Research team
Expertise
- Benchmarking and testing of innovative sensor technology (eg eNoses). - Research with regards to residential wood combustion
Microfluidics for sustainable photo(electro)catalysis and sensing.
Abstract
This year, the new research group A-PECS was founded around the expertise of four PIs working on engineering, photo(electro)chemistry and sensing. In order to accomplish more performant reactors and sensors, a driving force towards miniaturization is noticed. Due to the possibility of a small device footprint, low reagent and sample consumption, high-throughput handling, short time-to-result, fascinating prospects for microfluidic devices have emerged. However, specific know-how on microfluidics is not up to level in the new research group. This leaves a challenging opportunity for a senior researcher to develop a microfluidics research line, synergistically with the A-PECS PIs. The major challenge will be to translate generic concepts of microfluidic devices into specific applications within the fields of excellence of A-PECS. Important examples for which microfluidics can have a groundbreaking impact in our group, include plasmon particle synthesis and its applications1,2, air pollution sensing3, portable multidrug detectors6,7, phenol detection4, wearable sensors for pointof- care diagnostics5, amongst others.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Verbruggen Sammy
- Co-promoter: Denys Siegfried
- Co-promoter: De Wael Karolien
- Co-promoter: Tytgat Tom
Research team(s)
Funding
- BOF
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Pilot project air treatment car parks Zuiderdokken
Abstract
The research group Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL) of UAntwerpen will carry out research for MPA in the context of a pilot project of MPA in collaboration with QPark and MPA, whereby the Steendok and Kooldok car parks will be equipped with air purification installations with the best available air purification technology. The research group provides guidance in defining the objectives, the choice of the best available technology, the measurement, monitoring, follow-up, analysis and evaluation of the results in the short and long term.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Denys Siegfried
- Co-promoter: Lenaerts Silvia
- Co-promoter: Tytgat Tom
Funding
- PROV/STAD
Project type(s)
- Research Project
AirTech'byDesign: Injecting Technology into Urban Design in the battle against Street Canyon Pollution.
Abstract
The poor air quality in our cities is currently at the centre of public debates on health living conditions and at the pinnacle of innovative urban planning and mobility policies. Especially, so-called 'street canyons' represent the most problematic arteries of our cities: these are narrow inner-city roads that are flanked on both sides by a continuous row of (high) buildings. In these street canyons, the air quality is often below the European standards and those of the World Health Organization. Both urban design and technological solutions, such as photocatalyst, have proven to be a powerful tools for improving the air quality and overall health. However, this research is often restricted to a single domain, sector or discipline (either bioengineering or urban design) and is often limited to the analysis of the impact of a single parameter on air quality. Secondly, the most well-known measures focus on the reduction of emissions of pollutants and are situated on a larger scale planning and policy level. At the local scale level of traffic intensive locations and the so-called street canyons, systematic research on the possible contribution of urban design and technological interventions to improve the air quality is lacking. Moreover, a group of pollutants under less public scrutiny, volatile organic carbon (VOC), are less susceptible to traffic regulations. The treatment of paving, walls and facades with a photocatalyst have proven to contribute to improve the air quality. However, in street canyons the airflow rates are often low for an optimal performance of these photocatalysts. Alterations of the urban design (that improve the air circulation and the integration of UV lightning) can seek VOC abatement in urban street canyons with minimized environmental burden. In conclusion, in terms of air quality on the level of street canyons, there exists a fundamental disciplinary schism between environmental and urban design sciences. Dealing with the spatial distribution of air pollution and high threshold to bridge technological innovation with urban planning, this research project aims to combine environmental and design sciences. Therefore, the Research group for Urban Development (Design Sciences), DuEL and BioGEM (Engineering Sciences) decided to team up to tackle together this pregnant challenge. The scientific challenge grasped in this project is threefold: (1) Understand the spatial and molecular distribution of VOC in urban environment, with focus on street canyons, (2) Maximize the effect of urban design changes to improve the health effects of street canyons by incorporating photocatalytic abatement technologies; (3) Formulate design guidelines for improvement of air quality in street canyons based on LCA metrics, and extrapolate the methodology to future technological improvements. Together these challenges constitute an opportunity to significantly lower the threshold for future developments to improve the health conditions in street canyons. Divided over four Work Packages and four years, this multidisciplinary approach of this challenge calls for a combination of methodologies, ranging from literature review, to research by design, over modelling and case study research. The Turnhoutsebaan in Antwerp is selected as case study, being representative for typical Flemish street canyons in terms of structural characteristics (length, height over width ratio), traffic density, demonstrated high air pollution levels and the availability (or lack) of green infrastructure.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Van Acker Maarten
- Co-promoter: Billen Pieter
- Co-promoter: Tytgat Tom
- Fellow: Voordeckers Dimitri
Research team(s)
Funding
- BOF
Project website
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Study on exhaust emissions of wood stoves and PM reducing technologies.
Abstract
The aim of this project is to study literature on the real life emissions of air pollutants of different wood stoves and pollutant reducing technologies. Toxic and carcinogenic pollutants as PM, CO and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), PCB's and dioxins are emitted upon burning wood. Also condensable gases as source of secondary pollutants, such as PM, are emitted. Wood burning in Flanders is claimed to be responsible for 35% of the total emission of PM, 40% of the emission of dioxins and 87% of the emission of PAH. The contribution of household activities to the total amount of air pollutants is claimed to be rising.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Lenaerts Silvia
- Co-promoter: Tytgat Tom
Funding
- VL. INST.
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Development of a continuous soot flow inside a laboratory setup.
Abstract
Soot is one of the main culprits for health related problems. In our laboratory we are studying the degradation of soot. In order to do this, it is necessary to have a gas flow containing this soot. In this project, the construction of such a system, capable of generating a continuous and reproducible flow of soot that can be implemented inside the existing gas lab, is investigated.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Tytgat Tom
Funding
- BOF
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Research and development of Au/TiO2 foams for removal of NOx and VOCs from ambient air.
Abstract
The aim of this project is the removal of NOx and VOC in ambient air by an integrated air purification system with based on photocatalysis. During the project the main objective will be the development of a ceramic photocatalytic foam. Furthermore there will be Au deposition to enhance the photocatalytic activity. The whole project is taken as a process approach involving scientific/technological and socio/economical aspects.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Lenaerts Silvia
- Fellow: Tytgat Tom
Funding
- IWT
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Research and development of Au/TiO2 foams for removal of NOx and VOCs from ambient air.
Abstract
The aim of this project is the removal of NOx and VOC in ambient air by an integrated air purification system with based on photocatalysis. During the project the main objective will be the development of a ceramic photocatalytic foam. Furthermore there will be Au deposition to enhance the photocatalytic activity. The whole project is taken as a process approach involving scientific/technological and socio/economical aspects.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Lenaerts Silvia
- Fellow: Tytgat Tom
Funding
- IWT
Project type(s)
- Research Project