Biomass Technology Centre

Page reviewed:  14/01/2026

BTC is a pilot plant for research, development, innovation, and education on the processing and pretreatment of biomass and by-products from bio-based industries.

About BTC

Our unique expertise lies in the industrially relevant R&D that we conduct throughout the value chain, from raw materials to end-use. Our vision is to develop innovative technologies to achieve greater efficiency in bio-based industrial processes. Our infrastructural resources include comminution, drying, grinding, fractionating, compacting (pelletizing and briquetting), thermal processing, and combustion in both bench- and pilot-scale. We conduct sampling and perform chemical and physical characterization in-house or in collaboration with others.

Research with us

The research at BTC focuses on processes that simplify the use of bio-based by-products so that it becomes easier for industries to opt-out of fossil alternatives. By developing knowledge in the interface of inherent raw material properties and the downstream processes, we can design pretreatment methods to tailor industrial feedstock and create functional components for new products.

Refining

Upgrading or refining generally means processing to reach desired qualities. Examples of desired qualities are; high density or concentration of the desired content (i.e. energy or chemical component), good handling and storage characteristics, and absence of process disturbing compounds/contaminations, etc. As an example, stem wood has a relatively high quality in terms of homogeneity. On the other hand, it has high moisture content. Other raw materials, i.e. straw, have significantly higher ash contents, but may not require drying before processing. Through the right upgrading actions, side-products from bio-based industries may be transformed into valuable feedstock. 

Drying

Upgrading bio-based materials usually includes one or several steps of drying. Raw materials from the forest have a moisture content of about 50 %, and industrial side-products are sometimes even wetter. For many industries, drying is a necessary and expensive process. At BTC, we are equipped with several different drying techniques, both as research tools, and to enhance material preparation.

Comminution and fractioning

The material preparation chain at BTC can transform whole logs, bales, or truck loads of raw materials to well-defined chips, chops, or powder in one or several fractions. These actions are of uttermost importance in the upgrading chain. By means of sieving and fractioning, valuable components can be extracted from a complex source of raw material. Methods for maximizing the yield of valuable components are important in the biorefinery concept.  

Compaction to pellets and briquettes

At BTC we have advanced systems for performing experimental research designs for production of pellets and briquettes from a wide range of feedstock, feedstock mixes and additive blends. Research results from the pilot scale setup have been shown to correspond well to industrial scale pelletizing conditions and have been directly implemented. Hence, process optimization can be performed in designed experiments with well-defined materials and under controlled conditions at low cost.  

Thermal conversion

BTC has a thermal conversion laboratory in which combustion characteristics of pellets can be studied; particle and gas emissions, ash characteristics, and ash melting behavior. 

Technical equipment

Mills

Mill type Model Screen size Capacity Moisture content limit Minimum sample amount Info
Shredder/slow rotating cutting mill Lindner Micromat MS 2000 30 and 15 mm Several ton/h < 30 % 50 kg All materials except soft plastics, very robust

 

Mill type Model Screen size Capacity Moisture content limit Minimum sample amount Info
Hammer mill Bühler DFZK 1 8; 6; 4; 2 mm 1-2 ton/h < 15 % 20 kg Mainly biobased materials, no gravel or metal contamination

 

Mill type Model Screen size Capacity Moisture content limit Minimum sample amount Info
Multi Blade Shaft Mill Klingmill AB - Some 100kg/h - 20 kg Mills logs, chips sawdust to fine powder without previous drying

 

Mill type Model Screen size Capacity Moisture content limit Minimum sample amount Info
Impact mill Kamas BAC-50 7; 5; 2; 1.5; 1 mm 50 kg/h < 10 % a few kg Mainly biobased materials, no gravel or metal contamination

 

 Mill type Model Screen size Capacity Moisture content limit Minimum sample amount Info
Slow-rotating cutting mill Retsch SM2000 20; 6; 1 mm 10-20 L/h dry < 2 % 0,5 L All materials except soft plastics, very robust

 

 Mill type Model Screen size Capacity Moisture content limit Minimum sample amount Info
Fast-rotating cutting mill Fritsch P19 1; 0.5; 0.25 mm  1-10 kg/h dry < 2 % 0,3 L Mainly biobased materials, no gravel or metal contamination

 

Mill type Model Screen size Capacity Moisture content limit Minimum sample amount Info
Speed rotor mill Fritsch Pulverisette 14 0.5 – 0.2 mm a few L/h dry < 2 % small amounts Small sample losses

 

 Mill type Model Screen size Capacity Moisture content limit Minimum sample amount Info
Chipper Edsbyhuggen 12-5 mm 0.5-3 ton/h <60 %  1 m logs For tree stems 

 

Mill type Model Screen size Capacity Moisture content limit Minimum sample amount Info
Compost shredder  Stihl GHE 355    100 kg/h   < 60 %  1 kg  

 

Mill type Model Screen size Capacity Moisture content limit Minimum sample amount Info
Straw chopper - 100-50 mm   100kg/h < 60 % 1 kg Mainly for straw materials

 

Screeing and fractioning

Type Model Screen sizes Capacity Moisture content limit Sample amount Info
Screen and fractioning equipment Mogensen E0554 0.25-35 mm  500 kg/h depends on screen size a few kg and up Many different material types, up to 5 fractions simultaneously

 

Type Model Screen sizes Capacity Moisture content limit Sample amount Info
Density fractioner Franssons Recycling Liftsep   200-1000 kg/h  50 %  few kg and up Separates into two fractions

 

Type Model Screen sizes Capacity Moisture content limit Sample amount Info
Wind sifter Klingmill AB   500 kg/h depends on material  few kg and up Separates into two fractions

  

 

Type Model Screen sizes Capacity Moisture content limit Sample amount Info
Oscillating sceen (rectangular screens) Circular apertures Ø: 63; 45; 31,5; 16; 15; 10; 8; 5; 4; 3; 2 mm   < 60 % 10-20 L/analysis According to SCAN-CM 40:01 

 

Type Model Screen sizes Capacity Moisture content limit Sample amount Info
Oscillating screen (circular screens) Circular apertures Ø: 63; 45; 31,5; 16; 8; 3,15 mm   < 60 % < 5 L/analysis According to SS-EN 15149-1

 

Type Model Screen sizes Capacity Moisture content limit Sample amount Info
Vibrating screen Rectangular apertures 45; 31.5; 16; 8; 4; 3.15; 2.8; 2.0; 1.4; 1.0; 0.71; 0.5; 0.355; 0.25 mm   dry < 2 % < 0,2 L/analysis According to SS-EN ISO 17827-2:2016

 

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