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Design and development of unconventional catalytic conversion processes using electrons, photons, and microorganisms

Problem statement

Our long-term commitment to sustainability and a circular carbon economy involves unconventional catalytic conversion processes. We study various processes assisted by electrons, photons, or microorganisms to produce biofuels, chemicals, electricity, or treated water. For example, bio-electro-chemical systems, including microbial fuel cells (MFCs), electrolysis cells (MECs), and photo-assisted cells (PA-MECs), are promising technologies to simultaneously produce renewable energy and clean wastewater using active microorganisms as biocatalysts.

Our work aims to synthesize multi-functional catalysts and reactors to enhance electrical conductivity, photo-efficiency, microbiological affinity, porosity, hydrophilicity, and surface area for carbonaceous electrodes. We work with materials such as graphene oxide, metallic nanoparticles, nitride and carbide basic materials, and MXenes.

We consider new platform technologies to produce renewable biofuel and chemicals and treat wastewater using the nanotechnology and reaction engineering approach as an innovative combination to increase the productivity of these processes.

Goals

  • Develop and scale up electro-photo-bio-catalyst and -reactors
  • Propose novel processes to clean wastewater and produce electricity, chemicals, and bio-hydrogen
  • Model and simulate fuel cell performance
  • Use innovative catalysts (anode and cathode material) and reactor designs to improve fuel cell performance
EPB2023

Related People

Hend Omar Mohamed
Pewee Datoo Kolubah

Related Publications

Co–TiO2 supported on reduced graphene oxide as a highly active and stable photocatalyst for hydrogen generation

by Moustafa, Velisoju, Mohamed, Obaid, Kolubah, Yao, Ghaffour, Castaño
Fuel Year: 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.127232

Abstract

We have developed a highly active and stable catalyst based on Co and TiO2 nanoparticles anchored on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets for the photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water splitting. The catalyst was prepared using a novel methodology involving the modified Hummers approach followed by pyrolysis. The crystallinities, morphologies, optical properties, and chemical structures of the synthesized catalysts were investigated using different characterization techniques. The photocatalytic activity was investigated under UV–vis spectroscopy in solutions containing different Na2S + Na2SO3 concentrations and methanol as hole scavengers. The optimized composite that comprises Co: TiO2:rGO (1:6:10) shows a 2.5-fold improvement in the catalyst efficiency under UV–vis compared to bare TiO2, and it was recycled with the same activity for three cycles. This remarkable improvement in the photocatalytic activity of the developed nanocomposites compared to TiO2 can be attributed to the improved capacity of the nanocomposites to absorb visible light and efficiently separate charge carriers at the interface.

Keywords

EPB HCE