The objectives of WG2 are the design and development of new functional aerogel-based products for sound insulation, targeted absorbents and adsorbents, catalysts and sensors, as well as the reuse and valorisation of by-products in aerogels through the biorefinery approach.
Specific Tasks of the WG2 are:
- Screening, selection and testing of aerogel materials properties for targeting sound insulation
- Formulation of aerogels as adsorbents and absorbents for air cleaning, water pollutant treatment and detection of contaminants
- Design of high-performance aerogels as matrices for catalysis and for electrochemical applications
- Development of bio-aerogels via biorefinery approach and from waste bio-products
To achieve such tasks the activities of the WG2 are mainly focused on the use of aerogel-based materials for sound insulation as a critical aspect to mitigate acoustic contamination in e.g. construction and transport applications as well as in testing aerogels as absorbents/adsorbents of metal ions, or to modify them by post-functionalization for e.g., selective absorption (oil spillage) or adsorption (VOCs, heavy metals). The development of alternative materials made with templating methods to synthesize aerogels with tuneable pore size and surface chemistry as matrices for catalysis, analytical and electrochemical applications are also part of the activities of the WG2 as the evaluation to use bio-aerogels, a third generation of aerogels based on polysaccharides and proteins, for various applications (acoustic and thermal insulation, absorption, adsorption, catalysis, advanced food materials, active packaging); in synthetizing bio-aerogels a special attention will be paid on the biorefinery approach which should involve the use of all components which Nature provides and waste bio-materials
