Laboratories

Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy

Cutting-edge technological solutions to transform your emissions into sustainable assets.

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Reducing the carbon footprint without compromising competitiveness is one of the main challenges for industry.

At AIMPLAS, we offer technological services for decarbonization, from laboratory to pilot plant, to develop, validate, and scale solutions tailored to each industrial process.

We support companies and R&D centers throughout the entire technological development cycle (design, synthesis, characterization, shaping, and validation), facilitating the scaling of technologies from TRL 3 to TRL 6.

Technological Services for Industrial Decarbonization

Advanced Materials
Adsorbent Materials Characterization
Separation and Removal of Contaminants
Energy

Advanced Materials

We develop advanced materials and tailor-made catalysts for decarbonization technologies, CCU (Carbon Capture, Utilization), and Power-to-X processes.

Design and synthesis of materials: Development of functional materials and catalysts optimized for chemical and energy conversion processes.
Thermal treatments: Processes in controlled atmosphere up to 1100 °C, with capacity up to 1 kg per batch, for structural and functional optimization of materials.
Characterization:
- Morphology and particle size (SEM)
- Thermal stability (TGA)
- Mechanical properties
- Surface area and porosity (BET)
- Redox and surface properties (TPR)
- Molecular spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman)
Material shaping: Production of materials in industrial formats: pellets, extrudates, monoliths, or foams.
Scaling-up: Batch and continuous, in reactors from 100 mL to 100 L.
Validation: Development and evaluation of processes for the valorization of these materials into value-added products:
- Thermal processes: high-pressure reactors for batch and continuous operation.
- Electrochemical processes: systems with potentiostats and galvanostats for electrosynthesis.
- Photochemical processes: platforms for radiation-driven conversion.

Application areas:

Catalysis
CO₂ capture and valorization
Power-to-X
Water treatment

Adsorbent Materials Characterization

We evaluate adsorbent materials with a comprehensive approach to optimize separation and capture processes, from laboratory to pilot plant.

Textural analysis:
- Gas adsorption analysis
- BET surface area determination
- Porosity analysis
Gas adsorption measurements: CO₂, CH₄, CO, H₂
Dynamic tests (Breakthrough/PSA): Measurement of continuous adsorption capacities up to 600 °C.
High pressure: Validation of CO₂, CH₄, CO, H₂ adsorption under extreme conditions.

Separation and Removal of Contaminants

We provide technological support for the separation of compounds from gaseous streams (gas separation) and liquid streams (aqueous effluent treatment) using membrane technology. We cover everything from the design, synthesis, and characterization of polymeric membranes to their evaluation in different applications. We also develop photocatalytic processes for contaminant degradation in gases and water.

Membrane Manufacturing

Synthesis of polymeric membranes in flat configuration using phase separation or solvent casting (maximum width 150 mm, maximum length 200 mm, thickness 60–400 microns), and by extrusion with up to 5 film layers (maximum width 480 mm, thickness 50–900 microns).
Synthesis of next-generation membranes such as mixed matrix membranes (MMM) in flat configuration using phase separation.
Chemical and physical functionalization of membranes through surface treatments (chemical activation, plasma, corona, coatings, grafting) and inclusion of additives (pore formers, plasticizers, adsorbents).

Membrane Characterization

Hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity
Porosity
Liquid entry pressure (LEP) and bubble point
Permeability/selectivity of pure gases and mixtures (CO₂, CH₄, N₂…) in continuous analysis coupled with gas chromatography with high sensitivity to inorganic gases and light hydrocarbons (acetylene, ethylene, ethane, and methanol)
Water permeability in micro-, ultra-, and nanofiltration tests

Membrane Evaluation

We evaluate membranes in tests for gas separation under different operating conditions (concentrations, pressures, flow rate…) and for the separation of suspended and dissolved contaminants in aqueous streams through pressure filtration up to the nanofiltration range (<16 bar). Capacity for laboratory-scale evaluation with standardized 47 mm membranes and adaptable systems for different types of effluents.

Contaminant Degradation by Advanced Oxidation Processes (Photocatalysis)

We offer both consulting on materials for contaminant treatment and their evaluation using batch and continuous systems. We have various systems for the degradation of contaminants in liquid media (wastewater, discharges, etc.) as well as in gaseous media (VOCs, NOx, H₂S, etc.) at different scales.

For liquid-phase degradation, we offer batch tests from 50 mL to 10 L. Additionally, we have a continuous system capable of treating from 1 to 5 L with a flow rate of up to 2.5 L/h.
For gas-phase degradation, we have a 100 mL batch system and a continuous system capable of treating up to 5 L/min at pressures up to 2 bar.
Each test can be customized according to your needs by varying light sources (UV-A, solar, visible) and irradiance.

Determination of Contaminants and Compounds of Interest

We offer analytical services for the detection and quantification of contaminants in gaseous and liquid matrices. Available analytical techniques:

Total organic carbon (TOC) measurement in liquids and solids
Gas chromatography analysis (CO₂, CH₄, CH₃OH, etc.)
Evaluation of VOC, NOx, and CO₂ removal in a photocatalytic chamber
Mass spectrometry

These services are especially useful for evaluating the efficiency of technologies for capture, removal, or degradation of contaminants.

Energy

Electrochemical Technologies and Materials Characterization for Energy

At AIMPLAS, we work on the development and validation of materials, components, and processes for advanced energy systems, with a particular focus on electrochemical technologies and the role of polymeric materials in these systems.

Electrochemical Characterization of Materials

Potentiostatic and galvanostatic tests
Cyclic voltammetry and advanced electrochemical techniques
Evaluation of electrochemical stability and performance

Evaluation of Electrodes and Electrocatalysts

Development and preparation of electrodes
Catalytic activity tests in electrochemical systems
Comparative studies of materials

Membrane Characterization for Energy Applications

Evaluation of ion-exchange membranes
Study of separators for electrochemical cells
Stability and electrochemical behavior tests

Tests in Flow Electrochemical Cells

Evaluation of processes with gas and liquid feed
Integration of electrodes and membranes in experimental devices
Studies on electrochemical conversion of industrially relevant molecules

Experimental Development of Electrochemical Systems

Design of experimental configurations for new processes
Validation of materials in electrochemical devices
Feasibility studies at laboratory scale

These capabilities support companies in the development of new energy technologies, from material evaluation to concept validation at laboratory scale.