Politecnico di Torino (POLITO)

The Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT) focuses on research and education involving the fundamental principles of matter and energy, their transformation and related engineering applications, through a wide, complementary range of disciplines: physics, nanotechnology, chemistry, materials science, metallurgy, chemical, physical and materials engineering spanning from conception of new processes, to development of new chemical reactors and process units by modelling and experimental tools.

POLITO will develop and optimize, via experimental and model analyses, the CaCO₃ precipitation process (Prof. Bensaid). The in vitro nanotoxicity of the CaCO₃ particles produced will be assessed in the departmental biology labs. The exploitation of CO₂ will be also be investigated via electrochemical routes (Proff. Gerbaldi, Bella, Hernandez) for the production of higher added value products.POLITO will characterize the properties and effects of all the cement additives: the group of DISEG led by Prof. Ferro deals with the mechanical characterization of cement-based composites, in particular by investigating the properties of fracture energy and durability. Within this research group, Dr. Restuccia will be in charge of optimizing the CaCO₃ particles size distribution of the particles within the cement-based composites. POLITO will also investigate the exploitation of calcium carbonate as a component for polymer composites, by Prof. Fina. POLITO will be active for the modelling and experimental evaluation of the performance of all the additives developed in RECODE, by leading the LCA and REACH studies of the project (prof. Ferro). POLITO will also take part in the studies on the scenarios for the implementation of the CO₂ conversion platforms throughout Europe as well as studies on the possible integration of the project concept with the production of different added-value chemicals compared to those targeted in RECODE. POLITO will finally take part in the training and dissemination activities.