PTQ Q3 2026 Issue

to selectively adsorb these polar impurities to trace levels, stabilising feed quality upstream of catalytic processing. By enabling feedstock flexibility while also reducing waste and operating complexity, synthetic amorphous silica adsorbents support faster, more resilient SAF scale-up. Beyond impu- rity removal efficiency, this engineered silica adsorbent can improve SAF project economics and speed to market by streamlining the pretreatment process. In many instances, Trisyl silica can partially or fully replace the water washing and caustic refining steps necessary with conventional bleaching earth. This minimises equip - ment needs, lowers water and chemical consumption, and simplifies permitting and wastewater handling. For SAF producers looking to accelerate timelines and lower the capital intensity of future projects, particularly retrofits of existing renewable diesel or refinery assets, this is a major advantage. Through technological advancements in silica engineering, the silica can enable producers to dramatically reduce their solid waste generation during pretreatment. Due to its high surface area, engineered pore structure, Ultimately, leveraging advanced feedstock pretreatment technologies, such as silica adsorbents, represents a practical and scalable pathway for SAF producers and strong affinity for polar contaminants, the engineered silica often requires significantly lower dosing rates than activated bleaching earth. Unlike clay-based adsorbents, it does not retain large volumes of oil within its structure. Together, these properties can reduce pretreatment solid waste volumes by up to ~85% compared to bleaching earth, based on manufacturer and industry application data. For SAF producers, this translates directly into lower disposal costs, smaller waste handling systems, reduced truck traffic, and improved lifecycle sustainability metrics – factors that increasingly influence offtake agreements and policy incentives. Synthetic amorphous silica contains no detectable crys- talline silica and is chemically inert; using it avoids the auto-ignition risks and oxidative side reactions sometimes

associated with bleaching earth and diatomaceous earth. These attributes align with the stricter safety expectations placed on new SAF facilities and support improved refinery operability at scale. Ultimately, leveraging advanced feedstock pretreatment technologies, such as silica adsorbents, represents a prac- tical and scalable pathway for SAF producers to improve feedstock quality, reduce pretreatment waste, simplify operations, and protect downstream catalysts, delivering both economic and sustainability benefits at a commercial scale today. TRISYL is a mark of W. R. Grace & Co. (Grace). A Danny Verboekend, Founder and CSO, Zeopore Technologies, danny.verboekend@zeopore.com The most opportune way to boost the industrialisation and commercialisation of SAF may be to evaluate technological advances in catalytic conversions involved in the hydro- carbon synthesis. Moreover, ideally, one focuses on the reactions most widely employed to produce SAF: hydro - processing (see Figure 2 ). In hydroprocessing, the length and shape of the hydro- carbons are conditioned to meet the stringent specifica - tions of SAF. In hydrocracking, the molecules are reduced to the right size, whereas isomerisation is performed to branch the typically very linear alkanes and thereby reduce the cold flow properties. Importantly, the key criterion is feedstock retention: losses to byproducts (typically lights) directly lower the efficiency of all preceding steps. The performance of hydroprocessing can be significantly boosted by using catalysts based on pre - mium accessible zeolites. Accessible zeolites are those that facilitate the access and transport of reactants and product molecules to and from the intrinsic zeolitic active sites. As compared to standard zeolite-based catalysts, the benefits of accessible zeolites are significant: boosting conversion, selectivity, and lifetime.1 This implies that per kg of SAF, less energy, less feedstock, and therefore less CO₂ emissions are required.2 The enhanced hydroprocess - ing performance provides a clear economic benefit, yielding more SAF for the same input of precious feedstock. However, other secondary benefits are not to be under - estimated in terms of economic and environmental impact. For example, accessible zeolites typically reduce the out -

put of undesired lights (C 1 - C₄). These species often find application for heat generation via combus- tion and therefore directly contribute to the emissions of CO₂. Fewer lights also relates to a reduced hydro- gen consumption, which is a costly and environmentally demanding resource. When combining reduced lights, reduced hydrogen consumption, and increased

Hydrogen

Hydroprocessing

Isomerisation

Cracking

Pretreatment

Removal S, N, O and other elements

Circular feedstocks

Renewable fuels

Z eopore

Fats, oils and grease (FOGs)

Heavy-duty trucks, shipping and aviation

Byproducts (lights)

Figure 2 Hydroprocessing flow diagram

PTQ Q3 2026