What Macbeth does

MACBETH (Membranes And Catalysts Beyond Economic and Technological Hurdles) is a European research consortium launched in 2019 and funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 869896, with approximately €16.6 million in total funding. The project is coordinated by Evonik Operations GmbH, headquartered in Marl, Germany, and brings together 27 partners spanning industrial corporations (including Evonik, Johnson Matthey, Solutex, Engie, Tüpraş, LiqTech, H2SITE, ICI Caldaie, NEXTCHEM) and academic and research institutions (TU/e, DTU, UNISA, FAU, Politecnico di Milano, University of Brescia, CSIC, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, TECNALIA, CNH2, VITO).

The consortium's core technology is the Catalytic Membrane Reactor (CMR), a process-intensification architecture that integrates catalytic synthesis with membrane-based separation inside a single reactor vessel, replacing conventional sequential reaction-then-separation process trains. MACBETH advanced this platform across four industrial demonstration cases: HyFo (hydroformylation at Evonik's Marl site), H2 (hydrogen from biogas and natural gas via Membrane-Assisted Steam Reforming and Autothermal Reforming), PDH (propane dehydrogenation with >95% propylene selectivity), and BOC (enzymatic enrichment of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, raising concentration from ~30% to >50%). Underpinning components include Pd-based double-skin membranes scaled by TECNALIA to 125 units, Pt-Sn and Pt-based PDH catalysts from UNISA and Tüpraş, and monolith supports from Rauschert.

MACBETH is not a commercial entity: it has no product pricing, no paying customers, and no revenue. Its business model is grant-funded collaborative R&D, with technology-transfer and dissemination conducted through peer-reviewed publications, conferences (ICCMR16, ACHEMA, ECCE/ECAB, ICC 2024), webinars, newsletters, and direct industry engagement. The project concluded its main phase with a final review meeting at Evonik in February 2025, and discussions on a successor programme are underway.

Name

Macbeth

Legal name

MACBETH Consortium

Website

https://macbeth-project.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MACBETH is an EU Horizon 2020-funded research consortium developing Catalytic Membrane Reactor (CMR) technology for process intensification across hydrogen, propylene, hydroformylation, and omega-3 applications, coordinated by Evonik with 27 industrial and academic partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Process Technology

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251), Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Industrial Gas Manufacturing (325120)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Petroleum Refining (2911)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical Processing Equipment (Reactors, Mixers, Agitators) (IMAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Post-combustion Capture Systems (Membranes & Hybrid Membrane Processes) (EUABAGAC), Refinery Hydrogen & Utilities Systems (SMR/ATR, Steam, Power, Water) (EUALAGAI)

Keywords

• Catalytic membrane reactors
• Process intensification technology
• Advanced downstream processing
• Hydrogen production membranes
• Propane dehydrogenation reactors

Headquarters

HQ city

Marl

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MACBETH develops Catalytic Membrane Reactor (CMR) technology that combines catalytic synthesis with membrane separation in a single reactor vessel. The consortium demonstrated the technology across four industrial cases: hydrogen production from biogas (H2), propane dehydrogenation to propylene (PDH), hydroformylation (HyFo), and bio-based omega-3 fatty acid enrichment (BOC).

Product overview

MACBETH is an EU-funded research consortium (not a commercial company) developing catalytic membrane reactor (CMR) technology. The project focuses on four industrial demonstration cases: Propane Dehydrogenation (PDH), Hydrogen production (H2), Bio-based Oleo Chemicals/Biodiesel (BOC) for omega-3 enrichment, and Hydroformylation (HyFo). The core offering is the CMR technology platform that integrates catalytic reaction with membrane separation in a single reactor unit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catalytic Membrane Reactor (CMR) Technology Platform A breakthrough process technology platform that combines catalytic synthesis with membrane separation in a single reactor vessel, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy and resource efficiency, and enable smaller, safer industrial production plants. Targeted at chemical, petrochemical, refining, and biochemical industries.
• Membrane-Assisted Steam Reforming (MA-SR) for Hydrogen Production A natural gas/biogas reforming unit that combines catalytic reaction and hydrogen separation in a single vessel, producing high-purity hydrogen at 40 kg/day capacity. For industrial hydrogen producers and energy companies pursuing decarbonization.
• PDH Membrane Reactor System A propane dehydrogenation process using catalytic membrane reactors to achieve propylene selectivity exceeding 95%, with lower operating temperatures to mitigate catalyst deactivation. For petrochemical refiners and propylene producers.
• BOC Omega-3 Fatty Acid Enrichment Process A membrane-based enrichment process for omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil using enzymatic transesterification, achieving omega-3 concentration increase from approximately 30% to over 50%. For nutraceutical and food ingredient producers.
• HyFo Hydroformylation Membrane Reactor A membrane-assisted hydroformylation reactor system for oxo-chemical production, demonstrated at the Evonik Marl site for more than 5,000 hours of operation. For chemical manufacturers producing aldehydes and alcohols.
• Pd-Based Double-Skin Membranes Palladium-based double-skin membranes on ceramic supports for hydrogen separation, scaled up to 125 membrane units by TECNALIA. For industrial hydrogen separation applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in large-volume industrial processes
• +7 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Evonik Operations GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Project coordinator and lead partner, providing the HYFO (hydroformylation) demonstration site at the Marl, Germany facility. Evonik hosts the HyFo demonstrator and MACBETH final review meeting. Prof. Robert Franke serves as Project Coordinator.
• Technical University of Denmark (DTU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Academic partner leading catalyst development for hydroformylation; DTU researchers (Leonhard Schill, Mahtab Madani) presented at ICC 2024 Lyon. Expertise in Supported Liquid-Phase (SLP) catalyst development.
• Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Academic partner leading membrane reactor research for H2 and PDH applications. Prof. Fausto Gallucci serves as a key researcher. TU/e hosts the PDH TRL5 demonstrator and Winter School 2024. Dr. Serena Agnolin defended a Cum Laude PhD thesis on Pd-based membranes developed within MACBETH.
• Fundación TECNALIA Research and InnovationcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019Partner responsible for scaling up Pd-based double-skin membrane production to 125 membrane units. TECNALIA organized ICCMR16 in Donostia-San Sebastián 2023. Dr. Alba Arratibel presented on Pd-based membranes in the project webinar series.
• H2SITEcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019Technology partner that built the MA-SR (Membrane-Assisted Steam Reforming) reactor for hydrogen production from natural gas/biogas. H2SITE trained the CNH2 team for the H2 case test campaign and collaborated on membrane reactor commercialization.
• CNH2 - Centro Nacional del Hidrógeno (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019National Hydrogen Centre in Spain hosting the H2 case demonstrator. The facility was visited by IEA AFC TCP members and the Port Authority of Nador (Morocco) delegation. Diego Rodríguez serves as CNH2's lead contact in MACBETH.
• EngiecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Energy company coordinating H2 demonstration activities at the Bio-Valo Methelec Biogas Plant in Ennezat, France. Engie coordinates preparation works for the ATR pilot reception and connection.
• Tüpraş (Türkiye'nin Petrol Rafinerileri A.Ş.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Turkey's leading energy producer and largest industrial company, hosting the PDH TRL6 demonstrator at its refinery. Tüpraş scaled up Pt-based PDH catalysts to approximately 1 kg for pilot operation and successfully achieved >95% propylene selectivity. Part of the 7th largest refinery in Europe.
• University of Salerno (UNISA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Academic partner developing Pt-Sn-based catalysts for propane dehydrogenation. UNISA formulated the benchmark catalyst referenced by Tüpraş. The UNISA demonstrator achieved >50 hours of operation with propane conversion near equilibrium limit and >95% propylene selectivity.
• Solutex GC SL (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Industrial host for the BOC case omega-3 fatty acid enrichment demonstrator at its Spain facility. The BOC pilot plant has accumulated >2000 hours of demonstration time processing >4000 litres of crude fish oil. Solutex celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024 featuring the MACBETH demonstration plant.
• Enzymicals AG (Germany)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019Biotechnology partner responsible for the enzymatic flow reactor component of the BOC case. Enzymicals hosted assembly and testing of the pilot plant before its shipment to Solutex. Dr. David Liese contributed expertise on enzymatic omega-3 enrichment.
• ChiralVision BV (Netherlands)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019Partner specializing in biocatalysis for the BOC case; Dr. Rob Schoevaart presented the final webinar of the series on membrane reactors for BOC. Expertise in immobilized enzymes for omega-3 fatty acid enrichment.
• Johnson Matthey PLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Specialty chemicals and sustainable technologies company contributing to the MACBETH project. Published 'MACBETH: A Revolution in Catalytic Reaction Technology' in Johnson Matthey Technology Review (2023).
• ICI Caldaie S.p.A.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019Italian industrial boiler manufacturer responsible for assembling the ATR (AutoThermal Reforming) pilot for hydrogen production from biogas. ICI Caldaie hosted the official presentation of the 'Pure Hydrogen from Biogas' system.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum HereonsecondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019German research centre contributing expertise in polymeric membranes for hydrocarbon separations. Dr. Torsten Brinkmann presented a webinar on polymeric membranes for membrane rector applications.
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Academic partner working on the HyFo (hydroformylation) case. PhD candidate Asem Al-Shaibani develops catalysts and tests the integrated membrane reactor system; presented webinar on membrane reactors for HyFo.
• PNO Group / PNO Innovation BVcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2019EU research and innovation consultancy serving as the data controller for MACBETH's privacy and GDPR compliance, and responsible for dissemination and communication activities of the project.
• VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V. (VITO)secondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019Belgian research organization contributing to the BOC case, working alongside Enzymicals and Solutex on the omega-3 enrichment pilot plant.
• Politecnico di MilanosecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Italian academic partner contributing to MACBETH's research activities within the consortium.
• Università degli Studi di Brescia (UNIBS)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Italian university contributing expertise, including Dr. Gioele Di Marcoberardino featured in the Faces of MACBETH series.
• Rauschert Kloster Veilsdorf GmbHsecondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019Industrial partner providing optimized monolith support materials for the HyFo case, replacing former SiC monoliths in the demonstration reactor.
• LiqTech InternationalsecondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019Technology partner providing ceramic membrane solutions as part of the MACBETH consortium.
• Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Spanish national research council contributing to MACBETH's membrane technology research.
• Microinnova Engineering GmbHsecondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019Engineering partner responsible for procurement of all parts of the BOC case demonstrator plant and its successful construction in fall 2023.
• NEXTCHEM (Maire Tecnimont)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Joined the consortium in March 2023; responsible for design scale-up activities at industrial scale for the MACBETH project.
• Modelta B.V.secondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019TU/e spin-off company providing membrane modelling expertise. Michele Ongis (Modelta) opened the MACBETH webinar series and is completing a doctoral thesis on membrane modelling.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• H2SITE: Tecnalia spinoff and MACBETH partner commercializing membrane-based hydrogen separation and production. Directly comparable as a membrane reactor technology company that has already transitioned MACBETH-style research into commercial H2 products.
• NEXTCHEM (Maire Tecnimont): MACBETH partner responsible for industrial-scale design scale-up. Comparable as a process technology and engineering company that already holds the rights to commercialize MACBETH's scale-up designs, making it a direct counterpart for any future commercial vehicle.
• ITM Power: UK-based hydrogen production equipment manufacturer focused on PEM electrolysis. Comparable as a hydrogen technology provider addressing the same industrial decarbonization demand that MACBETH's membrane-assisted reforming targets, although via a different production pathway.

Broad incumbents

• Lummus Technology: Licensor of CATOFIN PDH technology, a direct competitor to MACBETH's CMR-based PDH approach. Comparable as a major process technology provider serving the same petrochemical and refining customer base targeted by MACBETH's PDH case.
• Topsoe: Global leader in hydrogen, ammonia, and refining catalysts and process technology. Directly comparable for the H2 case (SMR/biogas-to-hydrogen) where MACBETH reports a 17% efficiency uplift, and for hydroformylation (HyFo) catalyst and process know-how.
• Honeywell UOP: Owner of Oleflex, the leading licensed propane dehydrogenation (PDH) technology. Directly comparable as the established incumbent whose market share MACBETH's PDH case (Tüpraş TRL-6 demonstrator) would compete against for next-generation on-purpose propylene production.
• Linde: Global industrial gases leader with deep hydrogen production, distribution, and clean-energy franchises. Comparable as a major incumbent in the same H2 production and clean-energy end-markets that MACBETH's biogas-to-hydrogen case targets.
• Johnson Matthey: Specialty chemicals and sustainable technologies company, MACBETH partner, and major licensor of process catalysts (including hydrogen and petrochemical processes). Comparable as a leading catalyst/process IP holder whose Johnson Matthey Technology Review has published on MACBETH and who could absorb or compete with its technology.
• Evonik: MACBETH project coordinator and host of the HyFo demonstrator at Marl. Comparable as the lead industrial partner and a major specialty chemicals company with existing membrane, catalyst, and process technology portfolios across the same end-markets MACBETH targets.

Emerging players

• Compact Membrane Systems: US-based membrane technology company developing membrane-based separations for chemical processing, including fluoropolymer and other specialty membranes. Comparable as an emerging player in the industrial membrane separation space, addressing similar process intensification use cases to MACBETH's CMR.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@macbethproject742
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/macbeth-h2020
• Xx.com/MACBETH_H2020

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Macbeth