During the XNUMXth edition of the Italy-China Week of Science, Technology and Innovation, an agreement was signed between the CNR Institute on Atmospheric Pollution (CNR-IIA) and the Henan Agricultural University of Italy in Zhengzhou, for the establishment of the Italy-China Joint Research Center on the Recycling and Use of Agricultural Waste.
The purpose of the agreement is to improve cooperation between the Partners, initiate technical-scientific cooperation in the field of recycling and use of agricultural waste, the possible application for projects and to carry out joint research, the sharing of equipment and pilot plants, exchanges of personnel, students and training, reciprocal visits. As part of this agreement, Henan Agricultural University will develop and test innovative technologies for the use of agricultural by-products, and the CNR-IIA will assess their local impacts on quality and sustainability in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the agri-food sector contributes significantly to the emission of climate-altering gases and ammonia with the consequent formation of secondary atmospheric particulate.
The research areas are four: Comprehensive treatment and utilization of waste resources (including agricultural waste, household waste, livestock waste); Biological and catalytic conversion of agricultural waste into high quality biofuels and chemicals; Preparation of functional carbon-based materials from agricultural waste; Preparation of slow-release nutrients from agricultural waste. On all these areas, the CNR-IIA will carry out assessments in terms of impact on air quality and contribution to decarbonisation.
Important scientific results have already been obtained on the interrelation between the addition of titanium oxide nanoparticles and the production of photo-fermentative bio-hydrogen in corn straw. Similarly, the effect of the combined addition of zero-valent iron nanoparticles and biochar on biomethane production by anaerobic digestion of corn straw was investigated. Furthermore, a preparation of slow-release insecticides from digestate was carried out, in particular the effectiveness of an ion exchange resin in the absorption and release of ammonia nitrogen was tested.
The results obtained will make it possible to minimize emissions of pollutants from the agri-food sector, and to promote the circular economy and decarbonisation through the production of sustainable biofuels such as hydrogen and biomethane.