Catalysing tomorrow’s fuelsSustainable fuels are a key research interest of the Albemarle chemical company. That is why its Dutch branch participates in the CatchBio consortium, says director external technology Eelco Vogt. Companies and institutes have to co-operate to reach CatchBio’s ambitious goal, according to Vogt: “And we are in a hurry.”
The main activity of the Amsterdam-based Dutch branch of the Albemarle chemical company is catalyst production. Director external technology Eelco Vogt: “We produce catalysts primarily for oil refinery, but we also produce them for the polymer industry. Furthermore Albemarle provides fine chemicals according to the customer's specification, and we supply chemicals which enhance the performance of plastics, like flame retardants and antioxidants.”
Alternative fuel research is an important activity to Albemarle, Vogt says: “We investigate all possible technologies for sustainable fuels that involve catalysis, like bio-ethanol, biodiesel, gas-to-liquids and pyrolysis. After all, fossil fuels will run out sooner or later. If we want to switch to alternatives in time, we’ll have to start developing them now.”
Already a success
There is however a problem with that, Vogt says: “We don’t know which alternative will be the most suitable. So we have to bet on several horses simultaneously. That’s why we participate in a number of research programmes, consortia and one-on-one partnerships.” Co-operation is a necessity, Vogt explains: “A lot of disciplines are involved in developing alternative fuels. We’re just a catalyst maker, we can’t do this on our own.”
CatchBio brings together all necessary disciplines, Vogt says: “Which is made possible by the unique feature that the entire chain of chemical activities is represented in the Netherlands, as well as some excellent universities. CatchBio makes that even more special by gathering all this expertise in the same room. Thanks to that, there is a lot of co-operation that normally would not have existed. That already makes CatchBio a success.”
From lignin to ions
But the consortium also aims at more touchable goals as well. Vogt: “Basically, there are two things you can do with biomass: separate the interesting molecules from the uninteresting ones, or break it down entirely to produce synthesis gas. CatchBio looks into both approaches. I expect we will actually end up doing both: first we get the interesting molecules out of biomass. What remains will be converted into synthesis gas.”
Albemarle is involved in several projects within the CatchBio programme. Vogt: “For example, Bert Weckhuysen at Utrecht University is looking into catalytic conversion of lignin using catalysts dissolved in ionic liquids.” Lignin is a component of plant cells that cannot easily be converted into a useful substance for fuels. Catalytic conversion using the fact that ionic liquids can help dissolve the lignin would be a step in that direction. “We try to find catalysts that could aid this conversion.”
Revolutions take time
For now, CatchBio will mainly result in interesting publications and patents, Vogt says: “It is quite early to predict long-term results. The consortium wants to realise revolutionary innovations. That might take five to ten years. At the same time, it should not take too long: as soon as we have an alternative fuel, we have to adjust the existing infrastructure to accommodate it. That may take decades. But we should be ready by the time the oil wells run dry. That makes CatchBio so interesting: we are researchers from various disciplines, co-operating to reach very ambitious goals – and we are in a hurry."