Projects
Multi-scale process intensification and functionality control for reactive extrusion towards sustainable polymer synthesis and recycling. Ghent University
Extruders are the working horse in the polymer processing industry to manufacture final polymeric materials. More recently the interest to employ them as chemical reactors has grown. Reactive extrusion (REX) is already successfully applied for bulk polymerization, and polymer modification such as radical grafting, crosslinking and controlled degradation. The main advantages are (i) the ability to cover highly viscous reaction media both for ...
(CIRCA) Circular plastics: advanced chemical recycling of plastic waste Ghent University
Mixed plastic waste streams are heavily dominated by polyolefin materials and their recycling is a challenge having a large societal significance. Chemical recycling via pyrolysis and steam cracking is seen as a promising technology for the recycling of mixed polyolefins into new plastics with identical properties to virgin grades. However, current technologies are not yet efficient from the economic and environmental standpoint. In fact, ...
(CIRCA) Circular plastics: advanced chemical recycling of plastic waste KU Leuven
Mixed plastic waste streams are heavily dominated by polyolefin materials and their recycling is a challenge having a large societal significance. Chemical recycling via pyrolysis and steam cracking is seen as a promising technology for the recycling of mixed polyolefins into new plastics with identical properties to virgin grades. However, current technologies are not yet efficient from the economic and environmental standpoint. In fact, ...
Model-based design of effective mechanical recycling of polyolefins and their blends with natural polymers. Ghent University
The long-term objective is to construct a framework for the less studied correlation between the morphology of a polymer blend and its mechanical or in general performance properties in view of circularity. The framework will form the basis for the development of an effective recycling route for polymer blends and will also be applied for the blending of synthetic and natural polymers. The aim is to develop (i) an effective recycling of ...
Chemical recycling of plastic waste: model-guided design and optimization of sorting and pyrolysis processes Ghent University
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues. Chemical recycling of plastic waste into pyrolysis oils, followed by steam cracking into platform molecules, overcomes the limitations of current recycling processes and is expected to become one of the main routes to boost circularity. However, plastic waste contains large amounts of contaminants, a.o. halogens, heteroatoms (N, S, O, P), and metals. Steam crackers ...
Advanced recycling of end-of-life tires to sustainable aviation fuels using supercritical water Ghent University
Advanced recycling can play a major role in valorizing the huge amount of waste tires. Liquid energy carriers produced from waste tires can be classified as sustainable aviation fuels due to their high biogenic content (up to 47%). This is not only a solution for waste tires but also increases the sustainability of air travel. Yet, advanced recycling of tires is still in its infancy and the application of oils produced by classical pyrolysis ...
Chemical recycling of plastic waste to oil in supercritical water Ghent University
Chemical recycling of plastic waste to oil followed by subsequent steam cracking into light olefins will become the main route for reduction of the escalating plastic waste crisis in the coming decade. Plastic waste contains a significant amount of contaminants in the form of heteroatomic compounds containing O, N, S, Cl and Br. Steam crackers have strict limits on these contaminant concentrations to ensure a high quality product and protect ...
Polylactones as polymers designed for chemical recycling to monomers: catalytic monomer synthesis, polymerization and depolymerization KU Leuven
Due to the rapidly changing circumstances for chemical feedstocks, adaptation of current processes are necessary. Ethylene is an important building block, as it is easily epoxidized and polymerized and when, due to recent advances in electrochemical synthesis of ethylene, made from carbon dioxide, also a sustainable building block. However, the ethylene-ethylene coupling reaction that synthesizes 1,3-conjugated dienes has not been thoroughly ...
Direct Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries (RecyLIB) Ghent University
The main objective of RecyLIB is to perform research and development activities towards establishing a
sustainable, low-energy, high performance and highly efficient manufacturing and recycling chain for LIBs.
The intention is to incorporate an advanced solventless melt electrode (re)manufacturing process and a
direct recycling approach (Electrohydraulic fragmentation EHF → centrifuge process → active material ...