Complex Hydrides: from the Hydrogen Cycle to the Carbon Cycle

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Abstract

Fossil fuels consumption is not expected to decrease significantly in the next decade, driving the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration upward. Some solutions exist to decarbonize our energy such as the hydrogen cycle and the carbon cycle. Complex hydrides are a class of compounds composed of an anionic complex made of hydrogen covalently bound to a central atom (B, N, Al) and a cation such as lithium, sodium, or magnesium. They are mainly known as reducing agents in organic and inorganic chemistry. This talk is a summary on the benefits and drawbacks of the hydrogen cycle and the carbon cycle and how complex hydrides can potentially revolutionize both cycles thanks to their properties.

Bio

Born in 1992, Sion, Switzerland. In 2017, Loris Lombardo graduated M.S degree in Molecular and Biological Chemistry from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. During this time, he focused on catalysis for CO2 reduction, water splitting, and biomass conversion. In 2021, he received Ph.D. at the Institut of Sciences and Chemical Engineering, EPFL, in the group of Prof. Andreas Züttel, working on borohydride reactivity. He then moved to Kyoto University, in the group of Prof. Satoshi Horike to pursue post-doctoral research on coordination polymers synthesis from CO2 until 2024. He is currently a scientist back at EPFL focusing on materials for hydrogen storage, and CO2 capture and utilization.

An introduction to trade secrets, IP theft and enforcement

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Abstract

Trade secrets are a critical aspect of intellectual property (IP) that includes confidential business information, such as formulas, processes, or strategies, which provide a competitive advantage. Unlike patents, trade secrets are not publicly disclosed, making their protection vital for businesses. However, the growing threat of IP theft poses significant risks, as unauthorized access or disclosure of trade secrets can result in substantial financial losses and damage to a company’s reputation. IP theft often occurs through cyberattacks, employee misconduct, or industrial espionage. To combat this, companies must implement robust security measures and educate employees about the importance of safeguarding sensitive information. Effective enforcement and proactive protection strategies are essential for preserving a company’s intellectual assets.

Bio

Nicolas is an Intellectual Property Advisor at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) for the Québec region. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education (B.Ed) and in Communications (B.Comm) from Université Laval. He has been working at CIPO since 2015, starting in the Patent Office, where he created digital products and resources for the CIPO website on a variety of IP related topics, that directly supported the National IP Strategy launched by the Federal Government.

Since then, he has gained extensive knowledge of the IP ecosystem in Canada, and has been active in learning design, outreach and training to Canadian innovators, creators and business owners, to support IP awareness and education on a broad scale. He works more closely with Canadian innovators and small and medium-sized businesses to help them increase their knowledge base on IP, as well as strategically consider and leverage IP assets to support their business objectives.

CUT - Decarbonization Solution for the Cement Industry

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Abstract

Carbon Upcycling Technologies (CUT) has a simple goal: to be one of the most impactful carbon tech companies of the decade. Our mission is to be the decarbonization solution for the cement industry. CUT is sequestering CO2 emissions into industrial by-products to create enhanced materials that replace carbon-intensive cement. This presentation will showcase examples of CUT’s technology in real-world applications at industrial scale.

Bio

Dr. Markus Pagels joined Carbon Upcycling Technologies as R&D Manager at the beginning of this year. Before that he worked for over two decades in the O&G and chemical industries in various roles in research, product development and project management. He holds a master’s degree in chemistry and a PhD in physical chemistry, both from the University of Freiburg in Germany. Markus received a Marie-Curie Fellowship of the European Union from 2003 to 2005. He has worked and lived in Germany, Cambridge (UK), Salt Lake City (UT) and Calgary (AB). He co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and is an inventor on well over 50 patents and patent applications.

Harnessing Critical, Creative and Collaborative Thinking to Support Problem Management

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Abstract

Tackling complex issues often requires application of concepts in innovative ways. During this webinar, Garfield will share a framework for thinking that underpins both critical thinking and creativity. The session will examine the intersection between critical thinking and creativity and explore five keys to creating optimal conditions for creativity to flourish.

Bio

Garfield Gini-Newman is an associate professor at OISE/University of Toronto and the senior national consultant with The Critical Thinking Consortium. He has worked with thousands of teachers across grades and subjects, helping them to frame learning around engaging and provocative activities and authentic assessments.

Garfield is currently working with schools and school divisions, in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Argentina, Korea, Poland, China, Peru and Uganda. Garfield explores critical thinking, brain compatible classrooms, curriculum design and effective assessment practices, and nurturing global competencies through a sustained inquiry approach. In addition to his work at the University of Toronto and his work in schools, Garfield has also authored over 100 articles, chapters in books and books and has taught in the faculties of education at York University and the University of British Columbia. His most recent book co-authored with Roland Case, Creating Thinking Classrooms has received widespread praise from leading educators across Canada and internationally.

The importance of intellectual property (IP) assets and IP rights in R&D

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Abstract

Prepare for an insightful training session highlighting the importance of inventions, patents, and safeguarding intellectual assets in the realm of research and development (R&D). Learn the essentials of the IP protection landscape, with a focus on mitigating the risk of public disclosures that could jeopardize innovation. Become familiar with trade secrets, understanding their pivotal role in preserving competitive advantage and proprietary knowledge. Together, we can discuss strategies for effective IP management, including the proper documentation of inventions and patent application processes, and prepare for technology transfer and commercialization.

Bio

Nicolas is an Intellectual Property Advisor at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) for the Québec region. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education (B.Ed) and in Communications (B.Comm) from Université Laval. He has been working at CIPO since 2015, starting in the Patent Office, where he created digital products and resources for the CIPO website on a variety of IP related topics, that directly supported the National IP Strategy launched by the Federal Government.

Since then, he has gained extensive knowledge of the IP ecosystem in Canada, and has been active in learning design, outreach and training to Canadian innovators, creators and business owners, to support IP awareness and education on a broad scale. He works more closely with Canadian innovators and small and medium-sized businesses to help them increase their knowledge base on IP, as well as strategically consider and leverage IP assets to support their business objectives.

Seawater electrolysis enables high-quality carbon removal

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Abstract

We present the mass balances associated with carbon dioxide (CO2) removal (CDR) using seawater as both the source of reactants, and as the reaction medium via electrolysis. This process involves the application of an electric overpotential that splits water to form H+ and OH– ions, producing acidity and alkalinity, i.e., in addition to gaseous co-products, at the anode and cathode, respectively. The alkalinity that results, i.e., via the “continuous electrolytic pH pump” results in the instantaneous precipitation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), hydrated magnesium carbonates (e.g., nesquehonite: MgCO3·3H2O, hydromagnesite: Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O, etc.), and/or magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) depending on the CO32– ion-activity in solution. This results in the trapping, and hence durable and permanent (at least ~10,000–100,000 years) immobilization of CO2 that was originally dissolved in water, and that is additionally drawn down from the atmosphere within: a) mineral carbonates, and/or b) as solvated bicarbonate (HCO3–) and carbonate (CO32–) ions (i.e., due to the absorption of atmospheric CO2 into seawater having enhanced alkalinity). Taken together, these actions result in the net removal of ≈4.6 kg of CO2 per m3 of seawater catholyte processed. Overall, this analysis provides direct quantifications of the ability of the process to serve as a means for technological CDR to mitigate the worst effects of accelerating climate change.

Bio Erika La Plante

Erika La Plante is a Co-founder and the Head of Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and Environmental Impact Assessment at Equatic. She is also an Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Davis. She obtained her Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences with a focus in Geochemistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and her B.S. in Geology from the University of the Philippines. Erika applies her expertise in the kinetics of low-temperature aqueous processes at mineral-fluid interfaces to address the many research questions in the fields of climate, sustainability, built environment, and energy.

Bio Dante Simonetti

Dante Simonetti is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and is also the Associate Director for Technology Translation in the Institute for Carbon Management at UCLA. The institute’s ongoing projects include SeaChange, an energy-efficient technology that removes carbon dioxide dissolved in seawater; x/44, a method for achieving electrochemical direct air capture; and EPOCH, an electrochemical process for producing portlandite — a limestone and cement replacement — designed to greatly reduce the carbon dioxide emissions associated with cement and concrete production. Dante received B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, respectively. He joined the UCLA faculty in 2014 after working as an R&D project leader at Honeywell’s UOP. His research interests include reaction chemistry and engineering with a specific focus on reducing the carbon footprint of industrial process and energy generation while also remediating legacy emissions. In addition to his research, Dante has published several peer-reviewed scientific publications and holds several patents in this area of expertise.

Fuel from the sky: Cheaper hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide direct air capture and sunlight

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Abstract

Tired of hearing that climate change is real and that we need to do something about it? Then come join me to learn how we, at Terraform Industries, try to solve this problem by making fuels from the sky. That’s right, we believe humanity should survive while maintaining a good relationship with Mother Earth. Terraform Industries is building machines (powered by renewables) to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transform it into fuels. This model will enable us to generate hydrocarbons using air and solar energy, anywhere in the world, instead of extracting them from the deep underground. This presentation will showcase how we can fight climate change, and, hopefully, will provide a breath of fresher air.

Bio

Dr. Lucie Nurdin holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Calgary, specializing in renewable energy and catalysis. Her doctoral research investigated the mechanisms of O2 reduction reaction by transition metal complexes, as well as the use of nitrogen-based fuels.  After a two-year postdoctoral position at the California Institute of Technology in the group of Prof. Peters, Lucie turned to the industrial sector. Currently serving as a Chemical Engineer at Terraform Industries in California, she leads projects focusing on methanation reactors and the integration of subsystems for carbon dioxide capture and fuel production. 

Climate Change: A Journey Towards Solutions

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Abstract

Célia will share her own experience as Climate scientist and discuss the state of the art on climate change science and mitigation. Moreover, she will address the communication and engagement challenges related to solutions, especially Carbon Capture and Utilisation, and explain how CO2 Value Europe has drastically increased stakeholder engagement on this matter.

Bio

Célia is a swiss climate scientist, specialist in greenhouse gas emissions and historical climate reconstructions. After 13 years of academic climate research, including several long expeditions to polar regions and numerous scientific publications, she has now engaged at the front line of the climate action in becoming Scientific Director at CO2 Value Europe. Her role is to investigate the climate mitigation potential of CO2 Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies and to develop knowledge on solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from highly emitting sectors.

Célia is also highly invested in climate outreach, education and communication to the media, the politicians and the general public, especially the youth.

Workshop on inequalities in higher education: Barriers and Solutions

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Abstract

After presenting a few theoretical concepts, the workshop will be dedicated to working in sub-groups. Participants will look at different situations typical of higher education, and will be asked to reflect together on the inequities that can be generated by these situations. They will be asked to work together to find solutions that could help reduce inequities.

Bios

Marie Baron completed her PhD in Community Health at Laval University in 2019, her project focused on healthy aging in Inuit communities. She then worked as a research professional at the Centre de recherche en santé durable VITAM, specializing in the coordination and management of health surveys among vulnerable populations. Since March 2023, she has held the position of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor at INRS, working more specifically on EDI in the research field.

Léa Maude Gobeille Paré holds a master's degree in political science and a certificate in feminist studies. She acquired expertise on issues related to discrimination in the workplace with the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail. She then worked at the Conseil du statut de la femme as a research professional, where she documented the obstacles to gender equality in sport. She has been an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor at INRS since 2021.

Successfully integrating a new work team

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Throughout our professional journey, the integration into a new work team is an inevitable step that can be quite intimidating. Whether it is for an internship, a new job, or any other context, this process poses a challenge that everyone must face. In this webinar, Simon Chouinard will lead a discussion with CIRCUIT alumnus Marc-Olivier Landry to hear about his experience going through this process during his time with Agnico Eagle. This conversation features Marc-Olivier’s unique perspective as a student who had to integrate new teams during his internships, but also as a current professional integrating new team members. Practical insights to ensure a successful integration into any upcoming industrial experience will be presented to help you when the time comes to leap into your new team!

Bio Simon Chouinard

Entrepreneur at heart, Simon Chouinard launches a business at age 23 that he will manage for over 20 years. Member of the Quebec Bar Association since 2003, he obtains a Master’s in Tax and works as a tax lawyer for nearly 15 years. As such, he has led both international and national mandates. In 2012, he joins a growing law firm with the aim of contributing to the business’ vision and development. In 2019, he decides to use his wealth of business experience and expertise to help up and coming entrepreneurs at Université Laval as the CEO of Entrepreneuriat ULaval. Recently, he completed the Executive MBA at Laval University in 2022.

Bio Marc-Olivier Landry

Marc-Olivier works as a production metallurgist for Meadowbank Complex, a Nunavut division of the gold producer Agnico Eagle. He obtained his chemistry bachelor's degree from Université Laval in 2020 and he is currently finishing his master’s in chemical engineering. During his studies, he totalized over 24 months of internship with Agnico Eagle where he had the chance to work at three different mine sites and integrated five different teams. With his industrial background, Marc-Olivier brings valuable insight to facilitate the integration of a new working group within the industry.

Carbon Dioxide and Electricity: Opportunities for Carbon Capture and Conversion

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Abstract

The availability of low-carbon renewable electricity presents a tremendous opportunity for the decarbonization of modern society. The electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide can be used to produce the chemical building blocks of plastics, textiles, and fuels. Other sectors, such as steel, cement, and aviation, are challenging to electrify directly but their emissions can be offset through electricity-driven direct air and direct ocean capture technologies. In this presentation, I will discuss notable lab-scale demonstrations of electrochemical carbon conversion and direct air capture. I will then discuss the scale-up of these technologies and the work that Deep Sky is doing to build large-scale carbon dioxide removal systems here in Canada.

Bio

Jonathan is Senior Principal Engineer, Capture at Deep Sky. He completed his PhD at the University of Toronto in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering where he studied the electrochemical conversion of CO2 into chemicals and fuels. As a PhD student, he co-led Team CERT, one of five finalists in the $20 million NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE competition. The team scaled-up electrochemical CO2-to-ethylene technology 10,000-fold over the course of 18 months to produce a system capable of processing about 100 kg of CO2 daily. The success of this demonstration enabled CERT Systems to spin-out as a company where Jonathan served as Principal Research Scientist. He then joined Deep Sky to build infrastructure for large-scale carbon dioxide removal systems in Canada. Jonathan’s academic research has generated 25 publications in peer-reviewed journals which have been cited collectively more than 5,800 times. Jonathan has been recognized as a Corporate Knights Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leader and a Globe and Mail Report on Business Changemaker.

What is the place of carbon products (fuel and chemicals) in a carbon neutral energy system?

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Abstract

The net zero 2050 strategy is now an emergency for the national policies of major countries. The coming decades will be marked by growing energy needs, the gradual depletion of fossil resources and the mandatory logic of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this lecture, we will discuss the place of carbon products in a future carbon-neutral world, outlining their potential and importance the energy transition. The key research and technological needs to foster a carbon circular economy will be highlighted, within the context of the ongoing energy transition. Our vision emphasizes the essential roles of CO2 utilization and biomass conversion in forging low-carbon energy systems.

Bio

Thibault Cantat is a group leader at the Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in France. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2007 at the Ecole Polytechnique, France. After a postdoctoral stay at Los Alamos National Laboratory, he started a research group focused on the activation and recycling of CO2, depolymerization of wood lignin and mechanistic investigations using experimental and computational chemistry, at CEA Saclay. For his contribution on CO2 chemistry, he was awarded the Grand Prix Scientifique of the Louis D. Foundation by the Institut de France (2013). He obtained a Starting Grant in 2013 and a Consolidator Grant in 2018 from the ERC. In parallel, he provides scientific advice to policy makers and was nominated panel member at the CCUS workshop for Mission Innovation. In 2017, he was an expert and co-author of a report on Carbon Capture and Utilization for the Scientific Advice Mechanism, SAPEA, commissioned by the European Commission. Since 2020, he is the Program Leader on the Carbon Circular Economy at CEA (incl. biofuels, Power-to-X and biomass conversion technologies).

FeSx based catalysts for liquid phase hydrogenation of CO2

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Abstract

The mineral greigite (Fe3S4) presents similar surface structures to the active sites found in many modern-day enzymes. This inspired researchers to propose FeSx based materials for CO2 conversion. In this presentation, I will present our work on the development of oxidized FeS based catalyst for the liquid phase conversion of CO2 to formates. Surface oxygen in the catalyst play an important role and this will be discussed in this presentation. Inspired by the active sites present in nature, we developed Fe-Ni-S based heterogeneous catalysts for the liquid phase conversion of CO2 to formates. The results from combined theoretical and experimental studies will also be presented.

Bio

Sankar received his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in chemistry from India and then he moved to the National Chemical Laboratory in Pune (India) for his PhD in Heterogeneous Catalysis. After PhD he moved to Cardiff University to work as a Postdoctoral Research Associate with Prof Graham J. Hutchings FRS. In 2011, he was awarded the prestigious Marie-Curie Intra-European Research Fellow to work at Utrecht University, The Netherlands with  Prof. B. M. Weckhuysen. In 2014, he was awarded a University Research Fellowship at Cardiff University to start an independent group. In 2019, he got tenured as a Lecturer in Physical Chemistry at Cardiff University. His research interest is to develop catalytic technologies for a green and sustainable future. He has published more than 75 articles and a co-inventor in two international patents.

Key publications

Mitchell, C. E.et al. 2021. A surface oxidised Fe-S catalyst for the liquid phase hydrogenation of CO2. Catalysis Science and Technology 11, pp. 779-784. 

Mitchell, C.et al. 2021. The role of surface oxidation and Fe-Ni synergy in Fe-Ni-S catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation. Faraday Discussions (In Press)

Sankar,M.et al. 2020. Role of the support in gold-containing nanoparticles as heterogeneous catalysts. Chemical Reviews 120(8), pp. 3890-3938. 

Macino, M.et al. 2019. Tuning of catalytic sites in Pt/TiO2 catalysts for chemoselective hydrogenation of 3-nitrostyrene. Nature Catalysis 2, pp. 873-881. 

Luo, W.et al. 2015. High performing and stable supported nano-alloys for the catalytic hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone. Nature Communications 6, article number: 6540.

Sankar, M.et al. 2014. The benzaldehyde oxidation paradox explained by the interception of peroxy radical by benzyl alcohol. Nature Communications 5, article number: 3332. 

Sankar, M.et al. 2012. Designing bimetallic catalysts for a green and sustainable future. Chemical Society Reviews 41(24), pp. 8099-8139.

Decarbonization at Agnico

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Biography

Samuel (B.Eng '15, Mechanical) is currently advising on Decarbonization and Innovation at Agnico Eagle Mines. The role involves looking at how to integrate sustainability in new projects, as well as innovative technologies and other technical and economical considerations. Prior to that, Samuel worked on energy technology R&D Siemens Energy (ex Rolls Royce Energy) where he was amongst other thing designing more efficient energy systems & technologies, with a focus on thermo-fluids aspects, as well as involved in global Energy Transition initiatives. Prior to that, Samuël worked at Goldex & Laronde for Agnico  Eagle; conducted explosive physics research.

“An introduction to Corporate culture to build a strong team & Governance”

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Bio

Marianne Lirette is a management consultant. She is the director of Consulting Services and Business Development. She is also a lecturer in management at Université Laval and a trainer for several UL programs in entrepreneurship.

Having real impacts in the net-zero world through mining - trends and opportunities

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Abstract  

Summary: The path to net-zero carbon requires increasing supply of critical minerals and metals for the energy transition. For example, lithium production is projected to quadruple by 2030 and copper production must increase two folds by 2050. It’s necessary to increase mined critical minerals and the industry will need to produce them responsibly. The first portion of the lecture provides an overview of the world supply crunch and what it means for mining, trends in decarbonizing the mining sector, and a real opportunity to have an impactful and adventure-filled career. Bring your questions about the sector and I can provide a perspective in the second half of the lecture.

Bio

Chih-Ting is the founder and president at EELO Solutions.

She is a strategist, entrepreneur, and Independent Director committed to making global net-zero carbon future a reality focusing on high-impact industries. A professional engineer with 20 years of experience, her deep sectoral knowledge, expertise in environment, social, and governance (ESG) performance, and leadership in innovation has gained international recognition. Chih-Ting’s data driven approach uniquely compliments exercising governance best practices and overseeing risks. She is collaborative, deliberate, and authentic.

Chih-Ting founded EELO Solutions in 2011 and her team of experts and partners have delivered extensive energy and carbon reductions while increasing capacity in organizations they work with. Her global experience in mining, marine, energy, and international financial institutions has enabled $100M+ private sector investment and raised $45M+ for innovation and decarbonization projects in recent years.

Chih-Ting believes that ESG innovation and investment are necessary to reach climate action targets, and that the mining industry is a critical piece of the puzzle. Chih-Ting is a non-executive Director at Sherritt International, Board Vice Chair at the Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre, Director at the Sustainable Development Technology Corporation (STDC), Directors at the Centre of Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), and non-executive Director a Minviro. She is an Industry Advisor at UBC Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals and Mining and serves on the Advisory Board of clean tech companies such as Summit Nanotech and Invert Inc.

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Nasser Seraj Mehdizadeh graduated in 1988 with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from "Universite de Nantes (in France)". Since then, he has held a variety of positions in the oil industries, including mechanical engineer, project engineer, and project manager.

With over 15 years of experience, he brings diverse knowledge of small to large scale EPCM projects in complex industries. He had a chance to work with such clients as, Husky, CNRL, Cenovus, Pembina, Enerplus, and Schlumberger.

 He is now a Principal Project Manager at SAF+.

Varshiga Vijayakumar is a Junior Process Engineer-in-training at SAF + Consortium. She completed her Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Western University and worked on numerous process design projects, including the design of a green ammonia plant. She also participated in a research team focused on the conversion of carbon dioxide into methanol in a slurry reactor.

During her time at Ontario Power Generation in the Projects and Modifications Department, she was involved in several major projects focused on refurbishing their nuclear power plant, such as replacing the units' main output transformers and service transformers, as well as fuel manifolds in the nuclear reactor.”

Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Carbon Dioxide, Water, and Renewable Electricity

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Power-to-liquid (PtL) technologies must be deployed at world-scale to sustainably produce energy-dense liquid fuels in the quantities needed to replace fossil fuels in hard-to-decarbonize industries. Legacy PtL pathways rely on multi-step approaches to first produce carbon monoxide, then combine carbon monoxide with hydrogen in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to make a mixture of light hydrocarbons, liquid fuels, and waxes. Air Company has developed an alternate technology based on carbon dioxide hydrogenation, to both circumvent the need for carbon monoxide production and improve the selectivity of fuel production by minimizing wax byproduct. The process has been scaled to a pilot reactor in Brooklyn, NY that produces metric tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and is currently undergoing further scale-up in a small commercial demonstration facility. Concurrent to paraffin synthesis, light alcohols enable production of consumer goods that help to enable efficient technology scale-up.

Biography

Dr. Stafford Sheehan is an American scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur who has emerged to sit at the forefront of work deemed revolutionary within the realm of science and technology. His expertise is guided by a Bachelor’s in Chemistry from Boston College and a Ph.D in Physical Chemistry from Yale University. Dr. Sheehan’s work landed him on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Energy in 2016 for discovering an industrial material called a heterogenized homogeneous catalyst; has had him recognized  as Chemical & Engineering News Talented 12 in 2017; and in 2020, he was named on Boston College’s 40 Under 40 alumni list.

Throughout his career, Dr. Sheehan has explored opportunities within carbon dioxide conversion technologies, which would play an integral role in his development of a proprietary and patented technology system that converts captured carbon dioxide into high-purity alcohols. Currently, Dr. Sheehan serves as the Co-founder and CTO of AIR COMPANY, a New York-based company that uses this technology to address climate change by creating consumer products and fuels from CO2. As CTO, he is responsible for overseeing all technological operations while working to continue to push the boundaries of his technology. His ingenuity has paved the way for a number of distinguished awards for AIR COMPANY, including TIME Best Inventions, Fast Company World Changing Ideas, the NASA CO2 Conversion Challenge, R&D World’s R&D 100, and most recently, the Keeling Curve Prize.

Dr. Sheehan’s work is only just beginning, however, as this technology can be applied across a number of verticals from glucose to space exploration. If scaled, this technology has the potential to repurpose nearly 10% of global CO2 emissions, highlighting the wider impact of the work he’s committed to. 

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How to include equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in our work and study environments?

After introducing the main concepts related to EDI (equity, diversity inclusion, intersectionality, unconscious bias, systemic discrimination, microagressions), this presentation will discuss how we can adopt an inclusive approach in our work and study environments.

Developing new materials and new processes for the conversion of CO2 to fuels and chemicals

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Summary

Utilization of CO2 to produce fuels and chemicals is considered to be one of the most desirable solutions for carbon management, since CO2-derived products can provide a revenue stream to offset capture costs and generate a net profit. Thermocatalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to hydrocarbons (HCs), especially with low carbon-intensity hydrogen from water electrolysis using renewable electricity, is an attractive route to produce fuels with a near carbon-neutral footprint, and accordingly, this approach has drawn extensive research interest over the past few years. Even though considerable progress has been achieved for CO2 hydrogenation to C1 products (such as CO, methane and methanol) and C2–3 olefins, the synthesis of longer chain HCs (i.e., C4+) remains a challenge due to the stability of CO2, the high energy barrier for C-C coupling reactions, and side reactions that favor C1 products. These longer chain HCs are versatile products with diverse applications as renewable gasoline blendstocks and precursors for diesel or jet fuel production. This presentation will highlight the development of new materials to perform new catalytic chemistry for the conversion of CO2 to C2+ HCs, focusing on the development of metal carbide nanoparticles and how their reactivity differs from the bulk carbide. Analogously, approaches for process development employing commercially available catalysts, such as a composite of Cu-ZnO-alumina and Cu/BEA zeolite catalysts, will be presented.

Biography

Dan Ruddy is a senior scientist at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. He is the principal investigator for NREL research projects focusing on the catalytic conversion of syngas, methanol, and carbon dioxide to fuels and chemicals. He also serves as the business development lead for NREL’s carbon management program. Dan received his bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Lafayette College (Easton, PA) in 2003 and his doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 2008. His research seeks to integrate the synthesis and characterization of functional molecules and materials to enable renewable fuels production and advance related energy technologies.

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CO2…

From an industrial waste to green chemicals

Electro Carbon Inc. (“ECO2”) is the architect of a unique technology poised to disrupt the global markets for formate salts and formic acid, while providing a positive climate impact as it converts significant amounts of CO2 in the process. ECO2 was founded in 2019 and is based in Montreal, Quebec.

The global emission crisis provides ECO2 with a sustainable and unlimited supply of feed for our technology. ECO2 novel and patented technology uses an electrochemical process to convert CO2 into high-value-specialty chemicals, redefining the concept of “green chemicals” and providing a sustainable alternative to chemicals widely used in industrial processes globally but currently mostly produced and imported from Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Our breakthrough process contributes to the conversion of CO2 while replacing volumes otherwise produced using petroleum-based alternatives production methods.

Assessment of Promising CO2 Utilization Technologies: A Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) Approach for Well-Informed Decisions.

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Abstract:

It is now well admitted that carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is an essential option to achieve our 2050 net-zero emissions objectives. Although CCS has the potential to deliver much larger CO2 emissions reductions, CCU is expected to play a critical role where there is limited storage capacity, in decarbonizing of hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation and maritime transportation, and in the production of "greener" low-carbon products.

A wide range of CO2 utilization technologies can be used to produce a variety of products including chemicals, fuels, polymers and construction materials. These pathways are far from being equal in terms of maturity, CO2 mitigation potential, carbon retention time, and energy requirements. A rigorous and systematic approach that recognizes the status and key attributes of possible CO2 utilization technologies is needed to allow fair comparison and identify the promising ones that best fit with key objectives of decision makers for well-informed decisions.

In this webinar, a Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach is presented to screen and assess various CO2 utilization pathways taking into account their technology readiness level (TRL), product market size, price, CO2 utilization volume, and CO2 retention time. This approach is used to identify most impactful CCU pathways that best fit 3 important scenarios: 1. Maximum environmental impact; 2 Maximum economic value; and 3. Immediate environmental impact.

Dr. Philippe Navarri

Senior Project Manager, Eco-Efficient Processes | CCUS

CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada

Biography

Philippe is Manager of the Eco-efficient Process Development program at CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada. He has over 25 years of experience in applied energy and environmental research in various industries including oil and gas, pulp and paper, chemicals and food industries, both in the private sector and at Natural Resources Canada. Philippe has been with CanmetENERGY in Varennes (QC) for 21 years working on deep decarbonisation strategies in energy-intensive industries using clean energy sources and technologies. His current work focusses on the systematic evaluation of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies, their energy, economic and environmental impacts, how they can be implemented at industrial sites, and how CCUS can be deployed in Canada to help achieve carbon neutrality.

Dr. Marzieh Shokrollahi

Research Scientist, Eco-Efficient Processes | CCUS

CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada

Biography

Marzieh is a research scientist at CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada with over 10 years of experience in the field of clean technologies. She holds a PH.D. degree in chemical engineering from Laval University. She’s been working with CanmetNERGY in Varennes since December 2020 on technology screening, process design and simulation, energy efficiency improvement, techno-economic analysis, and life cycle analysis of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies, hydrogen production, and other decarbonization strategies for large emitting industries such as iron & steel, cement, pulp & paper, and oil refining.

Process intensification: producing more with less

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Abstract

Economic growth while accounting for social needs, climate change and environmental protection are key to tackle the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) and accelerate the energy transition towards the electrification of the chemical industry.

Green technologies based on cleaner energy sources such as biofuels, hydroelectricity, wind and natural gas are a global priority. Their implementation cannot only rely on existing industrial infrastructures but needs new resources and space. This represents a limit to the increase in the production capacity of existing chemical plants and to the development of new technologies.

Process Intensification (PI) is a new archetype of the chemical industry that targets order of magnitude improvements to manufacture chemicals by either retooling existing facilities or finding new smaller, more efficient breakthrough technologies. Examples of PI technologies include HiGee reactors (e.g. spinning-disc reactors), alternative energy vectors to power chemical processes (ultrasound, microwaves, plasma), static mixers, and membrane reactors.

In this talk, Prof. Boffito will show how PI still struggles to find a definition, despite the undisputable advantages. These include, for instance, energy, capital and operational expenditures (CapEx and OpEx) savings in the 20-80% range, and a reduction of emitted CO2 eq. up to 80%.

She will also explain how PI represents a paradigm-shift that, by a matter of fact will change the chemical industry in the upcoming years. Prof. Boffito will browse the available methods to intensify chemical processes and will explain why we need to apply them both to existing and new processes. Further, she will highlight how PI can contribute to attain the UN-SDGs.

Bio

Daria C. Boffito is associate professor in Chemical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal. She is Canada Research Chair (2021-2026) in Engineering Process Intensification and Catalysis (EPIC) and head of the EPIC research team. She was previously Canada Research Chair in Intensified Mechano-Chemical Processes for Sustainable Biomass Conversion (2016-2021).

In 2019 she was featured as an Emerging Leader in Chemical Engineering (Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering).

She received prestigious Canadian and International prizes. As a post-doc at Polytechnique Montréal she was awarded an FRQNT Fellowship - Excellence Program for Foreign Students (2013). In 2014 she received the NSERC Banting post-doctoral fellowship. During her PhD at the University of Milan (2010-2013), she was selected as part of the "GreenTalents 2012", a German Government competition that identifies every year the most promising young scientists worldwide in the field of sustainability. She spent part of her PhD at The University of Melbourne, with a fellowship from the Australian Government.

Prof. Boffito's research interests include process intensification, biomass conversion, heterogeneous catalysis (and photocatalysis), CO2 conversion, synthesis and mechanism of drug delivery systems, metal recovery, and scientific communication. She co-authored the book "Communicate Science Papers, Presentations, and Posters Effectively", as well as a series of 20 articles in the Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, which included bibliometrics. 

Prof. Boffito works with several Canadian and international companies in the fields of gas-to-liquids, process intensification technologies, biomass conversion, and metal extraction

She has trained over 70 students/post-docs since becoming a professor in 2016. Her EPIC team now counts 36 people in Chemical, Biomedical and Material Engineering programs. She co-supervises students in Pharmacy, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. She has published over 100 papers, 9 book chapters, 4 patents, and 1 book.

Carbonation of Alkaline Waste as a CO2 Utilization Treatment to Obtain Products with Improved Technical and Environmental Properties

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Alkaline residues are produced in large amounts by several types of processes, such as coal power plants, cement kilns, steel manufacturing plants and solid waste incineration plants. Among the different types of treatments that may applied to allow their use for different applications, accelerated carbonation is of particular interest. The products obtained with this treatment - that can be seen both as a CO2 storage and utilization strategy - may in part replace raw materials and associated CO2 emissions, contributing to reduce the environmental footprint of the construction industry. To reach this goal it is essential that these products present analogous (if not improved) technical properties with regard to the construction materials they replace. In addition, as industrial residues may also contain elements of potential environmental concern, the leaching behaviour of products manufactured from these materials must be carefully evaluated. Depending on the characteristics of the residues and the desired product, different treatment routes and operating conditions may be applied. In this webinar, the results achieved applying three different carbonation routes for the valorization of alkaline solid residues deriving from different thermal processes will be presented.

Bio

Giulia Costa is an associate professor at the Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science Engineering of the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Her research activities focus on the valorization of waste treatment and industrial residues with specific regard to their leaching behaviour through different types of treatments, CCUS by carbonation of alkaline residues and life cycle analysis applied especially to waste management systems.

SAIPEM Technology for Post-Combustion Carbon Capture: From the lab to the field

CO2 Solutions by Saipem is a post-combustion carbon capture technology, exploiting the catalytic power of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, known as nature’s perfect. The presentation aims at providing an overview of the different steps that allowed to bring this technology from the lab to the field, highlighting the different challenges encountered and lessons learned.

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Is net-zero by 2050 possible?

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Abstract: The Industrial Revolution that lifted billions of people out of poverty and led to increased productivity and wealth has also led to increased carbon dioxide emissions, which in turn is changing our climate. To avoid the worst of climate change, the world needs to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. This talk will cover new clean technologies such as CO2 conversion and self-driving labs that will help Canada decarbonize our economy and accelerate discovery to get there faster.

Bio: Phil De Luna was Director, Materials for Clean Fuels at the National Research Council of Canada where he built and leads a 7-year $57-M collaborative R&D program focused on developing disruptive technologies to decarbonize Canada. His research on CO2 conversion and accelerated materials discovery has been published in high-impact journals such as Science and Nature and has been cited more than 9000 times over the past 5 years. He is a Governor General Gold Medalist, a Forbes Top 30 Under 30, a 2x TEDx speaker, a member of the Royal Society of Canada, an adjunct professor at the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto, an Action Canada Fellow, and a former Federal MP candidate. He has appeared in several documentaries, co-hosts a podcast called “What’s Next In…”, and given hundreds of talks on sustainability, innovation, early career development, and diversity in positions of power.

Hello World! Communications: for my career, for my community. 

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Jean-Marc Fleury is associate professor at the Department of Communication and Information, Université Laval, where he held the Bell Globemedia Chair in Science Journalism. He was also the first director of the World Federation of Science Journalists. 

He worked initially as a science journalist in newspapers and magazines. But most of his career was with the International Development Research Centre, in Ottawa, where he particularly enjoyed helping move research results into policies. 

Jean-Marc put in place training programs in science communication and science journalism in Canada and internationally. More recently, he initiated (risky) research into the development of algorithms which would help distinguish marginal and bad science from scientific consensus (when there is consensus!). 

His degree is in Physics Engineering. 

Conversion of CO2 to products via electrochemical systems

Renewably powered CO2 conversion presents an opportunity to de-carbonize the production of fuels and chemicals. Application of CO2 reduction will require electrocatalytic systems that provide reactants, electrons, and products at high rate and efficiency, and that are compatible with established upstream and downstream processes. In this talk I will outline our progress on membrane electrode assembly based cells to meet this challenge. To accommodate O2 impurities from upstream processes we develop a hydrated ionomer catalyst coating that selectively slows O2 transport and stabilizes the copper catalyst. To increase reaction rate and energy efficiency we develop an catalyst strategy that increases local CO2 availability and tunes intermediate adsorption for the production of multicarbon products. For liquid product generation we focus on minimizing product cross-over to the anode, targeting ethanol production in excess of the 10wt% - comparable to bio-ethanol production and compatible with downstream processes.

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David Sinton is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto. The Sinton group develops fluid systems for energy applications.

Advanced Pore Structure Characterization Methods for Crystalline and Amorphous Materials

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1. Characterization of Metal-Organic Frameworks (Shivam Parashar, Qing Zhu, Silvio Dantas and Alexander V. Neimark)

Unique adsorption and transport properties of MOF materials are determined by their complex 3D networks of pore compartments (cages, channels, windows) that differ in size, shape, and chemical functionalities. However, practical MOF samples are rarely the ideal crystals: they contain binders, various defects, and residual solvents. In this work, we propose a novel methodology for assessment from the experimental adsorption isotherms the degree of sample crystallinity, pore type distribution function, adsorption capacity and accessibility of individual pore compartments. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we construct the theoretical adsorption isotherm on the ideal MOF crystal and decompose this isotherm into the fingerprint isotherms corresponding to individual pore compartments. Information about the sample pore structure is obtained from matching the experimental isotherm to the theoretical fingerprint isotherms. This approach is demonstrated on four MOF samples: Cu-BTC, PCN-224, ZIF-412, and UiO-66 using Ar, N2 and CO2 at their normal boiling temperatures. The constructed fingerprint isotherms are verified against the experimental data obtained by in-situ adsorption crystallography. The method of pore level compartmentalization of adsorption isotherms provides a better understanding of the adsorption mechanisms and distribution of adsorbate molecule at the pore level that is instrumental for the selection and design of novel adsorbents with improved properties for gas separations, storage, and catalysis.

This work- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsanm.1c00937

2. Characterization of Kerogen (Shivam Parashar, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Alexander V. Neimark)

Shale reservoirs are sedimentary porous rock made up of organic and inorganic parts with pore size distribution spanning from micropores to µm range. Kerogen is a key component of the organic part of shale where CH4 exists in adsorbed state. The aim of this work is to enhance the understanding of structure and adsorption properties of organic porosity in kerogen, as it is related to predicting storage capacities of oil and gas, and hydrocarbon recovery. First, we create atomistic 3D models of bulk kerogen, kerogen surface, and mesopores imbedded in the kerogen matrix. Using Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations, we calculate the reference adsorption isotherms on the bulk kerogen matrix of intrinsic microporosity, on the kerogen surface, as well as in a series of mesopores confined by rough kerogen walls. Next, we parameterized the Quenched Solid Density Functional Theory (QSDFT) to reproduce the structure of the kerogen surface heterogeneity and the adsorption isotherms of Ar, and N2. We approximated the reference kerogen surface isotherm by a simple exponentially decaying disjoining pressure isotherm, which is used in the Derjaguin-Broekhoff-de Boer (DBdB) model to predict adsorption isotherm in pores of larger sizes. We demonstrate that the reference GCMC isotherms on the surface and in the pores are reasonably approximated by the QSDFT and DBdB models. Based on GCMC, QSDFT and DBdB methods, we characterize an experimental sample and calculate micropore volume, surface area and pore size distribution. This approach provides a reliable characterization of the hierarchical micro-mesoporous kerogen matrix that is imperative for understanding the specifics of the hydrocarbon recovery and carbon sequestration in shale reservoirs.

Angela Lyon, registered patent agent, will be providing an overview of the patent process from the point of view of chemical inventions. Terms such as “patent pending” “freedom-to-operate” and “infringement” will be discussed. She will also be describing her career as a patent agent for a Canadian university, including what a typical day looks like.

In addition, Queen’s has funding from the government that enables Angela and her colleagues to provide advice and services to local entrepreneurs and startups. As part of this funding, there is a youtube channel that has advice for startup companies including a video of Angela providing advice on intellectual property, entitled “First Things First:  Landmines to Avoid When Developing Inventions” click here: WE-CAN: First Things First: Avoiding Landmines When Developing Inventions - YouTube.  Angela is originally from the Eastern Townships of Quebec, and now lives in South Frontenac County (ON) with her partner and three sons.

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