Market Overview
The adsorbents market size is forecast to reach US$10.8 billion by 2030 after growing at a CAGR of 6.3% during 2024-2030. Adsorption is the accumulation of atoms or molecules on the surface of a material. This process creates a film of the adsorbate on the adsorbent's surface. Adsorbents are used to remove pollutants from oil and gas streams in the oil and gas sector and are also increasingly being used in the gas drying process. The escalating demand for adsorbents stems from their efficacy in ensuring clean air and water.
A prominent trend in the adsorbents market is the increasing focus on sustainable and bio-based materials. As industries seek environmentally friendly alternatives, bio-based adsorbents derived from renewable sources gain traction. Additionally, the rising emphasis on green technologies and the push for sustainable practices in various sectors further propels the adoption of bio-based adsorbents which contributes to a positive outlook for the adsorbents industry during the forecast period.
Report Coverage
The report: “Adsorbents Market – Forecast (2024 - 2030)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the global adsorbents industry.
By Type: Activated Alumina, Activated Charcoal, Activated Clay, Silica Gel, Metal Oxides, Polymer Adsorbents, Zeolites (Molecular Sieves) (Type 3A, Others), and Others
By Form: Powder, Flakes, and Others
By End-Use Application: Oil and Gas Industry (Natural Gas Purification, Gasoline, Diesel and Jet Fuel Production, Others), Petrochemical Industry (Ethylene Production, Propylene Production, Xylene Separation, Others), Chemical Industry (Industrial Gases, CASE (Coatings, Sealants, Adhesives, and Elastomers), Others), Automotive and Transportation, Pharmaceutical and Food, Water Treatment, Nuclear Waste Remediation, Refrigerant (Commercial, Industrial), Building & Construction, Personal Care and Cosmetic, and Others
By Geography: North America (U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Rest of APAC), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Rest of South America), Rest of the World (Middle East and Africa)
Key Takeaways
Adsorbents Market Segment Analysis – By Type
The zeolites segment held the largest share in the Adsorbents Market in 2023. Zeolites have a high degree of hydration, which results in a stable low-density crystal structure with a large void volume. Zeolites have been employed as an adsorbent in non-technically demanding, non-regenerative applications over the past two decades. New lightweight cementing methods for oil and gas completions to new modified zeolite adsorbents for extracting metals or organics from water are just a few of the new inventive applications. Systems for zeolite gas treatment, pressure swing adsorption, smell control, and other specific applications are being developed. Inorganic adsorbents, particularly for environmental applications, industrial gas production, and specialized chemicals, are the most valuable applications for zeolites and synthesized zeolites. Thus, the rising usage of zeolites in various applications, have uplifted the Adsorbents Market growth, in the forecast period.
Adsorbents Market Segment Analysis – By End-Use Application
The petrochemical industry held the largest share in the market in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% during 2024-2030. Adsorbents are utilized in the petrochemical industry to remove trace contaminants such as water and sulphur in the feed, intermediate, and product streams, for the smooth operation of the plant. The usage of the right adsorbent is necessary for the petrochemical plants due to the reactivity of ethylene plant streams. In the petrochemical industry, adsorbents are used for the effective removal of a wide range of contaminants from olefin-containing streams, complete system solutions for the treatment of off-gas streams from catalytic crackers (FCC, DCC, CPP) and acetylene producing units, and long lifetime and easy operability. The surging demand for adsorbents is due to the rising investments in its end use industry such as petrochemical industry. For instance, according to Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association, the petrochemical sector in Alberta has the potential to increase by more than US$30 billion by 2030. Thus, the rising investments in the petrochemical industry of various countries will further drive the growth of the adsorbents market over the forecast period.
Adsorbents Market Segment Analysis – By Geography
Asia-Pacific region dominated the adsorbents market in terms of revenue with a share of 38% in 2023 and is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period 2024-2030. The growing demand for adsorbents, along with the high purchasing power in countries such as China, India, and Japan, tends to become a potential market for adsorbents during the forecast period. The surging adoption of adsorbents in the petrochemical, oil, and gas, and other sectors are driving the adsorbents market in China. Currently, several initiatives taken by organizations for the development of new petrochemical plants in the country have increased the demand for adsorbents. In November 2022, Saudi Aramco announced plans to invest in a US$7 billion project to produce petrochemicals from crude oil at its South Korean affiliate S-Oil Corp's refining complex in the port city of Ulsan. In March 2023, Indian Oil announced plans to build a petrochemicals complex at Paradip with an investment of $7.3 billion. Such investments will drive the demand for adsorbents in this region during the forecast period.
Adsorbents Market Driver
Strict Government Regulations Governing Pharmaceutical Product Manufacture, Hygiene, And Quality Control Are Boosting Demand for Adsorbents
Pharmaceutical companies are putting a greater emphasis on quality control, which includes the use of adsorbents in procedures like instrument drying, drying of air-synthesis products, and deodorization. Several types of adsorbents are utilized in the pharmaceutical sector, with a selection depending on the application requirement. Activated carbon, for instance, is used to remove contaminated or by-products during the drug formulation process, whereas activated alumina is used to recover Pyrogen-free pharmaceuticals and as a desiccant for drying air and industrial gases. Also, silica gel is also employed in column chromatography as a pharmaceutical adsorbent, where it assists in the separation or collection of various medication components. Regulations mandating the use of adsorbents in the pharmaceuticals sector such as, by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), Japanese Pharmacopeia (JP), and so on are also influencing the adsorbents market growth in the pharmaceutical sector. For instance, according to Invest India, the pharmaceutical industry in India is expected to reach $65 billion by 2024 and to $130 billion by 2030.
Adsorbents Market Challenge
Reduced Shelf Life Due to High Level of Impurities Will Hamper the Market Growth
Although adsorbent materials can attract molecules to their surfaces, this ability is limited. Once the capacity has been reached, continued refining and purification will produce an equilibrium, which will lead to desorption. Adsorbents are utilized for adsorption of various pollutants and impurities such as carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulphide, mercaptans, manufacturing chemicals, and hydrate inhibitors in refining and purifying processes. The current contaminants react with the adsorbents at this point, causing the adsorbent to regenerate. These pollutants either renew or eliminate the adsorbent. The service life of adsorbents is determined by the material's regeneration capacity, which could be a stumbling block for the overall adsorbents market.
Adsorbents Industry Outlook
Top 10 companies in the adsorbents market include:
BASF SE
Arkema SA
Honeywell International Inc.
Cabot Corporation
W. R. Grace & Co.
Clariant AG
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
Calgon Carbon Corporation (Kuraray)
Evonik Industries
Axens Group
