Primary processing

Pre-treatments are used to prepare raw materials so that they can be processed by core technologies.

• Biochemical pre-treatments
  • Enzymatic

• Chemical pre-treatments
  • Hydrolysis

• Physical pre-treatments
  • Densification
    • Pressure-densification
  • Sizing
    • Chipping
    • Grinding
  • Steam explosion

• Separation
  • Mechanical separations
    • Centrifugation
    • Filtration
    • Membrane Filtration
      • Pressure filtration
      • Ultrafiltration
    • Sedimentation
    • Sieving
  • Physicochemical separations
    • Chromatography
    • Dialysis
    • Dissolution, Crystallisation, flocculation, precipitation
    • Distillation
    • Drying (evaporation)
      • Air drying
      • Nitrogen drying
      • Freeze drying
      • Thermal drying
      • Vacuum drying

Drying (evaporation)

All drying technologies are based on the evaporation of different liquids under different gas atmospheres and physical conditions resulting in dry products or products with a desired humidity.

Air drying

Process that involves the evaporation of liquids under an oxygen atmosphere. The exchange of oxygen with low humidity accelerates this process but may lead to an (unwanted) oxidation of the product.

Nitrogen drying

Process that involves the evaporation of liquids under an nitrogen atmosphere. The exchange of nitrogen accelerates this process. Since nitrogen is an inert gas unwanted reactions such as oxidation of the product are avoided.

Freeze drying

Also known as lyophilisation. The technology represents a low temperature dehydration process that involves freezing the product, lowering pressure, then removing the ice by sublimation.

Thermal drying

Process that involves the evaporation of liquids under different atmospheres. With increasing application of heat the process can be accelerated. Very high temperatures may lead to unwanted reactions of the product.

Vacuum drying

Process that involves the evaporation of Liquids under an vacuum atmosphere. The vacuum atmosphere allows the evaporation of liquids at lower temperatures than under atmospheric pressure.

Technology providers

Technology comparison

Company name	Country	City	Technology category	Technology name	TRL	Typical feedstock	Typical product	Capacity [kg/h]	Max volume [L]	Max Mass [kg]	Temperature [°C]	Pressure [bar]	Gas atmosphere	Evaporable substances
Company 1	Germany	Cologne	Freeze drying	Powerdry 5000	9	Plant material	Freeze-dried plant material	0.00138	100	1	-20	0.0004	Vacuum	Alcohol, Water
Company 2	France	Paris	Nitrogen drying	Nitrodry	9	Protein solution	Protein	0.003	0.5	0.5	20	1	Nitrogen	Alcohol, Water

Company 1

Here you can find further information about company 1.

Company 2

Here you can find further information about company 2.

Thermochemical pre-treatments