How Bench-Scale Testing Enhances Early-Stage Process Development at Sulzer

Introduction: Accelerating Process Development with Bench-Scale Testing

In separation process development, timely and reliable feasibility confirmation is critical before committing resources to larger pilot or production scales. Sulzer’s comprehensive lab and pilot laboratory services offer bench-scale testing as an effective and efficient tool to validate processes at an early stage using very small feed sample volumes.

Bench-scale testing forms a key part of Sulzer’s integrated laboratory services, bridging initial physical property measurements and advanced pilot plant trials to deliver quick insights and guide the development path.

Versatile Bench-Scale Testing Equipment at Sulzer

Sulzer’s state-of-the-art laboratory services include an array of bench-scale test equipment designed to simulate core separation steps:

• Rotary Evaporators and Glass Thin-Film Evaporators: Ideal for assessing evaporation characteristics of temperature-sensitive or limited-volume samples, these units allow determination of boiling behavior, flow characteristics, and achievable concentrations.

• Laboratory and Spinning Band Columns: These columns enable precise rectification tests, simulating distillation under controlled conditions to evaluate separation efficiency and product purity with minimal feedstock.

• Single Agitated Cells and Shaking Tests: Used for extraction development, these assays measure dispersion, phase separation efficiency, and solvent performance on small-scale samples.

• Agitated Glass Reactors: For evaluating liquid-phase reactions, these reactors allow early-stage study of reaction kinetics and process conditions supported by real-time monitoring.

  
  

Why Bench-Scale Testing is Indispensable in Early-Stage Development

• Rapid Feasibility Confirmation: Bench-scale tests provide quick answers about the technical viability of process concepts with minimal feed requirements.

• Cost-Effective Decision-Making: By eliminating non-viable options early, clients save on larger-scale pilot and engineering costs.

• Data-Driven Process Design: Results inform pilot plant trial designs, equipment selection, and scale-up parameters with a higher degree of confidence.

• Minimized Risk: Early detection of operational challenges such as phase separation difficulties or thermal sensitivity reduces the chance of later-stage project delays.

  
  

Integrated Approach with Sulzer Lab and Pilot Laboratory Services

Sulzer’s bench-scale testing does not operate in isolation. It is part of a comprehensive lab and pilot laboratory service portfolio that includes physical property measurements (such as VLE and LLE), toll separations, and pilot plant testing. This holistic approach offers clients a seamless transition from bench scale through to pilot and commercial operations.

Expert chemists and engineers at Sulzer work closely with clients, interpreting bench-scale test data to develop optimized process routes and suggest the best technologies for subsequent scale-up.

Conclusion: Bench-Scale Testing with Sulzer’s Lab and Pilot Laboratory Services - Your Key to Early Success

Sulzer’s bench-scale testing capabilities provide a fast, flexible, and reliable foundation for early-stage process development. Leveraging advanced lab equipment and expert support, Sulzer minimizes risk and accelerates your path to successful pilot testing and commercialization.

Ready to explore how Sulzer’s lab and pilot laboratory services can enhance your early process development?

Contact our team to discuss a tailored bench-scale testing program suited to your unique feedstocks and separation challenges.