Brochure Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant

1. Accelerating your
biobased innovation
PROCESS DEVELOPMENT
SCALE-UP
CUSTOM MANUFACTURING
Kilogram to Multi Ton Scale
www.bbeu.org

2. Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is an open innovation pilot and
demonstration facility for process development, scale-up and
custom manufacturing of biobased products and processes from
lab to multi ton scale. A wide and flexible spectrum of modular unit
operations combined with a team of highly trained and experienced
engineers, process operators and technicians facilitates the
translation of biobased laboratory processes into viable industrial
processes.
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant has successfully performed 200 projects
for more than 100 companies.
Process
Development
Biomass Pretreatment
Purification and
Product Recovery
Scale up
Biocatalysis
Green chemistry
Custom
Manufacturing
Fermentation
Gas Fermentation
• Concept design
• Fermentation optimization
• Downstream process (DSP) development and
optimization
• Bench-top feasibility trials
• Techno-economic assessment
(in-house model)
Mechanical, physico-chemical, solvent-based and
enzymatic pretreatment of biomass feedstocks
e.g. acid hydrolysis, organosolv
Centrifugation, depth and cross flow filtration,
evaporation, ion exchange, crystallization, solvent
extraction, drying, etc.
• Production of bulk bio-products up to
multi ton scale
• 24/7 operations
• Quality control
• Food grade production
• ISO9001 and FSSC22000:
as of 1st
half of 2017
Batch, fed-batch, chemostat
Fermentation with: bacteria, yeast, fungi
Aerobic and anaerobic fermentations
Ex proof fermentations
Scales ranging from shake flask to 2x15m3
.
e.g. chemicals, industrial enzymes, food ingredients,
cosmetics, fuels, flavours and frangrances
High pressure 10L gas fermenter. Auxiliary equipment
for strict anaerobic cultivation
and gas premixing.
Gaseous feedstocks: industrial off-gas, syngas,
methane…
• Feasibility and optimization trials in scaleable
equipment
• Equipment available at different scales: bench-
top, 100 kg, ton and multi ton scale
• First series compounds for application trials
• Demonstration of technology at larger scale
• Generation of pilot data incl. mass- and energy
balances
Enzymatic conversions in aqueous and two-phase
systems, immobilization of enzymes
e.g. oligosaccharide synthesis, glycoside synthesis
Chemical conversion, extraction, solvent evaporation,
crystallization in Ex proof and corrosion resistant
reactors up to 5m3
.
TECHNOLOGIES
OUR OFFER
AN INDEPENDENT
STATE-OF-THE-ART
PILOT AND
DEMONSTRATION FACILITY
FOR BIOBASED PRODUCTS AND
PROCESSES
WIDE and FLEXIBLE
spectrum of modular
unit operations
Team of highly trained
and experienced
engineers and operators
Successful
scale-up
of your process

3. Bio Base Europe
Pilot Plant
The gateway to
industrial
production

4. EXPERIENCE
As an open innovation pilot and demonstration facility, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is open for
collaboration with companies, research institutes and other partners active in the biobased
economy.
At Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, your processes are in the competent hands of highly trained
engineers, process operators and technicians. Our team stands for a vast amount of know-
how on both a scientific and technical level. Combined with decades of experience in scale-up
and operating industrial equipment, our engineers translate your lab scale process into a viable
industrial process.
We work in 24/7 operations if necessary. A confidential and close communication throughout the
project as well as your presence at our facilities during the trials ensure a seamless technology
transfer in both directions.
In addition, we can operate as a one-stop-shop, converting renewable feedstocks into sustainable
products all under one roof.
PRODUCTS
Pretreatment Purification
Biocatalysis
Fermentation
Green Chemistry
REFINED
PRODUCT
BIOMASS
Examples of
biobased products
produced at
Bio Base Europe
Pilot Plant
biosurfactants
specialty carbohydrates
enzymes biochemicals
biomaterials
biofuels
biobased building blockssolvents
biopolymers
glycosides
flavours and fragrances
protein concentrates
organic acids esters
nutraceuticals
food ingredients
biocolourants
cosmetics

5. BIOMASS PRETREATMENT
EXPERTISE
BIOMASS PRETREATMENT BIOCATALYSIS FERMENTATION GREEN CHEMISTRY PRODUCT RECOVERY AND PURIFICATION

6. EXPERTISE
BIOMASS
PRETREATMENT
For more information: please visit www.bbeu.org
For questions, please call +32 9 335 70 01 or send an email to BusDev@bbeu.org
Equipment overview:
Reactors for chemical pretreatment of biomass:
These reactors are suitable for acid (H2
SO4
, HCl…),
alkaline (NaOH, ammonia…), sulfite, organosolv and
other types of pretreatment
∂ Benchtop, 2 L (ATEX, glass lined, pressurized)
∂ 1 x 85 L (ATEX, glass lined, pressurized)
∂ 1 x 500 L (ATEX, glass lined, pressurized)
∂ 1 x 1000 L (ATEX, glass lined, pressurized)
∂ 1 x 5400 L (ATEX, glass lined, pressurized)
Reactors for enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass:
∂ Lab scale hydrolysis
∂ 1 x 500 L
∂ 1 x 1000 L
∂ 2 x 4000 L
∂ 2 x 5000 L
∂ 4 x 8000 L
∂ 3 x 50 000 L
Reaction vessels for slurries with high solids contents
Auxiliary equipment:
Milling
∂ Dry milling: roller crusher, knife mill, hammer
mill, cutting mill, pin disk mill
∂ Wet milling: pulper (2000 L), inline mixer, inline
colloid mixer
Thermal treatment
∂ Direct steam injection
∂ Jet cooking with holding tube
Dewatering and concentration equipment
∂ Filter press
∂ Decanter centrifuge
∂ Screw press
∂ Falling film three-effect evaporator, 5 t/h water
evaporation
∂ Wiped film evaporators, 2 kg/h and 150 kg/h
water evaporation
What we offer:
∂ Mechanical, thermal, physico-chemical and
enzymatic pretreatment of biomass feedstocks
∂ Logistics and storage:
• Truck (un)loading docks
• Bulk solid biomass storage
(55 t silo, 3x90 t bunkers)
• Liquid storage (vessels up to 125 m³)
• Dedicated areas for IBC storage
• Chemicals storage
• Refrigerated storage room, freezers
∂ A wide spectrum of modular operation units
Expertise:
Experience in treating the following lignocellulosic
raw materials:
∂ Agro-industrial side streams: paper pulp, spent
grains, bagasse, press cakes, stillage...
∂ Agronomic by-products: corn stover, corn cobs,
husk, fiber, stems, leaves, verge grass…
∂ Dedicated energy crops: miscanthus, poplar…

7. BIOCATALYSIS
EXPERTISE
BIOMASS PRETREATMENT BIOCATALYSIS FERMENTATION GREEN CHEMISTRY PRODUCT RECOVERY AND PURIFICATION

8. EXPERTISE
BIOCATALYSIS
For more information: please visit www.bbeu.org
For questions, please call +32 9 335 70 01 or send an email to BusDev@bbeu.org
Equipment overview:
Process vessels for aqueous reactions:
∂ 1 x 500 L
∂ 1 x 1000 L
∂ 2 x 4000 L
∂ 2 x 5000 L
∂ 4 x 8000 L
∂ 3 x 50 000 L
Process vessels for solvent-based reactions:
∂ 1 x 2 L (ATEX)
∂ 1 x 7 L (ATEX)
∂ 1 x 85 L (ATEX)
∂ 1 x 500 L (ATEX)
∂ 1 x 1000 L (ATEX)
∂ 1 x 5400 L (ATEX)
Reaction vessels for suspensions with high solids
contents
Auxiliary equipment:
∂ Fermenters of different sizes to produce the
biocatalyst (see fermentation brochure)
∂ A variety of downstream purification equipment
to purify the product of interest from the
reaction mixture (see product recovery and
purification brochure)
What we offer:
∂ Scale-up and demonstration of biocatalytic
processes
∂ Process development and optimization
∂ Custom manufacturing
∂ Single enzyme or whole cell biocatalyst systems
∂ Immobilization of enzymes and whole cells
∂ Aqueous and solvent based reactions
∂ Enzyme or whole cell biocatalyst production
through bacterial, yeast or fungal fermentation
Expertise:
BBEPP’s team of process and R&D engineers has
built up a significant track record in production of
biocatalysts and in biocatalytic conversions at lab
and pilot scale. The team has demonstrated various
aqueous and solvent based reactions at an industrially
relevant scale.

9. FERMENTATION
EXPERTISE
BIOMASS PRETREATMENT BIOCATALYSIS FERMENTATION GREEN CHEMISTRY PRODUCT RECOVERY AND PURIFICATION

10. EXPERTISE
FERMENTATION
For more information: please visit www.bbeu.org
For questions, please call +32 9 335 70 01 or send an email to BusDev@bbeu.org
Equipment overview:
(An)Aerobic fermenters:
batch, fed-batch, continuous
∂ 4 x 7 L
∂ 2 x 10 L
∂ 1 x 50 L
∂ 4 x 150 L
∂ 2 x 1500 L
∂ 1 x 4500 L
∂ 2 x 15000 L
Anaerobic fermenters:
∂ 1 x 85 L (ATEX)
∂ 1 x 500 L (ATEX)
∂ 1 x 1000 L (ATEX)
∂ 1 x 5400 L (ATEX)
Gas fermenters, feed CO, CO2
, H2
:
∂ 1 x 10 L (ATEX)
Auxiliary equipment:
∂ Analytical capabilities: HPLC, GC, fast bio-
chemistry analyzer, off gas analysis and data
logging
∂ Equipment for biomass separation: centrifuges,
decanter, plate filters, filter press, membrane
filtration
∂ Biomass pretreatment equipment for second
generation bioproducts (see Biomass
pretreatment brochure)
∂ A variety of downstream processing equipment
to recover and purify the product of interest
from the fermentation broth (see Product
Recovery and Purification brochure)
What we offer:
∂ Scale-up and demonstration of fermentation
processes
∂ Batch, fed-batch and continuous (with or
without cell recycle) fermentations
∂ Experience with bacterial, yeast and fungal
systems
∂ Process development and optimization
∂ Custom manufacturing
∂ Examples of products: industrial enzymes, fine
and bulk chemicals, biofuels, biochemicals,
bioplastics, biosurfactants, biosolvents,
nutraceuticals, food ingredients, bioflavours...
Expertise:
Our team combines over 50 years of fermentation
experience. We can rely on fermentation experts
with academic and industrial backgrounds. This
combination makes our expertise unique.

11. GREEN CHEMISTRY
EXPERTISE
BIOMASS PRETREATMENT BIOCATALYSIS FERMENTATION GREEN CHEMISTRY PRODUCT RECOVERY AND PURIFICATION

12. EXPERTISE
For more information: please visit www.bbeu.org
For questions, please call +32 9 335 70 01 or send an email to BusDev@bbeu.org
Equipment overview:
Glass lined, pressure proof and corrosion resistant
reactors, coupled to a condenser and vacuum pump.
Properties:
∂ Pressures up to 8 bar
∂ Temperatures up to 200°C.
∂ Vacuum down to 20 mbara
Reactor volumes (ATEX):
∂ 1 x 2 L
∂ 1 x 7 L
∂ 1 x 85 L
∂ 1 x 500 L
∂ 1 x 1000 L
∂ 1 x 5400 L
Auxiliary equipment (ATEX):
∂ Filter dryer (1900 L)
∂ Conical dryer (980 L)
∂ Bag filter
∂ Filter press
∂ Basket centrifuge (40 kg)
∂ Continuous liquid-liquid extraction column 6 L/h
GREEN CHEMISTRY
What we offer:
ATEX compliant installation and expertise for
chemical processes:
∂ Solvent evaporation and condensation
∂ Zoning of the operational area to ATEX zone 2
∂ Explosion protection on all electrical equipment:
ExII2G T3
∂ N2 inertisation and blanketing
∂ Pressure proof from -1 to 8 bar
Types of processes:
∂ Chemical synthesis reactions
∂ Chemical conversion reactions
∂ Chemical hydrolysis
∂ Extractions
Expertise:
ATEX zoning challenges the possibilities and freedom
of operation. However, our team of experienced
engineers and operators can always find a safe and
workable approach.
Our team is ready to bring your product to the next level.
Examples:
∂ Functionalisation of biopolymers
and oligosaccharides
∂ Esterification of fatty acids
∂ Synthesis of oleochemicals
∂ Chemical synthesis of biosurfactants
∂ …

13. PRODUCT RECOVERY
AND PURIFICATION
EXPERTISE
BIOMASS PRETREATMENT BIOCATALYSIS FERMENTATION GREEN CHEMISTRY PRODUCT RECOVERY AND PURIFICATION

14. EXPERTISE
PRODUCT RECOVERY
AND PURIFICATION
For more information: please visit www.bbeu.org
For questions, please call +32 9 335 70 01 or or contact BusDev@bbeu.org
The equipment overview below gives an idea of the variety
of modular operation units we have available to perform
your purification and product recovery processes. However,
this list is not complete. If you are looking for specific
equipment not listed below, do not hesitate to contact us.
Equipment overview:
Centrifugation
∂ High speed disc stack centrifuges, 500 L/h and 3 m3
/h
∂ Screw decanter centrifuge, 750 kg/h
∂ Basket centrifuges, 10 kg and 40 kg
∂ Inverting filter centrifuge, up to 50 kg of product per cycle
∂ Ex proof disc stack centrifuge 500 L/h
Membrane Filtration:
∂ Cross-flow membrane filtration units for Micro, Ultra
& Nanofiltration
∂ Different membrane types: spiral wound, hollow fiber,
ceramic
Filtration:
∂ Dead-end filtration such as plate and frame filters,
candle filter
∂ Filter presses
∂ Rotary vacuum drum filter, basket filter
Ion exchange and adsorption
Columns for ion exchange, adsorption or activated carbon
treatment
∂ 3 x 30 L resin
∂ 4 x 800 L resin
∂ 2 x 2000 L resin
Crystallization
∂ Various reactors from 50 L to 4 m³ for cooling
crystallization and evaporation crystallization
∂ Crystallization line up to 1000 t/y equipped with
crystallizer 4 m³, inverted basket centrifuge, crystal dryer
∂ Continuous cooling crystallization unit 50 L
∂ Benchtop crystallizer 2000 ml
Evaporation
∂ Continuous evaporation units from liter to ton scale
∂ Falling film three-effect evaporator, 5 t/h water
evaporation
∂ Wiped film evaporators, 2 kg/h and 150 kg/h
∂ Spinning cone evaporator, up to 50 kg/h water
evaporation
∂ Batch evaporation reactors for both water and
solvent based distillation
Extraction
∂ Filter dryer 1900 L (ATEX) for solvent extraction and
solids drying
∂ Karr column (6 L/h) for countercurrent liquid-liquid
extraction
∂ Glass lined reactors, 500 to 5400 L for solid-liquid
and liquid-liquid extractions
Chromatography
∂ GRACE bench scale preparative chromatography unit
∂ Columns up to 500 L for batch chromatography
Drying
∂ Continuous sludge dryer, 5 kg/h
∂ Vacuum tray dryer, 150 L filling volume
∂ Conical dryer, 980 L (ATEX)
∂ Filter dryer, 1900 L (ATEX)
∂ Drying oven, 2000 L
∂ Access to freeze- and spray drying facilities
∂ Spray dryer, 3 kg/h water evaporation
∂ Lyophilizer, 8 kg water per drying cycle
Various
∂ Multipurpose process tanks up to 8000 L
∂ Storage and process buffer tanks up to 50 m3
∂ Homogenizer, cell disruptor, 10 L/h and 100 L/h
(rental)
∂ Access to a wide range of rental equipment
What we offer:
∂ Expertise in development, scale-up and
demonstration of product recovery and purification
processes
∂ A broad range of processing equipment for aqueous
and solvent based applications
∂ Flexibility in setting up dedicated process lines
∂ …

15. Why more than 100 companies already
teamed up with Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant
Save time and money thanks to our unique combination of equipment and expertise:
Equipment: A broad variety of state-of-the-art technical solutions is available at
different scales, including:
• Fermentation scale up to 15 m3
• Gas fermentation facilities
• A wide range of DSP unit operations from bench-top to multi ton scale
• Combination of fermentation and Ex proof downstream processing
• …
Broad expertise: Scale-up is our core business! Our operational team of engineers,
operators and technicians combines decades of experience and technological know-
how and guarantees a fast and efficient scale-up, resulting in faster learning curves
and shorter time to market.
Independence: Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is an independent facility. We have no industrial
shareholders and operate in full confidentiality.
Flexibility: We design the project outline to your needs and flexibly build up process lines that
can be operated 24/7.
Transparency: A close communication throughout the project ensures a seamless technology
transfer in both directions. We welcome your presence at our facilities during the trials, the
experience gainded is yours!
Quality management systems: ISO9001, FSSC22000 as from 1st half of 2017.
Global player: Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant collaborates with companies and research institutes
from all over the world (Europe, Asia and The Americas). We assisted many key players in the
biobased economy with their developments and managed to build up a vast network.

16. Contact our business development team at busdev@bbeu.org
Mrs. Muriel Dewilde, Mob. +32 477 75 62 35, Muriel.Dewilde@bbeu.org
Mr. Frederik De Bruyn, PhD, Mob.+32 484 40 44 25, Frederik.De.Bruyn@bbeu.org
Mr. Hendrik Waegeman, PhD, Mob. +32 479 56 20 61, Hendrik.Waegeman@bbeu.org
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant
Rodenhuizekaai 1 • B-9042 Gent (Desteldonk), Belgium
Tel +32 (0)9 335 70 01 • Fax +32 (0)9 335 70 02
www.bbeu.org