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Demonstration projects and establishing lifecycle costs of fuel cells vital to expand market opportunities
FOCUS and is expected to grow by 4%/y to $1.9 bn in 2007. Applications include oil refining, pet litter, detergents, and water treatment. Zeolites are expected to be the largest market in value to 2007. Zeolites accounted for 46% of the nanoporous materials market in 2002 valued at $875 M. Clays are expected to grow by 4.4%/y to 2007. European Chemical News, 1 Mar 2004, 80 (2089), 25
Bioprocessing: reaping the benefits of renewable resources If advocates of industrial biotech get their way, chemical companies could soon be adding products such as corn and soybeans to their raw material needs. A wave of projects is under way with the aim of converting renewable resources into industrial chemicals. Developments in enzymatic biocatalysis are already enabling the production of new materials that have better characteristics than existing products. Bioprocesses also have the potential to produce existing chemicals at lower cost. The benefits of bioprocessing include better and more economical products; reliable, cheaper feedstocks; and more environmentally-friendly products and processes. There is a potential market of up to $1000 bn for bio-based materials. The percentage of chemical sales that depend on biotech could rise from the current 5% to 10-20% by 2010. The big change will be the growing importance of biotech processes in the manufacture of bulk chemicals, polymers, and speciality chemicals. Cargill has biobased chemical sales of over $100 M but this figure is expected to grow rapidly as new bioprocesses are commercialised. The economics are favourable, as feedstock costs are mostly stable, and production costs are dropping quickly with improvements in biocatalysis and process technology. Codexis has partnerships with several chemical companies to develop bioprocesses for chemicals, but its main focus is currently on pharmaceutical projects. DuPont’s target is 25% of revenues coming from products made using renewable materials by 2015. Companies including Cargill and DuPont are also involved in projects financed by the Department of Energy
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C ATA LY S T S
to develop routes to produce chemicals from corn and other renewable feedstocks. DOE’s main push is to lower the cost of ethanol for fuel.
applications and discusses key growth areas. 230 pp, £740. Materials Technology Publications, 40 Sotheron Road, Watford WD17 2QA, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1923 237910. Fax: +44 (0)1923 211510. Website: http://www.mattech.co.uk (Feb 2004)
Chemical Week, 11 Feb 2004, 166 (5) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Demonstration projects and establishing lifecycle costs of fuel cells vital to expand market opportunities Proving the system durability and cost-benefit of fuel cells will ensure that end-users begin to accept them as a superior alternative to conventional forms of energy generation, and result in increased sales. North American Stationary Fuel Cells Markets reveals revenues in this industry totalled $21.4 M in 2002 and are projected to reach $1.27 bn by 2009. To increase awareness of fuel cells, companies set demonstration projects and conduct test trials. Fuel cell developers need to clearly understand the operation and maintenance requirements and establish lifecycle costs of their systems and keep the customers aptly informed of them. The hightemperature fuel cell systems need expensive materials that withstand heat, and the low-temperature version depends on costly reformers and precious metal catalysts, placing fuel cells at a disadvantage when compared to cheaper conventional technologies. Reducing the manufacturing costs of fuel cells is one of the top challenges and the current focus of the fuel cell industry Press release from: Frost & Sullivan, 1040, East Brokaw Road, San Jose, CA 95131-2309, USA. Website: http://www.frost.co (9 Dec 2003)
The fuel cells industry worldwide: a market/technology report The report analyses the current status and potential markets for all fuel cell types and their materials of construction. Describes the activities of over 500 companies and research organisations, including 13 manufacturers and developers of electrocatalysts, 17 manufacturers and developers of fuel processing catalysts, and 41 fuel processors. Reviews the state of commercialisation of each of the
Japan: new technology for photocatalysts Photocatalytic technology is to give new impulse to the whole of Japan’s industry. With its help, everyday products will be turned into high-tech products that will provide big profit opportunities to those developing them. Japan’s Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI) describes photocatalysis as a leading technology. Japan occupies a top position. Areas of application, ranging from the automotive industry through medicine to environmental protection, offer big economic potential. The Mitsubishi Research Institute estimates that the market could reach Yen 1000 bn (€7.4 bn) between 2005 and 2007. The Japan Association of Photocatalyst Products is more cautious in its estimates. It says sales were Yen 25 bn in 2000 and Yen 40 bn in 2002. Photocatalysts are currently used in products such as antimist car mirrors, in antibacterial sanitary ceramics, and in air purification and deodorizing. Nachrichten für Aussenhandel, 26 Feb 2004, 67 (40), 3 (in German)
METI sets up first JIS standard for testing photocatalysts The first Japan Industry Standard for test methods for the air cleaning performance of photocatalysts has been established by the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI). The ability to control quality through the standard is expected to lead to increased demand and the development of new products. Japan is the leading supplier of photocatalytic products and technology. Guidelines for self-cleaning and water treatment photocatalysts are to be established by METI. Titanium dioxide is widely used as a photocatalyst and it has been confirmed recently that the same properties are exhibited by zinc oxide. Demand for photocatalysts for automotive antifogging mirrors, antifouling wall paints, air cleaners,
APRIL 2004
Bioprocessing: reaping the benefits of renewable resources If advocates of industrial biotech get their way, chemical companies could soon be adding products such as corn and soybeans to their raw material needs. A wave of projects is under way with the aim of converting renewable resources into industrial chemicals. Developments in enzymatic biocatalysis are already enabling the production of new materials that have better characteristics than existing products. Bioprocesses also have the potential to produce existing chemicals at lower cost. The benefits of bioprocessing include better and more economical products; reliable, cheaper feedstocks; and more environmentally-friendly products and processes. There is a potential market of up to $1000 bn for bio-based materials. The percentage of chemical sales that depend on biotech could rise from the current 5% to 10-20% by 2010. The big change will be the growing importance of biotech processes in the manufacture of bulk chemicals, polymers, and speciality chemicals. Cargill has biobased chemical sales of over $100 M but this figure is expected to grow rapidly as new bioprocesses are commercialised. The economics are favourable, as feedstock costs are mostly stable, and production costs are dropping quickly with improvements in biocatalysis and process technology. Codexis has partnerships with several chemical companies to develop bioprocesses for chemicals, but its main focus is currently on pharmaceutical projects. DuPont’s target is 25% of revenues coming from products made using renewable materials by 2015. Companies including Cargill and DuPont are also involved in projects financed by the Department of Energy
2
ON
C ATA LY S T S
to develop routes to produce chemicals from corn and other renewable feedstocks. DOE’s main push is to lower the cost of ethanol for fuel.
applications and discusses key growth areas. 230 pp, £740. Materials Technology Publications, 40 Sotheron Road, Watford WD17 2QA, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1923 237910. Fax: +44 (0)1923 211510. Website: http://www.mattech.co.uk (Feb 2004)
Chemical Week, 11 Feb 2004, 166 (5) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Demonstration projects and establishing lifecycle costs of fuel cells vital to expand market opportunities Proving the system durability and cost-benefit of fuel cells will ensure that end-users begin to accept them as a superior alternative to conventional forms of energy generation, and result in increased sales. North American Stationary Fuel Cells Markets reveals revenues in this industry totalled $21.4 M in 2002 and are projected to reach $1.27 bn by 2009. To increase awareness of fuel cells, companies set demonstration projects and conduct test trials. Fuel cell developers need to clearly understand the operation and maintenance requirements and establish lifecycle costs of their systems and keep the customers aptly informed of them. The hightemperature fuel cell systems need expensive materials that withstand heat, and the low-temperature version depends on costly reformers and precious metal catalysts, placing fuel cells at a disadvantage when compared to cheaper conventional technologies. Reducing the manufacturing costs of fuel cells is one of the top challenges and the current focus of the fuel cell industry Press release from: Frost & Sullivan, 1040, East Brokaw Road, San Jose, CA 95131-2309, USA. Website: http://www.frost.co (9 Dec 2003)
The fuel cells industry worldwide: a market/technology report The report analyses the current status and potential markets for all fuel cell types and their materials of construction. Describes the activities of over 500 companies and research organisations, including 13 manufacturers and developers of electrocatalysts, 17 manufacturers and developers of fuel processing catalysts, and 41 fuel processors. Reviews the state of commercialisation of each of the
Japan: new technology for photocatalysts Photocatalytic technology is to give new impulse to the whole of Japan’s industry. With its help, everyday products will be turned into high-tech products that will provide big profit opportunities to those developing them. Japan’s Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI) describes photocatalysis as a leading technology. Japan occupies a top position. Areas of application, ranging from the automotive industry through medicine to environmental protection, offer big economic potential. The Mitsubishi Research Institute estimates that the market could reach Yen 1000 bn (€7.4 bn) between 2005 and 2007. The Japan Association of Photocatalyst Products is more cautious in its estimates. It says sales were Yen 25 bn in 2000 and Yen 40 bn in 2002. Photocatalysts are currently used in products such as antimist car mirrors, in antibacterial sanitary ceramics, and in air purification and deodorizing. Nachrichten für Aussenhandel, 26 Feb 2004, 67 (40), 3 (in German)
METI sets up first JIS standard for testing photocatalysts The first Japan Industry Standard for test methods for the air cleaning performance of photocatalysts has been established by the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI). The ability to control quality through the standard is expected to lead to increased demand and the development of new products. Japan is the leading supplier of photocatalytic products and technology. Guidelines for self-cleaning and water treatment photocatalysts are to be established by METI. Titanium dioxide is widely used as a photocatalyst and it has been confirmed recently that the same properties are exhibited by zinc oxide. Demand for photocatalysts for automotive antifogging mirrors, antifouling wall paints, air cleaners,
APRIL 2004