Interdisciplinary concepts for one-step CATalytic hydrodeoxygenation of crude Glycerol-To-bioPropylene

The CatGTP project aims at valorising crude glycerol, which is a by-product of world-scale biodiesel industry.

I will develop an innovative one-step catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) route for upgrading crude glycerol-to-biopropylene (GTP), thus contributing to overcome the challenge of olefins feedstock shortage and diversification in EU.

At the University of Lille-ULille (France), I will focus the first part of project on better understanding the surface functions of MoCx≤1@OMS catalysts to assess and tune their HDO properties using a rational design approach backed-up by time-resolved spectroscopy (in situ µRaman and operando NAP-XPS techniques).

This part will involve a secondment at the Max Planck Society-MPS (Germany) for elucidating the C-O catalytically active-sites and GTP pathways under near-practice HDO conditions.

The second part of project will comprise high-throughput experimentations for quickly determining the main parameters affecting GTP catalytic efficiency (activity, selectivity and long-term stability), and thus, setting the optimisation-intensification bases for the GTP process.

The CatGTP’s training objectives are to develop all skills necessary to get established as a full independent scientist within the area of in situ/Operando analyses of catalysed reactions and their optimisation/intensification, and further grow a fruitful collaboration with industry and between these EU labs.

Combining the high-level labs-facilities and host/partner supports, I will carry out synergic multi-tasks for successfully achieving the research and training objectives set, thereby, enhancing my professional career prospects in European Union (EU).

The exploitation and dissemination of the as-obtained results expect to generate great benefits for the European research Area and industries, as well as, high socio-economical and environmental impacts on the EU society.