CONICET Scientists’ reactor that will allow the production of renewable energy

an experimental high temperature and pressure reactor, called APAT v1, which was completely developed in the field of Technical Scientific Center (CCT) CONICET Bahia Blanca, was exported to Paraguay to be used by American University of Asuncion Inside Research for production of renewable biofuels from hydrogenation of vegetable oils through the use of various catalysts.

The reactor is the result of an R&D (Research and Development) technical relationship agreement between the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (INNOVA-T), the American University of Asuncion (Paraguay). and from the company Redox Quimica SA, Paraguay.

group of Process Thermodynamics of Chemical Engineering Pilot Plant (PLAPIQUI, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Sur) He developed the laboratory engineering, its design, operation and set-up. Meanwhile, each part of the equipment was manufactured and assembled by the technicians of the workshop Metallurgy and Turning of Regional Support Unit of the same CCT.

were participating in the transfer process to Paraguay Technology Transfer Office of PLAPIQUI, Technology Linkage Office of CCT and Innova-T Foundation, who managed the agreement that allowed the technology to reach Paraguay.

“The development of this team is very important in many ways, as it is a collaboration with a university from a partner country such as Paraguay, which means strengthening our internationally specialized design and manufacturing capabilities,” he said. Paul Hegel, CONICET researcher and development technical manager at PLAPIQUI added:“The knowledge gained within the framework of the project, in addition to the development of the research group, will enable the generation of new prototypes and the application of advanced high pressure techniques to obtain energy, materials and value-added chemicals.”

The technology acquired is an example of R&D resulting in a Interdisciplinary and joint work between the different actors involved, which produces impacts that go beyond equipment manufactured and exported, as it results in new and innovative research capabilities in supercritical and high pressure technology internationally.

“Our group has been working for many years on issues related to high pressure processes with supercritical fluids, and has been developing laboratory equipment. Chosen as a research group in Argentina to collaborate in this research and development process Knowing and transferring, too, is a way to strengthen collaboration and ties between research groups in the field”, Hegel highlighted.

The researcher explained that the supercritical reactor will be used in research on obtaining biofuels and in other studies related to sustainable processes, which use Green solvents, such as carbon dioxide, and can also be applied to industries such as petrochemicals or pharmaceuticals.

Veronica Bucala, CONICET’s principal investigator and director of PLAPIQUI considered that a . export of Reactors for Supercritical Processes”This is a new milestone which marks the progress in maturity of the technologies being developed at our Institute. This product is the result of the continuous work of the PLAPIQUI Thermodynamics Group, which has managed to stand out internationally in technologies based on supercritical fluids. Our congratulations to the team for their perseverance in achieving this feat.”

“While the researchers at PLAPIQUI have extensive experience in knowledge transfer, this journey is needed to optimize linking tools and provide institutional support to make export possible. In this work, our Technology Transfer Office has established a central There were a number of challenges that had to be overcome; we highlight the collaboration of the President and CONICET’s technical linkage management that enabled the adaptation of national standards to achieve exports”, explained Bukala.

Moreover, “Innova-T was also committed to this process and was with us continuously. We believe that together we have opened a way for other institutions in the country to develop technology, export products and position CONICET as a provider of these developments in this area. 2021 was a year of hard work and relentless work, which is paying off today. We greatly appreciate all the people who made this possible,” he said.

was one of the fundamental actors for the esports to be INNOVA-T FOUNDATION, CONICET TECHNOLOGICAL LINKAGE UNIT Which is with promotion, development and administration of technical linkage activities of CONICET for more than 25 years. In this framework, it is that in 2021 INNOVA-T took the path of coming up with PLAPIQUI in the export and shipment of equipment, supercritical reactors abroad.

CONICET reported that this task proved to be a major challenge for INNOVA-T, with significant cooperation from the Under Secretary of Knowledge Economy of the Ministry of Productive Development and the General Directorate of Customs of the Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP). , The tour culminated with the export of equipment through the ExportaSimple platform of the same ministry.

Isabel McDonald, President of Inova-T, highlighted that “the science and technology sector It has a huge opportunity to generate foreign exchange through exports with high added value in developing equipment and offering services. And it communicates that Innova-T will continue to cooperate with CONICET in this journey, registering as an exporter to facilitate export operations.

Characteristics of the reactor

Team It is made of stainless steel, has a capacity of 375 ml and allows it to operate at temperatures between 350 and 375ºC and pressures up to 125 bar, respectively., Other technical characteristics that set it apart are: It has a function of magnetic stirring of reagents to ensure their correct mixing at high temperature and pressure and a closing method through a special gasket to prevent material leakage during use., In addition, its cover has three connections that allow placement of instrumentation, feeding of reagents, and sampling of products.

A high-pressure vessel on the outside of the reactor enables the system to be purified, samples and products removed and the reaction closed by cooling. It also contains a number of auxiliary elements: Heating jacket, stirring motor, temperature controller and reader, and a lifting frame for the reactor.

The PLAPIQUI research group, made up of doctors other than Hegel Selva Pereda and Natalia Kotabaren, CONICET researchers and supporting professionals, respectively, who also developed an operating manual, an experimental protocol, and an instructional video on the use of the high temperature and pressure experimental reactor.

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