Mr. Chen Zhang of Dr. Chunfei Wu’s research group at Queen’s University Belfast spent November and January 2022 as an academic visitor with Prof. Tao Wang and Dr. Long Jiang’s research group at Zhejiang University as part of the EU-RISE project. This visit and collaboration are primarily intended to learn about and create advancements in carbon neutrality. Professor Wang’s group focused on resin’s ability to capture and utilize ambient CO₂. Dr. Jiang’s research group is primarily concerned with the addition and utilization of CO₂ in industrial flue gases. Dr. Long Jiang, Mr. Chen Zhang, and Ms. Ying Ji conducted the 15% CO₂ adsorption experiment utilizing chemical activated bamboo charcoal samples and tried to modify the biochar material using polymer amine to increase the adsorption efficiency. This work is scheduled to be published in April 2022 in the journal of Separation and Purification Technology. This collaboration has significantly enriched the development prospects of biochar in the area of carbon capture and significantly bolstered academic exchanges between Queen’s University Belfast and Zhejiang University.

Maria Cortazar and Xabier sukunza from the University of the Basque Country visited The University of British Columbia (Professor Xiaotao Bi’s group) for three months. The research is about biomass gasification. The two researchers participated in the commissioning of a 25 kg/h two-stage gasification pilot plant comprised of a bubbling fluidized bed and a riser. In the preliminary tests, different operating conditions have been tested on biomass gasification process and the effect of ER, S/B ratio, temperature and the bed inventory on the products have been assessed. Critical knowledge exchange between the two groups was carried out.

The two-day workshop involved around 40 researchers. Presentations were given and discussion for collaborations and research progress were carried out. It is promising and challenging to connect solid waste recycling with wastewater treatment. For example, biochar produced from pyrolysis of biomass waste can be used for the removal of pollutants from wastewater.

Some photo are attached below:

Mr. Shuming Zhang from QUB visited the Institute for Themal Power Engineering of Zhejiang University from September 2021 to December 2021. During his exchange period at Zhejiang University, Shuming worked in Prof. Mengxiang Fang’s group mainly on the techno-economic analysis of the autothermal CaO looping biomass gasification process. There is one revised manuscript waiting for journal submission. In addition, he received training on CO2 absorption in large-scale industrial applications.

The workshop, partially funded by the EU RISE project, has successfully carried out bringing participants from UK and China. Topics related to biomass conversion and wastewater treatment have been discussed, in addition to the collaborations and career development. We aim to sustain the research links and promote the development and deployment of bioenergy and its interaction with wastewater treatment.