Reaction and Process Design
- COILSIM1D: simulation and optimization software for steam cracking processes
- GCxGC analysis equipment for complex mixtures of feed/reaction products
- Bench scale units for kinetic experiments
- Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP) for puls-respons experiments
- Two high-throughput kinetics set-ups for catalyst testing
- Pyrolysis reactors for the thermochemical conversion of biomass
- Microreactor equipment
- CFD simulation tools
- Tools for exergetic sustainability and life-cycle assessments
Industrial Biotech
- Enzyme engineering: specialized software for protein modeling and docking (Yasara Structure)
- Automated screening platform: high-throughput robots for colony picking and for liquid handling; microplate reader
- Microbiology/molecular biology: PCR; electrophoresis; electroporation; laminar flow; bioreactors with shaking, T-control and data acquisition software; Bioscope Plug-flow reactor for rapid sampling experiments; Metabolic Flux Analysis Software (MFA); software for DNA and RNA analysis; …
- Purification/DSP (downstream processing): evaporators; (continuous) centrifuges; lyophilisator; …
- Product analysis: GC/HPLC with UV-VIS, IR, PAD, ELSD and MS detection
- Microbial electrochemistry: rotating disc electrode for probing kinetics of anaerobic microbial metabolism; membrane electrolysis materials such as a potensiostat, custom-made Perspex plate-and-frame reactor, ion exchange membranes, iridium oxide coated titanium anodes, variety of cathode materials
Advanced Materials
- Molecular characterization: structure elucidation with NMR, MALDI-TOF, on-line IR, GC- and LC-MS analysis, chiral HPLC, …
- Structural characterization: determination of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of polymers via SEC and 2D LC/SEC; microstructural and crystallographical analysis of powders and thin layers; texture analysis; …
- Behaviour of solutions via turbidimetry, light scattering, determination of particle size, viscosimetry, …
- Surface visualization and characterization: measurement of microscopic features and microstructures at nanoscale supported by optical microscopy, SEM, TEM, AFM, IR mapping, XRD, XPS; surface interaction via static and dynamic contact angle measurements; quartz crystal microbalance-coupled ellipsometry
- Thermal and mechanical analysis: study of thermal behaviour via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); study of mechanical behaviour via dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), rheology and materials testing equipment
The Pilot Steam Cracker
LCT disposes of a pilot plant unit for the thermal cracking of hydrocarbons, next to a number of bench-scale units. These experimental set-ups are used to determine the kinetics of the cracking reactions and of coke deposition in both the radiant coil and the transfer line exchanger (TLE). Fouling inhibition in reactor and TLE is also studied. Major advantage of the pilot unit is its extremely flexibility. A wide variety of hydrocarbons, ranging from gaseous feeds to waxes, can be handled. Moreover, the reactor design allows to obtain a broad range of process conditions. The pilot plant also offers the opportunity to industrial groups to test industrially important and/or new feeds, additives, coatings etc. in pilot plant experiments done by LCT personnel.
