Centre of Excellence in Chemical Engineering and Bioprocesses will aim to adapt the infrastructure and competences of chemical engineering and related fields of science to the solution of the main challenges of the future European society – in the fields of energy supply, climate change, development of non-traditional functional materials, health and environmental protection.
The activities planned at the Center of Excellence in Chemical Engineering and Bioprocesses are interdisciplinary and include the fields of organic, inorganic, polymer chemistry, chemical engineering, process control and modeling, and are aimed at the improvement of synthesis methods of various classes of materials, detailed studies of the properties of the obtained products and their use in modern production technologies. Modern synthesis methods will result in new efficient smart and functional materials and their promising derivatives (polymeric and supramolecular materials, organic compounds, oxide layers of various structures). In order to develop the technologies for the creation of these chemical substances, the Center will implement 3 activities. 1) the creation of new effective biopolymeric and composite materials and their production technology; 2) creation of an original automated flow line for the synthesis of new potentially biologically active heterocyclic derivatives; 3) development of materials of targeted purpose, controlled composition and properties and their production technologies by applying processes that reduce CO2 emissions into the environment.
Project funding:
This research project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund according to the 2014–2020 Operational Programme for the European Union Funds’ Investments under measure No. 01.2.2-CPVA-K-703 “Strengthening of Activities of Competence Centres’ and Innovation and Technology Transfer Centers’ “.
Project results:
During the project activities, several types of natural polysaccharides (starch, cellulose) were modified with anhydrides in two stages. Technologies for obtaining new thermoplastics from chemically modified polysaccharides and their composites have been developed. The most suitable plasticizers (triacetin, triethylcitrate, polyethylene glycol) are selected, which are harmless to humans, nature, and biodegradable. The production technology of a thermoplastic biopolymer composite with inorganic fillers was developed, using mineral fillers: the created Si-Al-F:38-0.25-0.5 prototype and an opac. So far, no such composites have been created, two patent applications have been submitted: No. LT2023 517 and No. EP23168230.3.
The work also developed an original automated flow line for the synthesis of new potentially biologically active heterocyclic derivatives. After comparing its results with conventional synthesis in flasks, it was found that the methodology developed during the project is more productive and sustainable, i.e., due to better heat transfer and a possible higher reaction temperature, higher product yields are obtained, reaction time is shortened, the amount of chemical waste, energy consumption and costs are reduced, resources are saved.
In order to use contaminated silica gel in the production of Ca/Si composites, the following studies were carried out. 1) the physical and chemical properties of contaminated silica gel were determined. 2) silica gel was used for two-stage (hydrothermal synthesis of calcium silicate hydrates and their combustion ?900 °C) synthesis of wollastonite; 3) based on the received synthesis results, the silica gel processing technology is prepared; 4) conducted studies on the treatment of contaminated silica gel. During the research, different additives, thermal and mechanical processing were used, which allow the creation of products with different compositions. The technological parameters of binding materials and concrete hardening in a CO2 environment have been determined.
Period of project implementation: 2020-04-15 - 2023-04-30
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
