Zeolite Catalytic Reactor Patent Landscape 2026
The zeolite catalytic reactor patent field is mature and concentrated, with established oil majors and catalyst specialists dominating filings anchored in hydrocarbon refining and fluid catalytic cracking. Annual volume peaked in 2020 and has eased since, though Saudi Arabian Oil Co is a notable exception with sharply rising recent activity.
A handful of refining incumbents hold the commanding positions
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co, and the Research Institute of Petroleum Processing SINOPEC rounding out the top five. The top five filers account for 38% of the combined filing volume of the hundred largest filers, signaling meaningful but not absolute concentration.
The competitive tier is clearly defined: the top two applicants each hold substantially more patent records than any third-tier entrant, and the gap between the top five and the remainder of the top twenty is wide. Players ranked sixth through twentieth — including Saudi Arabian Oil Co, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc, IFP Energies Nouvelles, and Engelhard Corp — occupy a second tier that is still active but measurably smaller.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mobil Oil Corp | 673 | |
| 2 | WR GRACE & CO CONN | 656 | |
| 3 | CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORP | 288 | |
| 4 | EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING CO | 271 | |
| 5 | Research Institute of Petroleum Processing SINOPEC | 268 | |
| 6 | Saudi Arabian Oil Co | 229 | |
| 7 | ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc | 223 | |
| 8 | IFP Energies Nouvelles | 196 | |
| 9 | Engelhard Corp | 172 | |
| 10 | UOP LLC | 145 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Chevron USA Inc | 142 | |
| 12 | JGC CATALYSTS & CHEMICALS LTD | 126 | |
| 13 | Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras | 92 | |
| 14 | Ashland Inc | 90 | |
| 15 | Phillips Petroleum Co | 87 | |
| 16 | Gasolineeum Energy Center Foundation | 86 | |
| 17 | Cosmo Oil Co Ltd | 82 | |
| 18 | Albemarle Netherlands BV | 74 | |
| 19 | Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) | 72 | |
| 20 | Polytechnic University of Valencia | 71 |
The incumbents’ dominance in both hydrocarbon refining (C10G) and catalysis process (B01J) classes means that new entrants face a dense prior-art landscape in the core FCC and zeolite synthesis space. Differentiation strategies are more viable in adjacent IPC branches where coverage is sparse.
The most recent 18–24 months of filing data are subject to publication lag and likely undercount actual activity; the apparent step-down in 2024–2026 figures should not be read as a definitive further decline. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filing peaked in 2020; refining and catalysis dominate the technology mix
The annual filing trend reveals a field that expanded through the late 2010s, crested at 104 filings in 2020, and has eased since. The technology composition is heavily weighted toward two IPC classes that together represent the core of fluid catalytic cracking and zeolite catalyst design.
Annual filing trend
Filings grew from 72 in 2017 to a peak of 104 in 2020, then moderated to 84 in 2023. The 2024 and 2025 data points reflect publication lag and should not be treated as confirmed further declines. The 2019–2020 ramp likely reflects investment in next-generation FCC catalysts and petrochemical integration projects.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
C10G (Hydrocarbon oils and refining) and B01J (Chemical and physical processes and catalysis) together account for the vast majority of classified records, confirming that FCC catalyst design and reactor process engineering are the primary innovation axes. C07C (Acyclic and carbocyclic compounds) forms a meaningful third cluster, reflecting alkylation and olefin chemistry. Branches such as B01D (separation), C01B (inorganic synthesis), and C10L (fuels) are present but represent a small fraction of the total.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Integrated catalytic cracking process with light o…
Process and apparatus for upgrading light olefinic crackate gas from a fluidized catalytic cracking unit having a riser reactor for contacting hot solid cracking catalyst with a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock, said light crackate gas containing ethene, propene and other C1-C4 lower aliphatics, comprising the steps of: reacting the light olefinic gas in contact… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crystalline zeolite ZSM-5 and method of preparing … | 3,483 |
| 2 | Crystalline zeolite ZSM-12 | 1,472 |
| 3 | Rare earth-containing high-silica zeolite having p… | 548 |
| 4 | Catalytic hydrocarbon conversion with a crystallin… | 455 |
| 5 | Zeolite SSZ-26 | 428 |
| 6 | Fluid catalytic cracking catalyst comprising micro… | 383 |
| 7 | Catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons with a crystall… | 375 |
| 8 | FCC process with improved yield of light olefins | 350 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment decisions
The field’s maturity, concentrated ownership, and jurisdiction breadth all shape where incremental R&D investment is most defensible. Four structural dimensions — lifecycle stage, player concentration, collaboration patterns, and geographic coverage — define the strategic envelope.
Field is in decline from a 2020 peak
Annual filings have eased back from the 2020 peak of 104, placing the field in a decline stage on the lifecycle curve. Core FCC catalyst and zeolite synthesis space is dense with prior art from legacy incumbents, reducing the expected return on incremental filing in mainstream reaction engineering. R&D investment is better directed toward adjacent branches with lower prior-art density.
Lifecycle: DeclineTwo-tier structure with a dominant legacy bloc
Mobil Oil Corp and WR Grace & Co Conn anchor the first tier, each with far more patent records than the next-ranked filer. The top five filers together represent 38% of the hundred largest filers’ combined volume. This concentration means freedom-to-operate analyses are essential before entering core C10G11 and B01J29 sub-classes, but the second tier — including IFP Energies Nouvelles and Engelhard Corp — shows the field is not a duopoly.
High concentrationSinopec’s internal network and Saudi Aramco’s external alliances dominate co-filing
The most active co-filing pair is China Petroleum & Chemical Corp with the Research Institute of Petroleum Processing SINOPEC at 236 joint records, reflecting deep institutional integration. Mobil Oil Corp and WR Grace & Co Conn have co-filed on 54 records. Saudi Arabian Oil Co is notably active across multiple partnerships — with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (41), Aramco Services Co (40), JGC Catalysts & Chemicals Ltd (20), and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (13) — signaling an externally networked innovation model.
Ecosystem-drivenUS leads; China and Europe are substantial secondary markets
The United States is the primary filing jurisdiction, followed by Europe (EPO), Japan, China, WIPO (PCT), and Canada. India, the United Kingdom, and South Korea also appear as meaningful secondary jurisdictions. The breadth of coverage — spanning over 40 jurisdictions — reflects the global commercial relevance of refinery catalysts and the need for multi-market protection among the major applicants.
Broad geographic scopeGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| China Petroleum & Chemical Corp | Research Institute of Petroleum Processing SINOPEC | 236 |
| Mobil Oil Corp | WR Grace & Co Conn | 54 |
| Saudi Arabian Oil Co | King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals | 41 |
| Saudi Arabian Oil Co | Aramco Services Co | 40 |
| Research Institute of Petroleum Processing SINOPEC | China Petrochemical Corp | 31 |
| Saudi Arabian Oil Co | JGC Catalysts & Chemicals Ltd | 20 |
| WR Grace & Co Conn | ExxonMobil Oil Corp | 14 |
| China Petroleum & Chemical Corp | SINOPEC Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology | 14 |
| China Petroleum & Chemical Corp | SINOPEC Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry | 13 |
| Saudi Arabian Oil Co | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology | 13 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Mobil Oil Corp and WR Grace & Co Conn lead; Saudi Aramco is the fastest-rising active filer
The top two applicants share nearly identical technology emphases — both center on C10G11 (hydrocarbon refining) and B01J29 (catalysis processes) — but differ in trajectory. Among currently active filers tracked by momentum data, Saudi Arabian Oil Co stands out as the strongest growth story.
Mobil Oil Corp
Mobil Oil Corp ranks first with 673 patent records, concentrated in C10G11 (hydrocarbon refining, 582 records), B01J29 (catalysis processes, 556 records), and C10G35 (hydrocarbon conversion, 152 records). Its portfolio forms the foundational prior-art layer in zeolite FCC reactor design, anchored by the crystalline ZSM-5 family — the most-cited patent cluster in this corpus.
patent records: 673Saudi Arabian Oil Co
Saudi Arabian Oil Co ranks sixth overall with 229 patent records, focused on C10G11 (223), B01J29 (184), and B01J35 (95). It is the fastest-growing active filer among those tracked, with recent filings up 56% versus the prior three-year period — a trajectory supported by its external collaboration network spanning King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Aramco Services Co, JGC Catalysts & Chemicals Ltd, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.
patent records: 229| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| WR Grace & Co Conn | 14 | ▲ +17% |
| China Petroleum & Chemical Corp | 14 | ▼ -62% |
| ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co | 3 | ▼ -79% |
| Saudi Arabian Oil Co | 75 | ▲ +56% |
| BASF Catalysts LLC | 25 | ▲ +19% |
Separation science, specialty fuels, and heterocyclic chemistry are under-served adjacent branches
Several IPC branches appear in this corpus at low share relative to the dominant C10G and B01J classes. Two of these — B01D (separation processes) and C10L (fuels and firelighters) — sit at the functional boundary of catalytic reactor design and have plausible technical connections to zeolite applications that are not yet heavily patented.
B01D · Separation processes adjacent to zeolite reactors
B01D accounts for a small share of records in this corpus, despite the fact that membrane separation, adsorption, and reactive distillation are increasingly integrated with zeolite catalytic stages in refinery and petrochemical processes. The relatively low filing density here suggests that zeolite-enabled separations — for example, product stream cleanup or reactant pre-conditioning directly coupled to the reactor — remain an under-served design space. Entry paths include reactor-separator integration patents and zeolite membrane module claims.
Search this in Eureka →C10L · Fuels and firelighters — zeolite upgrading routes
C10L appears at low share in this corpus despite the direct connection between zeolite catalytic cracking and fuel-quality upgrading, including low-sulfur diesel and bio-derived fuel blending. The sparse coverage may reflect that fuel-specification claims tend to be filed under refining (C10G) rather than fuel-product (C10L) classifications, leaving a potential gap in product-property claims tied to zeolite-catalyzed upgrading. Applicants with existing C10G FCC positions could extend into C10L with targeted fuel-specification claims.
Search this in Eureka →How leaders differ by technology route across IPC sub-classes
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | C10G 11 · Hydrocarbon oils & refining | B01J 29 · Chemical/physical processes & catalysis | B01J 37 · Chemical/physical processes & catalysis | B01J 35 · Chemical/physical processes & catalysis | C01B 39 · Non-metallic elements & inorganic compounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR Grace & Co Conn | Strong · 667 | Strong · 581 | Moderate · 207 | Moderate · 221 | Emerging · 53 |
| Mobil Oil Corp | Strong · 582 | Strong · 556 | Emerging · 54 | Emerging · 24 | Moderate · 132 |
| China Petroleum & Chemical Corp | Strong · 288 | Strong · 219 | Emerging · 53 | Emerging · 57 | Moderate · 61 |
| Research Institute of Petroleum Processing SINOPEC | Strong · 274 | Strong · 216 | Emerging · 47 | Emerging · 38 | Moderate · 62 |
| Saudi Arabian Oil Co | Strong · 223 | Strong · 184 | Moderate · 58 | Moderate · 95 | Absent |
| Engelhard Corp | Strong · 185 | Strong · 179 | Strong · 99 | Moderate · 60 | Absent |
| ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co | Strong · 261 | Strong · 187 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 709 patent families. Applicant ranking figures are expressed as patent records, which can exceed the family count because a single family may be counted across multiple applicants or jurisdictions.
Mobil Oil Corp leads with 673 patent records, concentrated in hydrocarbon refining (C10G11) and catalysis processes (B01J29). WR Grace & Co Conn is a close second with 656 patent records and a nearly identical technology focus.
The field is assessed as being in a decline stage. Annual filings peaked at 104 in 2020 and have eased since. The most recent data points (2024–2026) reflect publication lag and should not be interpreted as confirmed further decline.
The United States is the primary filing jurisdiction, followed by Europe (EPO), Japan, China, WIPO (PCT), and Canada. India, the United Kingdom, and South Korea are significant secondary markets.
Among applicants with tracked momentum data, Saudi Arabian Oil Co shows the strongest growth at plus 56% in recent filings versus the prior three-year period. WR Grace & Co Conn is also growing at plus 17%, while ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp show significant recent declines.
The most-cited patent covers crystalline zeolite ZSM-5 and its preparation method, with 3,483 citations in this corpus. Crystalline zeolite ZSM-12 (1,472 citations) and a rare earth-containing high-silica zeolite patent (548 citations) follow. These foundational zeolite structure patents underpin the majority of downstream catalytic reactor innovations.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
Nothing on this page constitutes an exhaustive prior-art, novelty, freedom-to-operate, or validity search, nor does it constitute legal, financial, investment, or professional advice, and it should not be relied upon as such. Any patent, commercial, or strategic decision should be verified independently and reviewed with qualified patent, legal, and domain professionals. PatSnap makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose of the information presented.