Why Zeolite Commercialization Lacks Agility: Bottlenecks and Solutions with a Focus on Domestic Challenges

Despite decades of advancements in zeolite science, the path from laboratory discovery to industrial adoption remains sluggish and inefficient. Zeolite commercialization faces fundamental kinetic and thermodynamic constraints that impede industrial translation, particularly in developing economies like Iran. Hydrothermal synthesis exhibits nonlinear crystallization kinetics under scale-up conditions, leading to inconsistent phase purity (>۱۰% variance in industrial batches) and defective frameworks, especially for high-silica zeolites (Si/Al >۵۰). This talk examines the key bottlenecks hindering agile zeolite commercialization, with a critical focus on Iran’s untapped potential and existing inefficiencies. Globally, the disconnect between academic research and industrial needs, such as pursuing novel frameworks over scalable, cost-effective solutions, delays market entry by years or even decades. In Iran, despite strong academic expertise in zeolite research, commercialization faces additional challenges, including reliance on imported raw materials, outdated production techniques, and weak collaboration between universities and industry. The absence of specialized validation facilities and limited investment in pilot-scale testing further decelerate progress. However, opportunities exist to overcome these barriers through localized raw material sourcing (e.g., Iranian kaolin or rice husk silica), modern synthesis methods (e.g., microwave-assisted or continuous-flow processes), and stronger public-private partnerships. This talk proposes actionable solutions to enhance agility in zeolite commercialization globally and specifically in Iran. Iran could emerge as a competitive player in the global zeolite market by fostering industry-academia collaboration, adopting adaptive manufacturing technologies, and prioritizing applied research. The discussion will challenge researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to rethink current strategies and accelerate the translation of zeolite innovations into real-world applications.

کلیدواژه ها:

Zeolite ، Commercialization ، Scale-up ، Industry-University gap