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Case Study 4

Safe TiO2 production

Partner lead: NTC

Case Study 4 will develop an online production procedure for manufacturing TiO2 (anatase) nanomaterials. The HISENTS screener will be coupled to this production line and the screening results used to modify TiO2 composition minimising its toxicity without alleviating its function.

Figure 1: The pilot rotary tube furnance for RCC of titania nanopowder: as-assabled (a), at the start of SABYDOMA project in May, 2020 (b)

The HISENTS screening system will be built into the feedback that controls the air (gas) flow rate in the rotating flow reactor as it is shown in the figure below with red colour. Since the size and the concentration of nanoparticles in the air flow depends on the air velocity and the rate of the chemical reaction during the synthesis of anatase nanoparticles, the flow rate feedback is important for reducing the toxicity of the air leaving the furnace. This universal control scheme should allow us to create several technologies of the same type for the synthesis of nanoparticles of different substances from their precursors and to minimize emissions of harmful substances into the environment.

The main task of CS4 is to create and demonstrate a safe-by-design technology for the synthesis of titanium dioxide nanopowder at the TRL6 level. Achievement of the goal of CS4 is carried out by arranging negative feedback in the synthesis mode for the concentration of harmful emissions, full automation of the technological process and as a result of deep cooperation with project partners.

Figure 2: Innovative solution for flow-through production of titania nanopowder including sensor-modulus in the feedback loop.