Green Chemistry

Renewable Feedstocks 

The negative impact of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming is widely recognized as a major and complex challenge for this decade and the decades to come. Although fossil feedstock currently dominate the chemical industry, renewable feedstocks represent promising alternatives to fossil resources. The aim is to reduce the carbon footprint and open up new routes to platform chemicals.

Conversion of Renewables to Value Added Materials

Renewable carbon raw materials such as biomass and CO2 represent an important element of the future circular economy. In particular, biomass as a highly functionalized feedstock, like sugarcane, harvest- or wood residues offers multiple opportunities for conversion into attractive platform chemicals. These biobased chemicals show a more attractive carbon footprint compared to their petrochemical analogues.

The paradigm shift and market need towards renewable feedstocks in the chemical industry has been recognized by Heraeus several years ago. Heraeus initiated a development program for precious metal-based catalysts targeting the conversion of various renewable feedstocks such as biomass, CO2 or waste plastics into value added, sustainable chemicals.

Heraeus as a global player in the precious metal industry offers a great variety of inorganic and organic precious metal salts and solutions. From these compounds Heraeus produces sophisticated heterogenous catalysts that help in the conversion of biomass into chemical intermediates and their further derivatization. At the end of the catalyst’s lifecycle, Heraeus also offers recycling services so that the use of precious metals is economically und ecologically sustainable.

Heraeus is actively looking for partners to build joint ecosystems and to join us on our mission towards a more sustainable future.

Green Chemistry - Renewables
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Individualized Catalyst Optimization

Many chemical and physical parameters can affect a catalyst. For this reason, Heraeus offers its customers expert advice to identify the best catalyst for a specific process. Depending on your individual needs, we support a variety of development arrangements for the formulation, scale-up and manufacture of catalysts. Through our unique stage-gate process we guarantee scalability from the lab, to the pilot plant and, finally, to full industrialization.​

  • Customized Solutions
    In many cases, very good results can be obtained with a standard catalyst product. Customer-specific solutions that go beyond a standard product require individualized catalyst optimization. Targeted selection of the best catalyst with the highest efficiency – that’s what we do.
  • Joint Development Formulations
    Synchronize your core competencies with Heraeus' catalyst know-how. We guarantee full confidentiality and protection of your intellectual property (IP) with the option of exclusive cooperation.
  • Toll Processing
    In addition to customized catalysts, Heraeus also offers contract manufacturing of precious metal catalysts to match customer formulations under toll contracts.

Work with our experts to find the best catalyst for each feedstock and to speed up your processes.

Success Stories for Catalysis of Biorenewables

Heraeus is working together with leading centres of academic excellence on the challenges, opportunities and issues of this innovative transition. With the help of our catalysts you are able to convert your feedstocks into bio-based products.

Get in Touch With Us

Would you like to know more about our services and products for the conversion of renewable feedstocks? Contact us - we look forward to hearing from you!