The Catalyst Review June 2024 - 3

Independent Perspective
The views expressed are those of the individual author and may not reflect those of The Catalyst Review or TCGR.
Advanced Catalyst Engineering Plays A Pivotal Role In The Energy
Transition
By Jérôme Bonnardot, PhD. & Benoit Durupt
Catalysts play a crucial role in various industries, enabling the transformation of raw materials into valuable products through
catalytic chemistry. As the demand for sustainable fuels and petrochemical products continues to rise, the industry faces significant
challenges in harnessing the full potential of current catalyst technology. However, amidst these challenges, new commercial
applications for catalytic chemistry are emerging, offering promising solutions for a more sustainable future.
One of the most pressing challenges is the production of genuine drop-in renewable fuels, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
or Bio-Diesel via Used Cooking Oil or Animal Fat. Current catalyst technology must address the need for efficient hydroprocessing
of renewable feedstocks. In particular, catalysts should face some specific constraints such as the noticeable presence of feed
contaminants and oxygenated compounds or the paraffinic nature of those feeds that require dewaxing to improve their poor
intrinsic cold flow properties. All those aspects have been at the heart of the development of Axens dedicated 700 series catalysts.
The growing concern over plastic waste necessitates the development of catalysts for the chemical recycling of plastics. Pyrolysis
oils derived from waste plastics can be reincorporated into steam crackers to produce valuable products. However, these
pyrolysis oils contain contaminants and unstable molecules that can disrupt the operation of petrochemical plants. Catalysts must
be designed to purify and stabilize pyrolysis oils, ensuring safe and efficient processing. 700 series catalysts, used within Axens
Rewind® Mix process, allows such purification of pyrolysis oils by deep removal of metals, chlorine, nitrogen, diolefins and olefins, as
well as the saturation of unstable molecules. This combination ensures recycling of end-of-life plastic and the production of virginquality
food-grade plastics.
Due to the non-negligeable contributions of raw materials, Axens is currently working to integrate Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) or
Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) at the early stage of the development of new catalysts to address the environmental demand for
greenhouse gas reductions and sustainability. Catalysts that reuse recycled raw material or are low carbon energy are key points to
minimize the environmental footprint of our catalysts.
In addition to developing innovative and sustainable catalysts, the industry is focusing on catalyst management and associated
services. Companies like Axens offer comprehensive solutions, including audit, consulting as well as engineering, product life
management, technical services and training. These ecosystems of tailor-made solutions ensure efficient catalyst selection,
predictive maintenance, performance monitoring and troubleshooting, making profitable the processing of these unconventional
feedstocks.
In conclusion, the challenges faced by the industry in current catalyst technology are being met with innovative solutions and
advancements in catalytic chemistry. The production of sustainable fuels and the chemical recycling of plastics are driving the
development of catalysts that exhibit exceptional stability, activity and contaminant management. These catalysts enable the
industry to transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy and Axens 700 series is the embodiment of this evolution.
Furthermore, the integration of low environmental footprint manufacturing and catalyst management services ensures the efficient
operation and maintenance of catalysts, optimizing their performance and lifespan. As the industry continues to evolve, advances
catalyst engineering will play a pivotal role in addressing environmental concerns and meeting the growing demand for more
sustainable products.
Your Authors
Technology Development Manager & Hydrocracking and
Hydroprocessing Director Expert, Axens
Jérôme Bonnardot
The Catalyst Review
Jérôme Bonnardot, after earning his Master
of Science in Chemistry from the University
of Notre Dame (USA) and his PhD Degree
from the Université de Lyon (France), joined
IFPEN in 1994 as Research Engineer and
moved to Axens in 2001 as the Process
Design Engineer, Deputy Technical Manager
and Hydroprocessing and Hydrocracking
Director Expert.
Benoit Durupt joined
Global Market Manager - Hydrotreatment, Axens
Axens in 2005
following a master's degree in IFP
school. He spent almost 20 years in the
hydrotreating field, having first worked as
process engineer and technical assistance.
He joined the commercial division in 2015
and was account manager for catalyst
division in western europe and south
america until 2021, when he moved to his
current position.
Benoit Durupt
June 2024
3

The Catalyst Review June 2024

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