Research Overview
Stringent Environmental Regulations Drive the Petroleum Refining
Catalysts Market
As countries throughout the world introduce legislation to reduce sulfur
content in gasoline and diesel as a part of environmental regulations for
refineries, the refinery catalyst business is expected to get a boost. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations in the United States aim to
reduce gasoline sulfur levels to 15 to 30 parts per million (ppm) by 2005.
Diesel sulfur content is also to be reduced to 15 ppm in highway vehicles by
2006. Emission regulatory acts such as the Clear Air Act require refineries to
drastically cut down gaseous and particulate emissions. The European Union and
Japan aim to reduce sulfur levels in both gasoline and diesel to 50 ppm by 2005
and to less than 10 ppm by 2009. As a result, the coming years could prove to be
a boom time for catalyst manufacturers – provided they introduce efficient
catalysts at the right time. eDrop-inf catalysts suitable for the existing
refinery setup and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology are expected
to be the preferred choices for the petroleum industry.
This Technical Insights study comprehensively presents and assesses the
latest technological R&D taking place across the global catalysts market.
The research covers developments at universities, R&D centers of leading
companies, and other research institutions in the United States, Europe, and
Asia. Additionally, segment-wise discussions are provided on the various drivers
and restraints that govern the use of catalysts in chemicals, polymers,
petroleum refining, and environmental applications.
Innovative Polymer Catalysts Offer Increased Selectivity
"Single-site and selective oxidation catalysis enable improved
efficiencies and selectivity, opening up possibilities for catalysis in new
reactions," says the analyst of the research. Among polymerization
catalysts, single-site catalysts such as metallocenes are anticipated to grow
substantially due to their ability to alter the properties of polymers to obtain
a very high degree of customization. Newer single-site catalysts combine their
traditional ability to control molecular architecture with the capacity to
deliver an elevated polymer melting point.
"On the other hand, though single-site catalysts are expected to gain
more acceptability, Zeigler-Natta catalysts with their proven reliability at low
costs are here to stay as the trusted workhorse of the polymer industry,"
notes the analyst.
Separate Marketing of Enantiomerically Pure Drugs Spurs Demand for Chiral
Catalysts
Approximately one-third of all drugs are chiral – existing as identical
but non-superimposable forms or right- and left-handed enantiomers.
Pharmaceutical drugs that were earlier marketed in racemic or mixed form are now
being separated and marketed as single isomers. Such eracemic switchingf is
a cost-effective way to extend patent lifetimes and nurture development
pipelines. Often, the pure forms of these isomers are much more potent than the
original racemic drugs. Hence, the demand for solution-based phase homogeneous
catalysts and enzymes is likely to rapidly grow. | 
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