PARTNERS
Ghent University
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At Ghent University, the OBIWAN project is coordinated by the Laboratory for Chemical Technology (LCT). The LCT's main areas of research are the optimisation of existing chemical processes and the development, intensification and upscaling of new technologies. A common theme in the various research projects is the development of multiscale models for reactions and reactors, with a particular focus on the interaction between kinetic and hydrodynamic phenomena. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models are used for the design and simulation of industrial reactors.
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The specific expertise of the LCT relevant to this project encompasses, on the one hand, the optimisation of catalysts (both experimentally and based on models) and the upscaling of catalytic processes (Prof. Joris Thybaut). On the other hand, there is the kinetic modelling of thermochemical reactions (Prof. Kevin Van Geem).​
Certech
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Certech is a recognised Walloon research centre. It supports companies in the chemical sector, particularly in the fields of the environment, polymer materials and chemical and industrial processes. The environment and sustainable development are integrated into the research projects and development carried out by the centre within the framework of an industrial partnership. Certech's actions are in line with the ‘circular economy’ approach. Certech has extensive experience in gas treatment and purification. It has the facilities to test various types of purification/separation processes that will be useful for this project.
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Certech's contribution focuses both on the characterisation of biogas (in particular the study of impurities) and its purification, as well as on the separation of methane and CO2 from biogas in order to meet the gas specification for hydrogen production from methane.
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
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The Catalysis and Solid State Chemistry Unit (UCCS, UMR 8181 of the CNRS) at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) is involved in the OBIWAN project. UCCS is a joint laboratory of the CNRS and its academic partners: the University of Lille, the Central Institute of Lille and the University of Artois. UCCS research focuses on two major scientific areas: energy and sustainable development, which are divided into three axes: heterogeneous catalysis, catalysis and molecular chemistry, and finally solid state chemistry. The unit's research activities focus on the catalytic valorisation of biomass and waste, fine chemistry, pollution treatment and new fuels.
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The CNRS's contribution to OBIWAN is focused on improving catalyst technology for the direct synthesis of methanol from CO2 extracted from biogas and H2 produced by the decomposition of methane. The research task includes the optimisation of Cu-Zn-based catalysts, the development of new catalyst formulations and the optimisation of the process.
Université de Technologie de Compiègne
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The research unit ‘Integrated Transformations of Renewable Matter’ (TIMR) brings together lecturers and researchers from the University of Technology of Compiègne (UTC) and the École Supérieure de Chimie Organique et Minérale (ESCOM). The Microbial Activity and Bioprocess (MAB) team consists of lecturers and researchers in biochemical engineering, organic chemistry and microbiology from both organisations. They are working on the development, optimisation and validation of tools for controlling microbial activity in bioprocesses such as wastewater treatment, anaerobic digestion for biogas production, soil remediation and antibacterial/antifungal agents for crop protection.
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In the project, the UTC team will mainly collaborate with colleagues from UniLaSalle on stabilising the chemical composition of biogas produced by the anaerobic digestion of different types of biomass, the availability and properties of which vary from season to season. UTC's contribution to this project mainly concerns the modelling of AD processes, taking into account the seasonal variation of substrates, in order to simulate the optimal conditions for the desired biogas composition, while UniLaSalle will focus more on pilot-scale experiments to provide information that feeds into the developed models and their validation.
Associated Partners
