News & Insights

The aviation industry faces a critical challenge: reducing its carbon footprint while meeting growing demand for air travel. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) offers a promising path forward, especially when produced from agricultural residues. In 2026, lignocellulosic technology has emerged as a key player in converting these residues into cleaner, efficient fuels. This post explores how innovations in this field, particularly the Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) process, are reshaping th

The biochemical industry faces constant pressure to bring products to market quickly while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and efficiency. One critical decision in project execution is the choice between modular and stick-built construction methods. This choice can significantly affect timelines, costs, and operational flexibility. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each approach helps project managers and engineers select the best path forward. Thi

Introduction — choose the implementation path that fits Upgrading an existing unit or building new capacity? Sulzer offers flexible delivery with guaranteed performance. You can choose from Full ISBL, skid supply, or a customizable scope. Our testing facilities allow you to validate outcomes before you commit. Integration options Retrofit You can insert distillation and, if necessary, adsorption into your existing line. This approach allows you to leverage current tanks and u

Introduction - one train for many feeds Biodiesel producers increasingly work with acid-esterified biodiesel and pyrolysis biofuels - both can carry sulfur and cold-flow issues that complicate compliance. Sulzer’s distillation addresses cold-flow and purity; when paired with adsorption, it reliably delivers <10 ppm sulfur. What makes these feeds challenging? Acid-Esterified biodiesel Residual contaminants and sulfur species can carry through post-reaction, requiring robust fi

Introduction - profitability through smart separation In biodiesel refining, every ton and every ppm matters. Sulzer’s biodiesel distillation solution blends high separation efficiency with lower operating and maintenance costs, enabling high FAME yield and predictable compliance - without complexity. The cost structure you can count on Low processing cost Expect typical processing costs of USD 25-30 per ton for distilled biodiesel. Static separation = lower maintenance Our a

Introduction - the chemistry behind clean, stable biodiesel Transesterified biodiesel can carry monoglycerides, moisture, color bodies, and trace sulfur each impacting performance and compliance. Distillation provides a robust thermal separation that refines FAME quality. When needed, adsorption polishing further reduces sulfur to <10 ppm, enhancing stability and compliance margins. Distillation mechanism - what we remove and why it matters Cutting monoglycerides to improve c

Introduction - why distillation matters for biodiesel quality Biodiesel quality determines whether you meet legislation and perform reliably in real-world conditions - especially at low ambient temperatures. Biodiesel distillation is a proven way to simultaneously achieve low monoglycerides, improved Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) performance (winter-grade biodiesel), and lower sulfur content. The result is a clear, stable, near-colorless FAME that builds market confidence

Introduction - from triglycerides to hydrotreating-ready feed FOGs are chemically complex. Conventional pretreatment struggles to make them uniform enough for hydrotreaters especially when metals, phosphorus, and chlorides are high. BioFlux™ TPT thermally converts these feeds: triglycerides become free fatty acids (FFAs) and PIONAs, contaminants are radically reduced, and oxygen is substantially removed before hydrotreating. Core mechanism - thermal cracking with purpose Trig

Introduction - the fast lane to competitive SAF Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) economics hinge on two variables: feedstock cost and hydrotreating efficiency. Sulzer’s BioFlux™ Thermal Pretreatment Technology (TPT) unlocks low-cost feedstocks including used cooking oil (UCO), distillers corn oil (DCO), and Category 1 tallow by drastically lowering contaminants (up to 96% metals, 99% phosphorus, 99.9% chlorides) and removing up to 50% oxygen before hydrotreating. The result is

Battery recycling is critical for sustainable resource management but traditionally involves complex, inventory-heavy processing systems. Sulzer has developed streamlined and modular process solutions that reduce equipment footprint and operational inventory while enhancing recovery yields. Sulzer’s hydrometallurgical technology for battery recycling targets the recovery of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese from spent batteries using compact extraction and purification u

Efficient process design increasingly relies on modular, skid-mounted units that integrate all critical equipment into compact systems. Sulzer leads the industry with fully factory-assembled, tested, and pre-engineered skid plants that deliver reliability and speed from concept through commissioning. Modular plants by Sulzer reduce equipment footprint by combining reaction, separation, heat exchange, and instrumentation into a single skid. These plug-and-play units simplify o

Food-grade phosphoric acid production demands high purity and minimal contamination, requiring sophisticated purification technologies. Sulzer’s dedicated purification solutions achieve these goals while streamlining operations and reducing inventory requirements. By leveraging modular equipment designs combined with optimized process flows, Sulzer enables: Higher throughput with smaller equipment Reduced spare parts inventory and easier maintenance Consistent product quality

Metal recovery operations such as those for spent batteries and catalysts traditionally involve complex and bulky equipment setups. Sulzer’s process simplification approach delivers technologies that optimize recovery yields while reducing operational inventory. Sulzer combines efficient liquid-liquid extraction with compact modular designs to enable hydrometallurgical recovery with: Smaller processing footprints Lower maintenance overhead Flexible, scalable systems that adap

In today’s industrial landscape, many facilities face the challenge of complex separation systems that require large equipment footprints and intensive maintenance. Sulzer addresses these issues with OptimEXT™, a flagship solution designed to simplify processes and reduce inventory needs. OptimEXT™ integrates Sulzer’s proven Kühni™ agitated column technology with advanced solvent recovery units into a modular, compact system. This reduces the space required by up to 60% compa

As industries face increasing pressure to address environmental challenges and comply with evolving regulations, Sulzer has embedded Sustainability & Environmental responsibility at the core of its corporate DNA. Through its comprehensive ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy, Sulzer actively drives measurable progress toward a more sustainable future. Key pillars of Sulzer’s sustainability strategy include: Setting ambitious carbon reduction targets with a goa

Meeting stringent sustainability and environmental compliance requirements while maintaining profitability challenges many industries today. Sulzer’s OptimEXT™ technology provides a highly effective solution, enabling green manufacturing by minimizing solvent losses, capturing valuable by-products, and facilitating the processing of renewable feedstocks. OptimEXT™ integrates advanced liquid-liquid extraction with high-efficiency solvent recovery systems, which together delive

Complex mixtures in pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and specialty industries often require adaptable separation processes that maintain product quality and meet diverse feedstock challenges. Sulzer’s EXCELOT™ platform addresses these needs with tailored batch and continuous solvent extraction and separation solutions. EXCELOT™ supports a wide range of applications from solvent recovery and multipurpose distillation to purification of heat-sensitive products like essential oi

Purifying organic acids such as acetic acid and formic acid while recovering high-purity solvents is essential in pharmaceutical, chemical, and specialty industries. Sulzer’s Solvent Extraction & Separation technologies provide efficient, energy-conscious methods tailored for these complex processes. Leveraging decades of process expertise and advanced liquid-liquid extraction equipment like Kühni™ agitated columns, Sulzer effectively concentrates and purifies dilute aqueous

Achieving high purity in specialty chemicals and solvents often requires the targeted removal of both polar and nonpolar impurities, a challenge addressed by Sulzer’s advanced Solvent Extraction & Separation solutions. These technologies enable precise impurity removal while preserving valuable product qualities and improving overall process sustainability. Sulzer’s flagship liquid-liquid extraction platform, OptimEXT™, combines high-performance Kühni™ agitated columns with i

Handling complex mixtures in industrial processes especially azeotropes, close-boiling compounds, and heat-sensitive products requires sophisticated separation methods that deliver high purity without excessive energy usage or product degradation. Sulzer’s OptimEXT™ platform rises to this challenge by seamlessly integrating advanced liquid-liquid extraction with highly efficient solvent recovery. Built around Sulzer’s proven Kühni™ agitated column technology, OptimEXT™ achiev