Services and research opportunities

The PyroProbe system is a pyrolysis system equipped with an autosampler. It is connected to a custom-made catalyst carousel placed in an oven. By means of the autosampler and the catalyst carousel it is possible to screen different feedstocks (biomass, plastics, and combinations), catalysts, and various combinations of the two in an efficient way. The setup can perform non-catalytic and catalytic pyrolysis. The PyroProbe and catalytic systems are connected to a valve system, which is connected to a GC-MS/FID system. The latter provides immediate analysis of the pyrolysis or product vapours produced in the catalytic pyrolysis process. This ensures quantification and identification of the produced vapours.

The high efficiency of this setup provides the possibility to give a better analysis of the provided feedstock. A thorough assessment can be made of feedstock, catalyst, and process conditions due to the autosampler, catalyst carousel, and the independent control of the process conditions (pyrolysis and catalytic upgrading). The results of such an assessment form the foundation for further assessment on the next scale: the gram scale unit (GSU).

The Frontier Lab Tandem μ-reactor is a well-suited piece of equipment able to perform the catalytic pyrolysis process on lab-scale. It can be split up into two parts, a pyrolysis, and a catalysis reactor. Both reactors are equipped with an oven of which the temperature can be controlled separately. The reactors are mounted onto a GC-MS/FID system, this way the produced vapours can be analysed both on quality and quantity. This setup also provides the possibility to perform non-catalytic experiments either by connecting the pyrolysis reactor directly to the GC-system, or by loading the catalytic reactor with inert material.

Furthermore, the pyrolysis reactor is equipped with a single shot sampler, which can be used for both solid and liquid samples. This micro reactor setup enables the screening of various plastic and biomass streams on lab-scale. The results of such a screening forms the foundation for further assessment on the next scale: the gram scale unit (GSU).

We consider it one of our most important tasks to gain as much information on our process as possible. Therefore, we perform the upscaling from micro-scale to pilot plant in multiple steps. The gram scale unit is the step in between the TMR/PyroProbe (microscale) and the Mini Plant (100 gram per hour, continuously).

The gram scale unit is a bench reactor with a fixed catalyst and feedstock bed. This unit consists of two reactors connected together: a pyrolysis reactor and a catalytic reactor. We typically process one gram of feedstock and use this setup to determine the mass balance of a certain catalyst-feedstock combination. A wide variety of feedstocks can be tested on the GSU setup: liquids, solids, plastics, biomass, and combinations of feedstocks.

The feedstock is placed in the pyrolysis reactor, which is then immersed in a hot sand bath. Pyrolysis of the feedstock produces pyrolysis vapours, which are transported to the catalytic reactor. The fixed-bed catalyst converts the pyrolysis vapours to the valuable BTX and other products.

The produced vapours are then condensed, sampled, and weighed. The non-condensable gases are sampled as well and can be analysed to assess the composition. Leftover solids are obtained from the pyrolysis reactor, are weighed, and can be analysed. Thus, this setup generates a complete mass balance for every measurement, which can be used to scale up towards the continuous gram scale: the Mini Plant. The big advantage of this unit is the production of a visible and tangible product from your feedstock, while still being at a relatively small scale.

The BioBTX MiniPlant (MPL) is a continuously operated bench scale pyrolysis setup. The setup is designed and constructed in-house, based on BioBTX’ engineering skills and experimental knowledge gained from the pilot plant.

The plant is designed to process in the range of 100 grams of feedstock per hour. The feedstock is inserted into the reactor system by a mechanism of finely tuned screw conveyors after which the feedstock is pyrolysed and converted to the desired products. The condensation section of the plant consists of various cooling steps which ensure the total condensation of the desired products. The system is also equipped with various possibilities to optimise the pyrolysis and aromatisation process.

The MiniPlant is equipped with various analysis possibilities, which yield a complete mass balance, product distribution and yield determination of a feedstock at various process conditions. The MiniPlant also allows production of significant product quantities for analysis (either by BioBTX or by the client).

The MiniPlant allows us to assess a wide variety of feedstocks (biomass, plastics, and combinations thereof), catalysts, and process conditions on a relevant and continuous scale. The MiniPlant was also designed for flexibility. This flexibility enables specifically tailored process conditions to a feedstock and/or catalyst, while also allowing easy and fast changes to the setup. Due to the good reproducibility and scalability of the BioBTX MiniPlant, optimalisations and assessments can be done before going to a larger scale: the BioBTX pilot plant.

The pilot plant is the largest research setup currently operational at BioBTX. The plant was constructed by Zeton B.V., a company experienced in building pilot plants. When delivered in the second quarter of 2018 it acted as proof that the BioBTX idea also works on a larger scale. The data gathered from the pilot plant is used for the design of the commercial plant and to confirm trends on smaller setups like the mini plant.

The pilot plant is constructed out of two frames. The first frame contains the pyrolysis section and the second frame the vapour upgrading reactor and condensation train. By dividing the pyrolysis and vapor upgrading section, we’re able to choose between a liquid and solid feed pyrolysis reactor. Both setups are designed to convert up to 10 kg/h of feedstock continuously.

In general, the feedstock is transported via several screws or a pump towards the first reactor where the feedstock is converted to pyrolysis vapour. The vapours exiting the reactor are cleaned in several steps to remove inert materials and subsequently fed towards the second reactor where the magic of BioBTX takes place: the conversion towards aromatic compounds, focused on BTX. The gas from the second reactor contains a wide range of products and is condensed in several steps. An extensive condensation train is installed at the pilot plant to allow a high degree of product isolation.

The full array of products; liquids, gaseous, and solids, can be obtained from the pilot plant. This allows for extensive analysis of the products and facilitates the design of a full-scale production facility based on the BioBTX ICCP technology. The BioBTX pilot plant produces products on a relevant scale for industrial partners, who can test the litres of liquid product in their own smaller scale units. This enables assessment of the whole process by BioBTX and the client. The pilot plant is at the moment our last stop to scale-up the process of converting a biomass, waste plastic, or combination thereof feedstock towards a commercial scale for the production of BTX.