The_Catalyst_Review_June_2023 - 8

SPECIAL FEATURE
Feathers in the CAP
TCGR's Catalytic Advances Program:
Technical Reports - The Year in Review
Eugene F. McInerney, PhD
The Catalytic Advances Program (CAP) is an information resource for research and development organizations in the
chemical, polymer, and petroleum industries. Each year, three in-depth CAP reports are prepared by The Catalyst Group
Resources (TCGR) and made available exclusively to their members. These reports, written by leading scientists and
experienced industry professionals, examine new process technologies and the latest technical developments, with
topics selected by the membership via ballot. This review captures the insights and conclusions drawn from each of the
three most recent Catalytic Advances Program (CAP) reports: 1. Advances in Catalytic Science for the Upgrading,
Conversion, and Co-Processing of Circular Feedstocks; 2. Advances in Electrification of Catalytic Processes; and 3.
Catalysts and Materials to Address the Energy Transition: Fuel Cells, Batteries, and Energy Storage.
Advances in Catalytic Science for the Upgrading,
Conversion, and Co-processing of Circular Feedstocks
The usage of fossil fuels has dramatically increased due to social activities, industrial progress, and rapid population growth. However,
excessive use of these resources has led to unanticipated price increases and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time,
such usage has helped spread awareness of
alternative, affordable, and renewable energy
sources. This report examines the nature of the
four principal energy sources-biomass, rubber,
fiber, and non-plastic organic waste-and the
conversion processes used to transform them into
value-added goods.
Biomass Conversion
Pathways for converting biomass feedstocks into
value-added products include thermochemical
upgrading of biomass pyrolysis oil, biochemical
fermentation of sugars to alcohols, and hybrid
thermochemical-biochemical conversion
technology. Thermochemical upgrading of
biomass pyrolysis oil includes hydrotreating,
Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) technologies,
and integrated gasification-Fischer -Tropsch
technologies. Catalytic pyrolysis is a promising way
to improve bio-oil quality by removing oxygenated
compounds, increasing calorific value, lowering
viscosity, and increasing stability (Figure 1).
8
The Catalyst Review
Figure 1. (a) Flow diagram of the steam explosion of biomass pretreatment and (b) AFEX process flow
diagram. Sources: Ziegler-Devin, et al., 2021, PennState College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, 2020
June 2023

https://www.catalystgrp.com/tcg-resources/member-programs/catalytic-advances-program/ https://www.catalystgrp.com/advances-in-catalytic-science-for-the-upgrading-conversion-and-co-processing-of-circular-feedstocks/

The_Catalyst_Review_June_2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The_Catalyst_Review_June_2023