Research activity
The topics of the TCEP team concerns “heterogeneous catalysis applied to the environment and energy“.
Catalysis is being explored for the elimination of air pollutants in harmless products, for the purification and valorization of CO2 and also for the development of alternative solutions for transforming biomass into clean energy. These treatments and valorizations are applied to agricultural, industrial and automotive effluents to provide solutions / prevention at the source.
For all this research, we focus on inexpensive metal oxides and using, if possible, bio-based or natural materials that can be prepared by unconventional pathways (microwaves, ultrasounds …).
At a fundamental level, we use the physico-chemical characterization available “in situ” or “operando” methods (IR, UV-vis, EPR) to refine the current reaction models. In a complementary way, we develop kinetic and transient studies to optimize the efficiency of the processes.
Catalytic Treatment/Purification of Air Pollutants (VOCs, Soot, NOx, CO, PAHs, CO2)
The team focused on the treatment of pollutants taking separately but also for simultaneous emissions of VOCs, NOx, CO, soot. These emissions are a common concern for transport, for many industrialists using high temperature processes and also for the residential sector.
On the other hand, in a current context of development of domestic wood heating for the energy transition, it is necessary to take into consideration the environmental problems associated with it. We are now developing inexpensive transition metal catalyst materials for the simultaneous treatment of CO, VOC and PAH pollutants.
The issue of global warming and more specifically the future of CO2 is a challenge for the future. The capture or use of CO2 for the production of value-added molecules (methane, methanol, etc.) will play an important role in the future, but CO2 sources are generally mixed with other pollutants (NOX, CO2, etc.). ). We are working on catalytic purification of CO2.
Energetic valorization
For energy recovery of CO2, we develop catalysts for the activation of CO2 for methanation.
On the other hand, the management and recovery of household waste is also a considerable economic, environmental and energy issue. Hydrogen is often presented as one of the energetic fuel of the future, and also as the carrierl of fuel cells. Among the approaches proposed for the purpose of producing hydrogen, reforming is a process that makes it possible to valorize biogas and other compounds resulting from the fermentation of waste and to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The main problem encountered during catalytic reforming reactions is the deactivation of the catalyst for several reasons related to various mechanisms.
The objectives of this research topic are multiple. By playing on the parameters such as the basicity of the catalysts, the type of active phase, the morphology of metallic particles, we are working on the development of new active and stable catalytic systems for energy recovery of waste in order to contribute to a better understanding of various factors that control the biogas reforming reactions in order to obtain a significant improvement in their stability under a reaction mixture. The impact of the impurities found in biogas has led us to broaden our investigations towards the reforming of VOCs, glycerol and the study of their toxicological impact.
Team members
Pr | |
Pr Emeritus | |
Sylvie CAPELLE | MCF |
MCF | |
Pr | |
Pr | |
MCF | |
MCF | |
Pr | |
IE |
Scientific collaboration
Nationals :
- Unité de Catalyse et de Chimie du Solide (Univ. Lille I)
- Laboratoire de Réactivité de Surface (Univ. Paris VI)
- Institut de Chimie des milieux et matériaux de Poitiers (Univ. Poitiers)
- Laboratoire de gestion des risques et environnement (Univ. Haute Alsace)
- Institut de chimie et procédés pour l’énergie, l’environnement et la santé (Univ. de Strasbourg)
- Laboratoire de Sécurité des procédés Chimiques,EA 4704(INSA de Rouen)
Internationals :
- Institute of Catalysis, Académie bulgare des sciences de Sofia, Bulgarie
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Matériaux Inorganiques de l’Université de Namur, Belgique
- Laboratoire de thermodynamique et physique mathématique ; Université de Mons, Belgique
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing Laboratory of Living Materials, Wuhan University of Technology, Chine
- Petroleum Chemistry Key Laboratory – Industrial Chemical Institute Vietnam National University, Vietnam
- Université Libanaise, Liban
- Université De Balamand, Liban
- American University of Beyrouth, Liban
- Université Saint Esprit à Kaslik, Liban
- Laboratoire de Catalyse et Synthèse en Chimie Organique, Université de Tlemcen, Algérie
- Department of Applied Physics, Université de Gand (Belgique)
- Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Université d’Oulu (Finlande)
- Inorganic Chemistry Department, Université de Séville (Espagne)
- Université Fédérale da Paraíba, (Brésil)
Current Thesis
Name | Period | Title |
Julien MACHINSKI | 2024-2027 | Operando study of the catalytic oxidation of pollutants from biomass combustion |
Aysha SHAHEEN | 2024-2027 | Optimization of nickel-on-silica catalysts for methanation reactions |
Rimal AL SAHMARANI | 2024-2027 | Recycling of plastic waste to produce hydrogen-rich synthesis gas |
Noura AIT BEN AZZOUZ | 2024-2027 | Study of ammonia synthesis in a chemical loop |
Hamza EL BOUHAMYDY | 2024-2027 | MOFs: synthesis, shaping and application for hydrogen, ammonia and carbon dioxide storage |
Anthony ABOU RAHHAL | 2023-2026 | Purification of CO2 by catalytic treatment |
Mihaela BECTORAS | 2022-2025 | Synthesis, characterization and use of nanocatalysts based on mesoporous materials in the conversion of biomass-derived molecules and pollutants |
Mahdi MOHAMAD ALI | 2022-2025 | Upgrading biogas to produce hydrogen or synthesis gas: products with high added value and energy content |
Research agreement
International projects
- 2023-2024 : PHC-Tournesol “CALMANT” project : Manganese-based catalysts for air pollution control: UCLouvain (Belgium).
National projects
- 2023-2027 : ANR “CASiBIO” project : Development of ceramic materials for biogas and CO2 recovery.
- 2022-2025 : “VAlCatBio” project : Analysis, purification and recovery of biogas from a landfill site.
- 2022-2025 : ADEME AQACIA “CATACOMB” project: Catalytic treatment of emissions from wood combustion in domestic fireplaces.
- 2020-2027 : PIA project: TI-DEC “Territoires d’Innovation – Dunkerque, l’Energie Créative”.
Regional projects
- 2021-2027 : CPER BiHauts-Eco de France
- 2021-2027 : CPER ECRIN
- 2021-2025 : STIMulE Hauts-de-France Region project “METHACAT”: catalytic recovery of CO2 for energy purposes
Recent publications
- TANIOS C., BILLET S., MEAUSOONE C., LANDKOCZ Y., GENNEQUIN C., LABAKI M., NSOULI B., ABOUKAIS A., CAZIER F., and ABI-AAD E., Impact of waste origin and post-treatment techniques on the composition and toxicity of biogas. Science of the Total Environment, 966:178688, 2025. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178688). (hal-05063322).
- KHADIRI Y., ANOUAR A., VOLKRINGER C., ROYER S., DHAINAUT J., LOISEAU T., and EL KADIB A., Alginate versus Chitosan for Templating Growth and Shaping HKUST-1 as Porous CO2-Adsorbent Beads. ChemistrySelect, 10(5):e202500155, 2025. (10.1002/slct.202500155). (hal-04960089).
- JAGDALE P.B., PATIL S.A., PATHAK A., MUKADDAR S.K., THAPA R., SFEIR A., ROYER S., SAMAL A.K., and SAXENA M., Unveiling the performance of ultrathin bimetallic CoxNi1-x(OH)2 nanosheets for pseudocapacitors and oxygen evolution reaction. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 13(3):1830–1841, 2025. (10.1039/d4ta06846g). (hal-05268668).
- DEPLAZES R., ABREU TELES C., CIOTONEA C., SIMON P., EL RASSI E., DHAINAUT J., MARINOVA M., CANILHO N., RICHARD F., and ROYER S., SBA-15 supportedNi-Cu catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation of m-cresol to toluene. ChemSusChem, 18(1):e202400685, 2025. (10.1002/cssc.202400685). (hal-04676105).
- YILDIZ R., DHAINAUT J., CIOTONEA C., DACQUIN J.P., ROYER S., COURTOIS C., and LORGOUILLOUX Y., Improving mechanical stability of SBA-15 monoliths prepared from polymeric scaffolds replication using bentonite clay. Journal of Porous Materials, 2025. (10.1007/s10934-025-01791-0). (hal-05008616).
- PITAP-MBOWOU M., BOYOM-TATCHEMO F., ACAYANKA E., KAMGANG-YOUBI G., POUPIN C., GAMEZ-RIVERA S., COUSIN R., GAIGNEUX E., and LAMINSI S., Activation of volcanic ash as support for FeOx gliding arc plasma deposition and application in the catalytic oxidation of Rhodamine 6G. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 12(6):114589, 2024. (10.1016/j.jece.2024.114589). (hal-04924891).
- OBEID M., POUPIN C., LABAKI M., GUPTA S., AOUAD S., DELATTRE F., BEN ROMDHANE F., DEVRED F., GAIGNEAUX E., SCHNEE J., and ABI-AAD E., Influence of the ultrasound power density in the ultrasound-assisted synthesis of Ni-based LDH catalysts for CO2 methanation. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 12(5):Id 114059, 2024. (10.1016/j.jece.2024.114059). (hal-04709955).
- PALANI P., TACHAFINE A., POUPIN C., and FASQUELLE D., Study and manufacturing of strontium calcium titanate lead-free ceramic capacitors for high-frequency applications. Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, 111(1):14–21, 2024. (10.1007/s10971-024-06433-6). (hal-04709962).
- DEMEESTER A., DOUMA F., COUSIN R., SIFFERT S., POURCEAU G., WADOUACHI A., PONCHEL A., MONFLIER E., and NOEL S., Carboxymethyl β-Cyclodextrin Assistance for the 4-Nitrophenol Reduction Using Cobalt-Based Layered Double Hydroxides. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(12):6390, 2024. (10.3390/ijms25126390). (hal-04635555).
- ROCHARD G., GENTY E., GIRAUDON J-M., POUPIN C., LAMONIER J-F, SIFFERT S., LA PAROLA V., FRANCESCA LIOTTA L., and COUSIN R., Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles over CoAl Mixed Oxide for Ethanol Oxidation Reaction. Molecules, 29(10):2285, 2024. (10.3390/molecules29102285). (hal-04579473).
- CHAGHOURI M., MOHAMAD ALI M., MARINOVA M., SIMON P., ROYER S., GENNEQUIN C., Deposition precipitation derived Ni-Co active sites for enhanced dry reforming of methane performances. Catalysis Today, 2024, 429, pp.114458. ⟨10.1016/j.cattod.2023.114458⟩. ⟨hal-04303429⟩
- ACHKAR M., FASQUELLE D., DUPONCHEL B., POUPIN C., HADJ SAHRAOUI A., LONGUEMART S., Electrocaloric characterization of samarium doped barium titanate ceramics synthesized by sol-gel process. Ceramics International, 2024, ⟨10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.01.294⟩. ⟨hal-04433632⟩
- DEPLAZES R., TELES C.A., CIOTONEA C., SFEIR A., CANILHO N., RICHARD F., ROYER S., Melt infiltration for the preparation of finely dispersed Ni-FeOx nanoparticles on SBA-15 for the hydrodeoxygenation of m-cresol. Catalysis Today, 2024, 430, pp.114514. ⟨10.1016/j.cattod.2024.114514⟩. ⟨hal-04439481⟩
- KALAWOUN H., CIOTONEA C., MARINOVA M., GENNEQUIN C., DELATTRE F., Investigation of the physico-chemical properties of Ni-Mg-Al-La catalysts from ultrasound-assisted synthesis. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 2024, 104, pp.106806. ⟨10.1016/j.ultsonch.2024.106806⟩. ⟨hal-04458991⟩
- OULED LTAIEF O., SIFFERT S., BENZINA M., FOURMENTIN S., Preparation of powerful exchanged Faujasite zeolite materials used as effective heterogeneous catalyst for photo-Fenton oxidation of methyl orange (MO). Reaction kinetics, mechanisms and catalysis, 2024, 137 (1), pp.547-570. ⟨10.1007/s11144-023-02563-0⟩. ⟨hal-04382568⟩
- VILLARIM P., GUI C., GENTY E., LEI Z., ZEMMOURI J., FOURMENTIN S., Toluene absorption from laboratory to industrial scale: An experimental and theoretical study. Separation and Purification Technology, 2024, 328, pp.125070. ⟨10.1016/j.seppur.2023.125070⟩. ⟨hal-04242235⟩