New/Improved reactors for sustainable processes
An important part of the process intensification for chemical industry is the development of new, more efficient reactors as those described in program 3 (plasma, electrical, photo), but also including the transition from batch to continuous flow processes and reaction/separation integration, for the production of high value (bulk or fine) chemicals. The impact of electrification on reactor design, not only (photo)-electrochemistry and (photo)-electrocatalysis but also resistively and inductively-heated reactors, and the development of new reactor and process design using non-conventional energy sources (e.g. plasma-created by electrical energy as energy input, microwave, centrifugal and ultrasound), is a focus point of Europe. This program is focusing on new reactor designs for several emerging technologies used by the consortium and is closely linked to the valorization program 3 (sustainable processes). Lab-scale reactors for the different applications are developed and fine-tuned in-house to ultimately improve their energy efficiency and durability as a first step towards potential application in industry. These can then be further up-scaled in the lab and/or in collaboration between industry and the consortium.