The Catalyst Review December 2024 - 4

Independent Perspective
The views expressed are those of the individual author and may not reflect those of The Catalyst Review or TCGR.
Zeopore on the verge of driving more performant and sustainable
catalytic processes across large-scale industries
By Kurt Du Mong
Improved zeolite catalysts optimize current refining and petrochemical processes while pioneering
bio-based manufacturing and chemical recycling of plastic waste.
Belgian scaleup Zeopore is on the verge of a global breakthrough with its innovative enhancements to
synthetic zeolites-a critical catalyst component for industries such as refining and petrochemicals. As
Zeopore scales production and expands internationally, it is meeting growing demand across continents.
Its advanced zeolites boost petroleum refining efficiency and facilitate the conversion of plastic waste and
biomass into high-value products like chemicals and biofuels.
Zeolite catalysts are widely used in the
refining and petrochemical industry to
produce the desired automotive fuels
and petrochemical base chemicals. By
introducing
wider mesopore networks
into zeolites, their crystalline structures
become more accessible. Zeopore
pioneers
technologies
deliver
that
catalytic advantages such as
enhanced stability, crystallinity, and
acidity but also address economic and
process challenges traditionally linked to
the production of mesoporous zeolites.
Zeopore enhances catalyst performance
by optimizing selectivity and stability for
specific processes through precise tuning
of porosity and other zeolitic properties.
Using post-synthetic treatments in aqueous
dispersions,
not only
Figure 1. Evolution of the middle distillates yield as a function of conversion. Inset:
conversion as a function of reactor temperature. Source: Zeopore
we transform standard
commercial zeolites into high-performance materials. Our patented technologies successfully address
common commercialization challenges: avoiding expensive and harmful organic additives, minimizing
zeolite loss, simplifying separation processes, and improving reactor productivity. This approach provides
catalyst manufacturers with a major advantage over competing methods.
Discover
how
Zeopore's optimized
hydrocracking (HDC) zeolites deliver
superior performance. These mesoporous
zeolites yield 3-7 wt% more middle
distillates, depending on feedstock and
process conditions (Figure 1). Unlike
competing processes, this breakthrough
begins with intermediate, low cost Y
zeolites, leveraging the synergy between
mesoporization and existing post-synthetic
modifications. Even such unoptimized, lowcost
commodity zeolites can be upgraded
to
high-performance HDC catalysts
using Zeopore's proprietary modification
techniques and innovative processes. A
high-throughput testing campaign with
a leading refining company confirmed
Zeopore's exceptional
hydrocracking
performance, outperforming conventional,
un-mesoporized zeolite catalysts.
4
The Catalyst Review
Image 1. New production facility that Zeopore designed, built, commissioned
and tested. Source: Zeopore
In dewaxing, Zeopore achieves a fivefold reduction in diesel yield loss while significantly improving cloud
December 2024

The Catalyst Review December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Catalyst Review December 2024