- Email: [email protected]
Direct epoxidation process
F O C U S Premixed resins stored for months CSR10 is a new amine-type latent acid catalyst developed by UK materials company Bac2 that promises prolonged processing time of thermosetting phenolic resins from minutes to months. Prior to the development of the material, the company had to pre-mix polymer resins and acid catalysts with graphite to prevent premature polymerization, then send the components to moulding partners for mixing on site in less than 30 minutes. With the use of CSR10, Bac2 can now store the pre-mixed mixture for three months then heat it to 120-130°C to decompose the graphite and polymerize the resins. CSR10 eliminates the need for rapid mixing equipment and reduces transport and storage costs. It is also highly reactive and works at colder environments more suitable for polymer production. TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), Oct 2009, (820), 15
Carbon-radical-producing catalyst to pave way for green chemistry Daicel Chemical Industries and three other companies have developed a highly efficient carbon-radical producing catalytic technology based on N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI). The technology can be used as a tool to develop low-polluting and resourceefficient processes for organic synthesis of such chemicals as adipic acid and terephthalic acid. Before the technology’s development, the efficient production of carbon radicals was impossible, and manufacturers had to resort to strong-arm approaches (such as radical initiators, transition-metal catalysts, and thermal decomposition) with insufficient yields. In the longer term, NHPI catalysis is seen to play a bigger role in advancing green chemistry by enabling processes to shift to oxygen oxidation from nitric acid oxidation. Japan Chemical Web, 12 Oct 2009 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp)
Wash cold, green and clean with Novozymes’ Lipoclean Novozymes has introduced Lipoclean as an alternative to surfactants in detergents. The use of a multienzyme solution that contains
DECEMBER 2009
O N
C ATA LY S T S
Lipoclean will enable detergent makers to cut down an average of 25% of the surfactants used without affecting performance while improving the sustainability of their products. Tests conducted by Novozymes have shown that the solution lessens soil redeposition and maintains or even improves wash performance when 20-40% less surfactants is used. HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Sep 2009, (3), 2-3
ENVIRONMENT Scrappage premium creates confusion on the platinum market Platinum traders are viewing scrappage premiums, with which governments are cranking up car sales, with both pleasure and pain. On the one hand, new cars need new catalysts, and thus platinum. On the other hand, platinum is recovered from scrapped cars. This increases supply and lowers prices. Platinum prices are thus expected to recover again only in the long-term. Catalysts maker Johnson Matthey recycled 860,000 ounces of platinum from catalysts in 2008. That is a quarter of the automotive industry’s platinum needs in a normal year. Market hopes now rest on economic recovery. Analysis group CSM Worldwide expects auto sales to recover in 2010, but it will take until 2013 before the record figures of 2007 are achieved. Handelsblatt Wirtschafts- und Finanzzeitung, 6 Oct 2009, (192), 18 (Website: http://www.handelsblatt.com) (in German)
Syngas and power produced from urban waste Rentech Inc plans to set up a facility in Rialto, CA, USA, for the production of ultra-clean synthetic fuels and electricity using urban woody green waste such as yard clippings. Biosolids are also accepted as a part of the plant’s feedstock. The design of the Rialto Renewable Energy Center would allow it to produce about 600 bbl/day of pure renewable synthetic fuels and export about 35 MW of renewable power. The plant will produce RenDiesel, the renewable synthetic diesel that is compliant with all fuel standards, is flexible to fit
existing engines and pipelines, and emits significantly lower pollutants compared with CARB ultra-low-sulfur diesel. The Rialto plant will be based on a biomass gasification technology licensed by SilvaGas Corp. Hydrocarbon Processing, Sep 2009, 23
PATENTS Activation of Phillips catalysts Phillips catalysts for making polyolefins, typically chromia on silica, need to be activated by heating before use. If the activation is done in two or more stages, by heating in a controlled way, it can be done more quickly. US 7,615,510, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co LP, The Woodlands, TX, USA, 10 Nov 2009
Fast methanol synthesis Methanol is usually made by passing syngas over a hot copper/zinc oxide catalyst. If the process is conducted at high speed in a fluidized bed having plug flow it is unnecessary to incorporate a heat exchanger in the system or to pre-heat the reactants. US 7,615,578, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc, Houston, TX, USA, 10 Nov 2009
Direct epoxidation process Direct epoxidation of alkenes with oxygen over titanium silicalite is known. The selectivity is improved if a noble metal on an ion-exchange resin is added to the catalyst. US 7,615,654, Lyondell Chemical Technology LP, Greenville, DE, USA, 10 Nov 2009
Doped titania catalyst sensitive to visible light The dopant is 0.4 – 0.8% carbon, incorporated by calcining hydrated titania with pentaerythrytol. The product has a beige colour. US 7,615,512, Kronos International Inc, DE, USA, 10 Nov 2009
Peroxy-acids generated by enzymes Peroxy-acids are usually generated in aqueous solution by adding hydrogen peroxide to a carboxylic acid in the presence of an acid catalyst. There are advantages in using an enzyme
7
Carbon-radical-producing catalyst to pave way for green chemistry Daicel Chemical Industries and three other companies have developed a highly efficient carbon-radical producing catalytic technology based on N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI). The technology can be used as a tool to develop low-polluting and resourceefficient processes for organic synthesis of such chemicals as adipic acid and terephthalic acid. Before the technology’s development, the efficient production of carbon radicals was impossible, and manufacturers had to resort to strong-arm approaches (such as radical initiators, transition-metal catalysts, and thermal decomposition) with insufficient yields. In the longer term, NHPI catalysis is seen to play a bigger role in advancing green chemistry by enabling processes to shift to oxygen oxidation from nitric acid oxidation. Japan Chemical Web, 12 Oct 2009 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp)
Wash cold, green and clean with Novozymes’ Lipoclean Novozymes has introduced Lipoclean as an alternative to surfactants in detergents. The use of a multienzyme solution that contains
DECEMBER 2009
O N
C ATA LY S T S
Lipoclean will enable detergent makers to cut down an average of 25% of the surfactants used without affecting performance while improving the sustainability of their products. Tests conducted by Novozymes have shown that the solution lessens soil redeposition and maintains or even improves wash performance when 20-40% less surfactants is used. HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Sep 2009, (3), 2-3
ENVIRONMENT Scrappage premium creates confusion on the platinum market Platinum traders are viewing scrappage premiums, with which governments are cranking up car sales, with both pleasure and pain. On the one hand, new cars need new catalysts, and thus platinum. On the other hand, platinum is recovered from scrapped cars. This increases supply and lowers prices. Platinum prices are thus expected to recover again only in the long-term. Catalysts maker Johnson Matthey recycled 860,000 ounces of platinum from catalysts in 2008. That is a quarter of the automotive industry’s platinum needs in a normal year. Market hopes now rest on economic recovery. Analysis group CSM Worldwide expects auto sales to recover in 2010, but it will take until 2013 before the record figures of 2007 are achieved. Handelsblatt Wirtschafts- und Finanzzeitung, 6 Oct 2009, (192), 18 (Website: http://www.handelsblatt.com) (in German)
Syngas and power produced from urban waste Rentech Inc plans to set up a facility in Rialto, CA, USA, for the production of ultra-clean synthetic fuels and electricity using urban woody green waste such as yard clippings. Biosolids are also accepted as a part of the plant’s feedstock. The design of the Rialto Renewable Energy Center would allow it to produce about 600 bbl/day of pure renewable synthetic fuels and export about 35 MW of renewable power. The plant will produce RenDiesel, the renewable synthetic diesel that is compliant with all fuel standards, is flexible to fit
existing engines and pipelines, and emits significantly lower pollutants compared with CARB ultra-low-sulfur diesel. The Rialto plant will be based on a biomass gasification technology licensed by SilvaGas Corp. Hydrocarbon Processing, Sep 2009, 23
PATENTS Activation of Phillips catalysts Phillips catalysts for making polyolefins, typically chromia on silica, need to be activated by heating before use. If the activation is done in two or more stages, by heating in a controlled way, it can be done more quickly. US 7,615,510, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co LP, The Woodlands, TX, USA, 10 Nov 2009
Fast methanol synthesis Methanol is usually made by passing syngas over a hot copper/zinc oxide catalyst. If the process is conducted at high speed in a fluidized bed having plug flow it is unnecessary to incorporate a heat exchanger in the system or to pre-heat the reactants. US 7,615,578, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc, Houston, TX, USA, 10 Nov 2009
Direct epoxidation process Direct epoxidation of alkenes with oxygen over titanium silicalite is known. The selectivity is improved if a noble metal on an ion-exchange resin is added to the catalyst. US 7,615,654, Lyondell Chemical Technology LP, Greenville, DE, USA, 10 Nov 2009
Doped titania catalyst sensitive to visible light The dopant is 0.4 – 0.8% carbon, incorporated by calcining hydrated titania with pentaerythrytol. The product has a beige colour. US 7,615,512, Kronos International Inc, DE, USA, 10 Nov 2009
Peroxy-acids generated by enzymes Peroxy-acids are usually generated in aqueous solution by adding hydrogen peroxide to a carboxylic acid in the presence of an acid catalyst. There are advantages in using an enzyme
7