News From The Freedonia Group: US Nanoporous Materials Demand to Reach $1.9 Billion in 2007.Business Editors CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 2004 Demand for nanoporous materials in the US is forecast to advance 4.0 percent annually to $1.9 billion in 2007. Nanoporous materials (materials which have accessible pores of molecular size) possess unique abilities to modify, remove or exchange molecules from gaseous or aqueous streams. New products and new applications for older materials will provide more robust growth. In particular, activated alumina Activated alumina is manufactured from aluminium hydroxide by dehydroxylating it in a way that produces a highly porous material; this material can have a surface area significantly over 200 square metres/g. and silica gels offer greater growth opportunities; while environmental uses for nanoporous materials will offer more growth potential than oil refining, pet litter, detergents or water treatment uses, even though these will remain the largest value markets. These and other trends are presented in Nanoporous Materials, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industrial market research firm. Zeolites will remain the largest category of nanoporous materials by value through 2007. Zeolites are riddled with pores and channels which have the ability to perform catalysis catalysis Modification (usually acceleration) of a chemical reaction rate by addition of a catalyst, which combines with the reactants but is ultimately regenerated so that its amount remains unchanged and the chemical equilibrium of the conditions of the reaction is not , ion exchange ion exchange n. A reversible chemical reaction occurring between an insoluble solid and a solution during which ions may be interchanged, used in the separation of radioactive isotopes. and adsorbent adsorbent /ad·sor·bent/ (ad-sor´bent) 1. pertaining to or characterized by adsorption. 2. a substance that attracts other materials or particles to its surface by adsorption. functions. They are the most established of the nanoporous materials, and have carved out significant niches in petroleum refining and detergent production. Research is ongoing to develop new zeolite zeolite Any member of a family of hydrated aluminosilicate minerals that have a framework structure enclosing interconnected cavities occupied by large metal cations (positively charged ions)—generally sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and barium—and water materials with novel chemical compositions and/or structures for additional applications. Nevertheless, the two largest commercial applications -- catalysts and detergent builders -- are both relatively mature and offer only moderate growth prospects. Clays will record growth of 4.4 percent annually through 2007. The value of clay nanoporous products is due to the huge volumes of clays consumed, as their per pound price is very low in comparison to other nanoporous materials. These products, including bentonite bentonite (bĕn`tənīt'): see clay. , Fuller's Earth fuller's earth, mineral substance characterized by the property of absorbing basic colors and removing them from oils. It is composed mainly of alumina, silica, iron oxides, lime, magnesia, and water, in extremely variable proportions, and is generally classified as and kaolin kaolin (kā`əlĭn): see china clay. clays, are used in catalysts, pet litter and edible oil processing and as oil absorbing materials. Pet litter products (primarily cat litter) are the most commercially significant application, but demand is expected to grow more rapidly in environmental applications. There are market niches with opportunities, primarily in environmental applications. Existing market niches include activated carbon used in emission control canisters for motor vehicles, and silica gels used to remove gaseous contaminants from plastics and petrochemical feedstocks. Nanoporous materials are also effective at removing contaminants from aqueous streams. |
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