The Natural Resources and Renewable Energies Laboratory is one of the founding research units of Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute at the Center of Research and Technology-Hellas, located in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. MISSION Operating since 1985 under the direction of Prof. Anastasios J. Karabelas, the diachronic goal of NRRE is to develop processes and tools for the sustainable utilization/management of natural resources and energy. In recent decades, the NRRE Laboratory has focused on R&D regarding sustainable purification of water and treatment/management of effluents, with emphasis on agro-industrial byproducts and waste streams; an additional target is the utilization/production of renewable energies. Through development of innovative processes, the valorization of such effluents/wastes (considered resources) is pursued in tandem with pollution abatement for environmental and human health protection. Collaboration with industry, and special services to other stakeholders, is a prime objective in these activities. Advanced training is also provided and post-graduate research is performed in collaboration with Universities in Greece and abroad. CURRENT R&D ACTIVITIES With core expertise in membrane technology, the NRRE Lab is active along the following directions, towards the development of advanced membrane processes and hybrids thereof. -Advanced and established membrane separation processes (i.e., RO, NF, UF, MD/Membrane-Distillation, FO/Forward-Osmosis, etc.) for various applications (i.e., water desalination/treatment, haemo-filtration) -Advanced chemical/photochemical oxidation and electrochemical technologies (e.g., TiO2/UV, H2O2/UV-C, electro-Fenton, photo(electro)-Fenton, BDD anodic oxidation) -Advanced biotechnological processes for various applications, including production and purification of both bulk bio-based chemicals and high-value niche products -Development of hybrid technologies, involving the above types of processes
