Abstract
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 & Sullivans 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." | 
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