Motivation

In recent decades, the generation of waste such as sewage sludge, lignin, and discarded textiles has increased significantly. The EU produces over 3 million tons of textile waste and more than 9 million tons of sludge annually. Current management methods, such as incineration and landfilling, increase pollution and perpetuate a linear model that wastes reusable resources.

In response, sustainable strategies are being promoted, focusing on optimizing thermochemical processes (gasification, pyrolysis, and hydrothermal treatment) to obtain high-value products from this waste. One of the most promising is hydrogen, a clean energy source that plays a key role in the energy transition, where efficient production and storage are essential.

However, traditional heating methods have limitations. Emerging technologies such as induction and microwaves improve efficiency, selectivity, and reaction times, although their application in thermochemical processes is still in the early stages. Therefore, the goal is to move toward more sustainable and efficient treatments.