Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Successful in MSCA Doctoral Networks Call
Neža Markelj Bogataj/UL FS
Date of publication:
The University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, has been successful in the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks call with the project UPCYCLE – Dissemination of Advanced Conversion Routes for Hard-to-Recycle Biogenic Waste. As part of the project, 15 doctoral candidates will be trained, three of whom will be based in Slovenia. The project is coordinated by Politecnico di Milano, with UL FS participating as a partner.
The research will address the processes of pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal conversion of highly contaminated biogenic waste, with the goal of industrial implementation of advanced waste conversion technologies. These technologies are based on the chemical breakdown of waste and the subsequent synthesis of new, clean raw materials. The focus will be on sludge from wastewater treatment processes, chemically treated lignocellulosic biomass, bio-composite materials, and contaminated waste from the food chain. The enormous material and energy potential of these waste streams is currently untapped, mainly due to sectoral fragmentation and a lack of comprehensive understanding of the fundamental phenomena in the various stages of conversion.
Within the network, 15 doctoral candidates in six EU countries will collaborate with researchers using a multi-level approach to research. This will span from the molecular level, developing new chemical mechanisms for the thermo-chemical breakdown of various raw materials, to precise simulations of industrial-scale reactors, and to the process level, evaluating the entire conversion chain. The comprehensive approach focuses on transferring knowledge from fundamental levels to industry – the latter being an important part of the Doctoral Network.
Doc. Dr. Tine Seljak, the project leader at UL, stated: "This represents an important milestone at the intersection of energy and circular economy, positioning the University of Ljubljana alongside long-established institutions for training excellent personnel in this field. The Doctoral Network is designed to focus not only on technical competencies at the molecular, reactor, and process levels of recycling technologies but also on the soft skills of candidates and their ability to transfer top-tier knowledge into practice. We aim for a generation of scientists who, in the next 5-10 years, will form the core of the innovation potential in the economy – just as the supportive environment for the expansion of secondary raw materials and secondary chemical energy carriers will be at its most fertile stage."
The processes and research approach under consideration represent a much-needed complement to already known prioritized waste management approaches: reduce and reuse. UPCYCLE enhances these approaches with the final barrier of the circular economy – (chemical) recycling of extremely heterogeneous waste streams with variable quality and contamination, significantly contributing to material self-sufficiency and moving society closer to zero waste.
Besides UL, the project partners include KU Leuven, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Sapienza Università di Roma, and Technische Universität Darmstadt, along with associated industrial partners Carborem s.r.l. (IT), CAP Holding s.p.a (IT), SULZER Management AG (CH) and IOS d.o.o. (SI), Vyncke NV (BE), Indaver NV (BE), Ingelia SL (ES), and NEXTCHEM TECH s.p.a (IT).
