The issue
Population growth, pollution and expansive industrialization have placed increasing demands on the planet’s finite natural resources. The chemical manufacturing sector is no exception in facing challenges to reduce waste and environmental impact, which is driving a shift to more sustainable practices.
With more than 80% of all commercially produced chemical products dependent on catalysis, catalyst rejuvenation, recycling and reuse are essential in supporting this transition. These strategies help to minimize waste and energy consumption while maximizing resource utilization, through the increased use of recycled and renewable feedstocks.
Evonik’s solutions
At Evonik Catalysts, we are developing innovative technologies that reduce the need to extract virgin natural resources and lower the carbon footprint of catalytic manufacturing processes.
Our solutions improve the efficiency and yields of chemical processes, enabling larger quantities of product to be produced in a shorter timeframe, reducing energy and resource consumption, and waste.
We’re already enabling refiners to reduce their waste with our Excel® rejuvenated catalyst, supporting customers in meeting carbon reduction targets by lowering Scope 3 emissions and minimizing landfill impact through the reuse of catalyst materials.
Our catalyst acquisition program has allowed us to transform spent hydroprocessing catalysts into an asset by accessing their full reuse potential – meaning more than 113,000 tons of spent catalysts have been kept out of landfill to date.
As specialists in low-carbon ammonia cracking, we provide a solution for the safe storage and transportation of hydrogen. We offer two types of catalysts for both centralized and de-centralized cracking technologies – nickel-based Octolyst® 1700 and ruthenium-based Noblyst® 3900.
How this drives sustainability
Our innovative approach is transforming catalyst features into value drivers for the benefit of our customers and the environment. It means we can create value from waste by harnessing the full potential of renewable and recovered raw materials, giving customers a competitive edge while helping create a more sustainable sector.
We focus on principles of a circular economy to promote sustainable practices in design and manufacturing, improving existing processes or developing new solutions from scratch. By recovering and repurposing catalysts and metals customers can benefit from environmental sustainability and bottom-line economic improvements.