds obtained through the TIPS technique in order to implement
suitable tools for product-oriented optimization of the phase separation
process.
The activities of the Research Unit will start testing the potentialities
of different existing thermodynamic models, which proved to be suitable
for description of polymeric systems. The most promising models will then
be chosen and further analyzed considering the systems of direct interest
for the project whose data will be measured by the different Research
Units.
tissues or organs for transplantations. Several strategies currently considered
for natural tissues production are based on the creation of an extra cellular
matrix (ECM) composed of selective, tissue-specific, cells on synthetic
biodegradable polymeric scaffolds.
These scaffolds are porous materials that provide a three-dimensional
framework for selective cell growth and facilitate the formation of new
tissue; ideally, they should be highly porous, with adequate mechanical
stability, and with interconnected structures to permit cell penetration
and in-growth , however depending on the tissue of interest and the specific
application, the required scaffold material and its properties can be
quite different.
Different techniques have been developed for the fabrication of porous
biodegradable polymers useful for cell transplantation: emulsion freeze
drying , solvent casting/salt leaching , phase separation, gas foaming
and other methods all intended to generate large open porous matrices
for penetration and in-growth of bone and cartilage cells.
A very attractive method already utilized to fabricate microporous membranes
or microcellular foams is the thermally induced phase separation (TIPS).
This technique is based on the principle that a single homogeneous polymer
solution, made at elevated temperature, is destabilized lowering the temperature
and converted to two-phase separated domains composed of a polymer-rich
phase and a polymer-lean phase. Microporous structures are then produced
via solvent removal through freeze-drying of the phase-separated polymer
solution.
Many studies suggests that pore size distribution and the interconnectivity
of the resultant microcellular foams are determined by a number of parameters
such as polymer concentration, quenching route, quenching depth, solvent/nonsolvent
composition, and the presence of additives.
It can be said, however, that polymer foam morphology strongly depends
on the final thermodynamic state of the polymer solution to be thermally
quenched.
According to whether the quenching end point is located in the metastable
region between binodal and spinodal curves or in the unstable region within
the spinodal curve, two distinctive morphologies can be obtained: a poorly
interconnected bead-like or a well-interconnected open porous structure
. It results thus of primary importance for the production of new and
more efficient scaffolds the ability of predicting phase behavior of different
polymer-solvent mixture in binary and multicomponent systems.
The existing thermodynamic models for the prediction of the polymer solution
properties can be classified into two main categories: activity coefficient
models and equations of state. Among the former one can recall the universal
quasi chemical (UNIQUAC) or the non random two liquids (NTRL) equations
that are widely used due to their flexibility and the high precision they
can reach for data correlation in the analysis of condensed phases.
Currently many different models exist that have the ability of describing
the phase behavior of complex mixtures, but the prediction of the properties
of such mixture based on pure component data is still an open issue and
the importance of different parameters on the stability of the mixtures
is still under investigation.
A multiscale method that increases the predictive ability of existing
models has been proposed in the literature and invokes the use of molecular
simulations to evaluate the characteristic parameters for the substances
of interest. These values are then used by the macroscopic tools that
allow to compute mixture properties with a considerably smaller amount
of CPU time than molecular simulations.
The present project wants to the reliability and predictive ability of
existing thermodynamic models in order investigate their possible application
to the description of the spinodal and binodal curves, as well as the
other properties, of the polymer solvent mixtures of interest in the production
of biodegradable scaffolds. The final aim is to build a procedure, based
on existing models or on their appropriate modification, to be applied
to TIPS technique for scaffolds formation in order to optimize the process
condition and improve the product performances for each possible application.
"Impact of Renewable Materials in Packaging for Sustainability:
Development of Renewable Fibre and Bio-based materials for New Packaging
Applications"
Official website
COST Action FP1003 is a European network of universities, research organisations
and industrial partners engaged in the forest sector value chain and will
reduce environmental impact thus making it of potentially great importance
for contributing to European policy. To fully understand the benefits
it is important to assess the solutions from a sustainability point-of-view
taking account of the total packaging value chain. That is why the Action
also addresses research in e.g. value chain efficiency, end-of-life and
supply of raw material.. It generates a trans-european cooperation aiming
at developing scenarios about the future of paper recycling within Europe
and the role recovered paper and board will play as a raw material source
for the European paper industry.
Paper and board are made from renewable resources and are low carbon footprint materials, therefore giving them an environmental advantage compared to other materials. However, in packaging applications, paper and board are nearly always used in combination with non renewable materials; e.g. barrier materials derived from oil based plastics or aluminium. To give the forest industry a competitive edge this Action will focus on packaging solutions based entirely on renewable resources in order to remove the serious disadvantages associated with future paper and board packaging solutions that continue to rely on non renewable materials. The Action will explore possibilities that the forest itself can offer as a raw material base for different components within a given package, thus exploring the full potential of the fibres. The Action is an opportunity and a strategic objective for the forest sector value chain and will reduce environmental impact thus making it of potentially great importance for contributing to European policy. To fully understand the benefits it is important to assess the solutions from a sustainability point-of-view taking account of the total packaging value chain. That is why the Action also addresses research in e.g. value chain efficiency, end-of-life and supply of raw material.
- Vigoni 2010-2011
-Sustainpack (FP6, 2004-2008)
-Multimat Design (FP6, 2005-2008)
-FISR Idrogeno
Vigoni 2010-2011
Local coordinator: Dr. Maria Grazia De Angelis
"Multiscale approaches for the prediction of gas solubility
in high performance polymers"
Partners: Dr. Matthias Heuchel, GKSS, Teltow, Germany
The main idea of the present work is it to apply molecular simulation
tools for polymers in a hierarchical, multiscale approach to predict physical
parameters for the polymers which can be used later in a macroscopic thermodynamic
model (Non Equilibrium theory for glassy Polymers, NET-GP) for the quick
prediction of gas solubilities in these polymers. If this new concept
works, time-consuming pVT-measurements, general necessary for the parameter
description, could be avoided. The project combines the experience in
atomistic modelling of polymers at GKSS in Teltow with the thermodynamic
knowledge of the Bologna group which has developed the NET-GP model.
The solubility of fluids in polymers is an essential design parameter
for the development of new structures of polymers or new technologies
of polymer processing. Examples are polymer foams, and the respective
foaming-processes, controlled release devices, and selective membranes.
In all cases it is necessary to know the specific fluid sorption and transport
properties. It would be extremely desirable to evaluate the material sorption
properties starting from the molecular structure of the polymer.
If the concept of using purely simulated input parameter for solubility
prediction with the NET-GP model can be successfully proved, then very
expensive experimental investigation of fluid/polymer systems can be avoided.
Examples for polymers are high free volume glassy polymers, that are characterized
by extremely rigid and stiff backbones (PTMSP and substituted polyacetylenes,
polyimides, polynorbornenes), whose exceptionally high values of fluid
solubility and permeability can be helpful in many fields. The information
about their equilibrium behavior is generally poor because they degrade
before reaching the glass transition temperature, and the equilibrium
data needed to evaluate the model parameters cannot be obtained experimentally.
Sustainpack
"The largest research project for fibre-based packaging
ever undertaken".
A research project supported by the European Commission under the Sixth
Framework Programme, Sustainpack, which began in June 2004, consists of
6 major research activities which incorporate the use of nanotechnology
to improve a specific aspect of the packaging supply chain.
UNIBO takes part to sub-Project 3, whose main goal is to develop composite
films based on renewable polymers which can be used as a single layer
in packaging applications, removing the need for lamination to other materials.
The resulting composite films must exhibit good barrier and selective
permeability properties, with thermal, mechanical and optical properties
that make them attractive to the industry as well as the consumer (e.g.transparent
paper etc).
In order to develop such innovative materials, combinations of several
renewable polymers with different additives are to be studied by the different
groups. Three different approaches have been taken:
1. The first is the development of combinations of mineral nanoparticles
from clay (known as nanoclays) with blends of polymers.
2. Secondly, new materials will be developed by combining renewable polymers
with nanofibres. For this purpose, various processes to obtain nanofibres
will be researched.
3. Thirdly, both nanofibres and nanoclays will combined with polymers.
The materials developed will be characterised in terms of their barrier,
optical, thermal and mechanical properties and their suitability as food
contacting materials will be assessed. Finally, the commercial processing
and scale up conditions from laboratory level will be optimised. The renewable
materials will be combined with nanofibres (provided by STFI-Packforsk)
and commercial nanoparticles (coming later from developments by Sub-Project
2) using different processing techniques such as
melt-mixing, in situ polymerisation and solution casting.
Seven different materials have been chosen:
• polylactic acid (PLA)
• polycaprolactone (PCL)
• starch
• gluten
• polyhydroxybutyrate-polyhydroxyvalearte
(PHB-PHV)
• chitosan
• gelatine.
UNIBO is involved in the characterization and modeling of the gas barrier
properties of composite films.
Read the newsletter
http://www.sustainpack.com
Partners: A&F (The Netherlands); CSIC (Spain); Ahlstrom
(Finland), PIRA (UK), ITENE (Spain), KCL (Finland), KTH (Sweden), Risoe
(Denmark), STFI-Packforsk (Sweden), STU (Slovakia).
- Multimat Design
"Computer aided molecular
design of multifunctional materials with controlled permeability properties"
A research project supported by the European Commission under the Sixth
Framework Programme, Multimat Design has started on March 1st, 2005, and
sees the participation of the following partners, among the others:
GKSS
Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH, Germany, Coordinator;
Air Liquide SA, France;
Accelrys Limited (former Molecular Simulations Limited, MSI), United Kingdom;
National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Greece;
Research Institute on Membranes and Modeling of Chemical Reactors (CNR-IRMERC),
iTALY
Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Russia
Leiden University, The Netherlands
MatSim, Switzerland
Politechnic of Milan, Italy
UNIBO was involved in experimental characterization and modeling of
water vapor transport in Hyflon Ion (Aquivion) membranes for fuel cells,
and of mixed matrices based on Amorphous Teflon and fumed silica for gas
separation.