Silica Gel for Chromatography Market Estimate and Trend Analysis

Deliverable Overview

The deliverable provides an overview of market penetration, industry value chain, market dynamics and regional trend for the silica gel for chromatography market. Furthermore, it also constitutes recent market developments and vendor landscape. The market dynamics chapter includes the factors driving and restraining the market, whereas the vendor landscape includes an exhaustive list of potential end users, manufacturers, and distributors of silica gel.

Silica Gel for Chromatography Market Estimate and Trend Analysis

Silica is a group of minerals formed from oxygen and silicon, also known as silicon dioxide. It is commonly available in crystalline form. However, inhaling it can be toxic and may cause severe pain in the lungs. Silica is naturally available in nine different crystalline forms. Although silica is being used in foundry, glass, and ceramic industries over centuries, it has witnessed an increase in its application as a raw material in silicon chips and in the plastic used for making computer mouse.

In chromatography, silica gel is majorly used as an adsorbent to isolate pure forms of active compounds. Moreover, it is used in water treatment applications on account of its ability to hold back precipitates containing impurities. The growing demand for purified water is anticipated to increase the demand for silica gel for chromatography applications. Increasing demand for silica gel as a packing material in chromatography is projected to fuel market growth over the forecast period. 

The pharmaceutical packaging industry is a critical demand-determining factor for the silica gel market. The requirements in this sector always keep on evolving, thereby generating a need to provide optimized packaging solutions. Silica gel is used in pharmaceutical packaging, mainly in the form of packets/bags, canisters, and desiccants. They are responsible for protecting pharmaceutical products on account of their ability to absorb moisture. Pharmaceutical sales have increased significantly in emerging economies such as India, China, Brazil, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Most of these countries are located in high-humidity regions, which require further moisture protection. This is expected to help further promote the growth of silica gel over the forecast period.

Moreover, silica is also widely utilized in food applications on account of its anti-caking, high purity, and superior absorption properties. The product helps in catering to challenges related to granulated, grated, and emulsified food products. It also provides increased processing efficiency by eliminating cake in screens, hoppers, and spray dryers.

Silica gel & sols are extensively utilized as flavor carriers in the food industry. Silica gel & sols are non-toxic and safe. The entrapment of sol-gel in inner pores of delicate chemicals results in the physical and chemical stabilization of entrapped active substances in pharmaceutical and food items. Growing applications in the bakery & confectionery segment are expected to drive the silica market growth in food-related end-use segments.

Carbon black is one of the key substitutes for silica and acts as a restraint for the industry. However, green tire manufacturers are replacing carbon black with silica as silica gel provides better performance and is eco-friendly. This is expected to have a positive impact on the market growth over the forecast period.

North America is the largest regional markets for silica gel owing to the rising demand from the tire industry. The growing demand for silica gel from the automotive sector, especially in U.S. and Mexico, is expected to fuel market growth over the forecast period. Furthermore, rising demand from the pharmaceutical sector for packaging in the form of packets, canisters, bags, and desiccants is anticipated to propel the demand for silica gel for the chromatography market. The rising consumption of pharmaceutical ingredients by biotech companies and specialty medicine manufacturers is also projected to boost the market.

The key market players are focusing on attaining optimum growth and expand their geographical presence across regions via different market expansion techniques such as development of new products, capacity expansions, partnerships, agreements, mergers & acquisitions, and technical collaborations. Robust growth of the food industry is anticipated to fuel the demand for silica gel over the forecast period. The silica gel for chromatography market in the Asia Pacific is likely to continue gaining market share owing to the availability of cheap labor and raw materials, along with the rising number of new manufacturing units. 

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