Chairholders

Profile

Franco Berruti

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering – Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR)
Western University

Chair title

NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass and Waste to Bioindustrial Resources

Chair program

Industrial Research Chairs program

Role

Senior Chairholder since 2018

Summary

Each Canadian generates, on average, nearly one metric tonne of waste material yearly, with less than one quarter of this being recycled, and the balance being sent to landfill. The traditional waste management system contributes to the depletion of raw resources, the exhaustion of sites suitable for landfill, the dispersion of toxic materials in the environment, and the generation of greenhouse gases. With the impacts of climate change accelerating, the time has come for Canada to move from a make-use-dispose (linear) economy towards a "circular economy," in which resources are kept in the system as long as possible, with what we may see as waste today being a resource for new products tomorrow.

Fully embracing the concept of circular economy, the Industrial Research Chair (IRC) program has as its objective the development of scientific knowledge, skilled personnel, and practical solutions for the transformation of biomass, organic residues, co-products and wastes, using appropriate processes and technologies, into value-added products that can be successfully commercialized. This transformation will generate environmental benefits (e.g., reductions in greenhouse gases and use of landfill, applications to adsorb pollutants from the environment) and economic ones (e.g., valuable products for industries, reduction in carbon taxation, jobs creation).

The program includes a large, diverse, engaged group of 11 organizations, representing the key elements in the value chain: low-value or negative-value feedstocks, innovative conversion technologies, and value-added products utilization and commercialization: Greenfield Global, Domtar, Bio-Techfar, Canadian Plastic Industries Association, Char Technologies, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, A&L Biologicals, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Try Recycling, Titan Clean Energy Projects, and the Waste Management and Environmental Division of the City of London.

The proposed research will focus on the following four complementary themes:

1. Advances in pyrolysis reactor technologies for value-added products: research will significantly improve the current pyrolysis reactor technologies and products separation, particularly
   • the selectivity towards fractions that can be converted into valuable products;
   • compactness and mobility;
   • flexibility to accommodate different feedstocks and mixtures economically; and
   • energy efficiency and environmental friendliness.
2. Conversion of selected individual feedstocks and mixtures into quality bio-oil and bio-char: the research projects will have the following aims:
   • investigation of the potential valorization of selected feedstocks of interest to the industry partners;
   • chemical, physical and performance-based characterization of the bio-oil and bio-char products; and
   • determination of the effects of physical characteristics of the feedstocks on product quality and operability.
3. Applications of bio-oil and bio-char: the research will explore potential applications of bio-oil and bio-char and the optimal path to maximize their value.
4. Data analysis, generalization, model development and validation: the research will focus on a comprehensive analysis of the findings in combination with data available in the literature, the development of general predictive models to enable the correlation between feedstock characteristics, reaction/reactor conditions, and resulting characteristics and applicability of the products. Such information will be provided to the industry partners for analysis of techno-economic feasibility.

The program will foster new and innovative synergies among the industry partners, which will benefit from their direct participation in the work: waste diversion from landfills; transformation of co-products, residues and wastes into value-added products which can be successfully commercialized; reduction of carbon footprint; and enhanced overall environmental compliance. The expected economic and environmental benefits of this research will extend to all Canadian companies, municipalities and society at large.

Partners

• Canadian Plastics Industry Association
• Char Technologies
• City of London
• Domtar inc.
• A&L Biologicals
• Titan Clean Energy Projects
• Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
• Grain Farmers of Ontario
• Ontario Federation of Agriculture
• Try Recycling

Contact information

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering – Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR)
Western University

Email: fberruti@uwo.ca

Website:
https://www.eng.uwo.ca/chemical/faculty/berruti_f/index.html