Heterogeneous catalysis

Technology
Technology details
Name:	Heterogeneous catalysis
Category:	Conversions
Feedstock:	Wide range
Product:	Wide range

Heterogeneous catalysis is a catalysis in which the catalyst and the feedstock are different phases. In practice, this often means that the feedstock is a liquid or gas and the catalyst is a solid, also known as solid catalysis. Heterogeneous catalysis is the most widely used form of catalysis in the current chemical industry. There is a wide variety of catalytic systems and many reactions can be catalysed with a solid catalyst. Examples are pyrolysis, hydro-processing, oxidation, amination, dehydration, hydrolysis, (trans)esterification, and isomerisation. Common heterogeneous catalysts are heterogeneous solid base catalysts and heterogeneous solid acid catalysts.

Feedstock

Due to the wide range of available catalysts and the large spectrum of reactions they can catalyse, the feedstock range for heterogeneous catalysis is significant. This ranges from biomass feedstocks such as lignocellulose (citation needed), lignin, cellulose, sugars, and fatty acids, to products derived from biomass, such as glycerol and furfural.

Process and technologies

A wide range of processes and technologies can make use of heterogeneous catalysts. Examples are pyrolysis, hydro-processing, oxidation, amination, dehydration, hydrolysis, (trans)esterification, and isomerisation. The most common heterogeneous catalysts are heterogeneous solid base catalysts and heterogeneous solid acid catalysts. Base catalysts have a high concentration of basic sites that ensures the catalytic activity, often from Ba, Ca, Mg, and Sr and can be mixed or doped. Soap formation is a recurring drawback of these systems. Acid catalysts get their activity either from Brønsted or Lewis acidity and are commonly zirconia, silica, zeolites or zeotype materials. Major advantages of heterogeneous catalysis is the ease of separation, recyclability and high selectivity. Current development for future heterogeneous catalytic systems are in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), magnetic catalysts, and solid phase ionic liquids.

Product

Heterogeneous catalysis is widely used throughout chemistry and a plethora of products can be made. Heterogeneous catalysis is often used in the production of biodiesel, but can also be employed in the pyrolysis process or in the production of many other value added chemicals.

Technology providers

Technology comparison

Company name	Country	Technology category	Technology name	TRL	Capacity [kg/h]	Catalyst	Temperature [°C]	Feedstock: Food waste	Feedstock: Garden & park waste
Company 1	[Country HQ location]	[Technology category (if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter Process and technologies)]	[Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]	[4-9]	[numeric value]			●	●
Company 2	[Country HQ location]	[(if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter Process and technologies)]	[Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]	[4-9]	[numeric value]			●	●

Sigma-Aldrich

Heterogeneous catalysis provider

General information
Company:	Sigma-Aldrich
Country:	USA
Contact:
Webpage:	https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/NL/en/products/chemistry-and-biochemicals/catalysts/hydrogenation-catalysts
Technology and process details
Technology name:		Technology category:	Conversion (Chemical processes and technologies)
TRL:		Capacity:	kg·h-1
Catalyst:		Temperature:	°C
		Other:
Feedstock and product details
Feedstock:		Product:

Patents

Currently no patents have been identified yet.