Projects

Please find a list of the current projects within the Green Chemistry Centre: 

NEW: We are working with a major multinational HPC company on the utilization of waste streams as feedstcoks for manufacturing novel green and sustainable products.

Biorefinery Demonstrator - We will develop a nationally significant bio-refinery technology demonstrator based on microwave that involves continuous processing and flexibility of feedstock and product (solid and liquid fuels and chemical intermediates)

Bio-Boards - The project will involve the use of a biorefinery approach in generating all of the main components of general purpose boards from biomass. A full supply chain partnership has been brought together to achieve this goal.

Microwave Projects - With our ever dwindling geological reserves of non-renewable hydrocarbon resources and the prospects of their continued use further driving global warming/ecological damage, new sources of fuels must be found. The solution is likely to take the form of a multifaceted approach including the use of nuclear, solar, wind, wave and biofuels for our future energy needs.

Utilisation of Biofuel Co-Products Using Green Chemical Technology - The project carried out by the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence in partnership with a local SMEtargets the valorization of side streams from the processing of used cooking oil into biofuel. The Partnership have found a number of applications for glycerin (anaerobic digestion and conversion into added value chemicals) and is progressing towards the development of viable routes for the use of food waste.

SWIFT (Switchable Adhesives for Flooring Tiles) - A novel adhesive, derived from a renewable source, has been developed to aid carpet tile recycling. The switchable adhesive allows tile components to be unzippered at the end-of-life, dramatically reducing textile waste and the industry’s impact on the environment. A partnership with 3 UK companies has been brought together to bring this to commercial fruition.

Green Flooring Based on Bio-derived Plastisols - This collaborative project focuses on developing a renewable alternative to replace PVC in flooring applications. The research involves the examination of numerous natural polymers and bio-based molecules by utilising different techniques in order to invent a product with comparable performance that of PVC.

Supercritically Extracted Liquid Crystals - This project explores ways of recycling liquid crystal waste material from the ever increasing number of defunct LCD devices that are now being disposed.