World-changing healthcare and lifestyle innovations compete for prestigious UK engineering prize

  • 2021 finalists for the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award are world-leading UK engineering innovations that could help us all live healthier, more sustainable lives.
  • Creo Medical, DnaNudge and PragmatIC Semiconductor vie for top award in UK engineering innovation and show how engineers and technologists are crucial to the UK’s recovery and future economic development.
  • Winning team will receive a £50,000 cash prize and the MacRobert Award Gold Medal, which has previously been won by the pioneers behind the CT scanner, breath biopsies and the first bionic hand.

The Royal Academy of Engineering has today announced the finalists for the 2021 MacRobert Award, the most prestigious prize for UK engineering innovation.

This year’s three finalists are pioneering engineering innovations developed in the UK, with the potential to deliver significant healthcare and lifestyle benefits. From more accurate cancer treatment and personalised medicine to new smart labels in pharmaceuticals and nutrition, each of these ground-breaking developments reflect the UK’s global leadership in engineering innovation and promise to unlock widespread societal and environmental benefits.

The MacRobert Award is run by the Royal Academy of Engineering and since 1969 has recognised engineering achievements that demonstrate outstanding innovation, tangible societal benefit and proven commercial success.

This year’s three finalists are:

  • Creo Medical for its healthcare innovation in developing advanced miniaturised surgical tools that uniquely integrate radio frequency and high frequency microwave energy for highly targeted, minimally invasive endoscopic surgery, dramatically improving patient outcomes for cancer care, while minimising the need for traditional surgical interventions, moving treatment out of the operating room. The tools promise to transform clinical outcomes for patients, reducing recovery times and avoiding the risks of open surgery. The new technology enables cost savings of up to £10,000 per procedure in NHS Hospitals, a 50% saving on traditional surgery.
  • DnaNudge for its pioneering genetic testing technology that enables consumers to shop more healthily – nudged by their DNA plus lifestyle. Following a simple cheek swab, DnaNudge’s NudgeBox analyser maps the user’s genetic profile to key nutrition-related health traits such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol. Customers can then use their wearable DnaBand and mobile app to scan products while they shop and be guided by their DNA towards healthier choices. The technology has been rapidly adapted into a gold-standard, 90-minute lab-free RT-PCR test for COVID-19 and is now in use in NHS hospitals, care homes, and supporting the return of the arts sector.
  • PragmatIC Semiconductor for its electronic engineering innovation that takes the silicon out of silicon chips, resulting in ultra-low-cost thin and flexible integrated circuits. These can be inexpensively embedded in everyday objects from food and drink packaging to medical consumables, a crucial step in achieving the Internet of Things and addressing a range of application sectors including the circular economy and digital healthcare. The technology reduces manufacturing cycle time from months to less than a day, allowing agile “just in time” production of microchips, avoiding the risks and waste of global supply chains. In addition, traditional silicon chip fabrication methods have enormous carbon and water footprints, while the PragmatIC approach reduces this by more than 100-fold.

Each finalist team reflects the vital importance of engineering in our nation’s drive for a healthier and more sustainable society. They represent the pinnacle of UK engineering and the new frontiers of technology across fields as diverse as medical technology and the Internet of Things.

The winner of this year’s MacRobert Award will be announced in July. The winning team will receive the signature MacRobert Award gold medal and a £50,000 cash prize.

Now in its 52nd year, the MacRobert Award has an unparalleled record of recognising successful British innovations that have gone on to change the world, delivering enormous economic and societal benefits.

The first award in 1969 was made jointly for two iconic innovations: to Rolls-Royce for the Pegasus engine used in the Harrier jump jet, and to Freeman, Fox and Partners for the aerodynamic deck design of the Severn Bridge.

Several MacRobert Award winning innovations have had a major impact on healthcare and lifestyle over the years, including:

  • Allowing doctors to see inside the human body with the CT scanner invented at EMI (1972 MacRobert Award winner)
  • The first laser eye scanner developed by Optos (2006 winner)
  • The world’s first bionic hand invented by Touch Bionics (2008 winner)
  • Human motion capture in Microsoft’s Kinect for Xbox360, later applied to allow surgeons to visualise operations (2011 winner)
  • The credit-card sized computer that made coding and control systems accessible to all, the Raspberry Pi (2017 winner)
  • Diagnosing cancer with a simple breath test, the breath biopsy from Owlstone Medical (2018 winner)

MacRobert Award winners are chosen by an expert panel of Academy Fellows, who have vast experience across engineering industry and academia.

Professor Sir Richard Friend FREng FRS, Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award judging panel, said:

“The UK is a global leader in engineering and technology, as evidenced by its proactive role in tackling the pandemic, from ventilators to vaccine production. After such a year it is no surprise to find medical engineering strongly represented across the finalists for this year’s MacRobert Award for engineering innovation. As we look to build back better for the future, the inspiring achievements of our finalists offer the potential for all of us to have more control over our health and lifestyle.

“These three companies represent the very best of engineering innovation, offering new ways to apply leading edge technologies in our daily lives. Whether using our own genetics to guide us on making healthier food choices through DnaNudge, reaping the benefits of products connected seamlessly thanks to PragmatIC’s flexible electronics or receiving more precise cancer treatment developed by Creo Medical, these developments offer huge potential advantages for the future.”

 

 

Notes to editors

The MacRobert Award

First presented in 1969, the MacRobert Award is widely regarded as the most coveted in the industry, honouring the winning organisation with a gold medal and the team members with a cash prize of £50,000. Founded by the MacRobert Trust, the award is presented and run by the Royal Academy of Engineering, with support from the Worshipful Company of Engineers.

The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

The MacRobert Award finalist teams:

  • Creo Medical: Chris Hancock, CTO & FounderCraig Gulliford, CEO, Steve Morris, former COO, Dr Nuwan Dharmasiri, Principal RF and Microwave Engineer, Sandra Swain, Principal Engineer.
  • DnaNudge: Professor Christofer Toumazou FREng FRS, CEO, Dr Maria Karvela, CSO, Dr Caroline Golden, Clinical Research Manager, Josef Cicinski, UK Retail Store Manager, David West, COO.
  • PragmatIC: Scott White, CEO, Richard Price, CTO, Ken Williamson, COO, Catherine Ramsdale, SVP Technology, Neil Davies, VP Process.

The MacRobert Award 2021 judging panel:

  • Professor Sir Richard Friend FREng FRS (Chair of judges)
    Former Cavendish Professor of Physics, University of Cambridge; Founder, Cambridge Display Technology
  • Naomi Climer CBE FREng
    Non Executive Director; Former President Media Cloud Services, Sony; Vice President, Royal Academy of Engineering
  • Dr Andy Harter CBE DL FREng
    Chairman, Cambridge Network; Founder and Group CEO, RealVNC
  • Professor Nick Jennings CB FREng
    Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise), Imperial College London
  • Professor Dame Julia King, The Baroness Brown of Cambridge DBE FREng FRS
    Chair, The Carbon Trust
  • Professor Gordon Masterton DL OBE FREng FRSE
    Chair of Future Infrastructure, University of Edinburgh; Former Vice-President, Jacobs Professor
  • Sir John McCanny CBE FREng FRS
    Regius Professor of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast Professor
  • Phil Nelson CBE FREng
    Professor of Acoustics, University of Southampton
  • Dr Liane Smith FREng
    Director, Larkton Ltd; former SVP Digital Solutions, Wood Group
  • Professor Sir Saeed Zahedi OBE RDI FREng
    Technical Director, Blatchford; Visiting Professor, University of Bournemouth
By |2021-06-06T23:01:00+00:00June 6th, 2021|Engineering News|Comments Off on World-changing healthcare and lifestyle innovations compete for prestigious UK engineering prize
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Electrolytic Iron Production from Alkaline Bauxite Residue Slurries at Low Temperatures

Johnson Matthey Technol. Rev., 2021, 65, (3), 366

1. Introduction

At present, primary iron metal is commonly produced through the CO2 intensive carbothermic reduction of iron oxides in blast furnaces at a temperature of around 1600°C. Since carbon is used as both reducing agent and fuel for the process, blast furnace pig-iron cannot eliminate its CO2 emissions. Therefore, in recent years, carbon-free electrochemical processes have been widely investigated as potential green alternative routes for the production of iron and iron-base alloys (1–4) (assuming renewable electricity).

A large project that has been focused on alternative ways of producing iron was Ultra Low CO2 in Steelmaking (ULCOS) in which new smelting reduction concepts were studied. The ULCOWIN electrolytic production of iron from suspensions of iron oxide particles in a highly concentrated sodium hydroxide solution at 110°C was demonstrated at laboratory scale. It has been shown that the iron particles are reduced in the solid state, which differs from the conventional electrowinning processes where the metal is deposited through the reduction of dissolved metal cations. Previous works with this process achieved high Faradaic yield (80–95%) (1–4).

Based on the above-mentioned studies, the technology for alkaline pulp iron electrowinning is being studied for the first time from a secondary mineral source, namely bauxite residue from the alumina refining industry. This technique is referred to in the SIDERWIN project (5), which aims among others to produce iron from alternative low-grade iron sources, currently incompatible with the conventional steel making processes.

Bauxite ore is treated within the Bayer process to produce metallurgical grade alumina which is the raw material for aluminium production. Bauxite ore depending on its origin contains 40–60% alumina and the rest is a mixture of iron (20–30%), silicon and titanium oxides. When bauxite ore is treated with caustic soda, the aluminium hydroxides or oxides contained within are solubilised, with approximately 50% of the bauxite mass being transferred to the liquid phase, while the remaining solid fraction constitutes the bauxite residue, often termed as ‘red mud’ due to its colour. Depending on the grade of the bauxite ore used, bauxite residue, on a dry basis, is produced from 0.9 to 1.5 mass ratio to the alumina product (6). The high volume and alkalinity of this byproduct make its valorisation a major challenge worldwide (7).

Bauxite residue is an untapped secondary raw material source considering the presence of valuable substances such as iron (30–45 wt%), aluminium (15–25 wt%), silicon, calcium, titanium and sodium oxides as well as smaller concentrations of critical or industrially important elements such as rare earth elements (REEs) (mainly cerium, lanthanum, scandium, yttrium and neodymium), vanadium, chromium and others (6). The recovery of the major metals from bauxite residue has never yet been implemented while a lot of processes have been proposed. Despite the laboratory-scale success of much of the work so far, currently the industrial utilisation of bauxite residue is estimated at just 2–4 million tonnes, accounting for less than 3% of the annual bauxite residue production (8).

The main constituent of bauxite residue is iron oxide and it can make up to 45% of the mass of the bauxite residue. In fact, the red colour of bauxite residue is caused by iron(III) oxides (mostly haematite, Fe2O3) (9). In general, due to its high alkaline (Na2O ≈ 10%) and its titanium (TiO2 ≈ 4–15%) content, bauxite residue is not suitable for use as an iron ore substitute in blast furnaces.

Bauxite residue reductive smelting processes can be applied by several technologies (Corex, Finex®, HIsmelt, Romelt, AusIron and electric arc furnace (EAF)) for the production of pig iron (10, 11). So far, two methods have been applied at pilot scale for bauxite residue reductive smelting: the Romelt method (12) and the EAF (13–16). The Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys (MISA) (Russia), with National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) and the joint venture company Romelt-Steel Authority of India Ltd (RSIL) (India), studied the pyrometallurgical process of bauxite residues using the Romelt method (12). The advantage of this method is that materials can be used with moisture levels of up to 10 wt%. The main disadvantage is the high energy consumption and the poor quality of pig iron with a high concentration of sulfur and phosphorus (10). In EAF reductive smelting, a mixture of bauxite residue, carbon and fluxes is treated at 1500–1700°C to form pig iron with higher than 95% iron recovery (6, 13, 17). Recovery of residual iron can be further improved by later magnetic separation in slag dust (18). Post-melting slag can be used to produce rockwool or building materials (6, 19) and for the recovery of non-ferrous metals and REE (9, 18, 20, 21). However, such methods have not been industrialised as they are not competitive to established iron and steel making processes.

The present paper describes a highly promising electrochemical method for sustainably extracting the iron from bauxite residue, in an alkaline environment, which is in-tune with the alkaline environment of the Bayer process.

2. Materials and Methods

The process is conducted in an electrolysis cell consisting of a borosilicate glass beaker (250 ml) closed with a specially configured cylindrical silicon bung (45 cm diameter). The experimental apparatus is shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 1.

Electrolysis experimental apparatus

Electrolysis experimental apparatus

A three-electrode configuration was used; the cathode was a rectangular shaped stainless steel V2A plate (110 mm height, 10 mm length, 1 mm width), the anodes were two rectangular shaped nickel plates (100 mm height, 10 mm length, 2 mm width). All electrodes were centred according to the silicon bung’s cylindrical axis in specially configured holes so that the electrodes were in certain positions and at fixed distance to each other. The working electrode’s surface area that was immersed in the solution was defined to be 8 cm2. The reference electrode that was used was a commercial Hg | HgO | NaOH (1 M) electrode (RE-61AP, ALS Co Ltd, Japan) which was immersed in a distinct glass.

Bauxite residue was supplied by MYTILINEOS-Aluminium of Greece. Samples were solubilised via fusion method according to which a quantity of bauxite residue remained at 1000°C for 1 h with a mixture of Li2B4O7/KNO3 followed by direct dissolution in 6.5% nitric acid solution. Chemical analysis was performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) with the use of a PerkinElmer 2100 atomic absorption spectrometer. The chemical analysis of the samples used in this study is shown in Table I. The chemical analysis showed that Fe2O3 is the main content of bauxite residue.

Table I

Bauxite Residue Chemical Analysis

Fe2O3 Al2O3 SiO2 TiO2 CaO Na2O Loss on ignition (LOI)
wt% 44.77 18.75 6.69 6.65 9.77 2.93 9.17

Mineralogical analysis of bauxite residue (Figure 2) showed that the main iron oxide phase is haematite while a small amount of goethite also exists. The haematite to goethite mass ratio in bauxite residue is 4.2 (22).

Fig. 2.

Bauxite residue mineralogical analysis

Bauxite residue mineralogical analysis

Prior to each experiment, the stainless-steel cathode and the nickel anodes were polished with sandpaper and were rinsed with demineralised water. Furthermore, the cathode was weighed. The electrolyte was a 50 wt% NaOH aqueous solution corresponding to molarity of 25 mol kg–1, to which was added 10 wt% bauxite residue solid particles. Typically, a mixture of 152.4 g solid NaOH with purity higher than 99% (CHEM-LAB NV, Belgium) and 152.4 g demineralised water were mixed under stirring for about 30 min. After the electrolyte’s homogenisation, 33.9 g of bauxite residue were slowly added to the solution within 5 min.

The slurry temperature was measured via a probe that was wrapped in a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) shrink tubing to avoid current leakage. The slurry was stirred using a 1 cm ringed cylindrical magnetic bar and magnetic hot plate (IKA® RCT basic, IKA Works Inc, USA) at a rotational speed of 500 rpm to keep bauxite residue particles suspended. The small size of the magnetic bar was chosen to minimise the attraction of magnetite particles to the stirrer. The cathode, the anodes and the reference electrode were connected via their respective terminal to a potentiostat (SourceMeter® 2461 Series, Keithley, Tektronix Inc, USA).

Cyclic voltammetry and electrolysis tests, under chronopotentiometry mode, were performed in a three electrode cell connected to a potentiostat (2461 Series, Keithley) and the obtained experimental data were analysed. Regarding cyclic voltammetry, it should be noted that both working and counter electrode were platinum wires while the reference electrode was the above mentioned Hg/HgO commercial electrode.

Electrolysis tests were performed under galvanostatic mode. The duration of the experiment was 2 h. After the end of each experiment, the cathode was thoroughly rinsed with distilled water in order to remove the remaining electrolyte, and was dried at 100°C for 24 h, before being weighed. The difference between the mass of the cathode prior to and after the end of electrolysis was considered as the mass of the deposit. This value was used to deduce the current efficiency according to Faradaic law.

2.1 Determination of Metallic Iron

According to previous studies, the haematite reduction mechanism to form metallic iron on the cathode has magnetite as an intermediate product (2). For that reason, a quantitative determination of the deposit took place to identify the percentages of both metallic iron and magnetite phases.

The principle of the method is based on the selective dissolution of metallic iron from a 2% bromine solution in ethanol in a mixture with its oxides. According to the procedure, 100 ml of bromine (Acros OrganicsTM, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) solution 2% in ethanol (EMSURE®, Merck, Germany) was prepared and 0.2 g of sample powder was added in a 250 ml conical flask. The solution was let to stir at ambient temperature for 90 min and then filtered using a 47 mm diameter glass fibre filter (Whatman®, Cytiva, USA) (23). The resulting solution was titrated into a 500 ml flask with deionised water. Finally, the solution was diluted and measured in an atomic absorption spectrometer (PerkinElmer 2100).

3. Results

3.1 Cyclic Voltammetry

A voltammogram of bauxite residue (10 wt%) with 50 wt% NaOH solution at 110°C and scan rate 100 mV s–1 is shown in Figure 3. Iron oxide from bauxite residue (mainly haematite) is reduced to metallic iron in the region of cathodic potentials from –1.2 V to –1.4 V with a peak at –1.36 V. Hydrogen evolves at more negative potentials lower than –1.4 V. The plateau observed at cathodic potentials between –1.0 V and –1.2 V is attributed to reduction of haematite to magnetite which is always taking place in the system under study as is seen in Raman spectra of a typical deposit in Figure 4. The peak observed at anodic scanning at about –0.7 V is attributed to the reversible oxidation of iron.

Fig. 3.

Cyclic voltammetry in pulps of bauxite residue (10 wt%) in 50 wt% NaOH solution at 110°C and 100 mV s–1

Cyclic voltammetry in pulps of bauxite residue (10 wt%) in 50 wt% NaOH solution at 110°C and 100 mV s–1

Fig. 4.

Raman spectra of cathodic deposit

Raman spectra of cathodic deposit

The electrochemical reactivity of the iron oxides of bauxite residue was evaluated by galvanostatic electrolytic experiments. The parameters that were tested were current density and slurry temperature.

3.2 Effect of Current density

Galvanostatic experiments were performed in different applied currents (62.5 A m–2, 156.3 A m–2, 312.5 A m–2, 625 A m–2, 937.5 A m–2, 1250 A m–2) while all other factors remained constant (50 wt% NaOH, 10 wt% bauxite residue, temperature 110°C and stirring rate 500 rpm). The open circuit potential between the working electrode and the reference electrode was –0.968 V.

The cathodic potential vs. Hg/HgO is shown in Figure 5. As expected, the increase of the applied current results in more negative values of cathodic potential indicating more intense reductive conditions at the cathode. The applied currents between 62.5 A m–2 and 312.5 A m–2 gave constant cathodic potential values for the whole duration of electrolysis tests in the range of –1.2 V to –1.4 V which coincide fully with the region of haematite reduction to metallic iron as shown in the voltammogram of Figure 3. Applied current densities higher than 312.5 A m–2 push the cathodic potential towards the hydrogen evolution region (<1.4 V) as seen in Figure 3. In all experiments the cathodic potential was lower than the open circuit potential and therefore the cathodic material was stable and not corroded.

Fig. 5.

Cathodic potentials during galvanostatic experiment at different current densities (A m–2)

Cathodic potentials during galvanostatic experiment at different current densities (A m–2)

The calculated Faradaic efficiency for each experiment, taking into account the purity of metallic iron in the deposit that was determined to be 89–91% in all experiments, is shown in Table II. Particles of magnetite which are formed by the reduction of haematite appeared as impurities on the cathode surface. In conclusion, the metallic iron produced is extremely pure and the only processing needed is a melting process to produce pure iron ingots.

Table II

Current Efficiency of Galvanostatic Experiments for the Investigation of the Applied Current Effect

Current density, A m–2 Current efficiency, %
62.5 48.48
156.25 48.84
312.5 41.19
625 25.28
937.5 35.14
1250 33.74

As seen, the lower the applied current, the higher the Faradaic efficiency. The lowest applied currents in the region of 62.5 A m–2 to 312.5 A m–2 gave the highest current efficiencies which were very close to 50%. Even this current efficiency is very low indicating the strong presence of parallel unwanted cathodic reactions such as the hydrogen evolution reaction as well as unavoidable cathodic reactions such as the reduction of haematite to magnetite that is always taking place in this system. The intense hydrogen evolution even at the lowest applied currents where the measured cathodic potentials was higher than that of hydrogen reduction indicates a cathode with non-uniform potential. This is reasonable because the cathode is covered by electroactive haematite particles as well as non-electroactive particles coming from the bauxite residue. The electroactive species are the iron oxides haematite and goethite and the non-electroactive particles are all the other phases in bauxite residue such as diaspore, cancrinite, calcite, hydrogarnet, perovskite, gibbsite, boehmite and anatase. Therefore, the current distribution on cathode is non-uniform giving rise to areas with charge accumulation (located where the non-electroactive species are concentrated) and thus more negative potential in relation to the other areas where the electroactive haematite particles are located.

3.3 Effect of Temperature

The temperature effect was studied in the range 70–135°C while the other electrolysis parameters were kept constant (50 wt% NaOH, 10 wt% bauxite residue and stirring rate 500 rpm). The applied current density was selected to be 156.3 A m–2 as this value resulted in the highest Faradaic yield (48.84%) in the previous experimental series. The cathodic potentials vs. Hg/HgO are shown in Figure 6. As seen, the cathodic potentials within the whole duration of all electrolysis experiments remained in the region from –1.2 V to –1.4 V which coincides with the region where the haematite is reduced to metallic iron (Figure 3). In addition, there is a tendency for less negative cathodic potentials (milder reductive conditions) as the process temperature increases. The calculated Faradaic efficiencies are shown in Table III. The increase of temperature from 70°C to 130°C resulted in a steady almost linear increase of Faradaic efficiency from 11.23% to 71.58%. Step-up temperature to 135°C caused a slight decrease in current efficiency to 59.76% which is still higher than that at 120°C.

Fig. 6.

Cathodic potentials during galvanostatic experiment at different pulp temperatures (°C)

Cathodic potentials during galvanostatic experiment at different pulp temperatures (°C)

Table III

Current Efficiency of Galvanostatic Experiments for the Investigation of Pulp’s Temperature Effect

Temperature, °C Current efficiency, %
70 11.23
90 24.48
110 48.84
120 54.94
130 71.58
135 59.76

As mentioned above, the cathode surface is covered with electroactive and non-electroactive particles coming from the bauxite residue. The electroactive particles are strongly attached to the cathode surface due to their partial reduction to metallic iron while the non-electroactive particles are loosely attached. The temperature increase causes an increase in the rate of heterogeneous nucleation of water bubbles on the particles’ surface due to vapour pressure increase. Therefore, the probability of removing the loosely attached non-electroactive particles from the cathode surface increases and thus the probability of replacing the non-electroactive with electroactive ones increases. At higher temperatures the percent coverage of the cathode with electroactive species increases and thus the Faradaic efficiency increases. At temperatures close to the boiling point of 50 wt% NaOH solution (that is 143°C), the water bubbling is so intense that the electroactive particles also start to detach from the cathode surface and therefore decrease the Faradaic efficiency. A compromise is achieved at an intermediate temperature which in this case is 130°C.

In any case, the Faradaic efficiencies achieved during the bauxite residue pulp electrolysis are substantially lower than those achieved in iron ore pulp electrolysis (3) where the cathode is uniformly covered by only electroactive particles.

4. Conclusions

The present work has demonstrated the possibility to electrochemically reduce iron from bauxite residue in alkaline pulps. The process temperature proved to be the most crucial parameter that substantially affects the Faradaic process efficiency. At the current level of process development, a Faradaic efficiency of 71.58% was achieved at pulp density of 10 wt% bauxite residue in a 50 wt% NaOH solution at 130°C. The applied current has to create a cathodic potential higher than –1.4 V vs. Hg/HgO (in 1 M NaOH) in order to avoid the hydrogen evolution which takes place at cathodic potentials lower than –1.4 V.

The cathode in the case of bauxite residue pulps electrolysis is not uniformly covered by electroactive iron oxide particles (mainly haematite) and therefore there is not a uniform cathodic potential on the whole cathode surface. This affects the current efficiency of the process which is always substantially lower than that observed in pure haematite ore electrolysis.

Bauxite residue is produced as a byproduct of the Bayer process, an alkaline leaching process taking place at temperatures 120–250°C. Therefore, the present process has great potential for integration in the established Bayer process as a symbiotic step to valorise the (currently wasted) iron portion of the bauxite ore.

Acknowledgements

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union H2020 SIDERWIN project under the Grant Agreement no. 768788.

The Authors


Sevasti Koutsoupa studied Mining and Metallurgical engineering at National Technical University of Athens, Greece, and currently she is a PhD candidate in the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering on the topic of “Iron oxide Electrowinning from Bauxite Residue”. Currently she is involved in the research of SIDERWIN and SCALE projects.


Stavroula Koutalidi is a Chemical Engineer from the National Technical University of Athens. She obtained a Master of Science in Industrial Pharmacy from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. She is currently a senior researcher in the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering in the field of Electrometallurgy and she is involved with SIDERWIN and SCALE projects.


Evangelos Bourbos is a graduate of the Chemical Engineering Department of the National Technical University of Athens. He obtained a Master of Science, for which he received an award from the Limmat foundation, in Protection of Monuments, Sites and Complexes with emphasis in Conservation Interventions: Techniques and Materials directed by the School of Architecture Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens. He is a PhD candidate in the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering in the field of electrometallurgy under the topic of “Electrorecovery of Rare Earth Metals from Low Temperature Electrolytes as an Alternative to Molten Salts Electrolysis”. He has worked as a researcher in one national and three European projects (EURARE, SCALE, SIDERWIN) over the past six years. He has four scientific publications in peer reviewed scientific journals and books and has also actively participated in various international and European conferences and training courses. He is currently working for Titan Cement SA.


Efthymios Balomenos studied Mining and Metallurgical engineering at National Technical University of Athens and received his PhD degree in thermodynamics in the same school in 2006. Since 2008 he has been working in the Laboratory of Metallurgy as a postdoctoral researcher focusing on sustainable process development, CO2 mitigation strategies, exergy analysis and resource utilisation efficiency. He was involved in the research management of the ENEXAL and EURARE projects and is involved in the ongoing SCALE, ENSUREAL, REMOVAL, SIDERWIN, BIORECOVER and AlSiCaL research projects. He has more than 40 research publications in journals and conference proceedings with more than 170 citation and an h-index of 8. Since 2015 he is also working for MYTILINEOS SA Metallurgy Business Unit, focusing on promoting sustainable solutions for the valorisation of bauxite residue.


Dimitrios Panias is a metallurgical engineer. He graduated from the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens in 1984. He completed his doctoral thesis on gold pyrometallurgy at National Technical University of Athens in 1989. Currently, he is Professor in Extractive Metallurgy at National Technical University of Athens teaching Chemistry, Non-Ferrous Metals Extractive Metallurgy and Transport Phenomena. His research interests include but are not limited to extractive metallurgy, electrometallurgy, waste valorisation, wastewater treatment, geopolymerisation as well as chemical processing of ores and metallurgical wastes with ionic liquids.

By |2021-06-03T14:41:04+00:00June 3rd, 2021|Weld Engineering Services|Comments Off on Electrolytic Iron Production from Alkaline Bauxite Residue Slurries at Low Temperatures
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Process Intensification: Activated Carbon Production from Biochar Produced by Gasification

1.1 Activated Carbon

The adsorption of air and water contaminants on an activated carbon surface is frequently used in air and water treatment systems. Conventional biological treatment processes are efficient in removing biodegradable organics. These processes, however, have limited ability to remove lignins, humic substances, pesticides and residual colour and odour-producing organic compounds. The performance of activated carbon in removing such organic compounds has been proven. Activated carbon filters used for water treatment in homes are usually made of either powdered activated carbon (PAC) or granular activated carbon (GAC). PAC is made of powdered carbon with a particle size of <0.18 mm and diameter in the range of 0.25–1.15 mm. It is generally used in batch type reactors and is subsequently filtered off. It is used in the treatment of liquids and cleaning of flue gases. GAC is produced from 0.2–5 mm particle size irregular carbon. For liquid and gas phase substances, it is applied on adsorption columns (1–3).

1.2 Biochar

The increase in production and accompanying energy demand which has emerged in the last century with the increasing population is becoming important. The environmental impacts caused by the increase in production draw attention and higher consumption creates problems for our limited natural resources. The necessity of treatment for the prevention of soil, air and water pollution is among the topics that are especially emphasised at international conferences. It is necessary for humanity to take joint decisions to increase the sensitivity of countries on environmental issues and to implement the necessary legal measures (4).

Biochar is a byproduct with high carbon content produced through the conversion of biomass into syngas by advanced thermal gasification using partial oxidation. Intensified gasification of biomass through partial oxidation is a recently developed, environmentally clean and renewable energy technology (5). Biochar obtained as a byproduct from gasification of woody biomass mainly contains carbon (85 wt%), nitrogen, hydrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and iron. Production of activated carbon from biochar is possible. To convert biochar into activated carbon, it is necessary to remove the specific contaminants to complete the activation.

Biomass is a renewable energy source but can cause environmental issues when it is not properly utilised. Therefore, it needs to be dealt using appropriate technology as compared to other renewable energy sources. Since thermal utilisation of biomass is carbon neutral, it does not cause global warming, and due to the quantities available it has high energy potential. Thermochemical methods are generally used to obtain energy from biomass. Known thermochemical methods are combustion, pyrolysis and gasification. The gasification process has several advantages over other thermal processes: the ability to dissolve material at lower reactor volumes, the formation of low amounts of contaminants and more efficient utilisation of the produced syngas. Compared to pyrolysis, it has the advantage of working autothermally without the need for external energy. Compared to other processes, gasification of woody biomass is stated to be one of the most suitable options for optimising the conversion efficiency of the fuel’s chemical energy (6–7). The stoichiometric reaction of woody biomass with partial oxygen results in flammable product gases and thus gasification. The basic equation of the gasification of biomass is as in Equation (i):

(i)

Various types of reactors are available for gasification. To not digress from the subject, the kinetics of gasification reaction was not elaborated. Fixed-bed biomass gasification reactors are used for syngas generation and biochar production. Fixed bed gasification reactors efficiently convert biomass to syngas and are the type of reactor suitable for the production of biochar as a byproduct with high carbon content (85–90 wt% carbon) (8–9).

The biomass fed into the gasification system passes through four sections in the reactor and is converted into syngas and biochar as a byproduct. The biomass passes through the drying, pyrolysis, reduction and oxidation zones in the reactor and is converted into biochar at elevated temperatures (800–1100ºC). The amount of biochar produced depends on the biomass type and the operational conditions. 10–20% of the biomass fed to the reactor is produced as biochar (10–12).

Recently, researchers have begun to be interested in biochar produced as a byproduct from biomass by thermal conversion pathways (>700ºC), such as pyrolysis, thermal carbonisation, flash carbonisation and gasification (13). Many studies have suggested that biochar can be used in CO2 adsorption, soil remediation and air pollution removal (14–16). Additionally, the use of the syngas produced by thermochemical conversion of biomass as a renewable energy source provides an advantage while the efficiency potential of biochar produced as a byproduct will make these systems very attractive (17).

1.3 Steam Activation

Physical activation improves the surface pores of biochar and affects the chemical properties of the surface (such as surface functional groups, hydrophobicity and polarity). The physical activation methods used for biochar are generally steam and gas activation.

The steam activation of the biochar is usually carried out after the thermal carbonisation of the biomass. The surface porosity of biochar increases after pyrolysis. Also, with steam activation, the activated biochar will gain higher porosity. The chemical formulae are shown in Equations (ii) and (iii) (18):

(ii)

(iii)

With the H2O (steam) and carbon reaction during the activation process, three outcomes emerge: (a) removal of the volatiles and tar from the surface; (b) formation of new micropores; and (c) expansion of existing pores (19–20).

Studies on steam activation have shown that it increases the biochar’s surface area and micropores. For example, the surface area of biochar (136–793 m2 g−1) obtained by rapid pyrolysis (800ºC, 45 min) was increased as a result of steam activation. All these measurements were performed with BET isotherm (21). In another study, biochar (700ºC) from tea residue biomass was activated by steam and its surface area was obtained as 576.1 m2 g−1, pore volume as 0.109 cm3 g−1 and pore diameter as 1.998 nm (before activation, the surface area was 342.2 m2 g−1, pore volume 0.022 cm3 g−1 and pore diameter 1.756 nm) (22). The steam activated biochar formed at 700ºC indicated the highest absorption capacity (37.7 mg g−1) at pH 3, with a 55% growth in absorption ability compared to non-activated biochar produced under the same conditions. Consequently, activation with steam has potential to enhance the adsorption capability of biochar. At 700ºC, produced biochar derived from plant-based biomass detected relatively low surface areas (9.27 m2 g−1). Due to the formation of tar during thermal decomposition, the pores in the biochar are blocked (23). Steam activated biochar derived from bamboo waste had a larger surface area compared to non-activated bamboo biochar. Optimum conditions for activation were 850ºC and 120 min activation time. Under these conditions, the BET surface area of activated biochar was 1210 m2 g−1 and total pore volume was 0.542 cm3 g−1. This study showed that bamboo waste could be used to arrange new micropores in activated biochar through steam activation (24). In further research, activation of rice husk biochar was carried out at 800ºC using steam. Micro- and mesoporous structured biochar were produced and 1365 m2 g−1 surface area was obtained at the end of 15 min (25).

Another paper presents a study into the effect of different activation conditions and adsorption characteristics of biochar evaluated from tyre rubber waste. Steam was used as an oxidising agent and total micropore volumes and BET surface areas increased to 0.554 cm3 g−1 and 1070 m2 g−1, respectively. Consequently, steam was observed to generate a narrower extensive microporosity (26). An experimental test represents the production of activated biochar from barley straw using steam activation. Activation was conducted to maximise the micropore volumes and BET surface area of the biochar. Optimal conditions for steam activation were a hold time of 1 h at 700ºC. The micropore volume and surface area of the activated biochar were 0.2304 cm3 g−1 and 552 m2 g−1, respectively (27). A further study investigated activated biochar produced from date stone wastes by steam activation. The effect of activation hold time on surface textural structure properties of raw date stone and biochar were studied. The results indicated the presence of cellulose and hemicellulose in the raw material, and the predominance of carbon content. The highest microporous volume was 0.716 cm3 g−1 and specific surface area was 635 m2 g−1, obtained through biochar activated under steam at 700°C for 6 h (28). Another study was conducted to investigate the effect of sulfur in activated biochar prepared from apricot stones by steam activation. The activation temperature and time tested were in the ranges of 650–850ºC for 1–4 h. The experimental results revealed that the surface area of the biochar was 1092 m2 g−1 at activation conditions of 800°C for 4 h. The experimental results indicated that commercial production of porous activated biochar from apricot stones is reasonable (29). The significance of the nature and composition of biomass was demonstrated by the steam activation of three different biomass sources including wheat straw, coconut shell and willow (30). For these three biomass substances, activated carbons with specific surface areas of respectively 246 m2 g−1, 626 m2 g−1 and 840 m2 g−1 were produced.

Although physical activation using steam significantly increases surface area and porosity, there is a disadvantage of using steam activation. This is the loss of aromaticity and polarity in steam activated carbons compared to genuine biochar (31). However, using a combination of CO2 and steam activation has been reported to produce activated carbons with better surface area and pore structure compared to using only CO2 or steam for activation. In one study, activated carbon was produced from biochar obtained from olive kernel biomass using CO2, steam and a combination of CO2 and steam. A combined CO2 and steam activation under similar experimental conditions was reported to produce a higher surface area (1187 m2 g−1) compared to the specific surface area obtained by using only CO2 (572 m2 g−1) or steam (1074 m2 g−1) (32). From the aforementioned studies, it can be concluded that the reaction of steam with carbon occurs in a shorter period compared to the reaction of CO2 with carbon. While generally micropore activated carbons are produced by using CO2 in physical activation, meso- and macropores are formed in the structure during activation with steam (33). The reason for the difference in pores is attributed to the conversion of developed micropores into wide meso- or macropores and the faster reaction of the fixed carbon in the biomass structure of the steam. Also, it is possible to produce more pores using steam as it can penetrate the inner surface of the fixed carbon. On the other hand, CO2 stagnates in its reaction with the fixed carbon and therefore more homogeneous micropores are added to the structure due to activation using CO2. Determining the specified exposure time of the biomass at high temperatures with the activation agent is a critical decision to achieve high surface properties. The significance of biochar steam activation time was emphasised in some studies. It has been determined that there is a decrease in the surface pores of biochar exposed to long activation time (34).

Chemical and physical processes are needed to increase the utilisation value of biochar. Several processes are required such as separation of biochar into suitable granule size, obtaining carbon black, activation of pores by chemical processes and the sizing of activated carbon. The failure to use biochar produced as a byproduct of biomass gasification constitutes a disadvantage in all respects considering the spread of such technologies. Biochar produced as a byproduct by gasification of woody biomass is only used as a soil conditioner in small amounts. It is generally burned inefficiently in combustion boilers. To this end, this study investigates the conversion of biochar into activated carbon, which is a widely used valuable product. Several studies have emphasised that surface area and pore volume increase with the conversion of biomass at high temperatures by thermal methods (35). Thus, it is envisaged in the present study that the process of converting biochar obtained by gasification at high temperatures (800–1000ºC) into activated carbon by specific activation methods may have many advantages. The need for extra energy from external sources such as utilisation of fossil fuels to reach these temperatures in conventional carbon conversion systems causes high operational costs. Considering all this, it is expected that high quality activated carbons obtained from biochar will be available in the market at low costs.

2.1 Materials and Methods

In this experimental study, oak woodchip was gasified in an updraft gasifier. Byproduct biochar was activated in the activation unit integrated into the gasification system.

The proximate and ultimate analyses of the oak woodchips were conducted, and the results are presented in the Results and Discussion section. Proximate and elemental analyses were performed to determine the usability of biochar produced after the gasification of biomass for the production of activated biochar. Proximate analyses of moisture (ASTM D7582-12), ash (ASTM E1755-01(2020)), fixed carbon (ASTM D3172-13) and volatile matter (ASTM D7582-12) were made according to standard methods. The lower heating value was determined using ASTM D5865-13 standard method. The amounts of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur were determined in the element analyser and the amount of oxygen was determined using the standard ASTM D3176-09.

Using a thermal analyser, the thermogravimetric carbonisation analysis of oak woodchips was performed. Approximately 10 mg samples with an average particle size of 0.25 mm were heated at 10ºC min−1 from room temperature to 800ºC under nitrogen flow. Throughout the measurements, the nitrogen flow was kept constant at 10 cm3 min−1.

Activation of the biochar produced in the gasification system in the Gebze Technical University (GTU) Gasification Laboratory was performed. For the preparation of the biochar and activated biochar, oak woodchips were first carbonised by gasification at 800–1000ºC for 1–2 h. Then, the resultant biochar produced as a byproduct from the gasifier was activated by steam at three different temperatures (700ºC, 750ºC and 850ºC) utilising thermal heat generated from a syngas burner at different activation times (30 min, 60 min and 90 min). 5.5 kg byproduct biochar was used in each run. During the final process, the reactor was cooled under inert injection of nitrogen gas and then the activated carbon was removed from the reactor and weighed in order to determine the burn-off undergone in the reaction. For steam activation, a stainless-steel vertical reactor illustrated in Figure 1 was used and integrated to the system to heat each 5.5 kg biochar sample. Throughout the experiment, an exact heating rate and steam flow rate (~20ºC min−1, 1.3 kg min−1, respectively) were applied. Referring to Equation (ii), the optimal stoichiometric steam amount was determined and calculated for the system.

Fig. 1

Schematic diagram of the experimental biochar activation setup with gasifier: A main biomass feeding hopper; B updraft gasifier; C biochar byproduct; D syngas exit pipe; E syngas burner; F air; G thermal heater; H exhaust waste heat; I pressure regulator; J steam generator; K jacket heater and insulation; L biochar activation reactor; M nitrogen inert gas; N stack gas; O gas clean-up; P stack

Schematic diagram of the experimental biochar activation setup with gasifier: A main biomass feeding hopper; B updraft gasifier; C biochar byproduct; D syngas exit pipe; E syngas burner; F air; G thermal heater; H exhaust waste heat; I pressure regulator; J steam generator; K jacket heater and insulation; L biochar activation reactor; M nitrogen inert gas; N stack gas; O gas clean-up; P stack

2.2 Characterisation of Biochar and Activated Biochar

The nitrogen adsorption or desorption isotherms were determined at 77 K by means of an automatic adsorption instrument to identify the textural properties of the produced biochar and activated biochar. Before the gas adsorption measurements, the samples were degassed at 300ºC under vacuum for 5 h. The N2 adsorption isotherm was achieved over a relative pressure, P:P0, ranging from roughly 10−6 to 1. The BET and t-plot methods were employed to determine the surface area, micropore surface area and pore volume of the biochar and activated biochar, respectively. Relative pressures in the 0.01–0.15 range were applied to evaluate the BET surface areas. The total pore volumes (Vt, cm3 g−1) were considered to be the liquid volumes of N2 at high relative pressure near unity (~0.99) (36–37).

SEM analysis was performed to investigate the surface, textural, porosity and structural properties of activated biochar produced under different conditions. SEM analyses were taken by enlarging ×500 to observe changes in surface morphological structure before and after activation.

To examine the crystal structure, XRD profiles of each sample were obtained at room temperature, using a copper Kα X-ray source, under 40 kV and 30 mA analysis conditions. Diffraction data were taken on a scale ranging from 2θ = 0–90º.

In order to qualitatively determine surface functional groups, FTIR spectra were obtained at room temperature, with the support of diamond orbital attenuated total reflection (ATR) accessory, by scanning 128 times in the range of 500–4000 cm−1 band at 4 cm−1 separation sensitivity. Samples were placed directly on the diamond crystal and were analysed by applying pressure to allow it to fully interact with the diamond crystal.

Figure 2 shows the complete activation of biochar produced from the gasification system at GTU Gasification Experimental Rig (Figure 3). The biochar obtained by the gasification of oak woodchips (Figure 4) in the gasification system at GTU was treated with the physical partial activation method integrated to the gasification system. There are different wood-based sources for biochar production. The highest carbon content is provided from oak woodchip feedstock. Therefore, in the present study, biochar produced from oak woodchip feedstock was used for the production of activated carbon materials. Table I summarises the composition of the oak woodchip feedstock. In addition, the proximate and elemental analysis of the oak woodchip is given in Tables II and III respectively, and Figure 5 represents the TGA tracings for oak woodchips.

Fig. 2

(a) Oak woodchips; (b) gasification byproduct biochar; (c) activated biochar with steam activation

(a) Oak woodchips; (b) gasification byproduct biochar; (c) activated biochar with steam activation

Fig. 3

Gasification System in Gebze Technical University, Turkey

Gasification System in Gebze Technical University, Turkey

Fig. 4

Oak woodchips gasification byproducts (biochar)

Oak woodchips gasification byproducts (biochar)

Table I

Analysis Results of Oak Woodchip Feedstock

Analysis Unit Analysis results Method
Original based In air dry based Dry based
Moisture wt% 45.01 2.95 – ASTM D7582-12
Ash wt% 0.22 0.4 0.41 ASTM E1755-01
Volatile matter wt% 44.92 79.27 81.68 ASTM D7582-12
Fixed carbon wt% 9.85 17.39 17.91 ASTM D3172-13
Total sulfur wt% 0.06 0.1 0.1 ASTM D4239-13
Sulfur in ash wt% 1.38 – – ASTM D4239-13
Lower heating value cal g−1 2330 4533 4688 ASTM D5865-13
Higher heating value cal g−1 2749 4852 5000 ASTM D5865-13

Table II

The Results of Elemental Analysis of Oak Woodchip Feedstock

Analysis Unit Oak woodchip Method
C wt% 52.38 ASTM D5373-14
H wt% 6.57 ASTM D5373-14
N wt% 0.27 ASTM D5373-14
S wt% 0.1 ASTM D4239-13
Ash wt% 0.41 ASTM E1755-01(2020)
O wt% 40.27 ASTM D3176-09

Table III

Halogen and Ash Analysis Results of Oak Woodchip Feedstock

Analysis Unit Oak woodchip Method
F % <0.05 Ion chromatography
Cl % <0.02 ISO 587:2020
Bulk density kg m−3 367.8 ISO 787-11:1981
SiO2 % 14.5 Ash analysis ASTM D2795-95
Al2O3 % 4.3
Fe2O3 % 3.3
CaO % 37.3
MgO % 11.6
SO3 % 3.6
Na2O % 3.2
K2O % 19.3
TiO2 % 0.4
P2O5 % 2.5

Fig. 5

TGA diagram for oak woodchips

TGA diagram for oak woodchips

According to the proximate and elemental analysis data given in Tables I and II, it is understood that oak woodchip has good potential and represents an ideal feedstock to produce suitable biochar via gasification due its high carbon content and higher heating values. In addition, it appears to be an excellent source of feedstock for the gasification process due to its low ash content.

According to the halogen and ash analysis given in Table III, the mineral and metal content in the oak woodchip feedstock caused the formation of a cratered shape biochar, which also acted as a natural catalyst during the gasification reactions, thereby providing the desired or better syngas yield.

Figure 5 shows the results from TGA carried out on oak woodchips samples. The thermal degradation of oak woodchips takes place in three stages. The first stage, which occurs at temperatures ranging between 30ºC and 100ºC, involves the loss of moisture content in the wood with approximate weight loss of 10 wt%. The second stage with nearly 20 wt% weight loss occurred while temperature rose from 150ºC to 250ºC. This step is related to the release of volatiles resulting from the degradation of hemicellulose. The third stage, occurring at 300–550ºC, is characterised by the decomposition of cellulose and lignin. The maximum rate of weight loss occurred in the third section with weight loss of around 45 wt%. Nevertheless, no significant weight loss was observed above 650ºC, indicating that a temperature at this level or above could be preferred for preparation of activated biochar. The total weight loss recorded was approximately 85 wt%.

Biochar extraction was obtained after uniform ligneous biomass gasification. Since it has high fixed carbon content and is suitable for active carbon production, oak woodchip feedstock was chosen. The supplied biomass was utilised directly in gasification without any prior treatment. The optimum temperatures determined in these gasification tests were in the range of 800–1000ºC, while the air:fuel ratio was determined as 1.6. Gasification system operations were carried out accordingly. The applied gasification conditions are shown in the mass and energy diagram given in Figure 6. The energy value of the feedstock was calculated as 20 MJ kg−1 on a dry basis. Additionally, about 80 kg h−1 of ambient air was used for the gasification agent. According to the conditions in this operational tests, 5.5 kg of biochar is obtained per hour from 50 kg h−1 fuel supply to the gasifier. In addition, a total of 850 MJ syngas thermal energy was determined in the mass energy balance which was utilised as an energy source for the activation unit integrated into the system to apply process intensification. These tests were a fine example of intensification since two processes, namely gasification and activation, retrofitted to each other to preserve and use heat in the process as compared to conventional activation.

Fig. 6

Mass and energy balance for gasifier during the production of biochar. Hot gas efficiency = 85%

Mass and energy balance for gasifier during the production of biochar. Hot gas efficiency = 85%

One critical aspect in the assessment of the potential for activated biochar production from oak woodchip by using the updraft gasifier is the energy and mass balance of the process. The mass and energy equilibrium on the reactor provide a quantitative measure of the efficiency for conversion of feedstock to produced gas and biochar using this particular type of gasifier. Mass and energy balances for a specific type of feedstock will vary from one type of gasifier to another as the thermodynamic equilibria and reaction kinetics of the three head reactions in gasification vary depending on the gasifier operating conditions.

The mass balance analysis on the gasifier requires an evaluation of the inputs to and outputs from the gasifier. From the calculations, achieving 100% closure is not easy and the results illustrate the complications of acquiring this data. However, the mass balance closure for the initial run was found to average 85% which represents a reasonable figure for the initial proof of concept assessment of oak woodchip gasification study trials. The mass and energy balance diagram for the initial run is given in Figure 6.

Considering the mass and energy balance data, the reactor was operated and syngas and biochar production were obtained at high rates close to theoretical calculations. During operations, approximately 5.5 kg of biochar were obtained per hour, and this produced biochar were transferred to the biochar activation unit shown in Figure 1. Also, syngas produced by gasification was burned in a specially designed syngas burner and thermal heat obtained was transferred through the thermal heater to the biochar activation unit. During the experimental study, nine different activation operations were performed at different temperatures (700ºC, 750ºC and 850ºC) each with a different residence time (30 min, 60 min and 90 min). Due to the reactor design, a heating rate of approximately 20ºC min−1 was conducted in all studies, which is a favourable condition for activating biochar. The steam flow rate was 1.3 kg min−1 in accordance with this heating rate and reactor design.

Gasifier byproduct of approximately 5.5 kg biochar was transferred to the activation reactor. The first experiment was carried out at 700ºC for 30 min residence time. The same procedure was applied at 700ºC for 60 min and 90 min residence time, after which the samples were cooled with nitrogen gas. Subsequently, experiments were carried out at 750ºC and 850ºC under the same conditions. Burn-off values of the samples formed after activation were extracted from the biochar obtained by weight from the first value and were determined as a percentage. Effects of activation time and temperature on burn-off of activated biochar are given in Figure 7. In addition, BET surface area and total pore volume analyses were performed in each sample obtained and given in Figure 8 and Figure 9.

Fig. 7

Effect of activation time and temperature on burn-off of activated biochar

Effect of activation time and temperature on burn-off of activated biochar

Fig. 8

Progress of BET surface area and total pore volume with burn off of activated biochar

Progress of BET surface area and total pore volume with burn off of activated biochar

Fig. 9

Effect of activation time and temperature on BET surface area of activated biochar

Effect of activation time and temperature on BET surface area of activated biochar

According to Figure 7, during the activation of the biochar with steam method, there is a mass loss between 40–70%. It is evident from the figure that the biochar regularly loses mass due to an increase in the activation temperature and residence time. It is clearly seen from the data that the highest mass loss is observed at 850ºC when activation period reaches 90 min. The possible reason for that is some carbon in the biochar structure reacts with water at high temperatures and forms carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas). In this thermochemical process, carbon leaves the structure and causes mass loss but creates more pores in the structure.

Physical adsorption and BET surface area measurement were performed. According to BET surface area and total pore volume analysis shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9, it is clearly seen that temperature and residence times have a significant effect on the formation of the biochar surface morphology. It can be understood from these figures that the most appropriate temperature and residence time interval applied for activation for oak biochar was 60 min at 750ºC.

The resultant biochar produced from the gasification as a byproduct is compared with partially activated biochar utilising steam in Table IV. It was determined that the volume and area of the surface pores of the steam treated biochar increased significantly (total pore volume 0.022 cm3 g−1 and 0.231 cm3 g−1, BET surface area 21.35 m2 g−1 and 458.28 m2 g−1, respectively). It was compared with the commercial activated carbon used in water filters produced from coconut shell and physical adsorption and surface area measurement are presented in detail (0.326 cm3 g−1 to 648.96 m2 g−1).

Table IV

BET Results of Biochar and Activated Biochar with Steam Activation

BET results (m2 g−1)
Biochar 21.35
Activated biochar (750ºC, 60 min) 458.28

BET surface area analyses were carried out on biochar and by activating the biochar obtained as a result of gasification in the steam activation unit shown in Figure 1 at the specified temperatures. The results are given in Table IV. The most suitable temperature for activation was found at 750ºC. Since the 1 h residence time activated biochar at 750ºC gave the highest result (458.28 m2 g−1), other analyses such as FTIR, XRD and SEM of the selected activated biochar obtained were conducted. These results were also compared with the biochar produced from the gasifier without any activation.

Finally, during the steam activation process, the porosity increased apparently when the temperature rose to about 750ºC. On the other hand, the micrographs obtained from the biochar and activated biochar showed no discrepancies in terms of morphological properties. As both samples yielded different porosity values, this result can be said to be coherent with the physisorption results obtained from surface analyses.

The discussion section, first of all, deals with the properties of the carbonisation process. The produced activated biochar was found to yield an increase in the surface area (from 21.35 m2 g−1 to 458.28 m2 g−1) and total volume (from 0.022 cm3 g−1 to 0.231 cm3 g−1) as a result of the transition from limited air to steam in the gasification system. Generally, the rise in the temperature of the gasification process causes a higher discharge of volatile matter. This, in turn, leads to an increase in the original porous structure that will be further developed during the activation phase. On the other hand, high temperature in the gasification process results in the softening and sintering of the high molecular weight volatiles, which leads to the depolymerisation and shrinkage of the particles. This also causes a reduction in the micropore surface area and volume. Nevertheless, a temperature below 700ºC in the gasification phase impedes the complete devolatilisation of the low molecular weight volatiles, and as a result, prevents the initial porosity from being further developed.

An increase in the temperature from 800ºC to 1000ºC leads to a decrease in the yield efficiency of biochar from gasified oak woodchips. This is caused by the oak woodchips being partially decomposed to gaseous products. Therefore, the ideal gasification and activation temperature was 750ºC, which was used to activate the samples in the following.

The ratio of the mass of activated biochar to the mass of the raw material was calculated to determine the yield of activated biochar. The oak biochar activated at 750ºC was examined to evaluate the effects of the activation temperature and the hold time on the yield of activated biochar. The sample underwent activation with steam at predetermined activation temperatures and constant hold time (1 h), different hold times and constant activation temperature (750ºC).

An activation temperature of 750ºC at constant hold time caused a change in the yield of activated biochar. This is linked to the elimination of volatile matter arising from the decomposition of the main oak woodchips compounds, i.e., cellulose (a long glucose polymer without branches) and hemicellulose (composed of a variety of branched saccharides). Due to the decomposition of all cellulose and hemicellulose, the yield becomes stable at a temperature above 700ºC. As a result, lignin, the third component of oak woodchips that is more challenging to decompose, remains. In fact, lignin is known to decompose slowly at a temperature ranging from room temperature to 900ºC (38). Yet, the decomposition of cellulose and hemicellulose generates a porosity in oak woodchips that enables more efficient diffusion of oxygen to the particles. Hence, an increase is obtained in the kinetic reaction of lignin with oxygen. According to these results, the more cellulose and hemicellulose the raw material contains, the faster the decomposition of lignin takes place. The decomposition of the biomass actually occurs in two steps during activation: the decomposition of the cellulose and hemicellulose takes place first. This first step leads to an increase in the porosity of the activated biochar, and, as a result, the oxidising agent can easily diffuse into the particles. Secondly, the lignin reacts with the oxidising agent.

The endothermic reaction of carbon with water to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen is thermodynamically more desired and is quicker at 750ºC. Longer hold time generates an increase in the amount of discharged volatile matter.

Surface energies of oak biochar produced after gasification were measured by SEM and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis was performed at GTU Laboratories (Figure 10 and Table V). Surface pores were clearly seen in SEM analyses and images were found to be consistent. In addition, biochar produced after the oak gasification process has a carbon content of about 80–85%. These findings are confirmed by EDS measured at different areas of the sample since silicon, oxygen, potassium, calcium and magnesium were observed on the surface (see the spectrum in Table V), which mainly contributed to the formation of low melting point eutectics.

Fig. 10

SEM analysis of: (a)–(c) biochar and (d)–(f) activated biochar

SEM analysis of: (a)–(c) biochar and (d)–(f) activated biochar

Table V

Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy Analysis of Oak Woodchips Biochar and Activated Biochar

Material Element Weight, % Atom, % Error, % Net intensity, %
Activated biochar (750°C, 60 min) C 84.28 87.72 0 11607.58
O 15.72 12.28 0.01 827.78
Biochar without any activation C 79.66 84.32 0 30208.26
O 19.14 15.21 0 3085.12
Mg 0.22 0.12 0.02 221.97
Al 0.17 0.08 0.02 183.87
Si 0.13 0.06 0.02 153.36
K 0.36 0.12 0.03 225.72
Ca 0.32 0.1 0.03 166.7

XRD is an analysis method to prove whether the structure is crystalline. This method is widely used in the synthesis of activated carbon. Although activated carbons are generally amorphous structures, crystals can be found in the activated carbon structure depending on the synthesis methods.

Considering the XRD results showed in Figure 11 of the synthesised activated biochar, it is seen that there is no crystalline phase in the structure and the structure is completely amorphous. In addition, it was understandable that no peak was seen in previous studies since the synthesis conditions were considered to be quite amorphous. It is seen that all activated carbon samples have three different amorphous phases. A horizontal baseline can be seen in the diffractogram of biochar and activated biochar, which indicates that a significant proportion of the matter is amorphous. It can be inferred from the XDR pattern of the biochar that the gasification process had a significant impact. Owing to the decomposition of cellulose and hemicellulose during the thermal treatment, the diffraction peaks achieved at 2θ = 16.3º and 20.60º disappear. Subsequent to the pyrolysis, only two broad diffraction peaks at around 23.58º and 43º remain, which could be related to the presence of carbon and graphite (39).

Fig. 11

Activated biochar and biochar XRD analyses

Activated biochar and biochar XRD analyses

Surface functional groups of the biochar at high temperature (750ºC) with steam were measured. Surface functional groups of the biochar were also analysed by FTIR in the laboratories at GTU. Considering the formation of surface functional groups of the biochar, these analyses revealed that gasification is a correct method in the production of activated carbon. As seen in Figure 12, as expected for activated carbon, C–H stretching vibration was observed at 2973 cm−1, C=O and C=N at ~1591 cm−1 and C–O stretching at ~1045 cm−1. Also, stretching was found in the alcohols, phenols, ether and ester groups. As in the case of commercial activated carbon, a strong band is seen at about 799 cm−1 that is described as COOH vibrations in carboxylic groups; biochar and partially activated biochar were also observed.

Fig. 12

FTIR surface functional group analysis of biochar, activated biochar and commercial activated carbon

FTIR surface functional group analysis of biochar, activated biochar and commercial activated carbon

By |2021-06-02T08:34:26+00:00June 2nd, 2021|Weld Engineering Services|Comments Off on Process Intensification: Activated Carbon Production from Biochar Produced by Gasification
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International innovation champions funded to build new communities of entrepreneurs

The Academy has awarded grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 to 14 alumni of its Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) programme to help them build high impact and collaborative local, regional, national or international communities of LIF participants.

The 14 awardees, known as LIF Champions, are leading the way in strengthening innovation ecosystems and engaging key stakeholders in support of entrepreneurship in Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam.

The projects demonstrate a range of approaches to providing peer support and collaborations within their networks and to creating opportunities for networking and partnerships with business or innovation support networks and organisations that can help participants commercialise their innovations or multiply their impact.

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Through the art of community-building, LIF Champions are creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to further their impact and develop the social and economic welfare of their communities.

 

Note to editors:

  1. The Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) programme brings together emerging leaders in the global innovation community who have an engineering-based innovation that has the potential to contribute to the social and economic development of their country through commercialisation. The programme is delivered as part of the UK Newton Fund in partnership with in-country organisations.

    Through LIF, the Academy has worked with government agencies and established innovation-support institutions in 17 countries across the Global South to establish a network of over 1,100 innovators (LIF alumni). LIF alumni have become influencers and decision-makers and developed a range of deep-tech and innovative solutions contributing to all the Sustainable Development Goals, which have gone on to be manufactured, tested, commercialised, and created more than 2,500 jobs.
     

  2. The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

Media enquiries to: Pippa Cox at the Royal Academy of Engineering Tel. +44 207 766 0745; email: Pippa.Cox@raeng.org.uk 

By |2021-05-26T16:22:31+00:00May 26th, 2021|Engineering News|Comments Off on International innovation champions funded to build new communities of entrepreneurs
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What can the government do to ensure it has the right networks to help with future emergencies?

  • An engineering approach can help identify stakeholders with the necessary critical capabilities and build whole-society resilience

Investment in resilience now could plug key gaps in contacts and networks of the critical organisations necessary for emergency response in future, according to a report published today by the Royal Academy of Engineering. Critical capabilities: strengthening UK resilience recommends steps government should take to make the UK more resilient to new pandemics or other emergencies and avoid the mistakes of the past.

It will take time to fully understand the impact of the government’s approach to the current COVID-19 pandemic, so the report uses case studies of previous emergencies to argue that an engineering perspective could help the UK to build a more resilient future. Increased resilience will help us to better anticipate and recover from shocks to enable continued delivery of critical safety, food, energy and healthcare services.

Engineers are trained to make things work better. They see emergency response and planning as a series of interdependent and interconnected systems of capabilities. An effective national response to an emergency or crisis is one that can rapidly call on the right capabilities to deliver the most effective response at the required pace. The report describes this in terms of ‘critical capabilities’ and focuses on the actions needed to identify and build these critical capabilities ready for future emergencies.

The critical capabilities are divided into six interdependent groups: research and innovation; national assets; industrial capability; skills and labour; resources; and networks and coordination capability. Networks and coordination are essential as the bridging capability that brings the others together to understand the issue and accelerate solutions.

For national emergencies, the usually well-networked elements of the public sector and emergency services, though vital, are not sufficient and the emergency response will also need to draw on organisations, people and resources in the private and third sectors. Taking a systems view of the capabilities available in the UK could help anticipate which organisations would be relevant to different kinds of emergency responses and identify crucial connections and weaknesses ahead of time.  

Leveraging established and well-maintained links with private and third sector organisations and their capabilities is critically important but has not always been well managed and coordinated in the past. The report looks at lessons from the UK’s response to four past emergencies–the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption in 2010, the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, flooding in Lancaster in 2015, and the WannaCry ransomware incident affecting the NHS in 2017. It calls on government to partner with the engineering profession and others to build systems thinking and consideration of critical capabilities into the UK’s approach to preparedness.

The Academy’s recommendations include:

  1. Government should embed an engineer’s ‘systems’ approach in emergency planning and preparedness, looking across the public and private sector stakeholders.
  1. Government should carry out an audit to map existing public, private and third sector capabilities and convening bodies against the critical capability groups and suggests this should be led by the Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) in partnership with the Government Office for Science (GO-Science), devolved administrations and departmental resilience teams responsible for the risks in the National Risk Register. An aim of the audit should include developing a reporting framework to engage the private sector and build a practical mechanism to keep the audit as live as possible.
  1. The CCS, in partnership with GO-Science, should work with the Royal Academy of Engineering and others to develop the critical capabilities approach into a practical tool for emergency planning, preparedness and resilience that builds on existing capabilities programmes. This should include embedding the practices for preparedness alongside current foresight and horizon scanning methods and exercises to identify and ensure that the right capabilities are in place to respond effectively and with agility to future scenarios and risks.

Paul Taylor FREng, Chair of the Academy’s Critical Capabilities working group, said: “Whatever practices and procedures are in place to help with the UK’s preparedness for future emergencies, they risk missing the mark without systems thinking and consideration of critical capabilities.

“The Integrated Review calls for a whole-society approach to resilience and Critical Capabilities is a proposal to think ahead, strategically and inclusively. Now more than ever we understand the crucial role businesses and those networks between public and private organisations can play in responding to emergencies. While upfront investment is required to strengthen existing capabilities and remedy gaps, long-term benefits will be delivered through an improved emergency response and increased national resilience.”

Dick Elsy CBE FREng, CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, said: “The critical capabilities approach highlights the importance of networks and coordination to bring together a range of capabilities to deliver an effective emergency response. The High Value Manufacturing Catapult played this role in the COVID-19 emergency, rapidly mobilising our network to draw on specialist expertise, innovation and industrial capability across 33 organisations to deliver more than 13,000 ventilators for the NHS in record time. Agility, skills and relationships were essential to the response showing that long-term investment in a knowledge-based economy can deliver both resilience and socioeconomic benefits.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

  1. Critical capabilities: strengthening UK resilience was prepared by a working group consisting of the following group of Academy Fellows, commenting in a personal capacity and not as representatives of their respective organisations:

Chair: Paul Taylor FREng, Director, Morgan Stanley International
Sir John Beddington CMG HonFReng FRS FRSE, previously Government Chief Science Adviser
Lianne Deeming FREng, Chief Executive Officer, BlueLight Commercial
Professor Anthony Finkelstein CBE FREng, Chief Scientific Adviser for National Security
Professor David Gann CBE, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Development and External Affairs, University of Oxford
Dame Judith Hackitt DBE FREng, Chair of Make UK
Professor Nick Jennings CB FREng, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise), Imperial College London
Professor Dame Angela McLean DBE FRS, Chief Scientific Adviser, Ministry of Defence
Professor Tim Palmer CBE FRS, Royal Society Research Professor in Climate Physics, University of Oxford
Dr Fiona Rayment OBE FREng, Chief Science and Technology Officer, National Nuclear Laboratory
Catriona Schmolke FREng, Previously Senior Vice-President, Jacobs
Auriol Stevens, Global IT Director, Applied Technology, Unilever
Professor Eleanor Stride FREng, Professor of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
Rear Admiral John Trewby CB FREng, Chair, previously Chair of Harris Defence Ltd

  1. The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

Media enquiries to: Pippa Cox at the Royal Academy of Engineering Tel. +44 207 766 0745; email: Pippa.Cox@raeng.org.uk

By |2021-05-19T23:01:00+00:00May 19th, 2021|Engineering News|Comments Off on What can the government do to ensure it has the right networks to help with future emergencies?
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Academy and Amazon launch new bursary scheme to support social mobility among women students

  • Expansion of Amazon Future Engineer bursary scheme will support women students from low-income households studying computer science and related engineering courses at UK universities

The Royal Academy of Engineering is working with Amazon to launch a new Amazon Future Engineer bursary scheme in the UK. Twelve awards, worth £5,000 a year for up to four years, will be made available to students progressing from A level or technical education courses to university for the 2021/22 academic year. The new bursaries will help students who demonstrate a drive and passion for computing and engineering, and an understanding of how innovation and creativity in these fields can help solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.

Women are still significantly underrepresented in engineering and technology in higher education. UCAS data on university application and acceptance figures for the 2020 cycle highlighted that women represent just 16% and 18% of accepted applications to computing and engineering degrees respectively. At the current rate of progress, parity of women in engineering degrees will not be achieved until 2085.

Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “The Academy and Amazon share an ambition to inspire and support young people to become the next generation of engineers, and I welcome the opportunity to work together in encouraging more women and girls from all backgrounds to take up careers in engineering and computing. We need a greater diversity of views and experiences working within these professions if we are to come up with effective solutions to the many challenges that society faces. At the current rate of progress, to achieve the same number of women as men on degree courses for these subjects would take another 74 years. We simply cannot afford to wait that long.”

“Our new bursary scheme with the Royal Academy of Engineering will help more women become the innovation leaders of the UK” said John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager, Amazon. “More needs to be done to encourage women to enter these fields and break down barriers that students face. The Amazon Future Engineer bursary scheme is just one of the ways that we are helping to increase the representation of women in the UK innovation economy and exciting careers in computer science.”

Amazon Future Engineer bursaries are open to students enrolling onto courses such as electrical and electronic engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence and software engineering in the UK. The bursaries will focus on areas of the UK that have been identified as social mobility cold spots—places in the country where opportunities and outcomes for young people need improving. Awardees will be invited to attend annual networking and training weekends and will have access to a community forum providing support from the Royal Academy of Engineering and Amazon. They will also receive news of available internships, as well as mentoring and funding to help them progress from university into engineering and computing careers.

The bursary scheme is part of Amazon Future Engineer, Amazon’s comprehensive childhood-to-career programme to inspire, educate and enable children and young adults from lower-income backgrounds to try computer science and related engineering courses.

 

Notes for Editors

  1. UCAS data on university application and acceptance figures for the 2020 cycle published on ucas.com, 4 February 2021: ‘Students turn to technology with university choices’ – https://www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/students-turn-technology-university-choices
  2. Applications for bursaries for academic year 2021/2022 can be made via the Royal Academy of Engineering here: www.raeng.org.uk/afebursary
  3. As part of Amazon’s commitment to developing the next generation of engineers and computer scientists, Amazon are also supporting a number of Royal Academy of Engineering initiatives, including the national Connecting STEM Teachers programme; a support network for teachers across all STEM subjects that ensures they have the knowledge and confidence to engage a greater number and wider spectrum of school students with STEM. The programme works with 1,000 schools and operates across all regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  4. Amazon also support This is Engineering a campaign that brings engineering to life for young people, giving more of them the opportunity to pursue a career that is rewarding, future-shaping, varied, well-paid and in-demand.
  5. About Amazon: Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion or invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalised recommendations, Prime, Fulfilment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit aboutamazon.co.uk and follow @AmazonNewsUK.
  6. About Amazon in the Community: Amazon has long been committed to communities where our employees live and work and we focus on building long-term, innovative, and high impact programmes that leverage Amazon’s unique assets and culture. We want all children and young adults to have the resources and skills to build their best future. We concentrate on “right now needs” – via programmes that address hunger, homelessness, and disaster relief efforts – as well as programmes like Amazon Future Engineer, designed to inspire and excite children and young adults from underrepresented communities to pursue careers in the rapidly growing field of computer science.
  7. The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

Media enquiries to Pippa Cox at the Royal Academy of Engineering: E: pippa.cox@raeng.org.uk; T: 020 7766 0645

By |2021-05-05T09:21:42+00:00May 5th, 2021|Engineering News|Comments Off on Academy and Amazon launch new bursary scheme to support social mobility among women students
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PervasID wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation 2021

Battery-free tracking pioneer PervasID, a company founded by Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub member Dr Sabesan Sithamparanathan, has been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation 2021. PervasID joins over 7,000 UK enterprises that have received this Royal recognition since the Queen’s Awards were established in 1965.

PervasID’s technology for passive RAIN (RAdio frequency IdentificatioN) RFID fixed reader systems for automating inventory tracking, stock-taking and asset management processes was developed in Cambridge and is sold around the world. The company’s patented products allow organisations across a range of markets to streamline processes by providing unparalleled visibility into goods, assets and people. PervasID’s unique technology solution delivers unparalleled accuracy, speed and cost effectiveness.

A single PervasID RFID reader can cover up to 400 m2 with 99% plus accuracy in real time, capable of readily scaling to much larger areas, such as industrial warehouses, multi-storey buildings or sprawling healthcare campuses. The company’s RFID readers have significantly greater accuracy, range and speed than any other RFID readers on the market. Its fixed reader products have been deployed in Europe, Asia and the US and clients include high-profile department stores, industrial companies, healthcare establishments, systems integrators and large-scale enterprises. PervasID is headquartered in Cambridge UK, with employees in France and the US.

“There are few things more critical to an enterprise than having clear oversight of where assets are and making sure that they are being used in the most efficient way possible. Our Cambridge-developed battery-free technology allows enterprises of all types to keep track of their inventory and asset cost effectively with unparalleled accuracy and speed,” said Sabesan Sithamparanathan, Founder & CEO of PervasID. “Our company has grown rapidly, with deployments around the globe, and we are delighted to have been recognised with this Queen’s Award for our innovation.”

Notes for editors

  1. PervasID is a fast-growing technology company that designs and supplies world-leading, passive (battery-free) RFID fixed reader systems for automating inventory tracking, stock taking and asset management processes. Our patented products are enabling organisations across a wide range of markets to streamline processes by providing unparalleled visibility into goods, assets and people. No other solution on the market today can offer such accuracy, speed and cost effectiveness.
  1. The Enterprise Hub’s mission is to increase the number and quality of high-growth engineering and technology companies that solve some of society’s most pressing challenges. We’re fostering a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation and success among engineers in the UK, and creating more jobs and economic growth.
  1. The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone.

    In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public.

    Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

For more information please contact:

Jane Sutton at the Royal Academy of Engineering
T: +44 207 766 0636
E: jane.sutton@raeng.org.uk

By |2021-04-29T09:45:47+00:00April 29th, 2021|Engineering News|Comments Off on PervasID wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation 2021
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Academies publish bibliometric analysis of shale gas research

The Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering have published a bibliometric analysis of the quantity of global shale gas research published between 2009 and 2018. The analysis is designed to aid academics, industrialists and governments who are interested in the extent of shale gas research.

Bibliometric Assessment of Global Shale Gas Research 2009 – 2018, provides a quantitative analysis of published studies and highlights trends in shale gas research on different topics and in different global regions.  The analysis was conducted by Elsevier Analytical Services.

Professor Hywel Thomas CBE FREng FRS FLSW, Chair of the steering group who oversaw the project, said:

“Negotiating all the research in any field can be difficult and so our work should be a useful guide for those wanting to look at the scientific study of shale gas.”

The analysis shows that between 2009 and 2018 research into shale gas increased dramatically and was relative highly cited, although the rate of growth slowed between 2014 to 2018, compared to between 2009 and 2013.  It also found that the field-weighted citation impact, while remaining above the average for all fields, had reduced in the latter period.

The analysis looks at five broad areas of research: resource estimation; fracturing fluid, composition, treatment, storage, and disposal; methane leakage and groundwater contamination; seismic monitoring; and public perception and governance.

 

Notes for Editors:

1. In 2012, the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering published a joint report on shale gas exploitation – Shale gas extraction in the UK: a review of hydraulic fracturing.

2. The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

3. The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine. The Society’s fundamental purpose, as it has been since its foundation in 1660, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.

By |2021-04-29T09:30:00+00:00April 29th, 2021|Engineering News|Comments Off on Academies publish bibliometric analysis of shale gas research
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Science superpower ambition at risk unless government improves support for late-stage R&D

  • New report from the National Engineering Policy Centre, led by the Royal Academy of Engineering, concludes that a future as a science and innovation superpower is achievable but only with greater and more targeted government policies and support
  • There is a choice to be made—enable companies to take bold risks here, or they will go elsewhere.

A report published today by the National Engineering Policy Centre warns that the government’s ambitions for the UK to be a leading global innovation-driven low-carbon economy are likely to fail unless it makes the UK a more attractive place for businesses to invest in and carry out late-stage research and development (R&D).

Late-stage R&D is a key part of the innovation process and accounts for the majority of R&D that businesses do. It is how they take a proof of concept or prototype through to commercial application, ultimately delivering new and improved products, processes, technologies and services to market and creating jobs in the process.

Late-stage R&D: business perspectives argues that the socio-economic benefits that result from late-stage R&D mean that there is a compelling case for the public sector to support it. The UK government also needs to improve incentives for business investment in late-stage R&D if it is to achieve its stated target of investing 2.4% of GDP into R&D by 2027 and 3% in the longer term, the report recommends. Private sector businesses currently contribute approximately two thirds of the UK’s R&D investment, much of it in late-stage R&D. To achieve its targets and avoid the looming shortfall in investment of around £20 billion, government must encourage businesses to invest a lot more in R&D, and quickly.

Late-stage R&D is iterative, non-linear and complex and carries risks arising from the scale of the technical challenge, cost, timings, certainty of market opportunity, competitive environment and opportunities or barriers to commercialisation. The study outlines that understanding these and the policy levers at government’s disposal is key to identifying actions that can be taken to ensure more late-stage R&D is carried out in the UK.

The National Engineering Policy Centre interviewed individuals responsible for R&D in 32 engineering businesses across a range of sectors, sizes and locations. The real-life examples gathered in the report highlight five common resources that are essential for conducting and managing risks associated with late-stage R&D, and that government can influence to help the UK become more attractive to business and internationally competitive. These are R&D infrastructure, investment, people, partnerships and market environment.

The report outlines a vision for 2027 in which the government’s ambitions that the UK is a global science superpower benefiting from innovation, growth and undergoing a green revolution are a reality and makes recommendations for how this could be achieved. These include:

  • Place late-stage R&D at the heart of its Plan for Growth and upcoming innovation strategy
  • Target support to late-stage R&D, with mechanisms that help businesses manage risk, filling gaps in current support
  • Strengthen and scale existing initiatives, institutions and infrastructures that support late-stage R&D
  • Signal and promote the UK’s offer for late-stage R&D and innovation to international investors

Professor Neville Jackson FREng, Chair of the working group behind the report, said: “It is hard to overstate the scale of challenge if the UK is to stay competitive on the global stage particularly given the context of COVID-19, new trading relationships and the imperative to ‘build back better’. There is a choice to be made—enable businesses to take bold risks here or they will go elsewhere. Innovation will happen irrespective of the UK’s policies, what is at stake is our ability to derive growth from our research base. Without an expanded late-stage R&D capability, we will lose the benefit from our creativity to our international competitors.”

“With better understanding of the risks involved for businesses in late-stage R&D and greater appetite to share this risk, the UK government could pave the way for more businesses to conduct these activities in the UK, reaping the returns from public investment in research whilst securing future growth and international competitiveness.”

 

Notes for Editors

  1. Late-stage R&D: business perspectives draws on interviews with personnel including the following companies (featured case studies in bold): BAE Systems; BP; BT; CCm Technologies; Darktrace; Domino Printing Services: Electricity North West; GKN Automotive; GSK; INEOS; ITM Power; M Squared Lasers; McLaren Applied Technologies (Project ESCAPE); Procter and Gamble; Radio Designs; QinetiQ; Renishaw; Ricardo; Rolls Royce; Siemens; Spirit AeroSystems; Surrey Satellite; Unipart Manufacturing; Ventilator Challenge UK; Vivacity Labs.
  2. The National Engineering Policy Centre is a unified voice for 43 professional engineering organisations, representing 450,000 engineers, a partnership led by the Royal Academy of Engineering. We give policymakers a single route to advice from across the engineering profession. We inform and respond to policy issues of national importance, for the benefit of society.
  3. The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

Media enquiries to Pippa Cox at the Royal Academy of Engineering Tel. +44 207 766 0745; email: Pippa.Cox@raeng.org.uk

By |2021-04-27T23:01:00+00:00April 27th, 2021|Engineering News|Comments Off on Science superpower ambition at risk unless government improves support for late-stage R&D
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Bhattacharyya Award for university/industry collaboration opens for entries

The Royal Academy of Engineering and WMG, at the University of Warwick are inviting entries for a new annual award to celebrate collaboration between UK academics and industry. With a cash prize of £25,000, the Bhattacharyya Award will be presented to the team who best demonstrate how industry and universities can work together. Entries must be submitted by 31 May 2021.

The Bhattacharyya Award is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and was announced in July 2019 and as a tribute to Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya KT CBE FREng FRS, the Regius Professor of Manufacturing at the University of Warwick and founder of WMG.

Starting his career as a graduate apprentice at Lucas Industries, Professor Lord Bhattacharyya became Britain’s first ever Professor of Manufacturing. Having seen first-hand how slowly academic advances were translated into real business and social change, he founded WMG in 1980 to help business innovate and help university researchers change our lives. Academic excellence with industrial relevance has always been at the heart of WMG, and today, it is one of the world’s top applied research centres, with a reputation for academic excellence and business results spanning the globe.

The Bhattacharyya Award is open to all UK universities and colleges, which are invited to submit a single entry in this round. Entries may be based on any field but must provide evidence of sustained, strategic collaboration over at least five years that is still active at the point of submission and has spanned multiple projects, grants and activities. The collaboration should be focused around an academic team and one or more declared industrial partners – it should not be restricted to a single lead academic but may reflect a wide institutional partnership.

Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “We are extremely proud to be funding the Bhattacharyya Award, which encourages collaboration between our fantastic universities and businesses. By working hand-in-hand, academic advances can be quickly translated to industry, bringing forward game-changing innovations and helping us to build back better from the pandemic.”

Professor Dame Ann Dowling OM DBE FREng FRS, immediate past-President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, will chair the judging panel for the Bhattacharyya Award. She said: “Lord Bhattacharyya was a strong advocate of an effective industrial strategy, seeking a revitalisation of skills policy, a growth in apprenticeships, a focus on the impact of research and training and technology partnerships between industry and universities. We hope that this new award will showcase best practice in developing effective collaborations between universities and industry – and inspire productive new partnerships in the future.”

Margot James, Executive Chair at WMG, University of Warwick said “The Bhattacharyya Award amplifies the approach Professor Lord Bhattacharyya took in revolutionising how universities research and educate to meet the needs of industry and society. Relevant and impactful research is the product of genuine collaboration; also enabling education programmes that nurture the brightest talent. We are looking forward to seeing a wide range of entries which exemplify the very best of university/ industry collaboration.”

Notes for Editors

  1. Entries for the Bhattacharyya Award must be submitted by 16.00 on Monday 31 May 2021. Full details of the selection criteria and how to apply are available at https://www.raeng.org.uk/grants-prizes/grants/support-for-research/bhattacharyya-award/how-to-apply
  1. About WMG, University of Warwick

WMG is a world leading research and education group, transforming organisations and driving innovation through a unique combination of collaborative research and development, and pioneering education programmes.

As an international role model for successful partnerships between academia and the private and public sectors, WMG develops advancements nationally and globally, in applied science, technology and engineering, to deliver real impact to economic growth, society and the environment.

WMG’s education programmes focus on lifelong learning of the brightest talent, from the WMG Academies for Young Engineers, degree apprenticeships, undergraduate and postgraduate, through to professional programmes.

An academic department of the University of Warwick, and a centre for the HVM Catapult, WMG was founded by the late Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya in 1980 to help reinvigorate UK manufacturing and improve competitiveness through innovation and skills development.

  1. The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone.

In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public.

Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

For more information please contact:

Jane Sutton at the Royal Academy of Engineering

T: 020 7766 0636

E:  Jane Sutton

By |2021-04-27T08:55:11+00:00April 27th, 2021|Engineering News|Comments Off on Bhattacharyya Award for university/industry collaboration opens for entries
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