Engineering Process Intensification and Catalysis (EPIC)

Contact Us

daria-camilla.boffito@polymtl.ca

Facilities

AUTOMATIC TITRATOR (KARL FISCHER V30S)

The Karl Fischer analysis determines the water concentration in different types of samples. The detection range is 100 ppm to 100%.

For more information click here.

BALL-MILL (PBM-04) PLANETARY MICRONIZER (LAARMAN)

Adaptable to different batch sizes and to work both in dry and wet conditions. It micronizes samples of different hardness including plastics, biomass, and rocks (minerals).

MICROWAVE REACTOR (MONOWAVE 400 ANTON-PAAR)

The monowave 400 by Anton Paar is a very flexible microwave reactor both for chemical synthesis and destructive processes. Both temperature and power can be controlled and delivered steo-wise through the operating settings. The system is equipped with an integrated camera to image the reactor while microwave is applied. 

For more information click here.

 

ULTRASOUND PROCESSORS (130 W to 750 w) and ultrasound cells

The EPIC lab is equipped with a variety of ultrasound processors (20 and 30 kHz) of nominal powers ranging from 130 W to 750 W, with tunable amplitude.

A different set of ultrasound cells, for batch and continuous operations, allows us to tackle different applications with a targeted approach.

Selected applications: biomass depolymerization, biomass conversion, and functionalization, micronization, organic reactions, crystallization, extractions, emulsification, dispersions

Contact us to have more information on how ultrasound can provide you with solutions. 

DISPERSION ANALYZER (pda 3000 rank brothers ltd)

This dispersion analyzer monitors in continuous the degree of emulsification and the dispersion ability of different systems.

For more information, click here.

 

UV-VIS SPECTROPHOTOMETER (Evolution™ 300 THERMO-FISHER)

A very flexible tool to analyze quantitatively a variety of compounds in the liquid phase, as well as the number of solids in a suspension.

It performs quantitative measures of Absorbance, % Transmittance, % Reflectance, and Concentration.

It can be equipped with an integrating sphere accessory to measure scattering solids by reflectance and scattering solutions by transmittance. For more information, click here.

 

HYDROPHONE

This polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hydrophone is a piezoelectric device designed for high-frequency underwater measurements.

It consists of a needle coated with a thin layer of PVDF, which becomes piezoelectric when mechanically stretched, and converts pressure signals to electrical signals.

It can measure the acoustic pressure in different areas of a vessel. For more information, click here.

 

GAS CHROMATOGRAPH - FLAME IONIZATION DETECTOR (SCION 436 with autosampler)

We have expertise in chromatographic analyses to quantify the concentration of a variety of heavy and volatile compounds. The autosampler allows high throughput automated analyses.

For more information, click here.

X-RAY FLUORESCENCE SPECTROMETER (PANALYTICAL MALVERN, EPSILON 4)

Fast and accurate elemental analysis and composition. Each analysis takes only a few minutes. Fields of application (not exhaustive): mining and minerals, oils and fuels, polymers, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.  

For more information, click here.

SPINNING DISC REACTOR (SDR) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EPR

 

CONTINUOUS ULTRASOUND REACTOR 

 

FURNACE

 

software and computational expertise

  • MATLAB
  • METSIM - Mining and metallurgical operations
  • ASPEN HYSYS - Process simulation and techno-economic analysis
  • COMSOL Multiphysics
  • OpenMX 3.8 - Density funtional theory calculations
  • VESTA - Molecular structures modeling 
  • AVOGADRO - Molecular structures modeling 
  • COMPUTE CANADA - Enhanced computing capacity
  • PYTHON

ACCESS TO OTHER EQUIPMENT

CATALYST/POWDERS/PARTICLES CHARACTERIZATION

  • X-RAY DIFFRACTION - to quantify crystallinity and phases
  • NITROGEN ADSORPTION - to measure specific surface area and characterize porosity 
  • MERCURY POROSIMETER - to characterize meso and macroporosity 
  • SCANNING AND TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY - SEM and TEM, to image sample morphology and quantify composition with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX)
  • X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY - to quantify elemental composition and oxidation states
  • PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION (PSD)
  • UV-VIS SPECTROPHOTOMETRY - to determine band-gap
  • X-RAY FLUORESCENCE - to determine elemental and oxide composition
  • THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSES - to determine weight loss with temperature and reactivity under oxygen and inert atmosphere

LIQUID AND GAS ANALYSIS 

  • GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY (TCD, FID, MS detectors) - to quantify volatile and non-volatile compounds
  • HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY (UV detector) - to quantify non-volatile compounds
  • GEL PERMEATION CHROMATOGRAPHY (UV and refractive index detector) - to quantify polymer molecular weight and its distribution
  • RHEOMETER - to quantify absolute and relative viscosity, density
  • CONTACT ANGLE - to quantify surface wettability and work of adhesion