Advanced Catalysts--Global Developments

SUMMARY

Intense Research and Development Required to Create Economical and Advanced Catalysts

A spate of new technologies notwithstanding, advanced catalyst markets will have to dedicate a lot of resources to research and development to come up with mature, high-performance, yet cost-effective technologies. Although the intensely competitive catalyst industry is driving down prices of catalysts, they are still very expensive. Some catalyst producers are lowering the amount of precious metals in their products to reduce prices, while some others are collaborating with companies with innovative technologies to meet market demand for sophisticated catalysts.

This Frost & Sullivan's Technical Insights study provides an overview of advanced catalysts. It examines technology and applications viewpoints, technology adoption and commercialization, and provides an assessment of research and innovation in advanced catalysts. The research enables companies to align their positioning strategies to benefit from the changing technologies.

Alternative Novel Technologies and Stringent Environmental Regulations to Improve Efficiency of and Opportunities for Catalysts

Significant research and constant launch of various technologies in advanced materials are making catalyst technologies more efficient and cost effective. While alternative conversion technologies including gas to liquid (GTL) -- which converts natural gas to synthetic oil -- have increased in volume and importance, fuel cells and the hydrogen economy are also beginning to win the confidence of their users. The introduction of such innovative technologies is underlining the need for new catalysts. "Research in catalysis such as single site and selective oxidation is poised to enable improved efficiencies and selectivity," says the analyst of this research. "Further, it might also open up possibilities of catalysis for new reactions."

Meanwhile, high environmental concerns are encouraging a rapid shift to cleaner fuels such as methanol, hydrogen, and more fuel-efficient cells. With the introduction of stringent emission norms for various pollutants, multi-pollutant control technologies are being developed to provide integrated treatment of multiple pollutants, instead of the standard approach of add-on technologies for each pollutant. "Various government bodies are generating greater awareness about environmental conservation, and strict rules and regulations are forcing manufacturers to come up with more environment friendly catalytic products," comments the analyst.

Chiral Catalysts for Pharmaceuticals Drive New Catalyst Development

Companies that can manufacture easily separable, noncontaminating enantioselctive chiral catalysts could be a big influence on the pharmaceuticals intermediate market. Consequently, catalysts and technologies that facilitate the development of alternative energy might have a huge impact on the economy as a whole. "Chiral technologies' growth could be fuelled by the need for enantiomerically pure drugs in the pharmaceuticals industry," notes the analyst. "This is, in turn, leading to the development of effective single-enantiomer versions of already approved racemic drugs."

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. Executive Summary
  • 1. Scope and Methodology
    • 1. Research Scope and Segmentation
    • 2. Research Methodology
  • 2. Assessment of Innovation: Key Findings and Applications
    • 1. Key Findings
    • 2. Key Applications
• 2. Technology and Applications Viewpoint: Advanced Catalysts
  • 1. Technology Standards
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. Properties of Catalysts
    • 3. Heterogeneous Vs Homogeneous Catalysts
  • 2. Applications Analysis
    • 1. Catalysts in Chemical Applications
    • 2. Catalysts in Polymer Applications
  • 3. Catalysts in Petroleum Refining Applications
    • 4. Catalysts in Environmental Applications
• 3. Technology Adoption and Commercialization: Advanced Catalysts
  • 1. Technology Accelerators and Barriers
    • 1. Accelerators
    • 2. Barriers
  • 2. Important Market Factors and Technological Trends
    • 1. Market Factors
    • 2. Technological Trends
• 4. Assessment of Research and Innovation in Advanced Catalysts
  • 1. University Research and Innovation
    • 1. Develop Hollow Nanospheres and Nanocrystals via High-Intensity Ultrasound--USA
    • 2. Breaking Down TCE 100 Times Faster--USA
    • 3. New Catalyst Increases Hydrogen Production without Using Toxic Metals-USA
    • 4. Produce Gold Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity--China
    • 5. Electrical Charging of Nanosized Catalyst: A Key Factor in Increasing the Rate of Reactions--Germany
    • 6. Epitaxial Thin-Film Coating of a Photocatalyst Film Improve Photoreactivity--Japan
    • 7. Fabricate Bimetallic Nanoshells--China
    • 8. Generate Hydrogen from Sunflower Oil--UK
    • 9. Cost-Effective Process to Deposit Tio2 Photocatalysts with Nanosized Particles--South Korea
  • 2. Laboratory and Government Agency Research and Innovation
    • 1. Novel Method to Create Strong Metal/Metal-Oxide Interfaces for Maximally Dispersed Catalysts--USA
    • 2. New Catalytic Complex with Higher Chemical Reactivity--USA
    • 3. Emulsion Polymerization for Creating Three-Dimensional Ordered Macropores--China
    • 4. Use Ceria Nanoparticles for Better Catalysts--USA
    • 5. New Recyclable Catalyst Catalyzes Chemical Reactions without Producing Waste--USA
  • 3. Company Research and Innovation
    • 1. Bio-Organic Catalysts: An Alternative to Harsh and Caustic Chemicals--USA
    • 2. Power Plastic: Converting Light to Energy--USA
    • 3. Titanium Dioxide as a Catalyst--Germany
    • 4. Catalysts for Polyolefins--Switzerland
    • 5. Accelerating the Rate of Catalysts Innovation--USA
    • 6. Design Catalysts at the Atomic Scale--USA
• 5. Patents and Key Contacts
  • 1. Patents
    • 1. Chemical Catalyst Patents
    • 2. Polymer Catalyst Patents
    • 3. Petroleum Refining Catalyst Patents
    • 4. Environmental Catalyst Patents
  • 2. Key Contacts
    • 1. Companies
    • 2. Universities and Government Bodies
• 6. Frost & Sullivan 2005 Science and Technology Awards
  • 1. Excellence in Technology Award
    • 1. Award Description
    • 2. Award Recipient
  • 2. Product Innovation Award
    • 1. Award Description
    • 2. Award Recipient
  • 3. Technology Innovation Award
    • 1. Award Description
    • 2. Award Recipient
• 7. Critical Reference Tables
  • 1. Decision Support Database
    • 1. Vehicles in Operation (1996-2004)
    • 2. Total Vehicle Production (1996 to 2004)
    • 3. CO2 Emissions (1999 to 2009)
    • 4. SO2 Emissions (1999 to 2009)
    • 5. Crude Oil Production (1996 to 2004)