Chemical processes

The range of services extends from representing the process parameters on the laboratory and technical scale by way of the simulation and modeling of the processes and reactor units through to pilot plant scale. Highly sophisticated reactions can be realized under high pressures (350 bar) and temperatures (up to 500°C) with the equipment and process technology installed. The following examples should be mentioned: gas phase reactions with hydrogen, oxygen or ammoniac as well as reactions in the presence of fammable substances, in a strongly alkaline or acidic medium or in the near- and overcritical aqueous phase.

Together with our project partners and with the help of modern simulation software (CHEMCAD) the processes we develop are evaluated as regards their energy and resource efficiency; the further development of processes is therefore facilitated in an efficient way. The piloting of the processes also permits the manufacture of relevant product quantities, for example for sampling purposes or the validation of the material flows for subsequent process steps.  

With the equipment available at the Fraunhofer CBP we can represent a variety of established types of reactions and conversions in the gas or liquid phase, but we can also realize them with solids. Here the main emphasis is on catalytic reactions for the (de-)functionalization of biogenic raw materials. Before pilot testing on the 0.1 – 10 liter scale, feasibility studies can be carried out or the required synthesis stage can be modified accordingly.

Continuous and discontinuous reactors are used for scale-up to the technical and pilot scale in order to demonstrate conversions in the kilogram to the metric tonne range. These reactors are designed in accordance with ATEX specifications (Zone 2).

Special mention should be made of: 

• Stirred tank reactors for discontinuous reactions under atmospheric conditions with a capacity of 1, 10 and 100 liters 
• Stirred reactors to represent pressure reactions up to 200 bar at 300°C with a capacity of 0.3, 1.2 and 50 liters, suitable for homogeneously and heterogeneously catalyzed reactions in the gas and liquid phase 
• Flow tube reactors with a fow rate of 5 – 20 kg educt / h for hydrothermal conversions in the gas or compressed phase

The equipment also include various instruments for the analysis of the material flows such as GC (gas chromatography), HPLC (high-pressure liquid chromatography), MS (mass spectroscopy), GPC (gel permeation chromatography) or UV / VIS spectroscopy, which are also used online for reaction monitoring.