Page 169 - CW E-Magazine (8-4-2025)

News from Abroad

CATALYTIC TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Germany’s hte and Australian partners to work

on methane emission reduction from mines

Australian mining research organi-
sation, Mining3, and Low Emission
Technology Australia (LETA), are part-
nering with Germany’s hte GmbH to
accelerate the development of catalytic
technology to reduce methane emis-
sions from Australian mine sites.

The partnership is part of the
‘CATCH4: Catalytic Oxidation of
Methane Program’ funded by LETA,
a not-for-profit investment fund that
accelerates the development and large-
scale deployment of technology solu-
tions to reduce and remove greenhouse required performance which will in- technology, we aim to help mitigate the
gas emissions from critical industries. form their current readiness stage for environmental impact of these emis-
Methane, a greenhouse gas with a global large-scale deployment in Australian sions. Together with Mining3, we seek
warming potential 28 times greater coal mines and worldwide. These tests, to provide practical, sustainable solu-
than carbon dioxide, is a major con- scheduled for the first half of this year, tions that can make a real difference in
tributor to climate change. Addressing will provide crucial data to inform the the mining sector,” said Mr. Wolfram
methane emissions from mining is criti- design of pilot programs in subsequent Stichert, CEO of hte.
cal to reducing the industry’s environ- project phases.
mental footprint. Through this initia- The findings from this research will
tive, the CATCH4 project will explore “This collaboration represents a provide key insights into the viability of
the potential of catalytic oxidation pivotal step toward addressing the catalytic oxidation technology for large-
technology as an effective solution for global challenge of methane emissions scale methane abatement, supporting
methane abatement. in the mining industry. By leveraging industry-wide efforts to reduce green-
our cutting-edge catalytic processing house gas emissions, the partners said.
Phase 1, (CAT-Op) of the CATCH4 Mitsubishi Chemical licenses n-vinyl
project aims to evaluate promising
catalysts through comprehensive test- formamide technology to SNF
ing protocols. This approach aims to
provide valuable insights into catalyst Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical Group papermaking chemicals, water treatment
performance under various conditions, (MCG Group) has inked a license agents, and oil field chemicals. In 1993,
supporting informed decision-making agreement with France’s SNF Group MCG Group became the world’s first
for future commercialisation efforts. for its N-vinylformamide (NVF) manu- company to use its own technology for
In parallel to testing, phase one will facturing technology. the commercial production of NVF.
also assess and suggest a commerciali-
sation roadmap including suitable pi- NVF is a raw material of functional Under the license agreement, SNF
lot designs for next phases. hte GmbH polymers. Using the MCG Group’s will become able to manufacture and
will conduct assessments of various technology, SNF will start commercial process high value-added NVF mono-
catalysts to get insights to their ope- production of NVF at its new plant in mers and derivatives, thereby helping
rational envelopes. Leveraging its high Dunkirk, France as of this June. SNF is papermakers to increase the strength,
throughput experimentation capabi- specialised in the design and manufac- durability and recyclability of their
lities, hte will map out the conditions ture of water-soluble polymers. NVF products and contributing to the reali-
under which catalysts will meet the is a monomer used as a material for sation of a circular economy.

Chemical Weekly April 8, 2025 169

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