Abstract
The overall objective of GREEN Hydrogen frOm Urea rich waStewater using novel catalytic processEs (GREENHOUSE) is to develop a novel proof-of-concept catalytic process to produce green hydrogen (H2) from urea-rich wastewater. The new process will address two major challenges, 1) sustainable production of green H2 using non-critical renewable N-based raw material and 2) valorization of highly polluting urea-rich livestock waste that are detrimental for the pH of the soil, ground water and agriculture. H2 is one of the most promising alternatives to fossil fuels. However, the green credentials of H2 depends on the method of production. Currently, steam reforming of carbon-rich fossil fuels dominates the industrial production of H2. In spite of huge progress in the production of H2 via water splitting using photons, electrons, thermal energy or their combination, these methodologies accounts only for 3.9% of total H2 production. There are a number of challenges that needs to be addressed before any of these technologies can be employed on large-scale. Therefore, it is critical to develop novel, complementary, processes to produce green H2 to meet the anticipated future demand. The GREENHOUSE project will develop novel catalytic process to produce green H2 from livestock-derived nitrogen containing waste that create major environmental pollution resulting in soil acidification, smog formation in dense, urbanized regions. Urea (NH2)2CO, one of the main components of agricultural and farm wastewater, hydrolyses to ammonium (NH4+) ions which further decomposes to nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas, via the nitrification-denitrification processes. These products affect the pH of the soil, which in turn affects the agriculture productivity, consequently government regulations are in place to control the amount of ammonium in soil. The GREENHOUSE will develop novel catalytic reforming technology to convert this polluting N-containing waste into green H2, which can be used as fuel and/or to produce chemicals. Recent advancements in the areas of single-atom catalysis, controlled synthesis of supported multi-metallic clusters and nanoparticles based catalysts enabled us to propose this ambitious catalytic waste-to-energy project. GREENHOUSE will make a step-change in addressing the energy and environmental challenges by developing novel catalytic technologies to convert the urea-rich animal farm-waste, a non-critical feedstock, to generate green H2. The outcome of this project will significantly contribute to the decarbonization of the energy sector whilst mitigating the negative impacts of animal waste on the environment in general and agricultural soil in particular.
Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Nikolaos Dimitratos
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari"
Coordinator:
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università di Bologna(Italy)
Total Eu Contribution: Euro (EUR) 203.430,00
Total Unibo Contribution: Euro (EUR) 109.986,00
Project Duration in months: 24
Start Date:
16/10/2023
End Date:
25/02/2026
