Biofiltration
Effective gas biofiltration in biofilters and biotrickling filters depends on three key bioreactor variables: the support medium, gas molecule solubilisation, and the catabolic population. Properly controlled biofilters proved to be effective in the removal of a broad range of gaseous contaminants, including volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Our research in biofiltration focusses on the modelling of the macro kinetics of the process in order to provide the optimal removal efficiency at various conditions.
Fuel clean-up
Fuel purification is a challenging task from either a technical and economic point of view. The removal efficiency depends on the type of chosen purification process (adsorption, chemisorption, thermal cracking or decomposition, etc.) and, in some cases, on the process ability to deal with a large number of contaminants, such as in biogas purification.
The experimental activity carried out in our laboratory consists on the evaluation of the removal efficiency of commercial sorbents at various process conditions and fuel compositions; we also provide detailed kinetic modelling, which is fundamental for scaling up of the clean-up unit.
Membrane processes
The contribution of React within the Membrane & Membrane Processes Group activity is based on the modelling of the mass transport processes that control the absorption of a solute compound from a gas stream into a liquid solvent by membrane contactors. A typical application is the CO2 absorption by a monoethanolamine (MEA) water solution.
Our expertise and research focus extend also to different industrial problems, which may involve either liquid-liquid separation, or, more generally, the understanding of mass transport mechanisms through a porous layer. See here for more insights.
