SPEC Process Engineering & Construction Helps Qteros Achieve Cellulosic Ethanol Milestone

BURLINGTON, Mass., — SPEC Process Engineering & Construction helped Qteros, a rising star in the cellulosic ethanol industry, reach an important milestone last week. After less than a year working with SPEC to develop their new process, Qteros broke ground on their pilot plant.

SPEC started working with Qteros a year ago when they were still located at a UMass Amherst lab. Qteros had developed a 1 L bench scale model of their fermentation process and needed to bring it up to a 100 L scale. The scale up was to be part of Qteros’s new facilities which would provide for a greatly expanded R&D capability as well as office space to accommodate their expanding staff. SPEC initially worked with Qteros in the selection of laboratory analytical equipment, allowing their scientists to remain focused on process development. This was followed by lab lay out, fermenter selection, and the design of supporting infrastructure and utilities.

SPEC’s close involvement with the scale up lab and resultant knowledge of the process allowed SPEC to assist Qteros in evaluating potential sites when the time came to scale up even further to the pilot level facility. SPEC provided analysis of the potential facilities’ utilities, structure, and other factors key to Qteros’ manufacturing process, allowing Qteros to make an informed decision as to the expansion’s location. With their pilot scale facility construction now underway, Qteros is perfectly positioned for their upcoming DOE grant application decision.

About SPEC: SPEC Process Engineering & Construction is a Massachusetts based process engineering firm focusing on alternative and clean energy technology, specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and nanotechnology. SPEC offers full design/build services to deliver turn-key facilities with full plant start-up support. They have worked with a number of companies to scale up their process from bench scale to full commercialization. – SPEC Process Engineering & Construction