CaSH - Catalytic Slurry Hydrotreatment: Final Project report

Catalytic Slurry Hydrotreatment (CaSH) was a public co-research project carried out by Åbo Akademi University, University of Oulu and VTT. The project was coordinated by VTT and was funded by Business Finland, Neste, Valmet, Fortum Waste Solutions, Meriaura, ESL Shipping, Savon Voima and BMH technology along with research institutes as part of the Neste Veturi ecosystem. The project was aiming at the development of a novel concept for the catalytic upgrading of lignocellulosic bio-oils for the production of renewable chemicals and fuels. This publication summarizes the results achieved in the project which was run between 01.01.2021-30.06.2023.

The main outcome of CaSH project was development of robust and scalable catalyst systems for the upgrading of liognocellulosic bio-oils in slurry hydrotreatment conditions. Catalyst preparation and slurry hydroprocessing of fast pyrolysis bio-oil have been developed in the laboratory and have been later verified at pilot scale. Process concept for the slurry hydrotreatment plant has been developed and was supported with technoeconomic and LCA assessments. Main developmental needs for further technology maturation in the follow-up projects have been discussed and summarised by the CaSH team.