The_Catalyst_Review_December_2023 - 6

BioForming® from Virent, Johnson Matthey Helps Power the First 100% SAF Transatlantic
Flight by a Commercial Airline
In what is being hailed as a world first, Virgin Atlantic recently operated the first drop-in 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
flight by a commercial airline from London Heathrow to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The flight was
made possible by the BioForming® technology invented by Virent and jointly developed for commercialization by Virent and
Johnson Matthey. Unlike other flights, which have used a percentage of SAF mixed with conventional jet fuel, the BioForming®
process enabled this Virgin Atlantic flight to be powered entirely by SAF made from sustainable feedstocks, with no changes
to the aircraft or its fueling system infrastructure. Existing aircraft and fueling systems require a component in the fuel called
'aromatics', which help prevent the fuel from leaking around seals, among other benefits. SAF does not typically contain any
aromatics, but the BioForming® process has changed this by converting sustainable plant sugars into a bio-aromatic product,
BioForm® Synthesized Aromatic Kerosene (SAK). This can be blended with other types of SAF to increase SAF content up to,
and including, a drop-in 100% alternative to conventional jet fuel, which is able to meet the accepted international standard
for jet fuel (Jet A). SAK also improves lubricity, viscosity and density, and produces a cleaner burning fuel. Source: Johnson
Matthey, 11/28/2023.
PYROCO2 to Build CO2
-to-Acetone Pilot Plant in Norway
PYROCO2 is demonstrating the scalability and economic viability of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) to produce climatepositive
acetone from industrial CO2
an energy-efficient thermophilic microbial bioprocess, poised to
reduce 17 million tonnes of CO2
The acetone generated through the PYROCO2
and hydrogen generated from renewable electricity. At the heart of this technology lies
equivalent emissions by 2050.
process is an ideal
. The
platform for subsequent catalytic synthesis, enabling the creation
of various chemicals, synthetic fuels, and materials from CO2
PYROCO2
demonstrator plant is planned to be situated strategically
within Herøya Industrial Park in southern Norway. The Herøya
peninsula, with surrounding industrial areas, represents Norway's
largest industrial cluster. The main business areas are within fertiliser,
cement, metallurgy, chemical, material, and energy industries, as well
as the manufacturing of electrolysers. In this region, the capture of
400,000 tonnes of CO2
is scheduled to start in 2024, connected to
the large-scale CCS project 'Northern Lights,' a part of 'Longship,'
the Norwegian Government's full-scale carbon capture and storage
project. Sustainability and decarbonisation are high priorities for Herøya Industrial Park and its clients, leveraging on the
competitively priced, 100% green grid electricity. In parallel, CCUS is being evaluated as an alternative both for individual
plants and in-joint solutions. Source: Innovation News Network, 11/24/2023.
Industry Perspective continued from page 3
The Green Significance
In a world grappling with climate change and the depletion of fossil fuels, these catalysts score a point for sustainability. They enable renewable
resources to create valuable end products, reducing the environmental impact of chemical processes. By lowering catalyst loadings, they offer a
more efficient approach to chemical synthesis while being safe for various use cases.
The experience and knowledge of Apeiron Synthesis team supports the industry leaders both through consultations and simple sales process.
The industry, long searching for solutions that merge scientific knowledge with environmental responsibility, is witnessing the emergence of a
catalyst that could set a new gold standard for greener manufacturing: the ruthenium-based catalyst designed for ethenolysis.
Your Author
Rafał Gavin, PhD, was recently promoted to Chief Scientific Officer at Apeiron Synthesis, Poland. In 2007, Rafał began his
academic journey at the Warsaw University of Technology, securing his MSc in Chemistry. His quest for knowledge led him
to the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences. Under the mentorship of Professor Karol Grela, by 2013,
Rafał achieved his PhD, focusing on creating new ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts. Post-academic pursuits saw
Rafał contributing to various projects. Notably, he played a significant role in the European H2020 COSMOS project, which
centered on converting vegetable oils. His contributions to the field are marked by 14 patent applications and 12 scientific
papers. With a strong foundation in experimental synthesis, particularly with organometallic ruthenium complexes, Rafał
has spent more than 10 years Apeiron Synthesis, applying his expertise and driving advancements in catalytic olefin
metathesis.
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The Catalyst Review
December 2023

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