How Do You Cool 60 Liters of Acid From +100°C Down to +20°C – In Just One Hour?
Temperature control for chemical textile recycling
07/04/2025
This was the challenge faced by a fast-growing company in the biotechnology sector that is developing a process for the chemical breakdown of textile fragments. After successfully demonstrating the method on a laboratory scale, the next step was scaling up to a larger pilot setup – a key phase in preparing for future industrial implementation.
With global textile production steadily rising and most discarded garments still ending up in landfills or incinerators, innovative recycling solutions are urgently needed. Breaking down fabrics into reusable building blocks is a crucial step toward circularity in the fashion and textile industries.
The Application
In a custom-built 65-liter filter reactor (with a maximum fill volume of 60 liters), fabric waste is treated in acid at high temperatures. Once the reaction is complete, the mixture is cooled in a controlled manner to ambient temperature.
The resulting slurry is then vacuum-filtered through a PTFE filter at the base of the reactor to collect the final product. At the same time, the reactor's condenser is actively cooled to ensure safe and stable process conditions.
The Solution
To meet the required temperature profile – from +100°C down to +20°C in one hour – a cooling capacity of around 6kW was calculated. The PRESTO W50 matched this requirement perfectly while staying within the customer’s budget. In addition, an FL1701 chiller was used to cool the reactor’s condenser.
Due to height restrictions, the reactor was equipped with a double-walled condenser – precise cooling was crucial here, as strong acids are used in the process and vapors must be safely contained.
Due to height restrictions, the reactor was equipped with a double-walled condenser – precise cooling was crucial here, as strong acids are used in the process and vapors must be safely contained.
Why PRESTO W50 and chiller FL1701?
This combination was selected because it reliably met the required performance parameters and fit the spatial and safety constraints of the application.
The PRESTO W50 is a single-stage, highly dynamic temperature control system that provides fast and accurate temperature changes across a wide range – ideal for demanding chemical processes with large thermal loads.
The air-cooled FL1701 recirculating chiller ensures stable, energy-efficient cooling of the condenser – even in confined spaces and corrosive environments.
The system is a key component in scaling up the textile recycling process – demonstrating how flexible temperature control technology supports the transition from research to industrial implementation.
The system is a key component in scaling up the textile recycling process – demonstrating how flexible temperature control technology supports the transition from research to industrial implementation.
