Thermocatalytic conversion of biomass into molten salts based on zinc chloride

Investigation of the thermocatalytic conversion of lignocellulosic and/or residual biomass in zinc chloride-based molten salts for the production of energy vectors. The research aims to investigate the use of chloride-based molten salts, stable up to 600–650 °C, to catalyze the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass and organic waste into hydrocarbons and hydrogen. This enables chemical energy storage, which is more efficient and less prone to energy losses due to dissipation than thermal storage alone, thereby contributing to grid stability. The optimal operating conditions, including temperature, reaction time and salt concentration, will be studied in order to maximize the energy yield of the obtained products. The stability of the molten salts will also be assessed by TGA, XRD and DSC analyses.The experimental activities will be carried out at the Laboratory of Chemical and Electrochemical Technologies of the University of Palermo