About us

Hysolchem

About us

HYSOLCHEM

HySolChem is developing an innovative, low-cost reactor for capturing greenhouse gases and producing high-value fuels and chemicals, while contextually removing harmful pollutants from wastewater. And all of this with photosynthesis.

“Our project proposes breakthroughs in the development of low cost and sustainable materials and devices for solar energy conversion and storage by the production of fuels and chemicals from CO2/N2 and water pollutants,” specify the researchers of the Project. It could path the way to make a sustainable alternative to fossil-based energy sources, aiming to directly convert sunlight and CO2, N2, H2O into fuels & chemicals and at the same time decontaminate wastewater containing organic pollutants and microplastics.

The development of light-driven technologies represents a RADICAL NEW WAY for the conversion and storage of renewable energy. The Project focuses on the successful development of a new concept of low-cost flow photo-reactor prototype for the reduction of CO2 and N2 to produce fuels and chemicals (CH4, C2H4, C3H6 and NH3) coupled to the oxidation of microplastics and organic pollutants from wastewater treatment plants. In order to reach these ambitious objectives, HySolChem investigates CO2 valorisation strategies, artificial photosynthesis, N2 fixation and degradation of water pollutants. The validation of the prototype is in a wastewater treatment plant and a study of the developed materials and devices from a life-cycle environmental, economic and social point of view is also carried out.

TECHNOLOGIESA totally new insight into the fundamentals of photocathodes, anodes and membranes will be revisited based on the previous experience of the partners in terms of catalysis, material science, batteries and water treatment. The advanced technologies used in this project are:

Photoelectrochemical CO2/N2 reduction

With an energy-to-chemical efficiency higher than 5% the entire solar spectrum and being stable for at least 1000 h.

Electrochemical oxidation of microplastics/organic pollutants from wastewater

Can make a disruptive step forward in terms of efficiency, cost, and service life.

Ion-exchange membranes

Can reduce the cost of starting chemicals and give better flexibility in fabricating application specific membranes.

Solar devices

Enable energy recovery from wastewater streams inspired by the circular economy concept and enhance resilience of environmental bodies and human exposure to microplastics.

System analysis (including life-cycle sustainability assessment)

To assess the process feasibility by the life cycle and social analysis approach