WS.III

Nanotechnology and Sustainability

September 16-17

Micro and nanoplastics are an emerging concern worldwide. Nanoplastics, usually categorized as plastic particles smaller than 1 micron, are of particular concern because they are expected to be as ubiquitous as their bulk counterparts. Nanoplastics are an important priority regarding fresh water quality as well as pollution transport in the environment and potential impact on human health. Recently, several studies on nanoplastics quantification and impact were undertaken and some of them are still ongoing. The first two symposia, organized within the PON TARANTO Research and Innovation Project, will discuss the most advanced results of such undergoing studies managed by public research centers in collaboration with private companies. The workshop talks will present, in particular, studies on the detection and characterization of nanoplastics in different matrices (water, air and food) and on some technology able to mitigate their impact on the environment and health.

In recent years, several studies highlighted that advanced nanomaterials have the potential to achieve a breakthrough in the development of novel applications for a sustainable future. The third and fourth sessions gather contributions from both the academic and industrial world to strengthen their synergistic contribution to technological growth for sustainability. In this framework, water treatment processes, as well as CO2 capturing and valorization, are topic of great and actual relevance, and the development of innovative and efficient materials is the key to be successful. Membranes, as applicative example, are fundamental elements for water purification and CO2 separation plants, but their usage is also widespread in fuel cells, batteries and “blue energy” harvesting systems. Notwithstanding their large technological relevance, currently employed membranes suffer from many drawbacks and a further breakthrough in this field might require a complete membrane redesign. Several studies highlighted that advanced materials, and nanomaterials in particular, have the potential to achieve a breakthrough in membranes performances, increasing membrane resistance (mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance) and lifetime, and enhance membrane selectivity. On the other hand, to efficient reuse of carbon dioxide as a raw material to obtain value-added products requires both the development of novel materials able to fast capture and release the CO2, and highly selective, stable, efficient, environmental-friendly and inexpensive catalysts for its electro/photoelectron/thermo catalytic reduction. Planned talks will be on recent results in the topics mentioned above, with a special focus on the fundamental aspects as well as on the technological challenges tackled by the academy and the industry. The workshop is organized by Polytechnic of Turin and Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, in cooperation with the Italian Association for Industrial Research (Airi). The session will be held online (webinar) in two parts, the first (Sep 17th, 14.00-15.30) with a focus on industrial application and the second (Sep 17th, 16.00-17.30) on basic and applied research activities.