The project is funded by the Foundation for Polish Science within the POWROTY/2016 – 1/5.

 

The transition to sustainable energy systems is no longer optional—it is essential for reducing emissions, improving air quality, and enabling a secure energy supply in urban environments. While biofuels and alternative fuels offer a promising pathway beyond fossil resources, their efficient and clean utilization still depends on advanced conversion and emission-control technologies [1–8].

The Waste2Fuel project addresses this challenge by transforming waste into high-value energy carriers, such as syngas and biofuels, using next-generation, intelligent catalytic materials. The project focuses on designing advanced nanostructured catalysts with reduced noble metal content, enhanced resistance to deactivation, and improved long-term stability. Particular emphasis is placed on waste-derived fuels, catalyst durability under realistic operating conditions, and innovative synthesis routes for scalable nanomaterials.

A key innovation of the project lies in linking the catalyst structure directly with performance under reaction conditions. Detailed analysis of surface composition and dynamic transformations of active phases enables precise control of activity, selectivity, and resistance to poisoning and deactivation. This mechanistic understanding is essential for optimizing waste-to-fuel conversion efficiency and improving overall process reliability.

Building on extensive experience in catalytic systems for methane dry reforming, pollutant abatement (CO and NOₓ), and soot oxidation [9–12], the project advances a system-level approach combining catalyst design, nanostructuring, and process optimization. The outcome is a new generation of robust catalytic solutions enabling more efficient waste valorization and cleaner energy production.

 

References

[1] G.R. Kale, T.M. Gaikwad, ISRN Thermodynamics, 2014 (2014) Article ID 929676.

[2] T.W. Kerlin, Future Energy: Opportunities and Challenges, ISBN: 978-1-937560-28-7, ISA 2013.

[3] K.D. Oliveira-Vigier, N. Abatzoglou, F. Gitzhofer, Canadian J. Chem. Eng., 83 (2005) 978.

[4] D. Pakharea, J. Spivey, Chem. Soc. Rev., 43 (2014 ) 7813-7837.

[5] W. Wang, Y. Wang, Int. J. Hydr. En., 34 (2009) 5382.

[6] J. Wei, E. Iglesia, J. Catal., 224 (2004) 370-383.

[7] A. Zawadzki, J.D.A. Bellido, A.F. Lucrédio, E.M. Assaf, Fuel Proc. Tech., 128 (2014) 432.

[8] G.A. Olah, A. Goeppert, G.K.S. Prakash, Beyond Oil and Gas: The Methanol Economy, 2nd updated and enlarged ed.; Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, Germany, 2009.

[9] F. Nemry, G. Leduc, I. Mongelli, A. Uihlein, JRC Scientific and Technical Reports, ISBN: 978-92-79-07694-7, (2008).

[10] I. S.Pieta, PhD thesis, Universidad de Málaga, Spain (2011).

[11] http://www3.epa.gov/chp/documents/catalog_chptech_2.pdf.

[12] I. S.Pieta, W. S.Epling, A. Kazmierczuk, P. Lisowski, R. Nowakowski, E. M. Serwicka, Catalysts 2018, 8(3), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal8030113, Waste into Fuel—Catalyst and Process Development for MSW Valorization.

 

 

The project funded by the National Science Centre, Poland within the programme SONATA-2013/11/D/ST 5/03007.

 

Growing environmental concerns and tightening regulations on petroleum-based fuels are accelerating the shift toward clean and sustainable energy technologies. Biofuels, particularly second-generation alternatives, offer a promising pathway for reducing emissions across transport, power generation, and domestic heating. Compared to conventional fuels, they produce negligible particulate matter, no sulfur oxides, and significantly lower nitrogen oxides—yet their efficient use depends on advanced conversion technologies.

Steam reforming remains a key industrial route for hydrogen production, but its environmental footprint and catalyst limitations continue to challenge its wider sustainability. Recent research has therefore focused intensively on developing highly active, durable, and stable catalytic systems capable of enabling cleaner and more efficient hydrogen generation.

In this context, the NCN Sonata project addresses these challenges through the design of intelligent, multicomponent nanocatalysts for the steam reforming of next-generation biofuels such as dimethyl ether (DME). By combining reduced noble metal content with enhanced resistance to deactivation and sulfur poisoning, the project aims to deliver high-performance catalytic systems tailored for future energy applications. A central objective is to directly correlate catalyst structure with performance under real operating conditions, providing critical insights into active site behavior and reaction mechanisms.

Building on previous advances in nanostructured catalytic materials [1–6], this work integrates catalyst design with process understanding to overcome key barriers in efficiency and stability. By addressing catalyst deactivation, surface transformations, and reaction dynamics, the project contributes to the development of cleaner hydrogen production technologies and supports the transition toward a low-emission energy future.

 

References

[1] I.S. Pieta, M. García-Diéguez, M.A. Larrubia, L.J. Alemany, W.S. Epling, Catal Today, 207 (2013) 200.

[2] M. García-Diéguez, I.S. Pieta, M.C. Herrera, M.A. Larrubia, L.J. Alemany, J. Catal., 270 (2010) 136.

[3] P. Kowalik, K. Antoniak, M.A. Larrubia, M.C. Herrera, L.J. Alemany, M. Blesznowski, I. S.Pieta ‘Biofuel Steam Reforming Catalyst for Fuel Cell Application’ Catalysis Today 254 (2015) 129–134

[4] R. González-Gil, P. Kowalik, C. Herrera, M.A. Larrubia, I.S. Pieta, L.J. Alemany, ‘Pilot reactor testing in DME-Steam Reforming catalysts for fuel cell applications’ V Iberian Symposium on Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries. Tenerife, España, July 05-08 2015

[5] R. González-Gil, C. Herrera, M.A. Larrubia, I.S. Pieta, L.J. Alemany, Hydrogen production by steam reforming of DME over Ni-based catalysts modified with vanadium, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 41(2016), pp. 19781-19788

[6] Juan Carlos Colmenares, Ramón Fernando Colmenares Quintero, Izabela S. Pieta, Catalytic dry reforming for biomass-based fuels processing: Progress and future perspective, Energy Technology Energy Technology 2016 4(8), pp. 881-890, Cover.