Success Stories
Global Client Base
The NORAM Group has done studies and engineering projects all over the world. We can adjust our scope and execution strategy to meet client and local needs.
Clients:
We have strong client relations with companies in the following areas:
- Batteries and Electrochemistry.
- Oil and Gas.
- Chemicals Manufacture.
- Critical Minerals and Mining.
- Energy and Hydrogen.
- CO2 Capture and Utilization.
- Biorefineries, Bioprocesses and Pulp & Paper.
- Water and Environmental.
- Custom / Niche Applications.
Success Stories:
The following are select examples of impactful projects:
Design, Construction and Commissioning of a Pilot Plant Fluidized Calciner
Carbon Engineering, developed a novel process for the capture of carbon dioxide from the environment. The process, which was first proved at a bench scale, works by absorbing carbon dioxide from air and concentrating it to almost pure carbon dioxide before it leaves the system as a potential feed stream to other carbon conversion processes or carbon dioxide users. After completing successful bench-scale trials, the process moved into the pilot stage in Squamish, British Columbia. A key part of the process includes a high temperature fluidized calciner, which was designed by BC Research Inc. (BCRI) and NORAM, and built by Axton Inc., a sister company of BCRI.
Development of Pilot Plant for Production of Battery Materials
BCRI built the first pilot plant for manufacture of battery materials. BCRI was involved in the design, construction, optimization and demonstration of NanoOne’s Demonstration Pilot Plant for the production of lithium ion battery cathode materials. Our team helped achieve key metrics that are relevant in the lithium ion battery supply chain.
Electrochemical Development and Pilot Plants
NESI offers a unique combination of electrochemical engineering expertise combined with state-of-the-art manufacturing partnerships to design, manufacture, commercialize, and deploy electrochemical process technologies worldwide. NESI’s flagship process technology combines lithium conversion process know-how with our proven, highly adaptable, and commercial-scale electrolyser called the NORSCAND® electrolyser, to convert raw or recycled lithium brines into battery-grade lithium hydroxide for the world’s lithium-ion battery (LIB) industry. NESI also offers technologies for recycling critical metals from lithium-ion batteries and spent chemicals, like sodium sulphate, into valuable caustic and acid feedstocks. The application of electrolysis can close the loop on many lithium production or LIB recycling flowsheets greatly reducing the environmental impact of the LIB manufacturing chain by eliminating effluents such as sodium sulphate. BCRI is a development partner for NESI and currently hosts their pilot plants and operations at BCRI’s Technology Innovation and Commercialization Centre.
FP Innovations and the NORAM Group jointly developed the LignoForce™ system, a patented technology for the recovery of high-purity lignin from softwood, hardwood or eucalyptus kraft black liquors. The process was implemented in West Fraser’s Hinton pulp mill, Canada’s first commercial-scale lignin recovery plant. This process can be used at kraft pulp mills to produce:
- More pulp in the case of mills that are recovery-boiler limited (by offloading the recovery boiler with respect to calorific and solids loading.)
- High-quality lignin (acid form) for use as a carbon-neutral fuel in the lime kiln.
- High-quality lignin (acid or base form) for sale to market for use in several medium- and high-value applications such as wood adhesives, dispersants, and as a bitumen substitute in asphalt.
Dynamic Food Ingredients
Electrochemical Process for the Production of a Natural Sweetener
BCRI and the NORAM Group developed a new process and electrochemical cell for the production of the sweetener Erythritol.
A pilot plant capable of more cost-effective production of a natural bulk sweetener, Erythritol, was completed by for biotech firm Dynamic Food Ingredients (DFI) Corporation. The electrochemical cell used in the pilot plant was designed by NORAM and assembled at BC Research Inc., which also performed glucose oxidation experiments to explore options for precursor production. The pilot plant is installed at partner organisation Electrosynthesis Company (ESC) in Buffalo, NY, where experiments were performed to understand the effects of long-term continuous operation and to generate bulk samples for large-scale vendor trials in support of the full-scale plant development.
NORAM then performed all of the process design and supplied of key equipment, including the electrochemical cells (cells by NORAM-ESC), for their future full-scale plant.
North American Oil and Gas Client
Long-term Hydrocarbon Recovery Piloting, Mass Transfer Evaluation and Improvement of Full-Scale Unit Operation
BCRI has worked with an oil and gas client for years to improve existing large-scale unit operations by means of scaled-down pilot plant testing and evaluation. BCRI’s experimental, simulation and engineering work allowed this client to greatly improve the efficiency and reliability of their industrial plant, and to reduce the technical risk of various process changes.
Development of a Novel Process for Black Liquor Pyrolysis
BCRI and Huntsman developed a process and equipment to transform black liquor from Kraft pulp mills into valuable chemicals including BTEX. This process unlocks an important process to produce renewable aromatic-rich bio-oils to replace fuel-based sources.
Development and Scale-up of NORAM’s Adiabatic Mononitrobenzene technology and Equipment
The NORAM Group developed a new adiabatic nitration process that was much safer, more energy efficient and produced less byproducts than the traditional multistage isothermal process. This NORAM technology development spanned several years and involved bench scale testing, piloting and a full-scale slip-stream demonstration as part of its commercialization. There are now over 25 full-scale Mononitrobenzene plants operating in North America, Europe and Asia.
Precipitator Dust Purification (PDP) System Development
North American Biorefinery Client
Engineering and Supply of a Multi-stage Sulfuric Acid Reconcentration System
BCRI and the NORAM Group developed a process and designed equipment to valorize diluted sulfuric acid by means of a reconcentration system. Numerous industrial processes make use of concentrated sulfuric acid, including chemical and biorefinery processes. During these processes, sulfuric acid can become diluted either intentionally, or as a result of water absorption due its capacity to act as a dehydrating agent. Prior to its recycle back into the process, the spent sulfuric acid must be re-concentrated to meet the requirements of the specific operating conditions. Our sulfuric acid reconcentration (SARC) process can be used to remove water through evaporation and produce highly concentrated sulfuric acid.
Alberta Innovates Grand Challenge
Development of a Novel Process for Low-Cost Production of Carbon Fibres from Asphaltenes
BCRI developed a novel process to transform low value Asphaltenes from the oil sands industry into high-value carbon fibres. A pilot plant was designed, built and operated to develop a low-cost process for valorization of Asphaltenes with good results
Cellulose Nanocrystals Production Process
BCRI and the NORAM Group optimized a small scale pilot process (1kg/week) and performed all the process and mechanical engineering for the first large scale demonstration plant in the world (1000 kg/day) for. Since then, BC Research and the NORAM Group have developed and patented several dramatic improvements to the process which significantly reduce capital cost, acid and water usage.
Microplastic Removal from Wastewater
BCRI developed an innovative concept to separate small particles using a microbubble generation system. The system proved high-efficiency in removing microplastics from waste water and has possible applications in several applications in environmental and mineral processing industries.
Oil Spills Mitigation Technology Development
BCRI has developed a new generation of oil “herders” and “gellants” to assist in the mitigation and recovery of environmental oil spills into oceans and lakes. The herder is applied first to rapidly contract an oil slick, reduce its surface area, and increase the thickness of the oil layer. This is followed by the addition of the gellant, which converts the oil to a semi-solid mass. When used in tandem, the end-result is a stable slick that does not spread, is less susceptible to weathering, and – most importantly – remains afloat for future recovery. The gelled oil can then be removed using current oil recovery protocols.
Use of Advanced Technologies for Efficient Production of High Purity Hydrogen from Methane Steam Reforming
BCRI has extensive knowledge in hydrogen membranes. We have expertise in various types of hydrogen permselective membranes for medium temperature applications. Moreover, we continued to develop hydrogen technologies and are in the process of launching new applications to the market. BCRI recently developed an innovative process for regenerative production and purification of hydrogen at high temperature.
