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Technologies of the future: Simultaneous wastewater treatment and hydrogen production
Research and Innovation Centre Pro-Akademia participated in a meeting organised by the National Centre for Research and Development in Warsaw. The event brought together representatives of 25 European embassies and diplomatic missions interested in scientific and research cooperation with Polish partners within the framework of international programmes such as INNOGLOBO, EEA Funds, the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme and Horizon Europe.
RIC Pro-Akademia experts, Dr Marcin Siedlecki and Dr Sergii Bespalko, presented the results of our joint project with the German University of Technology in Oman - WASTE4H2. The aim of this project was to develop a technology that allows for the simultaneous treatment of wastewater and production of hydrogen. The solution can bring many benefits to both the environment and businesses.
Plasma electrolysis of solutionis a modern method of hydrogen production, which is potentially much more efficient than traditional water electrolysis and can produce hydrogen directly from wastewater rather than from pure water. During the process, organic compounds are broken down, resulting in the simultaneous production of hydrogen and wastewater treatment. Ultrasonic assistance increases the efficiency of both processes, which has so far achieved up to an 80% reduction in organic pollutants in the treated stream.
- A PVT (hybrid photovoltaic-thermal panels) system was used as the source of energy and heat to ensure "green" hydrogen and energy independence. Together with our partner from Oman, we developed an automated laboratory-scale flow reactor powered by this system. We tested the system in conditions similar to real-life ones, treating water contaminated with crude oil. In Oman, for every barrel of oil produced, as many as 9 barrels of wastewater are generated – explains WASTE4H2 Principal Investigator, Dr Marcin Siedlecki.
The main achievements of the project include, above all, the acquisition of new knowledge in the field of plasma electrolysis for the simultaneous production of hydrogen and wastewater treatment. This has made it possible to raise the technology readiness level from TRL3 to TRL4. Based on the results obtained, five scientific publications were prepared, four presentations were given at scientific conferences in Poland and Oman, one patent application was filed, and the CombiSonoPlasma® trademark was registered. The research carried out made it possible to define further directions for the development of the technology and to take steps to obtain funding for it. In addition, preliminary concepts for extending the application of the plasma electrolysis process, e.g. to the synthesis of various energy carriers, were developed.
More information about the WASTE4H2 project can be found at https://www.proakademia.eu/en/projects/135.html
Details of the meeting can be found on the website of the National Centre for Research and Development: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7398731509945253888/