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Clariant launches Genaminox CHE for hard surfaces
F O C US the reduction or elimination of the phosphate-based builders traditionally used in laundry detergents. This trend is now spreading to automatic dishwashing detergents (ADWDs), with about a dozen US states banning phosphates in household ADWD formulations from 1 Jul 2010. Several EU countries (Italy, France and Sweden) have also implemented or announced restrictions on phosphates in ADWDs. Of course, a number of more eco-friendly alternative builders are already on the market (zeolites, citrates, gluconates, acrylates, etc) but they struggle to match the cost and performance profile of phosphates. However, Rivertop reports that a combination of glucarate with another, undisclosed, compound can successfully sequester free calcium ions, thus meeting the requirements for an environment-friendly detergent builder for household cleaning products, without sacrificing price and performance. According to the company, replacing phosphates in detergents alone represents a $9 bn market opportunity. Without knowing the identity of the ‘undisclosed’ component, it is impossible to comment on the comparative ‘greenness’ of Rivertop’s builder but it will certainly be interesting to keep an eye on its progress. Caroline Edser
RAW MATERIALS Alpha-olefins SABIC and Linde announce successful commercialization of linear alphaolefins Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) and Germany-based Linde AG have announced the first successful commercialization of linear alphaolefins (LAO), using alpha-SABLIN technology developed jointly by SABIC and Linde [Focus on Surfactants, May 2005]. Discussions began in 1998 between SABIC and Linde for the development of 2
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technologies and plant capacity to produce LAO. In Jul 2004 SABIC’s manufacturing affiliate Jubail United Petrochemical Co (UNITED) awarded the contract to Linde for engineering, procurement and construction of the 150,000 tonnes/y plant at Jubail on the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. The UNITED project was carried out by Linde’s subsidiary, Linde-KCADresden GmbH, Germany, in close cooperation with Linde Engineering in Pullach, Germany and SABIC’s Technology and Innovation organization. A performance test run proved the commercial capability of the facility in May 2009 and UNITED accepted the results in Jul 2009. The alpha-SABLIN manufacturing process uses ethylene as a feedstock for a one-stage homogeneous reaction that produces a full range of highpurity LAOs. LAOs have a large variety of applications, such as lightcut production of butene-1, hexene-1 and octene-1 used in the growing polyethylene market. Medium cuts such as decene-1, dodecene-1 and tetradecene-1 are used for synthetic oils, detergents and shampoos. Heavy cuts are used in lube oil additives, surfactants, oil field chemicals and wax product applications. Press releases from: Linde AG, Klosterhofstrasse 1, 80331 Munich, Germany, tel: +49 89 3575701, fax: +49 89 35757 1075, website: http://www.linde.com (26 Nov 2009) and SABIC, PO Box 5101, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, tel: +966 1 401 2033, fax: +966 1 405 6427, website: http://www.sabic.com (25 Nov 2009)
SURFACTANTS Clariant launches Genaminox CHE for hard surfaces Speciality chemicals supplier Clariant has introduced Genaminox CHE – its pioneering bio-based amine oxide (AO) for hard surface cleaners (HSCs) that, according to the company, enables manufacturers to cut active ingredient input to achieve lower cost, greener products with enhanced cleaning performance. The high active AO is proven in industrystandard Gardner tests to consistently outperform alternative surfactants at a very low concentration, the firm reports. Because Genaminox CHE has a critical micelle concentration
(CMC) of less than half that of lauryldimethyl AO, up to 66% less active ingredient is required to deliver significant performance improvements for HSC formulations. Tests using existing market products show that the new AO delivers 50% better soil removal in an antibacterial formulation and a 44% improvement in a green all-purpose cleaner formulation, the firm says. By using less active ingredient, manufacturers can reduce material purchasing, storage and transportation costs, while being confident of achieving perceivable performance improvements and the differentiation they need for their product, according to Clariant. The higher performance degreasing effectiveness and soil removal also allows the end-user to use less active ingredient to get an improved result. The new AO is made from a plant-based renewable hydrophobe, with 60% of the chemicals used originating from bio sources. Because Genaminox CHEbased HSC fluids contain less active content and a higher water concentration, they have a lower ecotox profile with reduced environmental impact. The new product is also reported to have an excellent foam profile, making it well suited to spray and sit HSC cleaning formulations. It is peroxide stable. Press release from: Clariant International Ltd, Rothaustrasse 61, CH-4132 Muttenz 1, Switzerland, tel: +41 61 469 5111, website: http://www.clariant.com (15 Oct 2009)
AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry invests SKR 40 M at Stockvik AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry is reported to be investing SKR 40 M in its production facility at Stockvik, Sundsvall on the northeast coast of Sweden. Stockvik is the Swedish production unit for fatty amines and specialities and provides nitrilation, hydrogenation, distillation and derivatization operations, among others. The plant primarily manufactures tensides for the mining industry, oil production, agrochemicals and cleaning products, and adhesive and emulsifying agents for asphalt. The Stockvik unit is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified. Kemivarlden Biotech med Kemisk Tidskrift, Nov 2009, (11), 8 (in Swedish)
JANUARY 2010
RAW MATERIALS Alpha-olefins SABIC and Linde announce successful commercialization of linear alphaolefins Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) and Germany-based Linde AG have announced the first successful commercialization of linear alphaolefins (LAO), using alpha-SABLIN technology developed jointly by SABIC and Linde [Focus on Surfactants, May 2005]. Discussions began in 1998 between SABIC and Linde for the development of 2
O N
S U R FAC TA N T S
technologies and plant capacity to produce LAO. In Jul 2004 SABIC’s manufacturing affiliate Jubail United Petrochemical Co (UNITED) awarded the contract to Linde for engineering, procurement and construction of the 150,000 tonnes/y plant at Jubail on the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. The UNITED project was carried out by Linde’s subsidiary, Linde-KCADresden GmbH, Germany, in close cooperation with Linde Engineering in Pullach, Germany and SABIC’s Technology and Innovation organization. A performance test run proved the commercial capability of the facility in May 2009 and UNITED accepted the results in Jul 2009. The alpha-SABLIN manufacturing process uses ethylene as a feedstock for a one-stage homogeneous reaction that produces a full range of highpurity LAOs. LAOs have a large variety of applications, such as lightcut production of butene-1, hexene-1 and octene-1 used in the growing polyethylene market. Medium cuts such as decene-1, dodecene-1 and tetradecene-1 are used for synthetic oils, detergents and shampoos. Heavy cuts are used in lube oil additives, surfactants, oil field chemicals and wax product applications. Press releases from: Linde AG, Klosterhofstrasse 1, 80331 Munich, Germany, tel: +49 89 3575701, fax: +49 89 35757 1075, website: http://www.linde.com (26 Nov 2009) and SABIC, PO Box 5101, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, tel: +966 1 401 2033, fax: +966 1 405 6427, website: http://www.sabic.com (25 Nov 2009)
SURFACTANTS Clariant launches Genaminox CHE for hard surfaces Speciality chemicals supplier Clariant has introduced Genaminox CHE – its pioneering bio-based amine oxide (AO) for hard surface cleaners (HSCs) that, according to the company, enables manufacturers to cut active ingredient input to achieve lower cost, greener products with enhanced cleaning performance. The high active AO is proven in industrystandard Gardner tests to consistently outperform alternative surfactants at a very low concentration, the firm reports. Because Genaminox CHE has a critical micelle concentration
(CMC) of less than half that of lauryldimethyl AO, up to 66% less active ingredient is required to deliver significant performance improvements for HSC formulations. Tests using existing market products show that the new AO delivers 50% better soil removal in an antibacterial formulation and a 44% improvement in a green all-purpose cleaner formulation, the firm says. By using less active ingredient, manufacturers can reduce material purchasing, storage and transportation costs, while being confident of achieving perceivable performance improvements and the differentiation they need for their product, according to Clariant. The higher performance degreasing effectiveness and soil removal also allows the end-user to use less active ingredient to get an improved result. The new AO is made from a plant-based renewable hydrophobe, with 60% of the chemicals used originating from bio sources. Because Genaminox CHEbased HSC fluids contain less active content and a higher water concentration, they have a lower ecotox profile with reduced environmental impact. The new product is also reported to have an excellent foam profile, making it well suited to spray and sit HSC cleaning formulations. It is peroxide stable. Press release from: Clariant International Ltd, Rothaustrasse 61, CH-4132 Muttenz 1, Switzerland, tel: +41 61 469 5111, website: http://www.clariant.com (15 Oct 2009)
AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry invests SKR 40 M at Stockvik AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry is reported to be investing SKR 40 M in its production facility at Stockvik, Sundsvall on the northeast coast of Sweden. Stockvik is the Swedish production unit for fatty amines and specialities and provides nitrilation, hydrogenation, distillation and derivatization operations, among others. The plant primarily manufactures tensides for the mining industry, oil production, agrochemicals and cleaning products, and adhesive and emulsifying agents for asphalt. The Stockvik unit is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified. Kemivarlden Biotech med Kemisk Tidskrift, Nov 2009, (11), 8 (in Swedish)
JANUARY 2010