If your catalysts aren’t working optimally, neither is your renewable fuel process. It’s that simple.
And that complicated. Because determining the right combination of catalysts takes extensive processing knowledge – and affects the success of your business today and tomorrow.
Renewable feedstocks require tailored catalyst solutions
Like all biofuel producers, you’d prefer maximum biofuel yield, on-spec quality, long cycle length, and optimal performance, right? But since your requirements are unique, the only way to achieve those goals is with a customized combination of catalysts.
These are just a few of the many things to keep in mind:
- Your catalysts must be perfectly suited to your feed – and perhaps even enable full feedstock flexibility.
- Each catalyst has a different, specific function.
- You must load catalysts in the right way and in the right order.
- Your catalysts must operate under conditions that optimally support your business.
What’s more, renewable feedstocks are completely different than fossil feedstocks. And different chemical reactions occur compared to fossil hydrotreating.
With scores of different catalysts in our portfolio and more constantly being developed, Topsoe can tailor catalyst selection to the precise demands of your business. We’ve been helping refineries like yours get the most out of feedstocks since the earliest days of renewable fuel production.
Getting catalysts right pays – getting catalysts wrong costs
Say you’re not using suitable catalysts in your biofuels process. Or maybe you’ve significantly changed your renewable feedstock but kept the same catalyst loading.
You’re risking a shorter catalyst lifetime and pressure drop build-up. More downtime and less yield. More expense and less profit.
But the right catalyst combination can increase your product yield and prolong the operating lifetime of your catalysts. It’s just good business.
When you work with Topsoe, you can start up your operation with improved selectivity and with a greater impurities level. You can also achieve better stability and market-leading nitrogen tolerance in your dewaxing catalyst system.
In fact, we have more running references in renewable fuels than anyone else.
Contamination – are you adequately prepared?
Processing renewable feedstocks entails both more and more severe contaminants than processing fossil feedstocks. And since contamination is irreversible, it’s especially important to have the right catalysts. Otherwise, you risk irreversibly contaminating your bulk catalyst and potential pressure drop build-up.
Contaminants affect catalyst life in different ways. That makes it even more important that you have the right catalyst loading in your reactors to get the desired product. Your catalysts must be able to handle increased severity with the same catalyst volume without compromising on yield or quality – while maximizing catalyst lifetime, of course.
With Topsoe, you don´t have to compromise on yield, quality, or catalyst lifetime. You can keep your present plant performance – and perhaps even increase it.
Download our whitepaper “The art of dewaxing while maximizing yields” if you’re interested in the effect of phosphorus contaminants when hydrotreating renewable feedstock:
Capitalize on future opportunities for biofuel producers
The feedstock you’re using today might not be the renewable feedstock you use tomorrow – especially when using unconventional feed. New generations of renewable feedstocks will impact catalyst performance. That’s why we’re also developing catalysts that will get the most out of next-generation feedstocks.
Topsoe leads the industry in R&D, reinvesting more than 8% of our turnover in research.
We’re always developing new and better catalysts – for current and future generations of biofuels. Our founder’s mindset lives on in our corporate culture: “If it’s not scientifically proven that something can’t be improved, we believe it can.” So no matter what generation or type of feedstocks you’re dealing with, you are always covered.
Peace of mind comes from working with the best
When you partner with Topsoe, you’re partnering not only with world-leading experts in catalysis, surface science, and emissions management. You’re also partnering with a company that takes a uniquely holistic approach to your plant and business. A 360° resource, if you will.
Ever since our first running renewable reference went online in 2010, we’ve been providing and gaining knowledge in renewables processing. And putting it to work to help plants like yours succeed.