Cerdanyola del Vallès, 13th June 2023 ALBA Synchrotron in collaboration with the European project ReMade@ARI, which offers access to advanced research infrastructures to companies tackling circular economy challenges, organized a workshop dedicated to the chemical industry and recyclable materials.
The director of the ALBA Synchrotron, Caterina Biscari, was in charge of opening the event, giving a brief description of the current situation and the future upgrade of the facility, which will bring even better services.
The technical talks began with the Head of the ALBA Industrial Office, Alejandro Sánchez, who explained what a synchrotron is and what it is used for. After, different talks given by ALBA beamline scientists showed the advantages synchrotron techniques bring to the industry; and industry experts from companies presented their latest research and developments, with a focus on practical applications and potential solutions to current industry challenges.
Bernd Hinrichsen, Manager research at BASF showed in particular how synchrotron science can help the industry of renewables and battery materials research; Teresa Puig, Head of the superconducting materials department of ICMAB-CSIC, explained in detail the optimization of superconducting tapes manufacturing using synchrotron light techniques in a collaboration with Sumitomo; and Magnus Fredriksson, Program Manager at ALFA LAVAL, gave examples of experiments carried out at MAX IV by his company that enabled to perform ground-breaking material findings. Finally, Kang Wei Chou, Technical manager at HENKEL and an experienced ALBA collaborator, described its research towards new smart adhesives using synchrotron light sources.
For ALBA’s part, beamline scientist Catalin Popescu (MSPD) explained nanostructural studies into chemical and recyclable materials carried out by powder X-ray diffraction. Vlad Martin-Diaconescu (CLAESS) talked about X-ray absorption spectroscopy applications to green chemistry and sustainability and Eduardo Solano (NCD-SWEET) explained in detail the potential of the X-ray scattering beamline for the 7Rs of the circular economy.
Before visiting the facilities, the attendees were able to learn in detail from the ALBA Industrial Liaison Office scientists, the ALBA portfolio of services for industry, how to access to them and finally, the funding opportunities for industries available in ReMade@ARI project.
During the visit, the attendees had the opportunity to learn about the general operation of ALBA and the beamlines. The event ended with a lively lunch-networking with all the participants where there was an opportunity to establish the first contacts and resolve doubts.
The ALBA Synchrotron Industrial Office periodically organizes this type of workshops addressed to different industrial sectors. ALBA has been hosting experiments with companies since the beginning of operations in 2012. It has provided services to more than 75 different companies, from sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, cement, advanced materials, nanotechnology or nanoelectronics, among others.
Further information about ALBA Industrial Liaison Office
Contact: industrialoffice@cells.es
From left to right: Caterina Biscari, Bernd Hinrichsen, Teresa Puig, Magnus Fredriksson, Núria Valls and Alejandro Sánchez (Industrial Liaison Office).
With the collaboration of Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología. The ALBA Synchrotron is part of the of the Unidades de Cultura Científica y de la Innovación (UCC+i) of the FECYT and has received support through the FCT-21-17088 project.
