About the Brightsite Plasmalab

To combat climate change and achieve sustainability goals, the Brightsite Plasmalab addresses CO2 reduction in the chemical industry by optimizing existing plasma technologies and developing new ones.

Through feasibility studies, process improvements, and fundamental research, we contribute to the industrial scaling of plasma technology. Our lab, an initiative of Brightsite partners Maastricht University, TNO and Sitech, along with the community on the Brightlands Chemelot Campus, stands out for its in-depth expertise and far-reaching cooperation, enabling us to tackle challenges successfully.

There is a variety of setups in the lab to investigate and to be able to scale up new chemical processes to a commercial plant situation. These are 1-10 kW lab set-ups for fundamental research, 10-50 kW bench-scale set-ups for applied research, and we are working on a 500 kW pilot plant for demonstrating the process on a 24/7 basis.

Plasma technology: the gamechanger for green chemistry

Roadmap methane valorisation

Lab Scale (TRL 1-3)
The lab set-ups are dedicated to fundamental research on the plasma process within the 1-10 kW range. This early stage focuses on exploring fundamental principles and proof of concepts, essential for the foundational understanding and future development of the technology.

Bench Scale (TRL 4-5)
The Bench Scale phase focuses on advancing ARC technology and microwave plasma with 10-50 kW set-ups. This stage validates technologies for scalability and prepares them for commercial deployment, marking a critical step in our R&D program.

Thoriant (TRL 6-7)
The Thoriant phase involves the formation of hydrogen and acetylene using ARC technology at a 500 kW scale. This advanced stage demonstrates the technology in a relevant environment, moving closer to commercial application.

Demo plant (TRL 7-8)
The Demo plant phase builds upon the Thoriant phase. This phase focuses on demonstrating the technology at a near-commercial scale, proving its viability and effectiveness in an operational environment.

Commercial plant (TRL 9)
At TRL 9, the Commercial Plant stage represents the full-scale implementation of technology proven in operational environments. This phase signifies that the technology is fully developed, validated, and ready for widespread commercial deployment.

CO2 valorisation

Plastic recycling

Nitrogen fixation

Methane valorisation

Brightsite Plasmalab recognises the potential of syngas and offers an attractive way to produce it

MOOI subsidy for sustainable plasma project with nitrogen

Brightsite start-up Thoriant to produce emission-free hydrogen and acetylene using plasma technology

NXTGEN Hightech plasma project: Developing plasma technology for sustainable factory of the future

Industrielinqs: Double hit by electric cracking and plasma reactor

NEWSFLASH | First milestone for Brightsite Plasmalab: converting methane via plasma technology

News & Publications

Organisation

Hans Linden
Program manager Brightsite

Gerard van Rooij
Professor of Plasma Chemistry

Would you like to know more about the Brightsite Plasmalab and our activities on Brightlands Chemelot Campus and the Chemelot site?

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