CATALYSTS
Powder & shaped PGM / C catalysts
others. Heraeus also offers custom development of shaped carbonsupported precious metal catalysts. These include extrudates, granules and other geometried based on carbon, engineered to deliver low dust formation, uniform flow distribution and enhanced structural stability in continuously operated reactors.
relevant for sectors where large catalytic volumes or cost-sensitive formulations dominate, such as agrochemicals or high-throughput intermediates.
This capability operates in parallel with the company’ s broader precious metal value chain, which – next to catalyst production – encompasses metal trading and recycling. The resulting closed-loop system supports traceable and resourceefficient management of precious metals throughout the entire catalyst lifecycle.
Lifecycle management & precious metal recovery
Lifecycle assessment and management has become an increasingly important dimension of catalyst selection. Precious metals represent both economic and environmental value, and recovering them from spent catalysts is essential for reducing long-term operational costs and minimising environmental impact. Modern refining processes can recover well over 90 % of precious metals out of spent material, integrating them back into the production cycle.
Heraeus’ s TÜV Süd-certified Circlear * programme extends this approach by enabling the use of catalysts produced entirely from recycled precious metals from the outset. These materials can offer up to ~ 99 % lower CO 2 footprint than primary metals. Such options allow manufacturers to align catalytic processes with sustainability goals without compromising purity, performance or process consistency.
Catalyst design for continuous processing
As the Fine Chem and Pharma industry continues shifting toward continuous processing, processes and catalyst design must also evolve. Classical powder catalysts, while well suited for batch hydrogenations, can present challenges in continuous reactor set-ups. Pressure drop fluctuations, dust formation, and channelling may occur and reduce overall process efficiency.
Against this background, the demand for shaped forms of carbonbased catalysts for hydrogenation and related applications is increasing. However, the transition to shaped catalysts introduces additional complexity in identifying a catalyst tailored to a specific production process.
In flow environments, mechanical robustness and controlled particle size are particularly critical. A wide range of shaped carrier types exist based on alumina( predominantly α- and γ-phases), titania, zirconia and
Conclusion
Taken together, the performance of a carbon-supported precious metal catalyst is not defined by its nominal loading nor general formulation but by the combined influence of carrier selection, precursor chemistry, synthesis route, process integration and lifecycle strategy.
As the field moves toward more selective transformations, continuous operation, and lower carbon footprints, integrated capabilities that address the increasingly complex technical and sustainability requirements of modern hydrogenation chemistry will become increasingly decisive in enabling reliable, future-ready catalysts. ●
*- Circlear and HeraSelect are trademarks of Heraeus
J j
Dr Artur Gantarev
GLOBAL TECHNICAL SALES MANAGER
HERAEUS PRECIOUS METALS artur. gantarev @ heraeus. com www. heraeus-precious-metals. com
70 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981