RECAT Technologies

Reactor Engineering and Catalytic Technologies Inc.

77 Rollingwood Circle, London, Ontario, CANADA N6G 1R1, (519) 657-2329 Web: www.recattechnologies.com Email: info@recattechnologies.com

CREC Riser Simulator The CREC Riser Simulator, commercialized under exclusive license to Recat Technologies, is a batch reactor that closely reproduces reaction conditions of industrial continuous “riser” and “downer” units allowing cost effective and breakthrough research and development of new catalytic processes including,

o Catalytic cracking o Steam and dry methane reforming o Gasoline desulphurization o Catalytic gasification of biomass o Methane oxidative coupling

The Riser Simulator’s unique design allows for instantaneous feeding of reactants and removal of products. The centrally located mixing system provides high gas recirculation keeping the catalysts under intense fluidization between two porous grids. Typically, in the CREC Riser Simulator, 1 gram of catalyst is contacted with 0.15 grams of feedstock load under user specified pressure, temperature, reaction time, and catalyst to reactant ratio. The Riser Simulator has a total capacity of 45 ml.

Competing Technologies Fluidized catalyst development is currently done using two main approaches,

Bench Scale Though laboratory scale units require small amounts of catalyst (100mg to 1gr.) and often require only one operator, these units do not accurately mimic conditions of industrial scale reactors. This leads to inaccurate catalyst test results both in terms of feedstock conversion and product selectivity.

Large Scale Pilot plant/demonstration units are used to test large amounts of catalyst (10 to 100 Kg.). These units are able to reproduce industrial scale reactor conditions, however, they are quite expensive to purchase and operate. A team of operators is also required to run and supervise these units (often around the clock). Since these units are designed with a specific process in mind, they are inherently limited, making it difficult to test a broad range of process conditions for a given catalyst.

The CREC Riser Simulator directly addresses these shortcomings by allowing flexible catalyst bench scale testing. Unit operation is safe and simple and requires only one trained operator. The CREC Riser Simulator is able to accurately mimic desired conditions or can be used to explore the full range of process parameters (temperature, pressure, contact time, catalyst loading) needed for true catalyst testing and kinetic modeling.

Technical Benefits The Riser Simulator’s unique design makes it suitable for,

Catalyst Evaluation/Development Since the CREC Riser Simulator uses small quantities of catalyst, the experimental procedure and the related catalyst synthesis are significantly simplified. Operating under conditions that mimic industrial operation, the CREC Riser Simulator allows a rapid turn around of catalyst samples, helping to focus experimentation and development of new catalysts.

Kinetic Modeling and Catalyst Characterization Operating conditions such as pressure, temperature and reactant partial pressure can

RECAT Technologies

Reactor Engineering and Catalytic Technologies Inc.

77 Rollingwood Circle, London, Ontario, CANADA N6G 1R1, (519) 657-2329 Web: www.recattechnologies.com Email: info@recattechnologies.com

be changed in broad ranges allowing accurate kinetic parameters estimation and kinetic modeling. Using the CREC Riser Simulator, all physicochemical parameters such as adsorption, diffusion and reaction can be accounted for. This represents a major advantage over competing units. Experiments can be developed with mass balances closing at the 95-105% range.

Large Scale Catalytic Reactor Simulation The kinetic rate equations developed in the context of systematic runs in the CREC Riser Simulator can be easily implemented in commercial or custom reactor modeling software. This permits a rapid evaluation of catalytic processes and catalytic reactor designs.

Financial Benefits New catalysts can be fully investigated at less than one tenth the cost of competing pilot plant units. This includes savings due to both reduced operating costs (eg. Catalyst testing requires only small catalyst samples, small amounts of reactants, and a single trained operator) and reduced capital investment. New catalysts can be characterized quickly and efficiently by multiple runs in the CREC Riser Simulator: rate equations can be established in around a week, providing the needed support for patent applications.

User Support Recat Technologies Inc. supports the CREC Riser Simulator users by, o Providing training following unit delivery o Developing heterogeneous reactions models

(adsorption, reaction) o Collaborating in kinetic modeling o Consulting on industrial scale simulation

o Communicating new advances to users o Implementing upgrades and improvements

Impact The CREC Riser Simulator has been successfully used in many research programs developed in collaboration with industrial companies, governmental agencies, and universities throughout the world. Units have been manufactured for a number of institutions and are currently in use in their laboratories.

About Recat Technologies Founded in 2003, RECAT Technologies Inc., is a University of Western Ontario (UWO) affiliated spin-off specializing in the development and commercialization of innovative Reactor Engineering and Catalytic [RECAT] Technologies. RECAT's founder and President Dr. Hugo de Lasa, is a distinguished researcher and engineer whose contributions to the field of chemical engineering have gained him international recognition. The CREC Riser Simulator was invented and developed by Dr. de Lasa at the UWO ‘s Chemical Reactor Engineering Centre.

Dr. Hugo de Lasa, President RECAT Technologies Inc. with

the CREC Riser Simulator