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Chemical conversion is used in secondary processing to turn intermediate products to different final products. The final product from chemical conversion is often either liquid, slurry or solid material which typically requires separation and purification process steps. However, these separation technologies are analysed in the WP4 (deliverable D4.2).

Chemical conversion utilizes normally either heterogeneous or homogenous catalysts. The intermediate product, which is turned into a final product in the reactor, can be simple or complex. Normally complex molecules utilizes homogenous catalysts or high-pressures and temperatures, where as simple gaseous intermediate products utilizes solid heterogenous catalysts especially at high temperatures. Different catalysts are used to increase reaction kinetics and most of the produced chemicals are produced in a catalytic environment. Manufacturing, testing, sreening and evaluation of new catalysts is a main topic especially with heterogenous catalysts.

Operational temperature range is usually from room temperature up to several hundreds of degrees celcius. However, some special chemical reactions may require even sub-zero temperatures.  Pressures are normally from ambient pressures up to hundreds of atmospheres. Higher pressures and higher temperatures makes the reaction kinetics faster, but increasing temperature and pressure increases normally investment and operational costs accordingly.