Catalysts represent a key technology to make industrial processes more efficient and sustainable. In fact, over 80% of all industrial chemical processes involve the use of one or more catalysts. Supported precious metal-based catalysts have widespread applications in the chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries due to their outstanding activities and selectivities.
Chemical Process Catalysts
Advancing your Processes with Heterogeneous Precious Metal-based Catalysts
Catalysts have a vital role to play in our efforts to decarbonize and advance our economy. At Heraeus, we provide reliable and efficient precious metal-based catalyst solutions that are tailored to your needs.
Chemical Process Catalysts based on Precious Metals
Heraeus Delivers Customized Catalyst Solutions
Heraeus offers deep technical know-how on precious metal-based catalysts and can deliver customized catalyst solutions to our customers. Furthermore, Heraeus provides integrated precious metal recycling solutions, which can help you to significantly lower your carbon footprint. At a time when the chemical, pharmaceutical and energy industries are subject to extensive transformations, we are determined to provide you with high-quality, cost-efficient and sustainable precious metal-based catalyst solutions to help you tackle your challenges effectively.
Discover more about the Applications for Supported Precious Metal Catalysts
Hydrogen Economy
The emergence of hydrogen (H2) as an energy carrier will undoubtedly lead to new challenges and opportunities on the catalyst front.
Heraeus offers leading precious metal-based catalyst solutions for the generation of hydrogen via electrolysis, combustion of hydrogen in fuel cells, decomposition of hydrogen carriers such as ammonia (NH3), hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), hydrogen and oxygen purification, methanation, as well as H2 burners.
Find out more about the Hydrogen Purification
Find out more about the Storing and Recovery of Hydrogen
Renewable Feedstocks - Green Chemistry
Sustainable and renewable feedstocks, such as biomass and plastic waste, are gaining importance in the chemical industry and can help to gradually replace fossil feedstocks. Heraeus has developed precious metal-based catalysts that are suitable for the conversion of various biomass feedstocks into value-added bio-based chemicals.
Find out more about renewable feedstocks
Heraeus also provides catalyst solutions for the upgrading of biomass-derived biogas to biomethane.
Find out more about methanation
Gas Purification
Many industrial processes and applications require feed gases of the highest purity and quality. Precious metal-based catalysts are essential for the manufacture of high purity industrial gases.
HeraPur® catalysts can be used for a variety of applications, ranging from the removal of harmful greenhouse gases, such as nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4), to the deep removal of carbon monoxide (CO) from synthesis gas streams.
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Bulk Chemicals
Precious metal-based catalysts are an integral part of chemical manufacturing and downstream processing.
Heraeus offers precious metal catalysts for a variety of (selective) hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, oxidation, reduction, methanation, and reforming reactions. We are also a leading catalyst provider for the industrial production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) via the anthraquinone process.
Fine Chemicals, Agro and Pharma
Precious metal-based catalyst technologies play an important role in the production of several fine and specialty chemical products, which are found in the flavors & fragrances, herbicides, and pesticides industries. In the pharmaceutical industry, catalyst materials find application in the syntheses of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) – highly complex, organic molecules that are derived via multi-step syntheses.
Find out more about our broad HeraSelect® Catalyst Portfolio on Activated Carbon
Space Propulsion Systems
With the strong recent increase in commercial space products and services, the demand for catalyst technologies that are used in the propulsion systems of rockets and satellites is rising. Heraeus has established itself as a market leader for iridium-based (Ir) catalyst systems that are utilized in the decomposition of the propellant hydrazine. Our platinum-based catalysts (Pt) also find application in the decomposition of green propellant alternatives, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
Our Latest News
Precious Metal and their diverse Potential
Specialty Chemicals Magazine
Heraeus Precious Metals and Hulteberg Chemistry & Engineering AB: Strategic partnership to deliver catalysts for the hydrogen economy
The partnership focuses on catalysts in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) systems and (reverse) Water-Gas-Shift (rWGS) applications.It will boost both companies’ standings in the emerging field of SOFCs and the hydrogen economy.
Ruthenium-based Catalysts and Ammonia Cracking
Precious Metal Figures Prominently in the Energy Equation
Read more in the Special Feature of THE CATALYST REVIEW - December 2022
Edelmetalle und ihr Potenzial für Zukunftsthemen - Wie Edelmetallkatalysatoren in vielen Feldern der Chemie neue Synthesewege ermöglichen
Durch innovative Edelmetall-Katalysatoren können fossile durch nachwachsende Rohstoffe ersetzt und neue Wirkstoffmoleküle in Pharma-, Agro- oder Feinchemie gebildet werden.
Read more in CHEMANAGER - December 2022 (only available in german)
Joint research project for the sustainable production of ethene
As part of the SynGas2Ethene project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Heraeus Precious Metals is working with project partners to develop a technology pathway for the sustainable production of ethene. Read here the press release.
New precious metal catalyst to make cellulose usable as raw material for chemicals
The new ruthenium-based precious metal catalyst offers the best conditions for efficient formation of DFF from 5-HMF for versatile use in bio-based products.
Precious Metals for Green Chemicals
Precious metal-based catalysts for the efficient conversion of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) into 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) to produce phenolic resins.
New Precious Metal Catalyst from Heraeus Successful in Lignin Conversion
31.03.2022: Heraeus Precious Metals has developed an industrial precious metal catalyst for efficient lignin conversion in collaboration with Johannes Kepler University Linz. The catalyst is highly suitable for the conversion of the natural substance lignin to phenolic components on an industrial scale and has already been registered for patent.
Black Powder for Green Chemicals
Heraeus Precious Metal-based Catalysts for the Efficient Conversion of Lignin into Phenolic Resins
Find out more in the Industry Perspective of THE CATALYST REVIEW - February 2022
Get in Contact with our Experts for Chemical Process Catalysts
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