Web exclusive posted July 31, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. CST

Baton Rouge, La.-based Albemarle Corp. has been awarded a multi-year order for catalysts from Finland-based Neste Oil Corp. to produce catalysts made exclusively for Finland-based Neste Oil Corp. for use in their NExBTL renewable diesel process.

According to the company, the proprietary NExBTL process delivers an advanced fuel based on renewable raw materials that performs more efficiently and has a lower environmental impact than fossil diesel or fatty acid methyl ester biodiesel. As well, NExBTL renewable diesel can be blended with conventional diesel fuel and is suitable for all diesel engines.
Neste Oil and Albemarle have worked together for several years to develop the catalysts for the NExBTL renewable diesel process. Catalyst deliveries are scheduled for 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Neste Oil currently operates one NExBTL plant in Porvoo, Finland, which was commissioned in 2007. A second NExBTL diesel plant is under construction in Porvoo, and is expected to go online in 2009. Neste Oil is also building world-scale NExBTL plants in Singapore and Rotterdam in The Netherlands.
"This order emphasizes the key role that innovative catalysis development has in accelerating the rapidly evolving area of alternative fuels," said John Kasbaum, division vice president of Albemarle's Alternative Fuel Technologies group. "Our collaboration with Neste Oil is an example of the significant efforts being undertaken all over the world to develop renewable fuels. We are pleased to be contributing to this exciting technology and look forward to our continued work with Neste Oil to help meet the world's growing clean energy demands."

Albermarle develops engineered chemicals which are used in many different processes, including the manufacturing of biodiesel.