Upgrading of biobased feedstock to chemicals and fuels

In many cases, bio-based materials have properties that differ significantly from the fossil raw materials for which refineries are built and optimised. RISE has both expertise and equipment to study how refinery processes are affected when various bio-based materials are introduced together with the fossil raw material. We also conduct research on fully bio-based feeds to refinery processes and how to integrate renewables into existing equipment and infrastructure.

The main focus in our research is various forms of catalytic hydroprocessing. Our capacity ranges from small-scale batch reactors, up to continuous mode campaigns that can produce tens of liters of product, and we can perform the tests at industrially relevant pressures and temperatures. We also have the expertise and equipment to thoroughly characterise feed, catalysts and products as well as expertise for assessment of industrial integration and techno-economic potential.

Questions that we at RISE can help answer include:

• What yield can you expect from a biobased feedstock to upgraded product?
  How does the biomass affect the composition of the final product?
  What process-related problems can arise?
  What impact do different process parameters have on the results?
  What will the cost be to scale up a process to various manufacturing scales?