Clariant Upgrades Syngas Catalyst Portfolio for Better Sustainability and Profitability

Clariant, a company dedicated to sustainability in specialty chemicals, has launched its advanced Plus series of syngas catalysts—ReforMax LDP Plus, ShiftMax 217 Plus, and AmoMax 10 Plus—to enhance plant efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. These new catalysts, designed as drop-in solutions, offer significant environmental and economic benefits, which have now been confirmed through successful commercial applications.

Georg Anfang, Vice President of Syngas and Fuels at Clariant Catalysts, emphasized that the long path to decarbonizing the chemical and energy industries means every ton of CO2 reduction counts toward the net-zero goal. Clariant's Plus catalysts support this goal by improving the efficiency and sustainability of current assets and enabling the development of low-carbon applications like hydrogen and ammonia production. This latest product series exemplifies Clariant's commitment to advancing sustainable practices in the chemical and fuel industries.

The ReforMax LDP Plus series, for example, is a steam reforming catalyst used in hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol production. Its unique 8-hole, flower-like shape reduces reactor pressure drop by up to 20% compared to previous designs, leading to energy savings and extending the service life of reformer tubes. Since its initial installation over six years ago at a European ammonia plant with a 1,650 metric tons per day (mtpd) capacity, the ReforMax 330 LDP Plus has maintained a stable operation close to equilibrium, showing about 20% lower pressure drop. Thermal imaging has also revealed effective heat distribution in the reactor, contributing to enhanced productivity and efficiency across more than 40 production plants worldwide.

ShiftMax 217 Plus, a low-temperature water gas shift catalyst, builds on the strengths of its predecessor but with enhanced selectivity, reducing the formation of methanol, a regulated volatile organic compound (VOC) and undesirable by-product. This improvement allows ammonia producers to achieve higher yields with lower energy use. Installed at an ammonia plant in Europe, ShiftMax 217 Plus has cut methanol formation by over 50%, helping the facility meet VOC regulations with considerable cost savings expected over its six-year life.

AmoMax 10 Plus represents the latest generation of Clariant’s wustite catalysts for ammonia synthesis. Enhanced with an improved promoter set, this catalyst increases activity and resistance to contaminants, enabling faster startups, greater per-pass conversion, and lower loop pressure. Since its installation in a European ammonia plant in 2021, AmoMax 10 Plus has shown a 24% higher relative activity compared to its predecessor, delivering greater overall plant efficiency and the potential for increased ammonia production or reduced energy consumption.

Together, Clariant’s Plus series catalysts offer syngas producers a comprehensive suite of solutions for reforming, water gas shift, and synthesis. In the face of rising energy costs and the urgent need for emissions reductions, these innovations are positioned to significantly benefit both the industry and the environment, providing enhanced operational performance across the syngas value chain.