SRC opened a Catalyst Development and Testing Laboratory in 2009 to complement the gasification technology development.
SRC has developed a proprietary catalyst to produce ethanol economically from syngas. This catalyst is one of several being developed or tested to more efficiently convert biomass residues into second-generation ethanol, Fisher-Tropsch liquids and chemicals or other products.
Clients are using the facility to develop catalysts with enhanced activity and lifespan to create more economical ways of producing Fisher-Tropsch liquids and associated co-products.
SRC focuses on developing and testing catalysts that exhibit superior performance when operating with low energy density biomass-derived synthesis gas feedstock.
SRC subjected the experimental equipment, procedures, results, analysis and characterizations produced from the processes in the new laboratory to rigorous third-party verification to ensure their validity for our clients.
Equipment
Catalytic Reactor Systems
- 1 Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor
- 2 Fixed Bed Reactors
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Fixed Bed Reactor |
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- Its 1L tank is equipped with magna drive overhead stirrer.
- Synthesis gas (syngas) feeds into the reactor through a set of independent mass flow controllers.
- Dual knockout pot system. Hot pot collects high boiling point compounds. Cold pot collects low boiling point compounds.
- Non-condensable gases consisting of unreacted syngas, methane, carbon dioxide and other volatile short-chain hydrocarbons (alkanes and alkenes) pass through a vent line to atmosphere.
- Pressure ranges up to 65 bar (943 psi)
- Temperature up to 350°C
- Cascade temperature control
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- L: 30 cm
- ID: 1.7 cm
- Heating zone: 16 cm
- Catalyst volume: 36 cm³
- 3-zone furnace
- Multi-point thermocouple
- Cascade temperature control
- Syngas fed into reactor through a set of independent mass flow controllers.
- Single and dual knock-out pot system.
- Dedicated reactors for sour gas service.
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Online Gas Chromatographs
- The Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD) gas chromatograph is used to evaluate catalyst activity.
- The Flame Ionization Detector (FID) gas chromatograph analyzes hydrocarbon products generated during catalytic reactions. FID data are use to evaluate catalyst selectivity.
General contact: bioprocessing@src.sk.ca
