Innovative and optimal proprietary catalyst carriers

Saint-Gobain NorPro is the world’s leading supplier of merchant catalyst carriers in the world.  With over 60 years experience co-developing carriers with catalyst clients, we custom engineer the physical and chemical properties in a variety of materials and shapes to provide the optimal proprietary carrier for each customer-specific need.

Our catalyst customers take the carriers and add metals (often precious metals) and dopants to create finished catalysts.

The finished catalysts are installed in processing units called fixed bed or slurry bed reactors.

Petrochemical and refinery plants use catalysts to efficiently convert reactants, increase yield and reduce energy consumption.

Co-development cycle – the key to rapid catalyst carrier innovation

The catalyst development process never ends.  We’re always working with our clients on the next generation of improved catalysts.  Phases of the co-development cycle include Analysis and Client Requirements, Research and Development, Scale-Up, Production, Improvements, Generation

A wide range of materials capabilities

We have vast experience with many materials enabling us to tailor a carrier to the requirement of the application.  In addition to controlling the mixture of the compounds, we can alter characteristics by careful control of the way we process, fire, bond or form the carrier. 

• High surface area alumina
• Full range of pure titania carriers
  • both rutile, anatase and mixed phases
  • surface areas to 180 m²/g
• A unique range of formed zirconia carriers
  • surface areas from 0.03 – 280 m²/g
  • monoclinic, tetragonal phases available
  • sulfated versions may be manufactured
• New high-surface area pure silica carriers with high pore volume as strong rings
• Highly-porous silicon carbide carriers
• Mixed oxides may be prepared by doping or by intimate high-intensity mixing. Surface chemistries may be modified for optimum performance.Hydrotalcite, steatite, cordierite and niobia carriers

Physical properties and pore size distribution

We can form almost anything 

NorPro forming technology enables almost anything to be formed into practical shapes. Various extrusion technologies, shaping, UniSphere generation (by a new, unique proprietary process), spray drying, agglomeration and other techniques are utilized. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques are employed to invent special shapes for particular applications.

Process control

Development of catalyst carriers requires knowledge and control of many physical and chemical characteristics of the materials – both raw materials and finished products.  A central analytical laboratory serves R&D, and manufacturing.  Technically advanced equipment measures the physical and chemical properties of catalyst carriers, and the lab’s computerized database allows rapid retrieval of information on the properties of materials made over many years. 

The analytical department is also responsible for developing standardized test methods, controlled by ISO 9000 procedures, to ensure that analytical practices stay perfectly consistent over time.  Close liaison with ASTM and other organizations enables us to keep up with best industrial practices.

General and product information

The standard carriers represented in the Typical Properties information (.PDF files and Catalyst Carrier web pages) are either formed shapes for fixed-bed or spray dried powders for slurry / fluidized bed reactor applications.  Please note that over 90% of the carriers we produce were custom developed for specific customer applications and those carriers are not shown in the table, however, the standard carriers are a good starting point for most projects.  Please contact us if you do not find a catalyst carrier suitable for your application; we can tailor the carrier properties to match up with your catalyst preparation or process requirements.

Product information (.PDF) is available in the right column.

Contact Us for specific details.