Assessment of the Influence of Key Parameters Involved in the Photoreduction of CO2

• Grant number: 24/05891-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: May 13, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Guilherme Esteves Nogueira
• Grantee: Helena Maximiliano Koutroularis
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The increasing demand for energy in recent decades, due to population growth and technological development, has led to a significant increase in the emission of greenhouse gases due to the burning of fossil fuels. Among these gases, we can highlight carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the main greenhouse gases. Therefore, the development of new technologies for the reduction or conversion of CO2 is essential for mitigating the effects of climate change. Among these technologies, photocatalytic processes stand out for the photoconversion of CO2 to products with greater added value since solar radiation can be used as a light source for the process. Photocatalytic processes involve the irradiation and absorption of light by a semiconductor using a light source with energy equal to or greater than the energy of the band gap/energy gap of the materials. It is important to note that the mechanisms of photoreduction of CO2 can be basically divided into three stages: (I) photon absorption, (II) transport of photogenerated charges and (III) redox reactions on the surface of the photocatalyst. Thus, understanding the parameters involved in the reaction, such as the radiation intensity, radiation wavelength, temperature, pressure, time, CO2 feed ratio, and pH, are fundamental and critical factors that directly affect the efficiency and selectivity of the process. In this context, this scientific initiation project aims to evaluate the operational parameters, such as temperature, pH, radiation wavelength, pressure, and CO2 feed ratio, in two different reactor configurations: a batch reactor and a continuous flow reactor. Photocatalytic tests to obtain the parameters will be carried out with the materials previously prepared by doctoral student Alejandro Sifuentes Clemente (FAPESP Scholar - Process no. 2023/02814-7) and master's student Marcus Vinicius Sgobi (FAPESP Scholar - Process no. 2024/03456-0). Thus, the interaction of the proponent with postgraduate students can contribute significantly to their learning, stimulating their academic and professional development, and preparing her to face challenges both within and outside academia