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One of the main objectives of the recent research and development activities on adsorption heat pumps is the improvement of the volume-specific power while maintaining a reasonable thermodynamic efficiency. In this sense, a potentially effective approach is the development of adsorbent materials with high zeolite/support mass ratio such as zeolites-based foam adsorbent composites. In this work, the influence of the morphological aspects on adsorption performances of innovative SAPO-34 silicone composite foams has been investigated by varying zeolite filler content. The composite foam evidenced a mixed open/closed-cell structure, depending on zeolite amount. At low zeolite content (20%), a mainly open cell structure was obtained, while at large zeolite content foams (up to 70 wt %), a mainly closed-cell structure was obtained. Adsorption tests evidenced that SAPO-34 zeolite foams have a high adsorption efficiency when compared with pure zeolite highlighting the active behavior of siloxane matrix during water vapor diffusion. Based on the morphological and physical properties of the foam, a simplified model for vapor diffusion flow process in composite foams was proposed. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45683.

Great current progress in the materials science offers an enormous choice of novel adsorbents which may be promising for transformation and storage of low temperature heat, e.g. from renewable heat sources. This paper gives an overview of recent trends and achievements in this field. We consider possible optimization of zeolites by dealumination, further development on aluminophosphates, composites salt in porous host matrice and metal-organic frameworks which are currently receiving the largest share of scientific attention. The particular attention is focused on the chemical nano-tailoring and tunable adsorption behavior of these materials to satisfy the demands of appropriate heat transformation cycles. We hope that this review will give new impact on target-oriented research on the novel adsorbents for heat transformation and storage.

Bioethanol produced from lignocellulosic biomass is a promising alternative for fossil fuel substitution. Hydrolytic lignin rich residues could be exploited through gasification for more efficient bioethanol production processes. The char gasification is generally one of the slowest thermal steps and a fundamental understanding of the heterogeneous reaction kinetics is needed forreactors design. The aim of this work was to investigate the kinetic behavior of chars from byproducts of 2nd generation bioethanol production. Two chars were studied: hydrolytic reed lignin and hydrolytic wheat straw lignin.Isothermal experiments, using temperatures from 725°C to 825°C were conducted in a thermobalance. The atmosphere was 50%(volmol%) steam and 50%(vol%)N2. Additional tests at 10% and 20% of steam (N2as complement) were performed in order to determine the effect of steam partial pressure. Additional sample characterizations, such as the proximate and ultimate analyses of the two residues, as well as the metals content in chars, and morphological characterization were also performed. The apparent activation energy, Ea, of steam-char reaction was determined at different degrees of char conversion. The results showed that the Ea increases with conversion for both samples, ranging from 135 to 188 kJ/mol., Proceedings of the 24th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 June 2016, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp. 549-552

In the present work, the comparison of the anti-corrosive properties of various types of zeolite based coatings,with different silane matrix on AA6061 aluminum substrates, are reported. High hydrophobicity, good adhesionand resistance to corrosion were observed for silane modified with the addition of SAPO-34 zeolite filler.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests were performed on all samples in a 3.5% (w/w) NaClsolution at increasing immersion times. All composite films showed good durability. Depending on the type ofsilane used as a matrix, the composite coating evidenced high stability up to one year of immersion.

Hybrid Metallic Materials produced by using of metallic foam allows prototypal production of especial mechanical components. Applications have been designed both for structural mechanical parts filled with closed cells aluminium foams in order to increase impact energy absorption, stiffness and vibration dumping or for multifunctional applications where open celled aluminium foam have been used for light weight design, improved strength, heat exchange enhancement. The limits for foamed components industrial applications are determined mainly by manufacturing processes and by some designer's reluctance to use this material until full reliability into mechanical characteristics will be satisfied. Present work will show results pertaining to a wide experimental activity which is composed of different phase: first of all the production of a composite materials by filling steel tubes with aluminum closed cell foam, secondly welding of such a composite material by Laser or Gas Metal Arc Welding and as a conclusive phase characterization of welded Hybrid Metallic Materials has been realized. Besides a numerical simulation of the performances of the composite components by using a known commercial software packages has been implemented in preliminary forms due to the fact that simulation of Welded Hybrid Metallic Materials with Metal Foamed Core still results a challenging activity due to numerous boundary conditions to be modeled. Several suggestions have been resulted from the experimental activity in order to improve each phase of the welded composite materials production.

Hydrolytic Lignin rich residue (HL) produced in house activities of wheat straw biorefining and commercial Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) can be considered as potential feedstock for energy production via combustion or gasification because their relatively high heating values. The residues were analyzed to determine their proximate and ultimate composition together with the heating values. The raw residues and the chars obtained from them at 900°C were investigated by TGA under oxidizing atmospheres (mixtures of N2 and O2) to determine the pyrolysis and combustion behaviors, included the activation energy of combustion at low temperature. The kinetic data obtained at this microscale are useful to design and model the thermal conversion in fixed bed gasifiers, downdraft or updraft. Significant differences were pointed out both between the thermal behavior of the raw residues and between their chars. However, the activation energy of combustion resulted 120 kJ/mol for both chars, in agreement with literature on biomass derived chars. The biochemical composition, in particular the higher content of protein in DDGS, was considered to explain the different kinetics., Proceedings of the 22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 23-26 June 2014, Hamburg, Germany, pp. 667-670