The laboratory is primarily focused on the chemical aspects of circular economy and its practical application. The main aim is to introduce modern techniques used in waste (plastics, e-waste, biomass, textile fibres and other) transformation and characterization of secondary products. Students will gain knowledge about thermal and chemical decomposition of waste material. Those techniques include processes based on pyrolytic and solvolytic decomposition. Students will be trained in sample preparation for pyrolysis, sample transformation by pyrolysis-to-pyrolysis oil and sample pre-treatment for GC-MS analysis, work with micro laboratory pyrolysis unit directly connected to GC-MS (for direct characterization of pyrolysis products) and mass spectra data processing. Another set of experiments will include a process of solvolysis, sample precipitation, distillation and product characterization. The practical will be held in the laboratories of the Centre of Advanced Separation Techniques. Students will perform a selected set of laboratory experiments, deliver products and results of particular chemical recycling (pyrolysis, solvolysis) and separation (distillation, extraction) methods. Motivation Waste recycling is a hot topic and a great challenge for modern environmental technological research. Recycling processes represent important innovation and are a key aspect of the circular economy. The laboratory introduces students to two promising ways of waste recycling both of which offer solutions in environmental research regarding sustainability. Students will become experienced with the transformation of waste materials involving thermal and chemical treatments for usable secondary products. Objectives In the initial phase, students will learn how to prepare samples for pyrolysis experiments (pre-cleaning, grinding under N2 atmosphere) and how to deal with pyrolysis products, such as pyrolysis oils, wax, their purification (distillation, extractions) for GC-MS analyses. Subsequently, students will learn the mechanism of organic reactions during the pyrolysis processes and the interpretation of MS spectra. They will learn and gain new knowledge in theory and practical application of solvolysis experiments including filtration, precipitation, purification and their use in the emerging area of waste treatment. Acquired skills and knowledge Students of the course will be able to apply obtained knowledge in the field of waste treatment, modern environmental research and analytical chemistry. They will be able to suggest optimised conditions for the pyrolysis processes of various types of waste with the expectation of desired products to be obtained. They will also become acquainted with the field of mass spectroscopy and interpreting mass spectra. They will get skills in analytical separation techniques such as distillation, filtration, purification, precipitation, and extraction. Literature: 1. R. E. Hester, R. M. Harrison, Waste as a Resource. (Issues in Environmental Science and Technology), RSC Publishing, (2013). 2. RPA Europe. Chemical Recycling of Polymeric Materials from Waste in the Circular Economy, Final report prepared for the European Chemicals Agency (2021). Available online at: https://www.mpo.cz/assets/cz/prumysl/chemicke-latky-a-smesi/reach-povinnosti-a-informace/2021/11/Zprava-Chemicka-recyklace.pdf 3. J. Snow, J. Lederer, P. Kuran, P. Koutnik, Dechlorination during pyrolysis of plastics: Effect of municipal plastic waste composition. Fuel Processing Technology 248 (2023) 107823.
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