Haldor Topsoe to provide PetroAlgae with catalyst
March 30, 2011
BY Luke Geiver
PetroAlgae has formed a partnership to upgrade the Melbourne, Fla.-based company’s algae oil technology, and the upgrade comes from known, traditional methods: catalysts. Through a new agreement with Haldor Topsoe A/S and its U.S. subsidiary Haldor Topsoe Inc., PetroAlgae will now use catalysts provided from the subsidiary's Houston headquarters to enhance the oils produced through its algae refining process that includes coking and pyrolysis.
The agreement will also allow PetroAlgae to test the algae biomass produced from its system in refinery cokers and “validate the commercial viability” of the process according to John Scott, chairman of PetroAlgae. In a statement on the partnership, Niels Sorenson, CEO for Haldor Topsoe A/S, touted the ability of PetroAlgae to produce at a cost competitive level compared to fossil fuels, adding that “Haldor Topsoe is committed to renewable fuels and we are excited about implementing projects that will help reach the goals set for renewable fuels around the world.”
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In a recently released 2010 annual report, Haldor Topsoe directors noted that the last year was “characterized by progress” in most business areas, and that the catalysis sector of their business provided profits. The report also points out the company’s focus on syngas production that would allow them to manufacture various chemical products, all based on renewable energy raw materials. “We expect that a lot of this development work, which is in our pipeline, stretching from fundamental research to industry, will ensure our continued development and growth,” the report stated. It also said last year “was characterized by a very large international activity within the areas of energy, fertilizers and environment, and we are experiencing more focus on processes that ensure a better utilization of the world’s natural resources.”
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