3D-cat B.V.

3D-cat applies 3D‐printing technology of ceramics (developed and patented by Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland, ECN) to new catalyst and sorbents knowhow (also developed at ECN) and produce and market tailor-made and optimized catalyst and sorbent reactor elements and micro‐reactors to replace current systems with loose catalytic materials, resulting in smaller plants at much lower cost. In the conversion industries, there is an increased focus on catalysis and sorption, to make the petrochemical industry more ef icient and sustainable through: faster and better reaction conversions at more modest conditions, smaller plant footprint and investment, integration of chemical conversion and heating/cooling functions, and better offgas treatment of power plants. The strong advantages of using 3D ceramic printing technology in the fields of catalysis and sorption are: optimal spatial design of catalyst or sorbent (for better operational hydraulics), optimal coverage of active components (e.g. metal thickness and spatial distribution), optionality of built‐in heating/cooling channels, and a very low waste production process of the reactor elements themselves. As a consequence of these, conversion reactors will be (much) smaller, which in turn will lead to much lower plant investment. In addition, the optimal design will lead to better conversion rates, which will result in higher efficiency and less waste. Finally, heating and cooling is expected to be more direct, thereby resulting in lower energy consumption per conversion amount.