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Aemetis licenses Edeniq's cellulosic ethanol technology
FOCUS more efficient integrated industrial processes in terms of performance and production costs. The initial phase of the collaboration involves the characterization of the Arbiom biomass (forestry residues pre-treated with phosphoric acid and hydrolyzed) and the evaluation of Deinococcus potential for assimilating the sugars extracted from this biomass. Prior to the conclusion of the collaboration agreement with Arbiom, the DEINOVE teams conducted assimilation tests in the laboratory, which show promising results. On this basis, further tests will be conducted to define the molecules that can be produced by fermentation. The work could continue in the Arbiom pilot unit in Norton, VA, US. Original Source: DEINOVE, 2016. Found on SpecialChem Plastics and Elastomers Formulation, 15 Mar 2016, (Website: http:// www.specialchem4polymers.com)
Aemetis licenses Edeniq’s cellulosic ethanol technology Edeniq Inc, a biorefining and cellulosic technology company, and Aemetis Inc, an advanced renewable fuels and renewable chemicals company, announced on 24 Mar 2016 they have entered into a licence agreement under which Aemetis will deploy Edeniq's Pathway technology at its 60 M gal/y ethanol production facility located in Keyes, CA, US. Edeniq's Pathway Technology integrates Edeniq's Cellunator equipment with cellulase enzymes to convert corn kernel fibre to cellulosic ethanol. The Pathway Technology utilizes existing fermentation and distillation equipment to produce up to 2.5% cellulosic ethanol and a 7% increase in overall ethanol yield. Edeniq is the leader in developing analytical methods to quantify cellulosic ethanol co-produced with first-generation ethanol during fermentation, which is required to access regulatory value including D3 Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). Aemetis plans to use Edeniq's methods to submit a registration to the US Environmental Protection Agency for D3 RINs. Original Source: Aemetis Inc, 2016. Found on Marketwired, 24 Mar 2016, (Website: http:// www.marketwired.com)
REG begins expanding, upgrading Ames lab to enhance renewable chem capabilities Renewable Energy Group (REG) has begun an expansion and upgrade of its Ames, IA, US, laboratory to further enhance renewable chemical related biotechnology research, development and commercialization. New fermentation equipment will be installed, as well as significant analytical capabilities. Once complete, new full-time positions will be added to focus on commercialization and
May 2016
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integration of products to be developed by REG in south San Francisco into production and delivery platforms. Legislation is expected to be signed soon, which will provide tax credits for the renewable chemical industry. This should provide "extra momentum'' for REG's investment in the field.
Original Source: PennWell Corporation, 9 Mar 2016, (PennWell Corporation, website: http:// www.pennenergy.com) © Pennwell Corporation 2016
Original Source: PetroChemical News, 11 Apr 2016, 54 (14), 2 (Website: http://www. petrochemical-news.com) © William F. Bland Co.ANB2016
KBR upgrading Chinese FCC unit to utilize its Maxofin technology
NEW PLANTS New Edmonton biorefinery to convert non-food plant oils, fats into renewable transportation fuels An Edmonton, AB, Canada-based company is reaching the final stage of its project to build a biorefinery that will convert non-food canola oil and waste fats into next-generation, renewable transportation fuels that can replace or blend with conventional fuels. The company, SBI BioEnergy, has been working on scaling up its novel "catalytic'' processing technology for the past three years, thanks to $1.4 M in funding from Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions (AI Bio). The process creates no emissions, generates no waste and costs less than other alternative fuel technologies. Original Source: Alberta Innovates - Bio Solutions, 2016. Found on PR Newswire, 10 Mar 2016, (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com)
Dow’s Oyster Creek PDH unit reaches full capacity Dow Chemical Co, Midland, MI, US, has fully commissioned a 750,000 tonne/y propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit as part of the previously announced ethylene production expansion and upgrade project at its Oyster Creek complex in Freeport, TX. Equipped with Honeywell International Inc subsidiary UOP LLC's C3 Oleflex process technology for manufacturing onpurpose propylene from propane, the PDH unit began commercial operations in Dec 2015, and after completing its performance test in less than 2 months, is now operating at full capacity, Dow said. In addition to technology licensing, UOP also provided basic engineering design, the modular continuous catalytic reforming (CCR) unit, control systems, catalyst, adsorbent, and start-up services for the PDH unit, according to Honeywell. Dow also said it continues to make progress on the associated 1.5 M tonnes/y ethylene unit at the Oyster Creek complex, as well as other supporting infrastructure and derivative investment projects of its performance plastics division at Dow sites across the US Gulf Coast. Completion of
those derivative investment projects will be synchronized with commissioning of the new ethylene unit, which remains on schedule for startup in 2017.
KBR has received a licence and basic engineering design contract for the revamp of a fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) unit in China's Shandong Province with its Maxofin technology. Under the terms of the contract with an unidentified client, KBR will provide the licensing package for the Maxofin conversion, which will enable the existing FCC unit to produce higher amounts of propylene, while retaining the flexibility to produce more gasoline when market demand or prices are favourable. Original Source: PetroChemical News, 11 Apr 2016, 54 (14), 1 (Website: http://www. petrochemical-news.com) © William F. Bland Co.ANB2016
Asia: IRPC achieves on-spec propylene On 3 Apr 2016, IRPC obtained on-spec production of propylene at its new deep catalytic cracker (DCC) in Rayong, Thailand, which runs at 60% of capacity. The DCC can make 320,000 tonnes/y of propylene. By May 2016, the plant's operating rate will be increased to around 80%. Exports should be prepared to start by roughly mid-Apr 2016. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 11-17 Apr 2016, 289 (13), 8 (Website: http://www.icis. com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2016
G2X awards contracts to Toyo & JM for Lake Charles methanol project G2X Energy, along with its engineering, procurement and construction contractor Proman Group, has awarded contracts to Toyo Engineering and Johnson Matthey (JM) for a world-scale methanol production facility being built in Lake Charles, LA, US. The 1.4 M tonnes/y methanol plant, being built by G2X's Big Lake Fuels subsidiary, will take about three years to complete and will include the necessary facilities to convert methanol to automotive gasoline in the future. Toyo will provide basic engineering for offsite and utility units and detailed engineering of the complete methanol facility. JM will be responsible for supply of technology licence, basic engineering, catalyst and technical services. The methanol plant will use JM's steam reforming and methanol synthesis technologies. Methanol Holdings Trinidad Ltd (MHTL) earlier announced plans to invest in the project with G2X. As part of
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Aemetis licenses Edeniq’s cellulosic ethanol technology Edeniq Inc, a biorefining and cellulosic technology company, and Aemetis Inc, an advanced renewable fuels and renewable chemicals company, announced on 24 Mar 2016 they have entered into a licence agreement under which Aemetis will deploy Edeniq's Pathway technology at its 60 M gal/y ethanol production facility located in Keyes, CA, US. Edeniq's Pathway Technology integrates Edeniq's Cellunator equipment with cellulase enzymes to convert corn kernel fibre to cellulosic ethanol. The Pathway Technology utilizes existing fermentation and distillation equipment to produce up to 2.5% cellulosic ethanol and a 7% increase in overall ethanol yield. Edeniq is the leader in developing analytical methods to quantify cellulosic ethanol co-produced with first-generation ethanol during fermentation, which is required to access regulatory value including D3 Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). Aemetis plans to use Edeniq's methods to submit a registration to the US Environmental Protection Agency for D3 RINs. Original Source: Aemetis Inc, 2016. Found on Marketwired, 24 Mar 2016, (Website: http:// www.marketwired.com)
REG begins expanding, upgrading Ames lab to enhance renewable chem capabilities Renewable Energy Group (REG) has begun an expansion and upgrade of its Ames, IA, US, laboratory to further enhance renewable chemical related biotechnology research, development and commercialization. New fermentation equipment will be installed, as well as significant analytical capabilities. Once complete, new full-time positions will be added to focus on commercialization and
May 2016
ON
C ATA LY S T S
integration of products to be developed by REG in south San Francisco into production and delivery platforms. Legislation is expected to be signed soon, which will provide tax credits for the renewable chemical industry. This should provide "extra momentum'' for REG's investment in the field.
Original Source: PennWell Corporation, 9 Mar 2016, (PennWell Corporation, website: http:// www.pennenergy.com) © Pennwell Corporation 2016
Original Source: PetroChemical News, 11 Apr 2016, 54 (14), 2 (Website: http://www. petrochemical-news.com) © William F. Bland Co.ANB2016
KBR upgrading Chinese FCC unit to utilize its Maxofin technology
NEW PLANTS New Edmonton biorefinery to convert non-food plant oils, fats into renewable transportation fuels An Edmonton, AB, Canada-based company is reaching the final stage of its project to build a biorefinery that will convert non-food canola oil and waste fats into next-generation, renewable transportation fuels that can replace or blend with conventional fuels. The company, SBI BioEnergy, has been working on scaling up its novel "catalytic'' processing technology for the past three years, thanks to $1.4 M in funding from Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions (AI Bio). The process creates no emissions, generates no waste and costs less than other alternative fuel technologies. Original Source: Alberta Innovates - Bio Solutions, 2016. Found on PR Newswire, 10 Mar 2016, (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com)
Dow’s Oyster Creek PDH unit reaches full capacity Dow Chemical Co, Midland, MI, US, has fully commissioned a 750,000 tonne/y propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit as part of the previously announced ethylene production expansion and upgrade project at its Oyster Creek complex in Freeport, TX. Equipped with Honeywell International Inc subsidiary UOP LLC's C3 Oleflex process technology for manufacturing onpurpose propylene from propane, the PDH unit began commercial operations in Dec 2015, and after completing its performance test in less than 2 months, is now operating at full capacity, Dow said. In addition to technology licensing, UOP also provided basic engineering design, the modular continuous catalytic reforming (CCR) unit, control systems, catalyst, adsorbent, and start-up services for the PDH unit, according to Honeywell. Dow also said it continues to make progress on the associated 1.5 M tonnes/y ethylene unit at the Oyster Creek complex, as well as other supporting infrastructure and derivative investment projects of its performance plastics division at Dow sites across the US Gulf Coast. Completion of
those derivative investment projects will be synchronized with commissioning of the new ethylene unit, which remains on schedule for startup in 2017.
KBR has received a licence and basic engineering design contract for the revamp of a fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) unit in China's Shandong Province with its Maxofin technology. Under the terms of the contract with an unidentified client, KBR will provide the licensing package for the Maxofin conversion, which will enable the existing FCC unit to produce higher amounts of propylene, while retaining the flexibility to produce more gasoline when market demand or prices are favourable. Original Source: PetroChemical News, 11 Apr 2016, 54 (14), 1 (Website: http://www. petrochemical-news.com) © William F. Bland Co.ANB2016
Asia: IRPC achieves on-spec propylene On 3 Apr 2016, IRPC obtained on-spec production of propylene at its new deep catalytic cracker (DCC) in Rayong, Thailand, which runs at 60% of capacity. The DCC can make 320,000 tonnes/y of propylene. By May 2016, the plant's operating rate will be increased to around 80%. Exports should be prepared to start by roughly mid-Apr 2016. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 11-17 Apr 2016, 289 (13), 8 (Website: http://www.icis. com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2016
G2X awards contracts to Toyo & JM for Lake Charles methanol project G2X Energy, along with its engineering, procurement and construction contractor Proman Group, has awarded contracts to Toyo Engineering and Johnson Matthey (JM) for a world-scale methanol production facility being built in Lake Charles, LA, US. The 1.4 M tonnes/y methanol plant, being built by G2X's Big Lake Fuels subsidiary, will take about three years to complete and will include the necessary facilities to convert methanol to automotive gasoline in the future. Toyo will provide basic engineering for offsite and utility units and detailed engineering of the complete methanol facility. JM will be responsible for supply of technology licence, basic engineering, catalyst and technical services. The methanol plant will use JM's steam reforming and methanol synthesis technologies. Methanol Holdings Trinidad Ltd (MHTL) earlier announced plans to invest in the project with G2X. As part of
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