Plastics in a Circular Economy

About


This project intends to answer two major modern civilization challenges - growing energy demand and the pilling of huge amounts of plastic residues that are a sub-product of an industrialized society like our own, and it is included in the concept of Circular Economy where the residues may be reused to produce new raw materials. With the reduction in oil reserves there is an increasingly urgent need of alternative fuel sources with a much lower ecologic footprint, and there is always a significant amount of plastics that cannot be recycled due to its characteristics and contaminations. It is our goal to develop a technologic process to recover material and/or energy from plastic residues so that basic chemical products, including fuels, can be produced through catalytic pyrolysis and/or gasification processes. For that purpose we intend to develop an innovative and efficient process that will allow the transformation of plastic waste in an energetically efficient way.

Keywords: Alternative Energy Sources, Circular economy, Energy, Engineering, Environment, Low carbon Energy, Processes and Systems Modelling, Resources and Raw Materials, Resources efficiency, Reuse, Reduce and Recycle

Start Date: 2008-10-01
End Date: 2022-09-30

Announcements


  • Scholarships apply here [Closed]
  • We are organizing a conference on CATALYSIS FOR RENEWABLE SOURCES: FUEL, ENERGY, CHEMICALS see more here
  • Scholarships apply here [Closed]

Funding Programme

PTDC/EQU-EQU/29614/2017

Total Funding: 237133,37 Euros

Outreach:



Publications

Book Chapters

2022

  • F.C.G. Martinho, L.G. Picado Santos, F. Lemos, ?Novel Modified Recycled Mastic for Demanding and Sustainable Asphalt Mixtures?, Proceedings of the RILEM International Symposium on Bituminous Materials, RILEM Book Series, Vol. 27, 2022, 1415-1421, DOI:10.1007/978-3-030-46455-4
  • https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-46455-4_180
  • M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, T. Godinho, F. Lemos, Heterogeneous Catalysis in the Circularity of Plastic in ?Synthesis and Applications in Chemistry and Materials?, A. Pombeiro et al Eds., 2024, World Scientific - https://doi.org/10.1142/13309
  • https://doi.org/10.1142/13309

Articles

2018

  • C.A. Figueira, P.S. Lopes, C.S.B. Gomes, J.C.S. Gomes, F. Lemos, P.T. Gomes, ?New phenyl?nickel complexes of bulky 2-iminopyrrolyl chelates: synthesis, characterisation and application as aluminium-free catalysts for the production of hyperbranched polyethylene?, Dalton Trans., 47 (2018) 15857-15872 - DOI: 10.1039/c8dt02824a
  • Tiago F. C. Cruz; Pedro M. M. Machado; Clara S. B. Gomes; José R. Ascenso; M. Amélia N. D. A. Lemos; João C. Bordado; Pedro T. Gomes. "Bis(formylpyrrolyl) cobalt complexes as mediators in the reversible-deactivation radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate". New Journal of Chemistry 42 8 (2018): 5900-5913 - https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NJ00350E.

2019

  • C.A. Figueira, P.S. Lopes, C.S.B. Gomes, J.C.S. Gomes, L.F. Veiros, F. Lemos, P.T. Gomes, ?Neutral Mono(5-aryl-2-iminopyrrolyl)nickel(II) Complexes as Precatalysts for the Synthesis of Highly Branched Ethylene Oligomers: Preparation, Molecular Characterization, and Catalytic Studies?, Organometallics, 38 (2019) 614?625 - DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.8b00669
  • E. Santos, B. Rijo, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, F. Lemos, ?A catalytic reactive distillation approach to high density polyethylene pyrolysis ? Part 1 ? Light olefin production?, Chem. Eng. J. 378 (2019) 122077 - DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2019.122077

2021

  • E. Santos, B, Rijo, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, F. Lemos, ?A Catalytic Reactive Distillation Approach to High Density Polyethylene Pyrolysis ? Part 2 ? Middle Olefin Production?, Catal. Today. 329 (2021) 212-221 - 10.1016/j.cattod.2020.06.014
  • J. Briceno, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, F. Lemos, ?Kinetic analysis of the degradation of HDPE+PP polymer mixtures?, Int. J. Chem. Kinet. 53 (2021) 660-674 - 10.1002/kin.21472

2022

  • F.C.G. Martinho, L.G. Picado-Santos, F.M.S. Lemos, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, E.R.F. Santos, ?Using PlasticWaste in a Circular Economy Approach to Improve the Properties of Bituminous Binders?, Appl. Sci. 12 (2022) 2526 - 10.3390app12052526

 

International Communications

2018

  • M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, F. Lemos, E. Santos, ?Modelação da Co-Pirólise Catalítica de Resíduos Plásticos e Óleo?, Proceedings of XXVI Congresso Ibero-Americano de Catálise (CICat 2018), Coimbra, Portugal, 9-14 Setembro 2018.
  • E. Santos, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, F. Lemos, ?Plastic Waste Pyrolysis in a Semi-Batch Reactor?, Proceedings of the XXIII International Conference on Chemical Reactors ? ChemReactor-23, Ghent, Belgium, November 5-9, 2018.

2019

  • J. Briceno, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, F. Lemos, ?Polymer Mixtures Thermal Degradation Kinetic Analysis?, Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Chemical Kinetics June 23-27, 2019, Orléans, France.
  • T. Godinho, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, H. Carabineiro, L. Tarelho, F. Lemos, ?Thermal and Catalytic Degradation of Polypropylene with VGO and UCO?, Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Chemical Kinetics June 23-27, 2019, Orléans, France.
  • R. Kol de Carvalho, B. Rijo, F. Rey, T. Carvalho, F. Lemos, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, ?TG/DSC Analysis of the Pyrolysis Kinetics of Polystyrene from WEEE?, Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Chemical Kinetics June 23-27, 2019, Orléans, France.
  • P. Pereira, F. Rey, B. Rijo, T. Carvalho, F. Lemos, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, ?Catalytic Pyrolysis Kinetics of Polystyrene from WEEE?, Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Chemical Kinetics June 23-27, 2019, Orléans, France.
  • M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, E. Santos, B. Rijo, F. Lemos, ?Catalytic Reactive Distillation of Polyethylene?, Proceedings of the 5th International Conference Catalysis for Renewable Sources: Fuel, Energy, Chemicals, September 2-6, 2019, Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece.

2020

  • F.C.G. Martinho, L. Picado Santos, F. Lemos, ?Novel Modified Recycled Mastic for Demanding and Sustainable Asphalt Mixtures?, International Symposium on Bituminous Materials Lyon, France, 14-16 Dezembro 2020.

2021

  • B. Rijo, J. Briceno, R. Kol de Carvalho, P. Pereira, F. Lemos, M.A. Lemos, ?Thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of waste polystyrene in a semi-batch reactor?, Proceedings of the XXIV International Conference on Chemical Reactors - ChemReactor-24, Milan, Italy, August 20-September 4, 2020 ? postponed to on-line September 13-16, 2021.
  • B. Rijo, J. Briceno, T. Godinho, F. Lemos, M.A. Lemos, ?Pyrolysis of Plastic from WEEE in a Reactive Distillation Approach?, Proceedings of the XXIV International Conference on Chemical Reactors - ChemReactor-24, Milan, Italy, August 20-September 4, 2020 ? postponed to on-line September 13-16, 2021.
  • T. Godinho, B. Rijo, M.A. Lemos, H. Carabineiro, L. Tarelho, F. Lemos, ?Thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of polyolefins with Vacuum Gas Oil?, Proceedings of the XXIV International Conference on Chemical Reactors - ChemReactor-24, Milan, Italy, August 20-September 4, 2020 ? postponed to on-line September 13-16, 2021.

2022

  • B. Rijo, T. Godinho, J. Briceno, F. Lemos, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, ?Pyrolysis of waste plastic mixture from WEEE in a Reactive Distillation System?, Proceedings of Pyro 2022, Ghent, Bélgica (P80), May 15 to 20, 2022.
  • R. Kol de Carvalho, B. Rijo, F. Lemos, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, ?Development of a mechanistic kinetic model for the thermal pyrolysis of plastic from WEEE?, Proceedings of Pyro 2022, Ghent, Bélgica (P80), May 15 to 20, 2022.
  • B. Rijo, J. Briceno, T. Godinho, F. Lemos, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, ?Pyrolysis of Polycoated Cardboard Packages?, Proceedings of Pyro 2022, Ghent, Bélgica (P80), May 15 to 20, 2022.
  • T. Godinho, B. Rijo, J Briceno, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, H. Carabineiro, L.A.C. Tarelho, F. Lemos, ?Thermal and catalytic co-pyrolysis of pure and waste High Density Polyethylene with Vacuum Gas Oil.?, Proceedings of Pyro 2022, Ghent, Bélgica (P80), May 15 to 20, 2022.
  • T. Godinho, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, F. Lemos, ?Waste thermoplastic pyrolysis in a reactive distillation system?, Proceedings of Pyro 2022, Ghent, Bélgica (P80), May 15 to 20, 2022.
  • J. Briceno, T. Godinho, B. Rijo, F. Lemos, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos. ?Polypropylene Effect on Pyrolysis of Polymer Mixtures?, Proceedings of Pyro 2022, Ghent, Bélgica (P80), May 15 to 20, 2022.
  • B. Rijo, J. Briceno, T. Godinho, F. Lemos, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, ?Plastic Waste Pyrolysis with a Mixture of Catalysts in a Reactive Distillation System?, Accepted for presentation at the 6th International Conference Catalysis for Renewable Sources: Fuel, Energy, Chemicals June 14-18, 2021, Lisboa, Portugal ? postponed to 2022 ? postponed to 2023 due to the war on Ukraine.
  • J. Briceno, B. Rijo, T. Godinho, F. Lemos, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, ?Effect of HBETA zeolite catalyst on pyrolysis of waste polymer mixtures?, Accepted for presentation at the 6th International Conference Catalysis for Renewable Sources: Fuel, Energy, Chemicals June 14-18, 2021, Lisboa, Portugal ? postponed to 2022 ? postponed to 2023 due to the war on Ukraine.
  • T. Godinho, J. Briceno, B. Rijo, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, H. Carabineiro, L.A.C. Tarelho, F. Lemos, ?Catalytic co-pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste with Vacuum Gas Oil?, Accepted for presentation at the 6th International Conference Catalysis for Renewable Sources: Fuel, Energy, Chemicals June 14-18, 2021, Lisboa, Portugal ? postponed to 2022 ? postponed to 2023 due to the war on Ukraine.
  • F. Lemos, E. Santos, J. Briceno, B. Rijo, T. Godinho, R. Kol de Carvalho, P. Pereira, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos , ?Size Matters ? Using Reactive Distillation to Control the Molecular Weight of Products of Plastic Pyrolysis?, Accepted for presentation at the 6th International Conference Catalysis for Renewable Sources: Fuel, Energy, Chemicals June 14-18, 2021, Lisboa, Portugal ? postponed to 2022 ? postponed to 2023 due to the war on Ukraine.

 

Comunicações em Congressos Nacionais

2021

  • T. Godinho, M.A.N.D.A. Lemos, F. Lemos, ?Kinetics of melting and degradation of polypropylene?, 4th Doctoral Congress in Engineering, Porto, Portugal, online, June 28-29, 2021.


Ph.D. Thesis


2018

  • Everton Ranny Ferreira dos Santos - ?Nanostructured Materials as Catalysts for the Degradation of Polyolefins?, iniciada em Setembro de 2014 e concluída em 21 de Setembro de 2018.

2020

  • Fernando da Conceição Gonçalves Martinho - ?Validação Laboratorial de um Mástique Modificado Inovador para a Produção de Misturas Betuminosas Mais Sustentáveis?, Doutoramento em Engenharia de Materiais, iniciada em Outubro de 2015 e concluída em 29 de Julho de 2020.

2022

  • Tiago dos Santos Carrasco Godinho - ?Produção de Biocombustíveis Avançados na Unidade de FCC?, Doutoramento em Engeharia da Refinação Petroquímica e Química (Instituto Superior Técnico), iniciada em Fevereiro de 2018.

 

Master Thesis

2017

  • Anna Reeves (?Numerical Modelling of Plastic Pyrolysis in a Solar Cavity Receiver Reactor?), aluna do Mestrado em Engenharia e Gestão de Energia no Instituto Superior Técnico, iniciada em Março de 2017 e terminada em 20 de Dezembro de 2017.

2018

  • Daria Kamila Kádek, (?Processing of rubber waste with the steel cord content?), aluna do Mestrado em Engenharia e Gestão de Energia no Instituto Superior Técnico, iniciada em Março de 2018 e terminada em 8 de Março de 2019. https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/mege/dissertacao/1691203502343218

2019

  • Rita Duarte Kol de Carvalho (?Feedstock Recycling of Plastic Waste?), aluna do Mestrado em Engenharia Química no Instituto Superior Técnico, iniciada em Março de 2019 e terminada a 25 de Julho de 2019. https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/meq/dissertacao/1691203502343631
  • Patrícia Alexandra Fernandes Pereira (?Catalytic Pyrolysis of Plastic Waste?), aluna do Mestrado em Engenharia Química no Instituto Superior Técnico, iniciada em Março de 2019 e terminada a 25 de Julho de 2019. https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/meq/dissertacao/1691203502343632

2020

  • Joana Paulino (?Modelação Cinética de Pirólise de Plásticos?), aluna do Mestrado em Engenharia Química no Instituto Superior Técnico, iniciada em Setembro de 2019 e terminada a 15 de Outubro de 2020. https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/meq/dissertacao/1128253548922432

2021

  • Rita Isabel Borda de Água dos Santos (?Circular economy approach to plastic waste ? kinetic studies?), aluna do Mestrado em Engenharia Química no Instituto Superior Técnico, iniciada em Setembro de 2019 e terminada a 18 de Janeiro de 2021. https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/meq/dissertacao/846778572212689
  • Camila Geirinhas Cameira (?Kinetic Study of Plastic Waste Pyrolysis Reactions?), aluna do Mestrado em Engenharia Química no Instituto Superior Técnico, iniciada em Fevereiro de 2020 e terminada a 21 de Setembro de 2021. https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/meq/dissertacao/1409728525633299
  • Laura Martins Pereira (?Materiais compósitos: uma abordagem de economia circular?), aluna do Mestrado em Engenharia Química no Instituto Superior Técnico, iniciada em Março de 2021 e terminada a 9 de Dezembro de 2021. https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/meq/dissertacao/1691203502344741

2022

  • Joana Rico Marques (?Circular Economy Approach to Maritime Plastic Waste?), aluna do Mestrado em Engenharia Química no Instituto Superior Técnico, iniciada em Março de 2021 e terminada a 6 de Maio de 2022. https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/meq21/dissertacao/565303595503439
  • Mariana Antunes Canhoto (?Composite plastic materials ? a circular economy approach?), aluna do Mestrado em Engenharia Química no Instituto Superior Técnico, iniciada em Março de 2022 e terminada a 30 de Novembro de 2022. https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/meq21/dissertacao/846778572213882
  • Pedro Miguel Pereira da Silva (?Plastics in the ocean - A thermochemical solution?), aluno do Mestrado em Engenharia Química no Instituto Superior Técnico, iniciada em Março de 2022 e terminada a 28 de Novembro de 2022. https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/meq21/dissertacao/846778572213757

The Team