News with ITQ

hte and Instituto de Tecnología Química announce successful commercialization of Micro Downflow Unit for FCC Catalyst Testing

HEIDELBERG, Germany [March 12, 2018]

hte – the high throughput experimentation company and Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ) in Valencia, Spain, a joint research center of the Universitat Politècnica de València and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, have entered the stage of commercializing micro downflow technology for testing fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts. This new technology is cost-efficient as only small amounts of catalysts and feeds are required. It offers an entrained catalyst flow concept, flexible handling of feedstocks, and operation under typical pressures for FCC.  

In 2013, hte and ITQ signed a joint agreement for developing a new lab-scale technology in the field of FCC catalyst testing. The parties are proud to announce that after several years of development the micro downflow technology has now reached its commercialization stage.

The micro downflow unit (MDU) offers an entrained catalyst flow reactor system analogous to commercial fluid catalyst cracking units (FCCUs). It can be operated within a wide range of process conditions, including elevated pressures which are typical for FCCUs. The unit is fully automated and cost-efficient as only small amounts of catalysts and feeds are required. Processability of a broad range of feedstocks has been demonstrated, ranging from naphtha and vacuum gas oil to residue feeds and crude oils. It includes the latest software solution myhte™ for integrating, storing, retrieving, analyzing, and visualizing data.

“We selected hte for this task of commercialization because of its long-term reputation as technology leader in the market and its fundamental understanding of the FCC process,” says Avelino Corma, Professor at ITQ.

“We are excited about opening our technology to the market.” Wolfram Stichert, CEO at hte, comments: “We are confident that this technology significantly reduces the costs for FCC catalyst testing for refiners. We will offer this technology to our customers within our R&D Solutions business at our site in Heidelberg.”

About hte
At hte – the high throughput experimentation company, we make R&D in the area of catalysis faster and more productive. We enable cost-effective innovations and reduced time to market for new products, thereby allowing our customers in the energy & refining, chemical & petrochemical, and environmental industry to keep ahead of the competition. Our technology and services comprise: 

  • R&D Solutions: highly efficient contract research programs at hte’s state-of-the-art laboratories in Heidelberg, Germany 
  • Technology Solutions: integrated hardware and software solutions, enabling our customers to establish high throughput workflows in their own laboratories. 

Our customers benefit from a broad technical and scientific expertise, an exceptional customer orientation, complete end-to-end solutions, and an outstanding data quality. Our close ties with BASF guarantee long-term orientation and stability. 

Contact Business Development
hte GmbH 

Dr. Sascha Vukojevic
Senior Business Development Manager 
Kurpfalzring 104, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany 
T: +49 (0) 6221 7497 154
F: +49 (0) 6221 7497 134
sascha.vukojevichte-company.de

Contact for Press 
hte GmbH

Violetta Kohler 
Marketing & Communications 
Kurpfalzring 104, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany 
T: +49 (0) 6221 7497 290 
F: +49 (0) 6221 7497 134 
violetta.kohlerhte-company.de

About the Instituto de Tecnología Química
The Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ) is a joint research center created in 1990 by the Universitat Politècnica de València and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. ITQ is an international reference center in the area of catalysis and new materials (especially zeolites) and also in photochemistry. Due to its excellent fundamental and oriented research level and its multidisciplinary character, ITQ has the possibility to develop research in different disciplines having an extraordinary flexibility and capability to adapt itself to new research challenges.  

Contact Universitat Politècnica de València 
Luis Zurano Conches
Universitat Politècnica de València
Camí de Vera, s/n 46022 VALÈNCIA
Cell phone +34 647422347
cienciaupv.es
www.upv.es 

Contact Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Javier Martín López
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Delegación en la Comunidad Valenciana
Casa de la ciencia
Tel: +34 96 362 27 57
Cell phone +34 669 32 99 30
jmartindicv.csic.es
www.dicv.csic.es