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Concepts of modern catalysis and kinetics
F O C U S Catalytic Solutions develops improved performance three-way catalysts Catalytic Solutions, CA has raised additional capital of $32.4 M following news that it has developed a new improved three-way catalyst that will have application in the automobile industry. This new Mixed Phase Catalyst (MPC) technology has attracted several major investors including BASF Venture Capital, RockPort Capital Partners, EnerTech Capital Partners, and Advent International Corporation. Catalytic Solutions plans to increase catalyst production during 2H 2003 and a new plant in Europe could create between 200 and 300 new jobs over 2003 to 2007. Catalytic Solutions currently supplies catalytic converters under contract to Honda, General Motors, and Ford. Chimie Hebdo, 26 May 2003, (214), 20 (in French)
Platinum: autocatalyst recovery Recovery and recycling of autocatalysts continues to provide a growing secondary source of pgms. An estimated 570,000 oz of platinum were recovered from recycled autocatalysts in 2002, an increase of 40,000 oz from 2001. The increase was most marked in Western Europe where greater collection and processing of spent autocatalysts resulted in a 20,000 oz rise in platinum recovery. The European End of Life Vehicle (ELV) recycling directive will apply from 2005 and aims to increase the rate of re-use and recovery of materials to 85% by weight per vehicle by 2006. As catalytic converters were required only on all new gasoline cars in Europe from 1993, the proportion of cars currently being scrapped that are fitted with catalysts is increasing as greater numbers of these vehicles reach the ends of their lives. Recovery has also increased in the US, although to a lesser extent, as collection rates were already high relative to Europe. The strength of the platinum price in 2002, which averaged almost $540 over the year, helped to support the profitability of recovery and recycling businesses, despite the fall in the price of palladium. North Americanbased collection companies also sought to widen their sources of scrapped catalysts and imported increased volumes of material from
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Mexico and South America. A table gives platinum from autocatalyst recovery in Europe, Japan, North America, and the Rest of the World for 2001 and 2002. Johnson Matthey Platinum 2003, May 2003, 28 (Johnson Matthey, 40-42 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8EE, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7269 8000. Fax: +44 (0)20 7269 8389. Website: http://www.platinum.matthey.com)
Propylene from butenes The reactions are conducted at 500–600°and 1–20 atm, catalysed by tungsten oxide on silica, promoted by caesium phosphate. US 6,586,649, 1 Jul 2003, Sasol Technology, Sasolburg, South Africa
Hydrogenating alkynes in butadiene Palladium: autocatalyst recovery The volume of palladium recovered from the recycling of scrapped autocatalysts increased by nearly one-third in 2002, rising by 90,000 oz to an estimated 370,000 oz. The high palladium price of 2000 and 2001 intensified interest in the collection of scrapped catalytic converters, while the average palladium content of catalysts recovered increased. Much of the increase in the total volume of palladium recovered was due to a 30% rise in metal recovery in North America. Recovery rates also increased in Europe, where impending legislation has increased the emphasis on automobile recycling. In Japan, recovery was flat, while elsewhere the volumes of metal recovered increased but remained relatively small. In the US and Europe, in particular, the average palladium content of recovered autocatalysts increased. Catalytic converters fitted to cars manufactured from the mid 1990s onwards contained significant loadings of palladium and the number of these vehicles now being scrapped is rising. Johnson Matthey Platinum 2003, May 2003, 36 (Johnson Matthey, 40-42 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8EE, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7269 8000. Fax: +44 (0)20 7269 8389. Website: http://www.platinum.matthey.com)
PATENTS Ring-opening process for petroleum fractions There is a need to open naphthenic rings in petroleum fractions without producing significant amounts of lowboiling compounds. This is achieved by use of a supported platinum group catalyst in which the iridium concentration is greater than the platinum concentration. US 6,586,650, 1 Jul 2003, ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Co, Annandale, NJ, USA
Butadiene for making synthetic rubbers must be free from alkynes. These are removed by selective hydrogenation over a supported copper catalyst. The copper is present in the outer layers of the support particles. US 6,586,647, 1 Jul 2003, UOP LLC, Des Plaines, IL, USA
Oxidation of dichlorobenzene to dichlorophenol using a peroxovanadium compound and an acid A variety of alpha-hydroxy, dibasic, tribasic, or sufonic acids may be used. The peroxo-vanadium compound is made from a soluble vanadium compound and hydrogen peroxide. US 6,586,624, 1 Jul 2003, Syngenta Participations AG, Basel, Switzerland
Column esterification The column contains the anhydride of the acid to be esterified, which enables the reaction to proceed to completion. US 6,586,609, 1 Jul 2003, La Chemical Spa, Biella, Italy
BOOKSHELF Concepts of modern catalysis and kinetics The first book to span the full range from fundamentals to industrial processes. I Chorkendorff and J Willem, Sep 2003, John Wiley, Chichester, UK, ISBN 3-527-30574-2, 300 pp, £32.50
Handbook of fuel cells: fundamentals, technology, and applications In four volumes, of which Volume 2 is devoted to fuel cell electrocatalysts W Vielstich, H Gasteiger, and A Lamm, Mar 2003, John Wiley, Chichester, UK, ISBN 0-471-49926-9, 2400 pp, £895
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Platinum: autocatalyst recovery Recovery and recycling of autocatalysts continues to provide a growing secondary source of pgms. An estimated 570,000 oz of platinum were recovered from recycled autocatalysts in 2002, an increase of 40,000 oz from 2001. The increase was most marked in Western Europe where greater collection and processing of spent autocatalysts resulted in a 20,000 oz rise in platinum recovery. The European End of Life Vehicle (ELV) recycling directive will apply from 2005 and aims to increase the rate of re-use and recovery of materials to 85% by weight per vehicle by 2006. As catalytic converters were required only on all new gasoline cars in Europe from 1993, the proportion of cars currently being scrapped that are fitted with catalysts is increasing as greater numbers of these vehicles reach the ends of their lives. Recovery has also increased in the US, although to a lesser extent, as collection rates were already high relative to Europe. The strength of the platinum price in 2002, which averaged almost $540 over the year, helped to support the profitability of recovery and recycling businesses, despite the fall in the price of palladium. North Americanbased collection companies also sought to widen their sources of scrapped catalysts and imported increased volumes of material from
AUGUST 2003
O N
C ATA LY S T S
Mexico and South America. A table gives platinum from autocatalyst recovery in Europe, Japan, North America, and the Rest of the World for 2001 and 2002. Johnson Matthey Platinum 2003, May 2003, 28 (Johnson Matthey, 40-42 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8EE, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7269 8000. Fax: +44 (0)20 7269 8389. Website: http://www.platinum.matthey.com)
Propylene from butenes The reactions are conducted at 500–600°and 1–20 atm, catalysed by tungsten oxide on silica, promoted by caesium phosphate. US 6,586,649, 1 Jul 2003, Sasol Technology, Sasolburg, South Africa
Hydrogenating alkynes in butadiene Palladium: autocatalyst recovery The volume of palladium recovered from the recycling of scrapped autocatalysts increased by nearly one-third in 2002, rising by 90,000 oz to an estimated 370,000 oz. The high palladium price of 2000 and 2001 intensified interest in the collection of scrapped catalytic converters, while the average palladium content of catalysts recovered increased. Much of the increase in the total volume of palladium recovered was due to a 30% rise in metal recovery in North America. Recovery rates also increased in Europe, where impending legislation has increased the emphasis on automobile recycling. In Japan, recovery was flat, while elsewhere the volumes of metal recovered increased but remained relatively small. In the US and Europe, in particular, the average palladium content of recovered autocatalysts increased. Catalytic converters fitted to cars manufactured from the mid 1990s onwards contained significant loadings of palladium and the number of these vehicles now being scrapped is rising. Johnson Matthey Platinum 2003, May 2003, 36 (Johnson Matthey, 40-42 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8EE, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7269 8000. Fax: +44 (0)20 7269 8389. Website: http://www.platinum.matthey.com)
PATENTS Ring-opening process for petroleum fractions There is a need to open naphthenic rings in petroleum fractions without producing significant amounts of lowboiling compounds. This is achieved by use of a supported platinum group catalyst in which the iridium concentration is greater than the platinum concentration. US 6,586,650, 1 Jul 2003, ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Co, Annandale, NJ, USA
Butadiene for making synthetic rubbers must be free from alkynes. These are removed by selective hydrogenation over a supported copper catalyst. The copper is present in the outer layers of the support particles. US 6,586,647, 1 Jul 2003, UOP LLC, Des Plaines, IL, USA
Oxidation of dichlorobenzene to dichlorophenol using a peroxovanadium compound and an acid A variety of alpha-hydroxy, dibasic, tribasic, or sufonic acids may be used. The peroxo-vanadium compound is made from a soluble vanadium compound and hydrogen peroxide. US 6,586,624, 1 Jul 2003, Syngenta Participations AG, Basel, Switzerland
Column esterification The column contains the anhydride of the acid to be esterified, which enables the reaction to proceed to completion. US 6,586,609, 1 Jul 2003, La Chemical Spa, Biella, Italy
BOOKSHELF Concepts of modern catalysis and kinetics The first book to span the full range from fundamentals to industrial processes. I Chorkendorff and J Willem, Sep 2003, John Wiley, Chichester, UK, ISBN 3-527-30574-2, 300 pp, £32.50
Handbook of fuel cells: fundamentals, technology, and applications In four volumes, of which Volume 2 is devoted to fuel cell electrocatalysts W Vielstich, H Gasteiger, and A Lamm, Mar 2003, John Wiley, Chichester, UK, ISBN 0-471-49926-9, 2400 pp, £895
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