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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PORTABLECRAC (PORTABLE SOLUTION FOR THE ELECTROCHEMICAL REGENERATION OF ACTIVATED CARBON)

Teaser

Summary

PORTABLECRAC brings a sustainable and long term solution creating a direct and indirect employment in the â€œservice-sectorâ€ from EU. The overall concept of PORTABLECRAC is shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, PORTABLECRAC KEY VALUE PROPOSITION is to provide a solution to water treatment with 86% reduction in cost per kg/AC and 4 times reduction in CO2 emissions. Business model will be assessed and validated during the scope of the project, based on traditional key drivers for industry market penetration as cost reduction and legislation framework. First PORTABLECRAC devices will be produced and optimized by ENV, with support of RTDPs included in the proposal that can later on exploit the new foreground or either license it to a third party that will take the role of service provider. In a preferred scenario the third party will be a joint venture promoted/integrated by PORTABLECRAC partners. Service provider will offer this regeneration technology to industrial clients with AC regeneration requirements from water treatment. PORTABLECRAC will offer savings from first year, 64% of OPEX for producer (ENV) and 12 times of OPEX for service provider (joint venture) providing cash for CAPEX.
PORTABLECRAC aims to be an alternative to the most preferred regeneration technology for AC by offering innovative and integral solutions based on electrochemical technology.

Work performed

The electrochemical batch prototype for the regeneration of 15 kg of activated carbon (AC) was built and working correctly, achieving a recovery of porosity above 95%. The vertical flow cell design and the anode adaptation have been carried out. A regeneration efficiency of 100 % was achieved in the first experiment carried out in the vertical cell (10 kg). Besides, the 100kg batch prototype was designed and scaled-up. In addition, this prototype was installed at a partner\'s facilities adapting it to its electrical and hydraulic needs. On the other hand, the scaling up and design of the 100kg continuous electrolyte/carbon bed prototype has been carrying out.
The design of the Pilot Belt Press prototype (aka small CC version) was finished. All elements for the electrification of SMALL CC prototype were received and assembled in the period. As part of the mitigation measures , the integration of the Small C.C. prototype in a portable container was designed. The goal is to enable on-site DEMOs with the SMALL CC
A study of the AC market in Portugal was performed using the statistical information collected from the main Portuguese organizations and validated /detailed through direct contacts with selected companies.
Project management procedures were prepared and sent to the partners, KPIs were established as well as the foreseen target to achieve at the end of the project. These indicators are related to the different objectives of PORTABLECRAC. Moreover, the communication & dissemination plan was established, pointing out the visual identity of the project, the tools to be used and the way of procedure accordingly. Data required for the LCA & LCC of the different prototypes was gathered. Furthermore, a life cycle assessment (LCA) and a life cycle cost (LCC) analysis of the production and thermal regeneration of activated carbon and its usage in a drinking water facilities was prepared.

Final results

considering the high cost of acquiring virgin AC together with the negative impact over environment in discarding it, the viability of AC use at industrial level depends largely on regeneration and reuse of exhausted AC. Indeed, regeneration is becoming a growing concern for carbon industries and constitutes a sustainable solution in line with EU policies. PORTABLECRAC offers electrochemical technology as a promising alternative to all of the regeneration methods previously exposed and especially to exhausted AC disposal and thermal regeneration. In electrochemistry, the application of electric potential differential over exhausted AC favors the adsorbed molecules desorption allowing the regeneration of the material. Essentially, this process has similar or higher regeneration efficiency than thermal regeneration. bESIDES, it does not need chemical reagents that may produce secondary pollutants. Moreover, electrochemical regeneration allows a more selective process in which the proper setting of the applied current (or electrode potential) and other operational variables (such as electrolysis time, electrode composition, etc.) can allow for the recovery (for added value substances), modification of organic pollutants into less hazardous compounds, or even complete mineralization. Hence, PORTABLECRAC proposes a more sustainable solution to regenerate AC under the environmental and cost saving point of view in comparison with existing methods.