Koch Modular Process Systems, LLC

05/31/2026

Advancing chemical engineering requires talent, innovation, and diverse perspectives.
Recognizing women in the field is key to building stronger teams and better solutions for the future.

Read more about our Vice President, Wendy Parker: https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/bizwomen/news/profiles-strategies/2024/04/in-her-own-words-wendy-parker.html?page=3

05/28/2026

Not all separations are straightforward. And, not all solutions are found in a chemistry book.

With over 40 years of experience, Koch Modular has the technical depth to efficiently solve difficult separation challenges that others can't early in process development.
Every system is custom-engineered to your process, validated in our Houston, TX pilot plant, and backed by a performance guarantee.

Learn more: https://kochmodular.com/our-work/separations-experience/

05/26/2026

What is a modular process system?

Instead of building entirely on-site, systems are fabricated and assembled off-site, then delivered ready for installation.

This approach:
✔Reduces CapEx
✔6–12-month schedule reduction
✔Cost certainty
✔Project predictability & risk mitigation
✔Simultaneous construction & permitting
✔Minimized site operations interruptions
✔Improved productivity
✔Minimized hazards & safety risks

Learn more: https://kochmodular.com/modular-process-systems/

05/15/2026

Solvent recovery in pharmaceutical manufacturing presents unique challenges, especially when dealing with azeotropes and high-boiling impurities.

In this case, a client required recovery of alcohols from a complex mixed stream containing toluene, water, and proprietary compounds, creating both separation and fouling risks.

Koch Modular developed a custom solution using azeotropic distillation, supported by pilot testing to validate performance prior to full-scale design.

The result: a modular solvent recovery system that reduced disposal costs, improved process reliability, and met stringent regulatory requirements.

Read the full case study: https://kochmodular.com/past-project/ims-solvent-recovery-with-azeotropic-distillation-for-a-pharmaceutical-and-biotechnology-company/

05/13/2026

Securing high-purity rare earth elements requires more than equipment; it requires a proven path to performance.

Koch Modular delivers end-to-end REE separation solutions from FEL-1 through process commissioning. Our SCHEIBEL® extraction column technology achieves >99.95% purity and >95% recovery in a compact footprint. We help you de-risk early with rapid CAPEX estimates and pilot testing for process validation and optimization. We then move on to FEL-2/3 engineering, followed by the detailed engineering, procurement, and construction of a complete modular REE separations system.

Discover a faster, more reliable path to high-purity REE separations.

Learn more: https://kochmodular.com/rare-earth-elements/

05/11/2026

For facilities operating under strict EPA regulations, selecting the right separation approach is critical to ensuring both performance and long-term reliability.

Steam stripping systems are widely used for removing volatile contaminants, but system design, operating conditions, and integration all play a role in achieving consistent results.

At Koch Modular, we design modular steam stripping systems that:
• Reduces installation and field construction costs by 30%
• Accelerates project schedules by 6-12 months
• Minimizes operational disruptions by handling 90% of construction activities offsite

Explore how modular systems can support your compliance strategy: https://kochmodular.com/distillation/steam-stripping/

02/25/2026

Ultra-low BTEX concentrations are now a compliance requirement—not a nice-to-have.

Following the latest EPA enforcement alert, petroleum refineries and ethylene plants are facing intensified oversight and significant penalties for benzene and VOC exceedances. If your wastewater treatment train isn’t keeping up, your risk profile is increasing.

Koch Modular engineers and delivers high-efficiency steam stripping systems that help facilities:

- Drive benzene and VOC concentrations down to ~5 ppb
- Reduce fouling with optimized tray design
- Capture energy with integrated spiral plate heat exchangers
- Resist corrosion with 316SS and Duplex 2205 metallurgy
- Compress schedules and reduce site risk via modular fabrication
- Operate with confidence, backed by a process performance guarantee

In our latest Q&A, Tom Schafer, Co-founder & VP of Koch Modular, explains the engineering behind high-performance benzene stripping and what it takes to reliably meet tighter discharge limits.

If your site is preparing for stricter enforcement, now is the time to evaluate your steam stripping system.

Read the Q&A: https://hubs.li/Q044FJLX0

02/06/2026

Great to see our donated pilot-scale KARR® liquid-liquid extraction column officially up and running!

"It's in full operation now with outlined experiments to run and students are loving it. A big thanks to George J. Schlowsky and Brendan Cross for making this happen," states Marisa Meier, Associate Director of Alumni & Corporate Relations, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at UT Austin.

We are proud to support hands-on learning for the next generation of chemical engineers!

01/28/2026

In a recent Hydrocarbon Processing article, Koch Modular’s Alan Erickson and Brice Caldwell examine how solvent selection governs process feasibility and economics, and when extractive distillation is the preferred solution for azeotropic and close-boiling systems, including a case study on separating the acetonitrile/toluene azeotrope.

Explore the full article here: https://hubs.li/Q040GyWW0

A. ERICKSON, Koch Modular Process Systems, Paramus, New Jersey (U.S.); and B. CALDWELL, Koch Modular Process Systems, St. Louis, Missouri (U.S.)

11/04/2025

From lab to pilot to commercial scale—sustainable innovation starts in process development.

In a recent Q&A with Lab Manager, Chris Rentsch, Process Development Manager at Koch Modular, discusses integrating sustainability in early-stage development for battery materials and metal recovery, optimizing solvent and energy efficiency, and advancing lithium-ion recycling technologies.

Learn more: https://buff.ly/0hVt7o4

Exploring the intersection of sustainability, safety, and scale-up in chemical engineering for battery and metal recovery