Electrochemical recycling of metals from e-waste: a sustainable approach to product ammonia and green hydrogen

• Grant number: 23/14228-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Ferreira de Brito
• Grantee: Marina Medina da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The circular economy proposes that the traditional and unsustainable way of extracting, producing, using, and disposing of natural resources be rethought to keep them in use as long as possible. In addition, the modern world needs to produce H2 and NH3 through alternative routes that are more energy-efficient with a net zero emission of greenhouse gases. In this sense, this project aims to recycle metals for reuse as electrocatalysts in the electrochemical production of NH3 and green H2. For this purpose, the electrodeposition technique will be employed, using a multimetallic solution derived from the bioleaching of electronic waste (e-waste) as a precursor. Different combinations of metal alloys based on Cu, Ni, Fe will be investigated to find an optimized relationship between composition, structure, morphology, and crystallinity that results in highly efficient electrocatalysts for NH3 and H2 production under ambient conditions. For NH3 generation, it is expected that the catalyst will facilitate the conversion of N2 and H+ to NH3 under ambient conditions by applying a potential. Meanwhile, for water electrolysis, the main goal is to obtain bifunctional electrocatalysts that work for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic and/or alkaline media to increase the efficiency of H2 production.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MEDINA, MARINA; CARVALHO, VINICIUS JOSE; DA SILVA, LEANDERSON ARAUJO; BORGES, GABRIEL GONCALVES; CAPELUPI, THIAGO; PIANI, ARTHUR; MAURIZ, PEDRO PAES; GOMES, JOAO VITOR; DE BRITO, JULIANA FERREIRA. Electrocatalytic contributions from Brazilian research groups for clean energy conversion and environmental remediation. Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, v. N/A, p. 41-pg., 2024-09-17. (24/00614-3, 24/00777-0, 23/14228-5, 23/10027-5)

PINTO, FELIPE M.; DE CONTI, MARY C. M. D.; PEREIRA, WYLLAMANNEY S.; SCZANCOSKI, JULIO C.; MEDINA, MARINA; CORRADINI, PATRICIA G.; DE BRITO, JULIANA F.; NOGUEIRA, ANDRE E.; GOES, MARCIO S.; FERREIRA, ODAIR P.; et al. Recent Advances in Layered MX₂-Based Materials (M = Mo, W and X = S, Se, Te) for Emerging Optoelectronic and Photo(electro)catalytic Applications. CATALYSTS, v. 14, n. 6, p. 49-pg., 2024-06-01. (23/14228-5, 23/10027-5)