The zinc oxide obtained will fit the requirements for its validation in two industrial sectors, although results will be able to be extrapolated to other manufacturing sectors of chemical and industrial products.

1. Rubber / EVA transformation

The use of the ZnO achieved in the pilot plant will allow the obtention of final products with better properties than the current one in terms of a balanced quality-cost relationship.
ZnO is an excellent activator of the vulcanisation process and reacts with most of the accelerators to form a very active zinc complex. ZnO improves the cross-linking efficacy and the properties of the vulcanisation.
In the manufacture of expanded EVA plates, ZnO is a compound that acts as an activator of the EVA acceleration system using azo-dicarbonamida. ZnO reduces the breakdown temperature of the pure azo-dicarbonamida, which is really important in this process.

2. Chemical Catalysis

Chemical industry employs ZnO in 90 % of the catalytic processes. In the scope of the project, ZnO will fit the requirements and will be used as a support for catalysers in the reform of bio-ethanol to obtain bio-hydrogen.
To do this, the most relevant physical-chemical properties directly related to the catalytic activity will be previously and deeply analysed.
It could be expected that modifications in the parameters that control the global process of production of ZnO lead to obtaining ZnO with different physical-chemical properties. The versatility of the process in this aspect would be very interesting as it would allow to prepare ZnO with the relevant characteristics for the synthesis of efficient catalysers in the production of hydrogen from bio-ethanol and ethanolic waste. Once the different batches of ZnO are charactherised, we will proceed to the reform of the catalyser.

3. Others

90 % of the industry of manufacture of chemicals products and more than 20 % of all the industrial products use ZnO.
With the previous demonstrators, manufacturers will be able to value the reach and advantages of the used derivative (ZnO valorised) and will serve as starting point for new ideas and self-designs in the implied sectors and others using recycled ZnO with improved catalytic properties. Among others, the cosmetic, ceramics, pharmaceutics, agro-food and painting industries can be mentioned.