From gram to kilo : equipment development in the first step out of the lab. Mark Gronnow, Microwave Commercialisation Club, 26 th April 2018

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1 From gram to kilo : equipment development in the first step out of the lab Mark Gronnow, Microwave Commercialisation Club, 26 th April

2 About the BDC The BDC is an openaccess scale-up R&D centre providing partners with innovative ideas to convert plants, microbes and biowastes into high-value products. Our vision is a world where the economy is a bioeconomy. 2

3 What makes us different? With both biologists and chemists, the BDC team offers a unique combination of multi-disciplinary expertise coupled with state-of-the-art pilot-scale processing capabilities in one coordinated centre. and access to academic researchers across the University of York 3

4 Biorenewables R,D & D BDC helps to bridge the gap between academia and industry in the research, development and demonstration of bio-based innovations: Development Demonstration SMEs & Multinationals Process and product development Pilot facilities Scale up and demonstration Research Universities Feedstock, process and product research & discovery 4

5 What does this mean in practice? 350+ Bio-based projects since 2012 >200 separate clients (SMEs, researchers & multinationals) 5

6 BDC facilities 6

7 Microwaves our history 7

8 Headlines >10 years history Two patent applications 1 granted >30 Papers published >40 biomass systems and model compounds 6 Government funded projects >30 companies expressed interest Scale up Mechanistic understanding 8

9 Microwave Treatment of Biomass Biomass Extracted oil Microwave processor Pyrolysis Oil Energy Low Temperature Char Wide range of feedstocks Flexibility of Microwave Parameters (time, temperature, power) + = Wide range of products The preparation of high-grade bio-oils through the controlled, low temperature microwave activation of wheat straw. Bioresource Technology (2009) 100(23),

10 Temperature 10

11 Temperature measurement 11

12 Temperature measurement Polymer Melting Point Melting point of polypropylene- 171 o C (see DSC trace) In our MW experiment polypropylene melted at 167 o C 12

13 Pyrolysis Demonstrator 13

14 Semi-scale microwave trials(30 kg/h) 12 trials 5 types of biomass Temperature range C 14

15 Semi-scale microwave trials(30 kg/h) 1.5 of oil 18 kg of wheat straw = 6.7 kg of char of oil 15

16 Continuous Processor Development 16

17 Oil Fractionation - Wood Fraction Temperature ( o C)

18 Hydrothermal work 18

19 Microwave Assisted Cellulose Hydrolysis Sugars yield was twenty-fold in the presence of microwave irradiation Direct microwave-assisted hydrothermal depolymerization of cellulose, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 135 (32), 2013,

20 Mechanism of Cellulose Hydrolysis Shorter holding time offers selectivity 20

21 Waste Paper Biorefinery High selectivity toward glucose. Repeated MW hydrolysis of solid produces up to 40% of sugars yield. Chemical Engineering and Processing, 2013, DOI

22 Hydrothermal Demonstrator 22

23 Hydrothermal Demonstrator System 23

24 24

25 Current Users 25

26 High-value chemicals from orange peel Microwave treatment of orange peel to develop flavours, fragrances and materials 26

27 Novel Technology Development Support With thanks to our funders: Feasibility and Development of a Microwave Technology as an AD pre-treatment 27

28 Aquaenviro Smart Award Based on increased methane production (340%) and reduced retention time Turn poor, marginal, and currently unsuitable feedstocks into prime AD substrate Potential for technology to be retrofitted 28

29 Saccharification for Fermentation Integrated Energy Efficient Microwave and Unique Fermentation Processes for Pilot Scale Production of High Value Chemicals from Lignocellulosic Waste Funding With thanks to the funders: 29

30 Lessons Learned in our Microwave Process Development It takes longer than you think Safety assessment is essential Every part, joint and material needs careful consideration Need reliable windows of operation Jump from batch to continuous is in fact a leap Experimental blips become big problems Everyone want cost estimate extrapolations But it s a rewarding challenge 30

31 Thank you With thanks to our funders 31