RE-CORD is committed in developing new pathways for the valorization of biomasses, with a special emphasis on agro and industrial residues and bio-wastes, to produce biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials with improved use of resources and reduced impact on environment and communities. Though the core expertise of RE-CORD used to stand mostly in the thermochemical conversion process for biomasses – pyrolysis, gasification and hydrothermal processes – since its establishment in 2010 there has been a steadfast growth in the areas in which the group is leading R&D activities, than now includes Power-to-X (PtX), engineering of microalgae cultivation and downstream processing, use of biofuels and bioliquids in prime movers, the performance assessment of small scale biomass gasifiers.
RE-CORD operates an experimental facility where all the process development units are installed and operated. The area hosts a comprehensive set of pilot units to investigate hydrothermal liquefaction
(continuous plant), gasification, carbonization (two units), slow/intermediate pyrolysis (two units). Beside the PDUs, the experimental facility hosts also two micro gas turbine and one IC engine that can be
operated with a broad range of biofuels, and ancillary equipment for gas analysis and feedstock conditioning before conversion.