Fractional catalytic pyrolysis reactor for bio-based phenolics
This technology converts plant-based biomass into useful chemical products—particularly phenolic compounds used in plastics and resins—using a heated catalytic bed and a stream of inert gas. By carefully controlling conditions in the reactor, the process produces distinct product types directly in vapor or gas form, eliminating the costly and complex step of separating mixed outputs after the fact. The result is a cleaner, more efficient pathway from raw biomass to targeted bio-based chemicals. It is essentially a smarter way to do pyrolysis that skips downstream refining.
What you could build
A modular biomass-to-chemicals reactor system producing phenolics (precursors to adhesives, resins, and specialty chemicals) directly from agricultural or forestry waste; buyers would be bio-refinery developers, chemical companies seeking renewable feedstocks, or forestry product companies looking to valorize waste streams.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia forestry operations and agricultural waste generators, as well as chemical companies with mid-Atlantic manufacturing presence, could be interested in licensing or piloting this as a bio-based feedstock solution.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Foster A. Agblevor
- Granted
- June 19, 2012
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 8202332
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.