Daily basis used plastics cause a huge amount of waste having an enormous impact on the environment and living species at the end-of-life of plastics disposal. In fact, around 300 million tons of plastic are produced annually in the world and only small percentage, less than 9% according to UNEP, of this plastic is recycled, 12% is incinerated and the 79% left generates big contamination problems. There are already different ways, not all of them economically viable, to valorize plastic waste (PW) e.g., chemical recycling to feedstocks and energy. The smart management and valorization of PW generated is a major challenge to be addressed by the scientific community. Furthermore, the decarbonization of all sectors of activity becomes of paramount importance and hydrogen is set to play a key role in decarbonizing hard-to-electrify sectors, as well as represent a zero-carbon feedstock for chemicals and fuel production. But for H2 to play the desired role in the energy transition, the scientific community must face the big challenge of decarbonizing H2 production at a competitive cost. Consequently, WASTE2H2 is proposing a novel method where innovative Ionic Liquid-based catalytic systems are combined with microwave (MW) irradiation to selectively produce highly pure clean H2 and valuable decarbonized chemicals (solid carbon) from PW, addressing simultaneously PW remediation and global climate change mitigation. WASTE2H2 add to novelty significant breakthroughs vs. other routes for PW management and H2 production: i) plastic waste deconstruction by single-step method powered by renewable electricity and working under mild conditions; ii) fast production of highly pure H2; iii) valuable solid carbon production as sole decarbonized co-product, with easy recovery for its commercialization; iv) expected long lifespan of catalytic system, easy recovery and reuse; v) reducing significantly the energy consumption due to MWs; and vi) high potential to reduce H2 production cost.

In DIACAT we propose the development of a completely new technology for the direct photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into fine chemicals and fuels using visible light. The approach utilises the unique property of man-made diamond, now widely available at low economic cost, to generate solvated electrons upon light irradiation in solutions (e.g. in water and ionic liquids). The project will achieve the following major objectives on the way to the efficient production of chemicals from CO2 : - experimental and theoretical understanding of the principles of production of solvated electrons stemming from diamond - identification of optimal forms of nanostructured diamond (wires, foams pores) and surface modifications to achieve high photoelectron yield and long term performance - investigation of optimized energy up-conversion using optical nearfield excitation as a means for the direct use of sunlight for the excitation of electrons -characterisation of the chemical reactions which are driven by the solvated electrons in “green” solvents like water or ionic liquids and reaction conditions to maximise product yields. - demonstration of the feasibility of the direct reduction of CO2 in a laboratory environment. The ultimate outcome of the project will be the development of a novel technology for the direct transformation of CO2 into organic chemicals using illumination with visible light. On a larger perspective, this technology will make an important contribution to a future sustainable chemical production as man-made diamond is a low cost industrial material identified to be environmentally friendly. Our approach lays the foundation for the removal and transformation of carbon dioxide and at the same time a chemical route to store and transport energy from renewable sources. This will have a transformational impact on society as whole by bringing new opportunities for sustainable production and growth.