Finland-headed oil refiner and renewable fuels producer Neste Oyj has announced that it is making donations to three Finnish universities. This funding is intended to foster groundbreaking catalysis research and strengthen long-term academic expertise across three areas: catalysis engineering (Åbo Akademi University), catalysis chemistry (University of Eastern Finland), and catalysis modeling (University of Jyväskylä).
According to Neste, the donation recipients were selected by paying particular attention to pioneering work in different but complementary areas of catalysis research, spanning from modeling to preparation and engineering.
Fostering research on catalysis is also essential for the expansion of Neste’s current and future raw material base, supporting the use of waste and residues from a wide variety of streams as raw materials. There is extensive catalyst research and development in Finland, and we wish to support the valuable work of the research teams and strengthen competence building in catalysis further, said Lars Peter Lindfors, SVP of Technology and Innovation at Neste.
Catalysts support the expanding use of diverse raw materials
Neste refineries produce renewable and fossil fuels for road transportation, aviation, marine, and industrial uses, as well as renewable and circular solutions for the polymers and chemicals industries.
Catalysts are essential in refining renewable, recycled, and fossil raw materials. Catalysts accelerate and direct chemical reactions during the refining process and transform various raw materials into a diverse range of high-quality fuel products.
As an example, one of these chemical processes at the refinery is hydrotreatment, during which impurities – such as sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen – are removed from raw materials.
The value of the donations has not been disclosed.
