Chemical sector catches up with the recovery: innovating mature technologies. (catalysts industry)(includes related articles) (Industry Overview)

The broad sector of chemical processing catalysts can be described as making a comeback from the recession and the down cycle in petrochemicals. Gauging this year's uptick, however, is difficult, given that many product categories lag the economy by up to six months in a market that is as much affected by catalyst management - inventory and recharging schedules - as by the decline or recovery of end-product industries.

Additional pressure has been placed on suppliers to innovate with existing technologies, improving the activity and selectivity of catalysts to compete in a mature market. For some products, the effect has been to lengthen the life of catalysts and reduce the amount needed to charge a reaction, further tightening the market.

There are several growth areas, including the development of catalysts for use with oxygenates in transportation fuels and a move to replace items like Rainey nickel catalysts with precious metals. In general, however, the outlook is mixed for chemical catalysts, with several categories looking forward to the next round of change-outs and others to dry times ahead.

"I see modest growth and stable prices [in petrochemicals]," says Frank Sherman, general manager of polymerization catalysts at Akzo (Chicago). "But my business is less dependent on growth in the underlying polymers than on technology improvements. And there is a lot going on there." Sherman adds that with lean times in the petrochemical industry, Akzo's customers will place greater emphasis on value-added catalysts to improve their products or reduce their costs. "Catalysts have a lot to do with defining product," says Sherman. "They help you change process variables without changing the process."

A primary area of innovation is in supported polypropylene catalysts, says Sherman. "We see more interest in controlled particle size, controlled morphology, specialty copolymers, and enhanced catalyst productivity." He adds that the drive to differentiate end products will foster a growth in custom catalyst manufacturing deals. Sherman says Akzo's involvement in metal alkyls and polymerization catalysts positions the company well for partnerships. …