Engelhard Corporation Receives 2004 Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Leadership.

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- In a recent study entitled Advanced Catalysts, Frost & Sullivan recognized Engelhard Corporation's pioneering research efforts in the development of the Distributed Matrix Structures (DMS) technology for advanced petroleum refining catalysts and additives.

DMS utilizes unique materials science that enables Engelhard to develop fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and additives with a new, higher level of performance, including enhanced stability, activity and yield without the typically associated coke and gas penalties.

Catalysts based on Engelhard's patented DMS technology are used in over 80 commercial FCC units worldwide. DMS enables enhanced diffusion of hydrocarbon feed for pre-cracking on highly dispersed zeolite crystals. Pre-cracking sites are located on the external surface of zeolite crystals and, unlike the other FCC technologies, the feed first cracks on the surface of the zeolite crystals rather than on active amorphous matrix materials. This results in improved selectivity with reduced coke formation.

"Another advantage of this state-of-the-art technology is that it minimizes the diffusion resistance for cracked products to the internal crystalline zeolite surface, thus reducing the occurrence of over cracking," says Frost & Sullivan research analyst Anil Naidu. "Though other technologies may have similar or higher pore volumes, Engelhard's DMS structure imparts a unique morphology and inherent zeolite-based cracking pattern."

For its broad based leadership in the field of advanced catalysts and additives through the development of innovative technology platforms such as DMS, Engelhard is the recipient of the 2004 Frost & Sullivan Technology Leadership Award.

Frost & Sullivan presents this award each year to a company that has pioneered the development and introduction of an innovative technology into the market; the technology either has influenced or has the potential to affect several market sectors. It also recognizes the leadership of the company in the successful promotion of the technology and its continuing impact in technology commercialization.

Engelhard's DMS platform technology has produced several new products over the last two years:

--NaphthaMax(R), the first DMS-based FCC catalyst was launched to meet the requirements of the short contact time (SCT) processes - increased catalyst activity for high conversion in short contact time cracking designs. DMS products also feature an Engelhard proprietary zeolite, which is produced using a combination hydrothermal and chemical process for dealumination and ultrastabilization.

--NaphthaMax(R)-LSG extends the technology and aims at reducing gasoline sulfur levels, enabling refiners to directly reduce the gasoline sulfur upwards of 40% without loss of any gasoline volume or octane and no increase in coke and light gas production.

--Flex-Tec(TM), a resid FCC catalyst, where the DMS structure offers a high-porosity zeolite aspect particularly well suited for coke selectivity when processing heavy resid feeds. Heavy resids suffer from high levels of contaminant metals such as nickel, vanadium, and iron. Engelhard has also developed new matrix materials, which improves the passivation of contaminant metals over other resid matrix technologies. Flex-Tec combines the benefits of DMS and this technology allowing both coke selective deep bottom conversion with lower contaminant coke and gas. This results in high conversion and low bottoms yields with the heaviest resid feedstock.

--Another extension of the DMS platform is an FCC catalyst designed to minimize gasoline olefin content while preserving octane. This is an important objective for refiners needing to meet increasingly stringent standards for olefin level in reformulated gasoline.

--Converter(TM) additive, which is the first commercially available FCC additive designed to increase unit conversion and enhance operating flexibility. Converter may be added in small amounts to the circulating FCC inventory and it boosts conversion of undesirable bottoms to useful upgraded liquid fuels without increasing coke and gas formation.

"By leveraging our expertise in surface and materials science, the DMS-based portfolio of FCC catalyst and additive solutions provides a range of financial and environmental benefits for the petroleum refiner," says, Joe McLean, product manager, process technologies for Engelhard. "At Engelhard, we have a passion for productivity, and our DMS technology platform is an excellent example of providing significant value to our customers."

About Engelhard Corporation

Engelhard Corporation is a surface and materials science company that develops technologies to help customers improve their products and processes. A Fortune 500 company, it is a world-leading provider of technologies for environmental, process, appearance, and performance applications. For more information, visit www.engelhard.com.

About Frost & Sullivan

Founded in 1961, Frost & Sullivan is recognized as a global leader in growth consulting. Frost & Sullivan awards are presented to companies that demonstrate excellence in their industry through diligence, commitment, and innovative business strategies required to advance in the global marketplace. Frost & Sullivan rigorously analyzes specific criteria to determine award recipients in a vast variety of market industries and landscapes. For further information, visit www.frost.com.