ADI evaluated the commercial viability of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for arsine removal by analyzing adoption drivers in downstream Oleflex and PDH units. The research highlights the critical trade-offs between MOF performance and the lower costs of sacrificial zinc oxide catalysts. Final recommendations included identifying high-growth license opportunities globally.
The client
Materials technology developer
The situation
A materials developer needed to determine if MOF technology could displace conventional adsorbents in natural gas and downstream refining.
ADI’s contributions
Primary research with operators
Structured interviews with 26 natural gas and petrochemical experts revealed a lack of market interest in the upstream sector.
Downstream unit benchmarking
Analysis of global arsine removal units identified Oleflex and PDH processes as the primary drivers for future demand.
Adsorbent competitive landscaping
Profiling of 18 suppliers established that copper/zinc oxide remains the benchmark for multi-contaminant removal performance.
Pricing and growth modeling
Cost analysis showed that MOFs must compete with lower cost sacrificial catalysts to gain traction in cost-sensitive markets.
Key outcomes
- Prioritization of downstream petrochemical applications over natural gas and identification of the primary target market.
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