Project dates: 24/04/2023 - 31/10/2023
The collaboration between Cyclion and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) aims to tackle the increasing challenges of municipal solid waste (MSW) management by developing a flexible waste-to-energy technology platform. With a focus on scalability and cost-effectiveness, our research seeks to efficiently valorise mixed MSW, including organic materials and plastics, into valuable products like bio-oil and syngas and carbon products. This joint effort addresses the limitations of current waste management methods that are often energy-intensive, environmentally harmful, or economically unviable.
The project utilizes a novel multi-stage process that integrates solvent-assisted depolymerisation and catalytic conversion. This approach allows for the efficient breakdown of both organic materials and various plastics at milder conditions (180–330°C), reducing energy consumption while improving resource recovery. Our partnership is structured to transition the technology from laboratory-scale development to pilot-scale trials. Cyclion’s future industrial facilities, along with QUT’s expertise in chemical engineering, provide an ideal testing ground to validate the scalability and economic viability of the developed technologies. Initial pilot trials will be conducted at the University of the Philippines, followed by additional testing in Brisbane to ensure applicability across different waste management scenarios.
Project Chief Investigators
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Dr Gabriel Luiz Lopes Fraga
Deputy Program Leader (Bioresources, Bioprocessing and Biorefining) and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Team Members
- Dr. Shahrooz Rahmati
- Dr. Vishal Bellie Subramani
Fundings/Grant
