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 catalyst supply compared with fresh catalyst – for example, Excel® rejuvenated catalysts reduce CO₂-eq emissions by 60% compared with fresh catalysts (see 'TÜV-certified life cycle assessment').
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 through our regeneration, rejuvenation and metal-recovery services, spent catalysts are returned to use or recovered for their metals instead of being sent to landfill.
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. We create value from spent catalysts: through regeneration, rejuvenation and metal recovery, catalysts and their metals are returned to use instead of being sent to landfill.
We apply circular-economy principles in defined catalyst processes: catalyst regeneration, Excel® Rejuvenation and metal recovery return spent catalysts and their metals to use instead of replacing them with fresh material. By recovering and repurposing catalysts and metals customers can benefit from environmental sustainability and bottom-line economic improvements.