Research
Thodoris' research interests include chemical reaction engineering and process intensification, targeting to the development of novel materials and processes for heavy industry decarbonisation, high-value chemicals production and energy storage. During his PhD thesis, Thodoris focused on the carbonate looping technology and its application for the decrease of the carbon footprint of cement manufacturing, the intensification of natural gas reforming for high-purity H2 production and the demonstration of integrated CO2 capture and utilization. His experimental work consisted of the synthesis of CO2 capture materials and oxygen carriers/catalysts and the in-depth investigation of their activity under fixed or fluidised bed reactor experiments. His work is complemented with detailed thermodynamic and exergy analysis, process design, technoeconomics and life-cycle assessment of intensified CO2 capture processes. In his current study as postdoctoral researcher, Thodoris focuses on redefining the Haber-Bosch process, the dominant pathway for ammonia production in the industry, through the principles of Process Intensification. Specifically, introducing an ammonia absorbent in the reactor would enable the in situ removal of generated ammonia, allowing for the system to attain high ammonia yields at milder operating conditions compared to the incumbent technology. Emphasis is given on investigating metal halides as absorbents for ammonia removal at low pressures, along with the study of their reaction mechanism and kinetics.
Biography
Thodoris is a chemical engineer that graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece in November 2018 with a GPA of 8.85 out of 10 (3rd in a class of 120 students). In December 2018, Thodoris started his Ph.D. at the Laboratory of Petrochemical Technology in the Department of Chemical Engineering of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, under the supervision of Prof. Angeliki A. Lemonidou, from where he graduated in November 2023 with distinction. Since January 2024, Thodoris has been working as a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology of the University of Cambridge, UK. So far his work has been published in 11 articles in peer-review journals and has been presented via numerous contributions in international conferences and symposia.
Publications
1. Papalas T., Lypiridis D., Antzaras, A.N., Lemonidou A.A., Experimental investigation of integrated CO2 capture and conversion to syngas via calcium looping coupled with dry reforming of CH4, Chem. Eng. J., 2024, 485, 149866 doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.149866
2. Papalas T., Antzaras A.N., Lemonidou A.A., Unravelling the role of Co in mixed Ni-Co oxygen carriers/catalysts for H2 production via sorption enhanced steam methane reforming coupled with chemical looping, Appl. Catal. B: Environ. Energy, 2024, 247, 123777 doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.123777
3. Papalas T., Palamas E., Antzaras A.N., Lemonidou A.A., Evaluating bimetallic Ni-Co oxygen carriers for their redox behavior and catalytic activity toward steam methane reforming, Fuel, 2024, 359, 130272 doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.130272
4. Antzaras A.N., Papalas T., Heracleous E., Kouris Ch., Techno-economic and environmental assessment of CO2 capture technologies in the cement industry, J. Clean. Prod., 2023, 428, 139330, doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139330
5. Papalas T., Polychronidis, I., Antzaras, A.N., Lemonidou A.A., Enhancing the intermediate Temperature CO2 capture efficiency of mineral MgO via molten alkali nitrates and CaCO3: Characterization and sorption mechanism, 2021, J. CO2 Util., 50, 101605, doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2021.101605
1. Papalas T., Antzaras A.N., Lemonidou A.A., Unveiling the dynamic CO2 capture performance of MgO promoted with molten salts and CaCO3 via fixed bed reactor experiments, React. Chem. Eng., 2025, Advance Article, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RE00432A
2. Papalas T., Antzaras A.N., Lemonidou A.A., Integrated CO2 capture and utilization by combining calcium looping with CH4 reforming processes: A thermodynamic and exergetic approach, Energy Fuel, 2024, 38 (13), 11966-11979 doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.4c01462
3. Papalas T., Antzaras, A.N., Lemonidou A.A., Magnesite-derived MgO promoted with molten salts and limestone as highly-efficient CO2 sorbent, 2021, J. CO2 Util., 53, 101725, doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2021.101725
4. Papalas T., Antzaras, A.N., Lemonidou A.A., Evaluation of calcium-based sorbents derived from natural ores and industrial wastes for high-temperature CO2 capture, Ind. & Eng. Chem. Res., 2020, 59(21), 9926-9938, doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.9b06834
5. Papalas T., Antzaras, A.N., Lemonidou A.A., Intensified steam methane reforming coupled with Ca-Ni looping in a dual fluidized bed reactor system: A conceptual design, Chem. Eng. J., 2020, 382, 122993, doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.122993
6. Darda S., Papalas T., Zabaniotou A., Biofuels journey in Europe: Currently the way to low carbon economy sustainability is still a challenge, J. Clean. Prod., 2019, 208, pp 575–588, doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.147
