Integrated electrochemically assisted absorbers for the removal of COVs

• Grant number: 25/10181-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda de Lourdes Souza
• Grantee: Fernanda de Lourdes Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/02379-1 - New hybrid gas-cleaning technologies based on electroscrubber, AP.R

Abstract

As an important component of air pollution, the efficient removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is one of the most important challenges in the world. VOCs are organic compounds that are found in the gaseous state at room temperature and pressure, participate in photochemical reactions in the atmosphere, and mainly include hydrocarbons, aldehydes and ketones. Resulting from the urbanization and industrialization process, VOCs are harmful to the environment (e.g. secondary ozone, organic aerosols and photochemical pollution) and to human health. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to search for technologies that are clean, efficient and robust in the removal of these contaminants. The electro-scrubbing technology of gaseous VOCs in liquid phase can present great advantages due to its high removal efficiency, mild conditions, good reliability, wide applicability and low potential for secondary pollution, which has aroused great interest in research in the last decade. This project proposes the study of hybrid electroabsorption technology for the treatment of VOCs, using mixed oxide electrodes, in unit cells and in flow, with the main function of mitigating environmental impacts resulting from the release of these gases into the environment. In order to achieve this goal, different system design parameters (reactor type, absorbing liquid, operating mode, solvent flow, etc.) and operational parameters (current density, electrolyte type and concentration, temperature, etc.) will be studied. The efficiency of the system will be evaluated by monitoring the concentration of pollutants in both the liquid and gas phases, Faradaic efficiency, and energy costs. Finally, combined electrochemical processes such as UV radiation, mediated oxidation, and Fenton processes will be used to obtain higher Faradaic efficiencies of electrochemical conversion. Given the originality of this proposal, this work aims to contribute to the Brazilian part of the treatment of polluting gases, with the training of highly specialized human resources capable of working both in academia and in industry, as well as generating relevant work on the international scene. (AU)