Activities
Spoke 2 activities are oriented towards green processes and materials for a low environmental impact, industrial sustainability, waste conversion and recovery.
Spoke 2: Green technologies and sustainable industry
The future of production systems will be characterised by antifragile supply chains capable of responding to delicate and complex environmental and geo-political balances. In order to provide a concrete response to the real needs of the industrial sector, Spoke 2 is researching new production processes with low environmental impact and alternative supply sources. Deep Eutectic Solvents thus become viable substitutes for traditional solvents for synthesis processes that are less harmful to man and the environment. Bio-catalysis renews transformations and enables the production of molecules of industrial interest more quickly and selectively. Spoke 2 designs environmentally sustainable and low-cost materials from emerging or unexplored raw materials and envisages high-value applications. Biochar and geopolymers are used in water treatment and CO2 capture, end-of-life polymers become functional membranes for the capture and release of key nutrients for agriculture, and shell wastes are added in the production of new polymers.
Waste conversion and recovery
The development of Circular Economy strategies makes it possible to reduce the pressure on the supply of virgin raw materials for regenerative and safe supply chains.
In Spoke 2 organic waste feeds processes for the production of fragrances, fertilisers, plastics and pharmaceuticals through fermentation processes and chemical-physical extraction. Traditional catalytic technologies together with the most innovative transform the emitted CO2 into high-value chemicals and fuels. Spoke 2 preserves the value of water; prevents the release of micropollutants, micro- and nanoplastics and valorises by-products in textile wastewater through bioremediation by algae and microorganisms. Mineral waste from quarries or demolition finds a place as new materials for civil and building construction
Four waste streams to trigger the real revolution of the circular economy: the elimination of the concept of waste.