A catalyst for innovation
Metafrax and the Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have agreed to implement new projects in the field of gas chemistry.
The company "Metafrax Chemicals" and the Federal Research Center "Institute of Catalysis named after G.K. Boreskov Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences "(FRC "IC SB RAS") has signed a cooperation agreement on the implementation of joint projects in the field of gas chemistry and catalytic technologies.
The document was signed by Ivan Feoktistov, Strategy Director at JSC Metafrax Chemicals, and Valery Bukhtiyarov, Director of the IC SB RAS, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as part of the Technoprom-2025 International Forum for Technological Development.
The partners plan to work on developing innovative technologies for the production of chemical products, create prototypes and implement the results in production. A significant area of cooperation is the development of new technologies that are effective not only at the level of laboratory experiments, but also when scaled to industrial volumes. Currently, the company and the institute are already cooperating on the creation of large-scale production of formic acid using innovative technology developed at the Institute of Catalysis SB RAS.
- The peculiarity of the interaction between science and business is that speaking in different languages is often a barrier to development. The experience of cooperation with Metafrax Chemicals shows us that we do not need translators," said Valery Bukhtiyarov.
According to Ivan Feoktistov, it is necessary to develop catalytic research, as it is primary and affects the final economics of the product.
- We are currently considering a number of new products that match our strategy, so we are well aware of how important it is to support a competent partner in all aspects of the selection of catalysts. We are pleased to note that the Institute of Catalysis has not only preserved the legacy of the Soviet school of catalysis, but is also actively developing new areas of fundamental and applied research into catalytic processes," Ivan Feoktistov emphasized.
The joint plans include the creation of a technology for the production of formic acid from formalin. As part of the project, new catalysts are being tested, and a pilot plant for the oxidation of formalin into formic acid is being upgraded. It is planned to complete the tests before the end of the year to prepare a feasibility study for further steps.