Process Catalysts and Technologies

Johnson Matthey Process Catalysts and Technologies is a world leader in the supply of process catalysts and precious metal chemical compounds. We are the largest refiner of secondary platinum group metals. The sector has refining, process catalyst and chemicals manufacturing facilities throughout the UK and in West Deptford, New Jersey in the US.

Johnson Matthey's process catalyst business manufactures heterogeneous catalysts, such as palladium on carbon or platinum on alumina, and homogeneous catalysts. These are used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, flavours and fragrances, products for agriculture and a wide range of chemical intermediates. Catalysts are used to improve the efficiency of chemical reactions and are effective in reducing the amount of energy and materials required to produce a product.

The group has developed a wide range of high technology electrochemical products used in gas sensors and is developing novel materials for the next generation of photovoltaic cells.

Our refining business recovers spent catalysts and other secondary materials, offering a valuable recycling service to our customers.

Johnson Matthey's research chemicals catalogue business, Alfa Aesar, is based near Boston in the US and has European facilities in Karlsruhe, Germany and the UK. The acquisition of Avocado in the UK expanded the research chemicals business.

In November 2002, Johnson Matthey purchased Synetix. Synetix is a global catalyst business, which serves a range of market segments including ammonia, methanol, fine chemicals, edible oils, oleochemicals, oil and gas and polymerisation. These activities complement Johnson Matthey’s strong position in precious metal catalysts for a wide range of markets. The acquisition represents further progress in Johnson Matthey’s strategy of growing its Catalysts Division both organically and by acquisition.

The combination of Johnson Matthey’s catalyst business with Synetix presents new opportunities to exploit the extensive catalyst technology and research capabilities of both organisations. This is particularly valuable in new growth segments such as gas to liquids (GTL) technology for the energy sector and chiral catalysis for the pharmaceutical industry.