Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) was established through the merger of the Research Centre Karlsruhe and Karlsruhe University (TH) in 2009. KIT combines the tasks of a university of the state of Baden-Württemberg with those of a Research Centre of the Helmholtz Association in the areas of research, teaching, and innovation. With about 9,400 employees and close to 25,000 students, KIT is one of the big institutions of research and higher education in natural sciences and engineering in Europe.  At KIT, various biomass conversion processes are researched and developed to produce energy carriers and basic chemicals. The focus is on the thermochemical process pyrolysis, solvolysis, combustion and gasification. In addition to biotechnological processes (LBT) holistic concepts for the use of microalgae are also being developed associated by overall cost, life cycle and social assessment. KIT built and operates the 2-5 MW bioliq® pilot plant for synthetic fuel production from biomass residues.

The mission of the Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT) is to bridge the gap between fundamental and applied research and the development of new technologies and products in the field of catalysis and process technology of catalyzed processes. The focus of the work is the sustainable utilization of alternative carbon feedstocks and their conversion into energy carriers intermediates. This includes the development of new catalytic systems based on a fundamental understanding of processes on a molecular level.

At IKFT, specifically, processes for direct thermal liquefaction of biomass are developed including  fast pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction and hydrosolvolysis in the department of Prof. Dahmen. Also, product conditioning and upgrading are investigated by different physical and chemical and catalytical methods.

Research Focus:

• Fast pyrolysis process development from lab to pilot scale
• Reactor modelling combining particle and fluid dynamics
• Thermodynamic modelling of multi-component bio-oil
• Hydrothermal liquefaction of lignin, lignocellulosic biomass and microalgae
• Hydrosolvolysis of lignin and lignocellulosic biomass
• Kinetic modelling of solvolytic lignin decomposition
• Catalytic upgrading of bio-oil and bio-crude

Rigs

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