Our Business
Oxford Catalysts designs and develops specialty catalysts for the generation of clean fuels, from both conventional fossil fuels and certain renewable sources such as biogas. For in-depth information about the company, our principal activities, strategy and management team, please browse the headings below:
Introduction
Oxford Catalysts designs and develops specialty catalysts for the generation of clean fuels, from both conventional fossil fuels and certain renewable sources such as biomass. Our patented technology is the result of almost 20 years of research at the University of Oxford's prestigious Wolfson Catalysis Centre, headed by Professor Malcolm Green, one of the world's most respected inorganic chemists.
Oxford Catalysts was founded by Professor Green and Dr Xiao in October 2004. The company was admitted to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange on 26th April 2006.
A catalyst is a material used to initiate or accelerate a chemical reaction, while not itself being consumed in the reaction. Catalysts are used widely in industry to reduce the cost of producing chemicals. They are essential for the generation of clean fuels, such as low-sulphur gasoline and hydrogen gas for fuel cells.
Catalyst performance is related to a number of factors including chemical composition, the distribution of active components on the catalyst support material and the method of catalyst preparation. By improving the performance of catalysts, such as those used in the production of clean fuels, it may be possible to generate significant financial and environmental benefits. The global market for energy and environmental catalysts is expected to double from its level in 2003 to $13 billion by 2009.
Principal activities
Oxford Catalysts has developed catalysts for the petroleum, petrochemicals, biogas conversion, steam applications and fuel cells markets.
The company has the benefit of extensive proprietary know-how and the following patented intellectual property:
- The preparation and use of carbide-based catalysts, which can match or exceed the benefits of traditional precious metal catalysts for certain reactions (typically those involving hydrocarbons), whilst requiring only lower cost transition metals, such as cobalt and molybdenum
- A novel method for the preparation, activation and optimisation of catalysts, the Organic Matrix Combustion Method, which allows better distribution of the active component on the catalyst support material thereby improving their performance
- An innovative catalytic process that enables the production of either high temperature steam or hydrogen gas, from a liquid fuel such as methanol mixed with water and an oxidising agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, instantaneously and starting from room temperature
Oxford Catalysts is seeking to enhance its portfolio of intellectual property and proprietary know-how through further research and development.
Petroleum and petrochemicals market
Oxford Catalysts has identified applications for its catalyst technology in the petroleum and petrochemicals market, in particular for the hydro-desulphurisation ("HDS") of crude oil fractions and Gas-to-Liquid ("GTL") and Coal-to-Liquid ("CTL") processing.
HDS is a well-established process for the removal of sulphur from hydrocarbon fuels. This involves treating the fuel with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst. It is believed that the global market for HDS catalysts is greater than $1 billion per annum and expected to grow over the next five years as mandated sulphur levels in fuels are lowered.
The Fischer-Tropsch ("FT") reaction which involves the use of an FT catalyst, such as the company's FT catalyst, is the key step in the processes of converting methane (as found in natural gas and biogas) or coal into virtually sulphur-free liquid fuels, such as gasoline or diesel (known as GTL and CTL respectively). Interest in GTL and CTL has increased substantially over the past few years as technology has improved and oil prices have risen.
Fuel cell market
Oxford Catalysts is aiming to commercialise catalysts for producing hydrogen gas, for use by fuel cells. Fuel cells generate energy by converting fuel, most commonly hydrogen gas, into electricity. They have the potential to be quiet, low-maintenance, efficient and clean. However, it is believed that a major limiting factor delaying the faster and broader adoption of fuel cells is the lack of a widespread, reliable, efficient and accessible source of hydrogen gas.
The company's transition metal carbide-based reforming catalysts, which can be used with high temperature fuel cells, can generate hydrogen gas at the point-of-need by reforming a fuel, typically hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas. This has the advantage that the fuel is more easily and efficiently stored and transported than hydrogen gas.
Oxford Catalysts is unique in having discovered a means of reforming a liquid fuel without the need for external heat or pure oxygen. This method might therefore be suitable for use with low and intermediate temperature fuel cells. The company's method for hydrogen gas production involves passing methanol along with an oxidising agent such as hydrogen peroxide and water over a novel catalyst. This technology requires further development to achieve commercialisation and the company has designed a programme to do so.
Further markets
Oxford Catalysts also has catalysts for further applications such as biogas conversion and steam production, and is developing associated prototype devices for the steam applications markets such as steam cleaning.
As with any gas, biogas (dilute methane) is more difficult and expensive to transport than liquid fuels (for example ethanol or biodiesel) and is often contaminated with sulphur and nitrogen. However, it can be converted into syngas through a reaction involving the company's CPOx catalyst. The syngas can in turn be transformed via the FT or other synthesis reactions into virtually sulphur-free liquid green fuels which can be easily and efficiently transported.
Steam is applied extensively in certain industrial, military and domestic applications. Oxford Catalysts has developed a catalytic method for the production of superheated steam (up to 800°C and above) directly from a liquid fuel mixture. The company believes that a device to produce steam in this manner could deliver steam instantly from room temperature, without a flame or external heat source and in a compact, safe and portable fashion.
Commercialisation strategy
Oxford Catalysts does not plan to manufacture catalysts on a large scale itself. Instead its strategy is to enter into co-development agreements with leading producers and suppliers in the petroleum, petrochemicals, biogas conversion, steam applications, fuel cells and catalysts markets. Where appropriate, the company will enter into contract-manufacturing arrangements. Initially, Oxford Catalysts expects to generate development fees from some of these partnerships, before ultimately licensing its catalysts for widespread commercial use.
The company believes that this approach will enable it to leverage its partners' expertise, particularly in the manufacture and scaling of products, as well as their market access, resulting in a relatively lower requirement for capital expenditure on the part of Oxford Catalysts.
The company expects to enter into:
- Agreements with catalyst, petroleum, petrochemicals, coal or biogas conversion companies to commercialise its HDS, FT and reforming catalysts. It is expected to take several years before such partnerships yield significant revenue
- Development agreements with engineering, FMCG or steam applications companies to adapt the company's steam production technology for commercial application. It is believe that a commercial steam cleaning product, for example, could potentially enter the market some twelve to eighteen months after the successful completion of a prototype
- Co-development agreements with fuel cell companies. Once the company's technology is incorporated in the design of fuel cells or fuel cell reformers, it is believed that commercialisation would then depend on the speed at which viable fuel cells are brought to market by the company's commercial partners
Management and scientific team
The team comprises business leaders, industry veterans and world-class scientists. All are highly qualified individuals with successful track records in their own disciplines. Together, they embody the entrepreneurial spirit, commercial discipline, dynamism, flexibility and intelligence required to maximise the commercialisation potential of the company's technology. For further information please see the management section.
