Research and Markets: Refinery Catalysts - A Strategic Assessment of R&D Trends and Developments

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/008004/refinery_catalysts) has announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report "Refinery Catalysts - A Strategic Assessment of R&D Trends and Developments" to their offering.

This research service provides a detailed insight into the latest R&D trends of refinery catalyst industry. The service starts off with the best practices identified in the sphere followed by an analytical piece on the positioning of the key R&D trends in the refinery catalyst industry. A forced field analysis of the industry drivers and challenges substantiated with a strategic evaluation of the possible initiatives has been provided. A strategic analytical piece of the major challenges is then followed by a detailed evaluation of the global economic crisis and its impact on the refinery catalyst industry. Profiling of the potential opportunities and a technology roadmap completes the study

Technology Overview

Significant Changes in the Refinery Catalyst Industry Trigger a Surge of R&D Initiatives from the Industry

Major transformations in the refinery catalyst industry with respect to improving profit margins, lowering capital investments, raising energy efficiency, and meeting the mounting fuel specifications are necessitating a surge of initiatives from the industry. Catalysts play a key role in helping refiners attain fuel standards, improvise on operational efficiency, increase conversion and selectivity, and keep pace with green trends. The refining industry, while looking to leverage its technology benefits, is also aiming to develop cost-effective technologies that continue to aid compliance with industry standards and specifications.

"Over the past several years, the demand for maintaining high-octane number has been a determining factor for the refinery catalysts' design," note the analysts of this research. "High-compression engines and high-performance cars continue to require high-octane gasoline, spurring developments relevant to reformate catalysts." The design of the catalysts with respect to the material, pore structure, and other key characteristics of the process technology have been directed at maximizing the fuel octane levels. For instance, a leading North American oil and refinery catalyst solution provider has developed a reformate alkylation technology that coverts benzene-rich reformate and light FCC off-gas olefins to high-octane gasoline. In essence, the process upgrades C2 and C3 olefins to a high-octane gasoline blendstock.

Meanwhile, legislative and regulative pressures have compelled refiners to employ active catalysts for hydrodesulphurization (HDS), hydrodenitrogenation, and removal of aromatics. However, industry experts opine that there is a need to develop catalysts that are suited for specific application segments. For example, an HDS catalyst may not provide the same performance quotient for the refining of vacuum gas oils, as the concentration of sulfur or aromatic compounds present in vacuum gas oils is not the same as that in middle distillates, thereby requiring further optimization of the catalyst properties.

The challenges involved in the development of catalysts suited for specific application segments and its incorporation into the established refinery procedures require an appraisal of the hydrogen supply. Therefore, scientists will have to reconfigure processes that minimize hydrogen consumption and maximize its production, while adhering to the catalyst performance standards and legislative requirements. "Future reduction in gasoline aromatic content, as dictated by environmental regulations, will lead to less hydrogen generation from reforming, which is the conventional source of hydrogen supply within a refinery," observes the analyst. "However, the dependent refinery processes will be adversely affected if hydrogen is in short supply."

Application Sectors

Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following application sectors in this research:

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) Hydroprocessing Catalytic reforming

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

Industry Best Practices and R&D Positioning

Technology Adoption Factor Analysis--A Strategic Evaluation

The Current Economic Scenario and Future Prospects

Key Patents; Contacts and Appendix

Decision Support Database

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/008004/refinery_catalysts

SOURCE: Research and Markets

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Related terms: adoption, executive, gasoline, investment opinion, note, oil, profit, refinery, research, standards, technology