Marco Marchese

Ph.D. in Energetica , 33rd cycle (2017-2020)

Ph.D. obtained in 2021

Dissertation:

Conversion of industrial CO2 to value-added fuels and chemicals via Fischer-Tropsch upgrade (Abstract)

Tutors:

Andrea Lanzini Massimo Santarelli

Profile

Research topic

Conversion of industrial CO2 to value-added fuels and chemicals via Fischer-Tropsch upgrade

Research interests

Clean Mobility and Innovative Powertrains
Innovative Energy Systems
Energy systems sustainability and optimization
Renewable energy
Conversion, storage and decarbonization of energy vectors

Biography

The PhD research activities are carried out within the framework of the EU H2020 project ICO2CHEM. The project aims at demonstrating the technical and economic feasibility of the installation of a Mobile Synthesis Unit, recycling industrial CO2 to value-added Fischer-Tropsch products (i.e. synthetic oils and chemicals), with a Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) in series with a microchannel Fischer-Tropsch reactor. The first converts CO2-to-CO, the latter synthetizes hydrocarbons via the reaction CO+H2 -> -(CH2)-+H2O.

Within the PhD, detailed kinetic modeling studies have been conducted on Co-based Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. Non-linear regression procedure on experimental results have been carried out, with application of statistical analyses to validate such models.

Different carbon capture and utilization routes for power-to-liquid applications have been studied from a process analysis stand point of view, spanning from the capture of CO2 to the generation of synthetic products. The technologies studied and modelled include CO2 recovery from solvent-based biogas upgrading unit, direct air capture or gasification of biomass.
Technologies studied for the conversion of CO2 to useful syngas cover the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reactor on a modeling level; solid oxide electrolyers (SOEC) on a modeling and experimental point of view. The resulting syngas has been fed to a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reactor whose behaviour is described by the previosuly described kinetic model for the production of synthetic fuels and chemicals. Such products are under analysis to substitute their fossil-based counterparts.

International collaboration within the PhD have been established with VTT technical research centre of Finland (FI), Northwestern University of Evanston (US), Ineratec Gmbh (DE), Provadis Hoechschule (DE), Altana AG (DE).

Awards and Honors

  • CSWA Certification for mechanical design (Computer aided design) obtained withing the PhD course "Strumenti e tecnologie per lo sviluppo del prodotto" (2020)
  • Best oral presentation silver award - Excellence in oral presentation at the Energetics 2020 PhD Days (2021)

Publications

Works published during the Ph.D. View all publications in Porto@Iris