Heraeus in electrolyser alliances
Heraeus Precious Metals has concluded two alliances in iridiumbased catalysts for proton exchange membrane ( PEM ) electrolysers for green hydrogen production . These comprise a strategic collaboration with its German compatriot Smoltek Hydrogen , a carbon nanotechnology specialist , and a potentially wider alliance with US-based ‘ clean chemistry ’ company Mattiq .
Heraeus and Smoltek will combine work together to reduce amount of platinum and iridium needed to coat porous transport electrodes ( PTEs ). These form the layer that carries water , hydrogen and oxygen from and to the PEM . In the novel concept , it functions as both the electrode and the catalytic carrier .
Smoltek has already achieved a 0.1 mg / cm ² iridium loading in PEM electrolysers and the two companies expect to further reduce it further still , for instance by applying Heraeus ’ ruthenium-iridium catalyst onto Smoltek ' s nanostructured PTE .
Heraeus and Mattiq have already been collaborating since 2023 when Mattiq verified the performance of a new ruthenium-based catalyst for PEM water electrolysis . They will now seek to low-iridium electrocatalyst materials for zero-carbon green hydrogen production , starting with PEM water electrolysers .
Mattiq has recently completed what it called the world ’ s most comprehensive study of lowiridium catalysts for PEM water electrolysis , in which it synthesised and characterised over one million unique catalyst materials using nanotechnology , chemistry and artificial intelligence .
Earlier , Heraeus had agreed to acquire the platinum API business of Umicore outside South America
in a deal it described as “ a unique opportunity for Heraeus to strengthen its position and product portfolio ”. The acquired business will become part of Heraeus Precious Metals . Terms were not disclosed .
Heraeus has sold a broad portfolio of oncology APIs since the 1970s , including Cisplatin , Carboplatin and Oxaliplatin . It will continue to offer Umicore ’ s versions of these for a transitional period to ensure continuity of supply . This all follows on from the expansion of platinum API production at the Hanau site in 2021 .
New Air Products CEO swings the axe
Industrial gases giant Air Products has terminated three US projects following a review initiated by its new CEO Eduardo Menezes . The company expects to record a pre-tax charge of up to $ 3.1 billion in its fiscal Q2 , primarily to write down assets and terminate contractual commitments .
Menezes , who had a long career with competitor firms Praxair and Linde , took the helm in January after previous CEO Seifi Ghasemi and two other directors lost their bids for re-election to the board . This followed a six-month proxy battle , led by ‘ activist investor ’ Mantle Ridge , which had criticised the lack of a CEO succession plan , relatively weak shareholder returns and Air Products ’ failure to secure off-take agreements before beginning large clean hydrogen projects .
The terminated projects comprise a sustainable aviation fuel expansion project in Paramount , California , with World Energy ; a 35 tonnes / day facility to produce green liquid hydrogen in Massena , New York ; and a carbon monoxide facility in Texas . These all faced either commercial or regulatory issues . Menezes said that the decision “ will streamline our backlog and focus company resources on projects that drive value for shareholders ”.
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