Technology offer: Regeneration of chemical oxidants and reducers

Transcription

1 Technology offer: Regeneration of chemical oxidants and reducers

2 Technology offer Regeneration of chemical oxidants and reducers Reference: TO- SUMMARY The Department of Chemistry Physics (Applied Electrochemical Group LEQA) of the University of Alicante has a high experience and know-how to develop and carry out the regeneration of chemical oxidants and reducers (e.g. removing of chrome(iii) and/or regeneration of dichromate, regeneration of Sn (II) from spent Sn(IV) solutions). A pilot plant fully equipped with the necessary infrastructure is available in order to development the pre-industrial phase and scaling-up of the processes. Amounts higher than kg/day can be obtained. This technology could be of interest to several industries: chemical, tannery, metalprocessing, etc. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION Applied Electrochemistry is the employment of electrochemical processes in any type of industrial application as synthesis of pharmaceutical products, nanotecnologies, waste treatment, heavy metals recovering, metallic depositions, etc. The Department of Chemistry Physics of the University of Alicante is focused since several years on the investigation of new electrochemical processes and the transfer of knowledge and technology to the industry. One of the main industrial application of the electrochemical technology is the regeneration of chemical oxidants and reducers (e.g. removing of chrome(iii) and/or regeneration of dichromate, regeneration of Sn (II) from spent Sn(IV) solutions). PILOT PLANT The Department Chemistry Physics also has a pilot plant fully equipped with the necessary infrastructure in order to development the pre-industrial phase and 2

3 scaling-up of the processes. The pilot plant has developed several electrochemical reactors to produce chemicals at pre-industrial and industrial level. INNOVATIVE ASPECTS OF THE TECHNOLOGY It is a environmentally friendly technology. It is a cost and safety effective technology CURRENT STATE OF THE TECHNOLOGY The technology has been already tested at laboratory and pre-industrial level and the research team has several years of experience in this field. Amounts higher than kg/day can be obtained. The installations of the pilot plant are already being working and some projects for Spanish and European clients has been carried out successfully. All the technicians and management staff have the experience necessary to guarantee the success of the projects. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS Concerning the use of the equipment, development and scaling of processes, process feasibility, etc, all information is protected by know-how. MARKET APPLICATIONS This technology could be of interest to several industries: chemical, tannery, metalprocessing, etc. 3

4 CO-OPERATION SOUGHT The Department of Chemistry Physics of the University of Alicante has the knowhow and facilities required to develop process for the regeneration of chemical oxidants and reducers as well as to design and build of customised pilot plants. Partner interested in establish know-how agreements or technical projects for that purpose are sought. DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY PHYSICS (LEQA GROUP) PROFILE The group of Applied Electrochemistry of the Department of Physical Chemistry at the University of Alicante was created in 1983, the present staff consisting of one Professor, 1 Senior Lecturers, three Associate Professors, two electrochemical pilotplant specialists, an electronic engineer and several post and pre-doctoral students. The research carried out by the group comprises: Electrocatalysis and Applied Electrochemistry (batteries, organic an inorganic electrosynthesis and water electrochemical treatment). The aim of this group is to develop electrochemical processes for industrial purposes. Thus the research in this area field comprises different subjects. We have worked in the development of redox batteries and have built a 2 kw / 20 kwh accumulator based on Fe (III) / Fe (II) and Cr (III) / Cr (II) couples. Other subjects of research are electro-organic synthesis of fine and pharmaceutic chemicals and Electrochemistry applied to the environment. As a result of our work on this first subject, we hold several patents for the synthesis of l-cysteine derivatives and citiolone (one of them is a world-wide patent). To carry out electrochemical processes to industrial scales, we have designed and built an electrochemical pilot plant at the University in which, in co-operation with a Spanish industry, we have been able to synthesise 14Tm of carboxymethyl l-cysteine, a widely used pharmaceutical product. We have also taken part in a project for the recovery of lead from lead oxide secondaries such as used lead batteries (a BRITE-EURAM project). In this project we were in charge of the study and development of the cathodic process, lead deposition, to a pre-industrial scale, of the recovering of NaCl by electrodialysis and of the elimination of lead from the wastewater by electrochemical means. The aim was to demonstrate the feasibility of the process at an industrial scale. At the 4

5 moment, we are developing a pre-industrial prototype for the electrochemical treatment of the wastewater of a textile industry. To do all this work, we have not only acquired a deep knowledge of Electrochemistry (both Fundamental and Applied) but also the expertise for developing different types of electrodes - single crystal, DSA, gas diffusion electrodes etc., and of different electrochemical reactors. This has all contributed to our wide experience in the development of electrochemical processes at a pre-industrial scale. CONTACT DETAILS Víctor Manuel Pérez Lozano Phone: Fax: otri@ua.es URL: 5