University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD), Perpignan, France
PROMES laboratory brings together 160 people around a single unifying theme: the valorization of solar energy. Contributing to the priority area of "solar eco-technologies", the “Storage and solar chemistry” team is in line with a Process Engineering approach, by addressing the various issues at different scales, namely (1) development / characterization of materials (2) their integration into a process (3) modeling and simulations of operation in order to predict performance at other scales. In perfect harmony with the concepts of green chemistry and sustainable development, it finds numerous applications ranging from the treatment of industrial or urban waste to the rehabilitation of water. Gael Plantard, University Professor and member of the PROMES laboratory, conducts this research at the PROMES laboratory. His field of expertise covers materials, photoreactors and solar installations, with an experimental and modeling approach. His approach consists in designing photocatalytic materials that are adapted to the constraints of solar resources, and integrating them into photoreactors operating under perfectly controlled conditions (in terms of radiation and power supply conditions). The original idea is to develop and test reactors operating in steady state under dynamic irradiation conditions. The aim is to carry out experiments under real operating conditions (natural irradiations and effluents). Gael Plantard has coordinated numerous research projects and thesis work, and plays an active role in the laboratory's outreach. He is also an elected member of the Comity National Universities and the central councils of the University of Perpignan.