Evonik has unveiled a new generation of high-performance isodewaxing catalysts designed to boost the production of high-quality fuels and lubricants, while improving efficiency and reducing emissions across refining processes.
The technology integrates Belgium-based Zeopore’s proprietary mesoporized zeolite system into Evonik’s more than 75 years of catalyst design and precious metal expertise. The result is a catalyst platform aimed at helping refiners and renewable fuel producers increase valuable product yields, improve fuel quality, and streamline operations.
At the core of the breakthrough is a redesigned zeolite structure with optimized porosity. This allows better access to active sites, intensifies isomerization reactions, and reduces unwanted cracking.
In practical terms, that means higher selectivity, lower light gas formation, and more efficient hydrogen use—delivering a lower CO₂ footprint while maximizing throughput, especially for challenging and renewable feedstocks.
Performance testing shows significant gains. In diesel dewaxing applications, the new catalysts deliver a five-fold reduction in product losses compared with conventional solutions while maintaining higher activity.
In base oil production, they recover a notable share of lubricant typically lost during dewaxing. Their feedstock-agnostic mesoporization approach also ensures consistent conversion performance across a wide range of hydrocarbon streams, supporting production of lower-carbon fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel.
Evonik said it sees zeolite mesoporization as a key enabler of next-generation catalyst performance and has identified Zeopore as a leading industrial-scale supplier in this space. The company plans to scale integration of these materials through its global catalyst development and commercial network.
Michael Frey, Product Line Head for Process Catalysts & Adsorbents in the Catalysts business line, said: "We can now offer a new generation of isodewaxing catalysts that improve yields, cold flow performance, and carbon footprint. This reflects our commitment to delivering solutions that meet the evolving needs of the fuels and lubricants industry.”
Kurt Du Mong, CEO of Zeopore, added: "We are pleased that Evonik recognized the value of our mesoporous zeolites for dewaxing applications and will integrate our high performance materials into its catalysts portfolio. Through Evonik’s global reach, this technology will support refiners in producing higher quality fuels while accelerating the adoption of economically viable sustainable fuels.”
