The report, “Opportunities for Catalysts in the Refining and Petrochemical Industries: An Eight-Year Forecast,” covers materials used in the main refining units (FCC, hydrocracking, hydrotreating, and reforming) as well as for the conversion of syngas to fuels via the Fischer-Tropsch reaction. Zeolites and amorphous catalysts are both discussed and the report contains detailed eight-year volume and value forecasts broken out by process, material type and by region. Key findings include:

• Despite the economic downturn, ever-tightening sulfur restrictions on fuel, a shift toward processing heavier and dirtier feedstock, and the increasing demand for diesel fuel, will continue to boost demand for specialized catalysts, such as FCC catalysts that favor the production of propylene, and hydrocracking catalysts that boost diesel yield. By 2011, for example, the market for hydrocracking catalysts will be $150 million, primarily as a result of the increased demand for diesel.

• Synthetic fuels will also boost the catalyst market. For example, the rise of synthetic fuels manufactured with Fischer-Tropsch will increase the demand for catalysts as will greater investment in gas-to-liquid processes. NanoMarkets expects global demand for Fischer-Tropsch catalysts to be $469 million by 2011, rising to $1.3 billion in 2015.

• There is a growing need for novel materials that go beyond the capabilities of today’s petroleum catalysts. Some of the materials areas that have the greatest potential are customized synthetic zeolites, nanoparticles, and the use of molecular modeling to optimize catalysts compositions. NanoMarkets believes that this trend will open up the catalyst market to new entrants that can deliver novel solutions.