The performances of an innovative material based on graphene multilayers in a 3D structure similar to expanded graphite, Grafysorber® G+ (Directa Plus), have been tested via in field applications on a real contaminated site. Several experimental tests were performed using Grafysorber® inside adsorbent devices (booms and pillows) to treat waters polluted by oil. The experimental campaign was carried out with the aim of comparing the performances of Grafysorber® with those of polypropylene (PP), which is the material used worldwide in case of water oil spill clean-up activities. The results achieved have confirmed a considerably higher selective adsorption capacity of Grafysorber® compared to PP, and configure the new material as a promising alternative to standard materials in enhancing oil spill remediation by selective adsorption.

IGCC power plants seem to represent one of the most appealing options to produce electric energy from coal and low grade\ud solid fuels with interesting plant efficiency and low environmental impact. As a matter of fact the majority of gasification-based\ud power plants are equipped with oxygen-blown gasifiers which have two main advantages with respect to air-blown reactors: high\ud values of cold gas efficiency and an N2 deprived syngas. The aim of this paper is to compare two different oxygen production\ud technologies for oxidant supply to the gasification island. An IGCC power plant with pre-combustion CO2 capture has been modelled\ud considering: (i) a cryogenic distillation ASU based on a pumped liquid oxygen cycle; (ii) an innovative OTM-based oxygen\ud production technology integrated in the power island. An overall heat and material balance has been estimated to evaluate plant\ud performances and compare the two options; our thermodynamic analysis shows a promising improvement of the overall plant\ud performance for the OTM-based IGCC nonetheless several key issues deserve a more in depth analysis to asses the real potentialities\ud of membrane-based oxygen production technology

Hydrogen technology is becoming ever more relevant because hydrogen use can help in containing greenhouse gas emission if CO2 capture and storage technologies are implemented in the hydrogen production pathway (when hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels). This work aims at carrying out a comparative analysis of possible energy scenarios in urban districts. A medium-small Italian city is considered as a reference case, and its energy consumption both for domestic and industrial use is evaluated. The current situation in which conventional technologies meet the energy needs is compared with a hypothetical scenario where hydrogen is largely used. Two options of hydrogen production from commercially ready technologies are investigated: coal gasification and steam methane reforming, as well as hydrogen use in advanced energy systems for transports and for thermal and electric energy generations. Also, the environmental impacts are evaluated. This study is particularly focused on greenhouse gas emissions with specific reference to carbon dioxide. The final goal is to define an alternative scenario, quantifying the energy needs and the relative environmental impacts in order to obtain quantitative information on the environmental benefits of the hydrogen scenario, as well as to identify its possible structural and functional criticalities.