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Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies ›Institute of Environmental Technology ›Science and research ›Research groups ›Industrial Chemistry

Industrial Chemistry

At the laboratory of thermochemical processes, the focus of our research is on the valorization of wastes by thermochemical treatment. We perform both fundamental and applied research. Our research can be divided in two main parts.

The first part deals with the processing of waste biomass with an aim to obtain products with a higher added value. We perform pyrolysis for the production of biochar, carbonization to produce activated carbon sorbents and torrefaction to obtain coal-like high-energy-density materials.

The second part of our research deals with the chemical recycling of waste plastics. Chemical recycling offers the possibility of transforming waste polymeric materials back to their original monomers or other valuable chemicals which can be used as feedstocks in chemical and petrochemical industries. At our laboratory, we carry out thermal and thermo-catalytic pyrolysis for the chemical recycling of waste plastics.

Last but not least, we deal with hydrogen production using the catalytic (dry and steam) reforming of waste gases emerging from thermochemical treatment of both biomass and waste plastics.

Research activities

  • Waste management and recycling of solid and liquid wastes.
  • Valorization of waste polymeric materials by thermal and thermo-catalytic treatment (Chemical Recycling).
  • Sorbent production from waste carbonaceous materials for the adsorption of pollutants in air and water.

Basic equipment

  • Batch pyrolysis reactor (max. volume: 10 dm3, max temperature: 800-850 °C).
  • Batch pyrolysis reactor (max. volume: 0.5 dm3, max. temperature 1000 °C).
  • Pilot scale continuous pyrolysis unit (max. feed rate: 2 kg/h)
  • Microwave reactor (power up to 1 kW).
  • One and two stage test rigs for thermo-catalytic pyrolysis.
  • Test rig for dry reforming of methane and/or pyrolysis vapors.
  • Plasma (Gliding Arc) process module for VOC removal.

Offered services

  • Material and energy balances for thermal treatment of biomass, general and hazardous wastes.
  • Analysis of gaseous and liquids products resulting from waste treatment.
  • Determination of water content by Karl Fischer titration.

Research team

Ing. Pavel Leštinský, Ph.D.
Dr.-Ing. Amer Inayat
Ing. Barbora Grycová, Ph.D.
Ing. Kateřina Klemencová, Ph.D.
Ing. Jana Vaštyl, Ph.D.
Ing. Jakub Korpas, Ph.D.
Ing. Jana Strakošová
Mgr. Rozálie Wdówková

Contact

Ing. Pavel Leštinský, Ph.D.
e-mail:
tel.: 00420 597 32 7330
mobil: 00420 608 917 261

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Publishing and scientific activity

Article

VALÁŠKOVÁ, Marta, Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ, Miroslava FILIP EDELMANNOVÁ, Jana MADEJOVÁ and Kamila KOČÍ. NiO/vermiculite composites prepared for photocatalytic degradation of methanol-water solution and hydrogen generation. Applied Clay Science. Shannon: Elsevier, 2024, 259(October), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 0169-1317. [Detail]
INAYAT, Amer, Alexandra INAYAT, Kateřina KLEMENCOVÁ, Wilhelm SCHWIEGER and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. Three-stage pyrolysis-catalytic dry reforming of waste polyolefins over MFI and Ni-MFI catalysts for BTEX and syngas production. Fuel. Elsevier, 2024, 371(1), p. 131975-131983. ISSN 0016-2361. [Detail]
SNOW, J., P. KURÁŇ, A. KAŠPÁREK, Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ and R. SUCHOPA. Virgin polymers via pyrolysis – A review of heteroatom removal options. Fuel Processing Technology. San Diego: Elsevier, 2024, 254(February 2024), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 0378-3820. [Detail]
GRAMS, Jacek, Marcin JEDRZEJCZYK, Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ, Kateřina KLEMENCOVÁ and Barbora GRYCOVÁ. Surface vs. bulk - how do the properties of Miscanthus rhizomes change when subjected to high temperature treatment?. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. New York: Elsevier Science, 2024, 183(106742), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 0165-2370. [Detail]
INAYAT, Amer, Alexandra INAYAT, Wilhelm SCHWIEGER, Kateřina KLEMENCOVÁ and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. Chemical Recycling of Waste Polypropylene via Thermocatalytic Pyrolysis over HZSM-5 Catalysts. Chemical Engineering and Technology. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 2023, 46(6), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 0930-7516. [Detail]
BURDOVÁ, H., Z. KWOCZYNSKI, D. NEBESKÁ, K.S.A. SOUKI, D. PILNAJ, Barbora GRYCOVÁ, Kateřina KLEMENCOVÁ, Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ, P. KURÁŇ and J. TRÖGL. The influence of diesel contaminated soil on Miscanthus x giganteus biomass thermal utilization and pyrolysis products composition. Journal of Cleaner Production. San Diego: Elsevier, 2023, 406(6), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 0959-6526. [Detail]
GRYCOVÁ, Barbora, Kateřina KLEMENCOVÁ, Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ, J. STEJSKAL, T. SÁHA, M. TRCHOVÁ and J. PROKEŠ. Conductivity of carbonized and activated leather waste. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. San Diego: Elsevier, 2023, 35(1), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 2352-5541. [Detail]
GRYCOVÁ, Barbora, Kateřina KLEMENCOVÁ, Lucie JEZERSKÁ, Martin ŽÍDEK and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. Effect of torrefaction on pellet quality parameters. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery. Vídeň: Springer, 2022, 1(1), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 2190-6815. [Detail]
KONONCHUK, Oleksandr, Valentina PIDLISNYUK, Aigerim MAMIROVA, Volodymyr KHOMENCHUK, Andriy HERTS, Barbora GRYCOVÁ, Kateřina KLEMENCOVÁ, Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ and Pavlo SHAPOVAL. Evaluation of the impact of varied biochars produced from M. x giganteus waste and application rate on the soil properties and physiological parameters of Spinacia oleracea L. Environmental Technology & Innovation. San Diego: Elsevier, 2022, 28(1), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 2352-1864. [Detail]
INAYAT, Amer, Alexandra INAYAT, Wilhelm SCHWIEGER, Barbora SOKOLOVÁ and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. Enhancing aromatics and olefins yields in thermo-catalytic pyrolysis of LDPE over zeolites: Role of staged catalysis and acid site density of HZSM-5. Fuel. Elsevier, 2022, 314(1), p. 123071. ISSN 0016-2361. [Detail]
VALÁŠKOVÁ, Marta, Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ, Lenka MATĚJOVÁ, Kateřina KLEMENCOVÁ, Michal RITZ, Christian SCHIMPF, Mykhailo MOTYLENKO, David RAFAJA and Jakub BĚLÍK. Hematites Precipitated in Alkaline Precursors: Comparison of Structural and Textural Properties for Methane Oxidation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. BASEL: MDPI Open Access Publishing, 2022, 23(15), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 1422-0067. [Detail]
INAYAT, Amer, Andrea FASOLINI, Francesco BASILE, Dagmar FRIDRICHOVÁ and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. Chemical recycling of waste polystyrene by thermo-catalytic pyrolysis: A description for different feedstocks, catalysts and operation modes. Polymer Degradation and Stability. San Diego: Elsevier, 2022, 201(July 2022), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 0141-3910. [Detail]
KLEMENCOVÁ, Kateřina, Barbora GRYCOVÁ and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. Influence of Miscanthus Rhizome Pyrolysis Operating Conditions on Products Properties. Sustainability. BASEL: MDPI Open Access Publishing, 2022, 14(10), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 2071-1050. [Detail]
VALÁŠKOVÁ, Marta, Lucie CHLEBÍKOVÁ and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles/vermiculite composites prepared for catalytic decomposition of polystyrene. Materials Today: Proceedings. Volume 37, Part 1. Elsevier, 2021, 93(37), p. 1-4. ISSN 2214-7853. [Detail]
VALÁŠKOVÁ, Marta, Jana MADEJOVÁ, Amer INAYAT, Lenka MATĚJOVÁ, Michal RITZ, Alexandr MARTAUS and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. Vermiculites from Brazil and Palabora: Structural changes upon heat treatment and influence on the depolymerization of polystyrene. Applied Clay Science. San Diego: Elsevier, 2020, 192(JUL 2020), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 0169-1317. [Detail]
GRYCOVÁ, Barbora, Adrian PRYSZCZ, S. KRZACK, M. KLINGER and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. Torrefaction of biomass pellets using the thermogravimetric analyser. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery. Vídeň: Springer, 2020, 1(1), p. 1-6. ISSN 2190-6815. [Detail]
LEŠTINSKÝ, Pavel, Zdeněk ZIKMUND, Barbora GRYCOVÁ, R. RYCZKOWSKI, J. GRAMS and Amer INAYAT. Production of hydrogen over Ni/carbonaceous catalyst. Fuel. San Diego: Elsevier, 2020, 278(1), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 0016-2361. [Detail]
INAYAT, Amer, Kateřina KLEMENCOVÁ, Barbora GRYCOVÁ, Barbora SOKOLOVÁ and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. Thermo-catalytic pyrolysis of polystyrene in batch and semi-batch reactors: A comparative study. Waste Management and Research. London: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2020, 1(1), p. nestránkováno. ISSN 0734-242X. [Detail]
GRYCOVÁ, Barbora, Adrian PRYSZCZ, Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ and Kateřina CHAMRÁDOVÁ. Influence of potassium hydroxide and method of carbonization treatment in garden and corn waste microwave pyrolysis. Biomass and Bioenergy. Oxford: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2018, 118(1), p. 40-45. ISSN 0961-9534. [Detail]
GRYCOVÁ, Barbora, Adrian PRYSZCZ, Lenka MATĚJOVÁ and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. Influence of activating reagents on the porous structure of activated carbon. Chemical Engineering Transactions. The Italian Association of Chemical Engineering, 2018, 70(1), p. 1897-1902. ISSN 2283-9216. [Detail]
LEŠTINSKÝ, Pavel, Barbora GRYCOVÁ and Adrian PRYSZCZ. Decomposition of toluene by using Low-temperature plasma discharge. Waste Forum. Praha: České ekologické manažerské centrum, 2018, 2(2), p. 183-189. ISSN 1804-0195. [Detail]
JECHA, D., Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ, V. BRUMMER and J. JÍCHA. The flue gas desulphurisation at the first stage of the absorber - O-element. Chemical Engineering Transactions. Italian Association of Chemical Engineering - AIDIC, 2017, 56(2017), p. 1909-1914. ISBN 9788895608471. [Detail]
LEŠTINSKÝ, Pavel, David JECHA, Vladimir BRUMMER and Petr STEHLIK. Wet flue gas desulphurization using a new O-element design. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy. Singapur: Springer, 2017, 19(2), p. 417-426. ISSN 1618-954X. [Detail]
GRYCOVÁ, Barbora, Adrian PRYSZCZ, Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ and Kateřina CHAMRÁDOVÁ. Preparation and characterization of sorbents from food waste. Green processing and synthesis. WALTER DE GRUYTER & CO, 2017, 6(3), p. 287-293. ISSN 2191-9542. [Detail]
LEŠTINSKÝ, Pavel, Barbora GRYCOVÁ, Adrian PRYSZCZ, Alexandr MARTAUS and Lenka MATĚJOVÁ. Hydrogen production from microwave catalytic pyrolysis of spruce sawdust. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. New York: Elsevier Science, 2017, 124(March), p. 175-179. ISSN 0165-2370. [Detail]
BRUMMER, Vladimír, Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ and David JECHA. Mathematical model of a pilot plant for VOC removal. Waste Forum. České ekologické manažerské centrum, 2017, 1(3), p. 188-198. ISSN 1804-0195. [Detail]
PRYSZCZ, Adrian, Barbora GRYCOVÁ and Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ. Gasification of the Tar Deposits. Waste Forum. České ekologické manažerské centrum, 2017, 2017(2), p. 77-82. ISSN 1804-0195. [Detail]
LEŠTINSKÝ, Pavel, Barbora GRYCOVÁ, Ivan KOUTNÍK and Adrian PRYSZCZ. Microwave pyrolysis of the spruce sawdust for producing high quality syngas. Chemical Engineering Transactions. Italian Association of Chemical Engineering - AIDIC, 2016, 52(1), p. 307-312. ISBN 9788895608426. [Detail]
LEŠTINSKÝ, Pavel and Marek VEČEŘ. The basic technologies of mass transfer and their progress in the field of upgrading biogas. Current Biochemical Engineering. Bentham Science Publishers, 2016, 3(3), p. 223-234. ISSN 2212-7119. [Detail]
LEŠTINSKÝ, Pavel and Aloy PALIT. Wood Pyrolysis using Aspen plus simulation and its Industrial Application. GeoScience Engineering. Vysoká škola báňská - Technická univerzita Ostrava, 2016, 62(1), p. 11-16. ISSN 1802-5420. [Detail]
BRUMMER, Vladimir, David JECHA, Pavel LEŠTINSKÝ, Pavel SKRYJA, Jiri GREGOR and Petr STEHLIK. The treatment of waste gas from fertilizer production - An industrial case study of long term removing particulate matter with a pilot unit. Powder technology. SAN DIEGO: Elsevier, 2016, 297(September 2016), p. 374-383. ISSN 0032-5910. [Detail]

Final work

2022/2023

Title Name of student Supervisor Type
Výroba aromátů a lehkých olefinů katalytickou pyrolýzou odpadních polyolefinů
(Production of aromatics and light olefins by catalytic pyrolysis of waste polyolefines) 		Taťána Barvíková Ing. Pavel Leštinský, Ph.D. Bachelors

2021/2022

Title Name of student Supervisor Type
Výroba vodíku reformováním uhlovodíků s CO2
(Hydrogen production by dry remorming of hydrocarbons) 		Ing. Jiří Hrbáč Ing. Pavel Leštinský, Ph.D. Bachelors

2019/2020

Title Name of student Supervisor Type
Výroba vodíku pomocí suchého reformování uhlovodíků
(Hydrogen production using dry reforming of hydrocarbons) 		Ing. Zdeněk Zikmund Ing. Pavel Leštinský, Ph.D. Masters

2018/2019

Title Name of student Supervisor Type
Recyklace odpadních polymerů pomocí termochemických a katalytických procesů
(Recycling of the waste polymers using thermochemical and catalytic processes) 		Ing. Denisa Čižíková Ing. Pavel Leštinský, Ph.D. Masters

2017/2018

Title Name of student Supervisor Type
Suché reformování uhlovodíků
(Dry reforming reactions of hydrocarbons) 		Ing. Zdeněk Zikmund Ing. Pavel Leštinský, Ph.D. Bachelors
Využití mikrovlnné pyrolýzy při zpracování odpadní biomasy
(Waste biomass treatment using the microwave pyrolysis) 		Ing. Kristýna Plánková Ing. Pavel Leštinský, Ph.D. Masters

2016/2017

Title Name of student Supervisor Type
Extrakce surového kaprolaktamu
(Extraction of a crude caprolactam) 		Ing. Jana Vaštyl Ing. Pavel Leštinský, Ph.D. Masters