Biorenewables Development Centre
The Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence promotes the application of green and sustainable technologies, particularly those that can be used to deliver products that meet consumer and legislation requirements. We recognise that the demonstration of technologies at scale is crucial to attracting industrial interest and inward investment. Furthermore, we believe the integration of green chemistry with white biotechnology and pre-treatment technology such as the well-established densification and novel ammonia fibre expansion.Opened in 2011, the expanded scale up facility at the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) will serve as a concept biorefinery. The team at the Green Chemistry Centre have proven microwave pyrolysis, natural solvent extraction and Starbons® technology at scales from grams to tens of kilograms. Bases at the York Science Park, adjacent to the current campus, the BDC is a multi-functional space allowing work to be carried out using semi-scale equipment for microwave pyrolysis, supercritical CO2 extraction, ammonia fibre expansion and fermentation alongside all the necessary pre-treatment apparatus.
The facility enables us to:
- Conduct world leading research on the valorisation of biomass wastes.
- Optimize process conditions for the preparation of materials, liquid fuel (intermediate), solid fuel and chemical products.
- Develop and improve design of biorefinery processingf equipment developed within the Green Chemistry Centre.
- Prove processes in continuous mode and generate multi kilogram quantities of products.
- Produce products and intermediates for testing and further work with industry and in collaboration with external organisations
- Link clean chemical technologies to gain maximum value from biomass waste.
