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Novozymes launches better enzymes for detergents
F O C U S with low sulfur, light to intermediate boiling range gasoline, making it an excellent fit at refineries such as Bayway that have an existing gasoline splitter and relatively low gasoline sulfur levels. An additional benefit at the Bayway refinery is the presence of existing gasoline hydroprocessing equipment that is capable of processing part of the gasoline. Press release from: WR Grace & Co, 7500, Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. Tel: +1 410 531 4514. Website: http://www.grace.com (30 Jan 2003)
Novozymes launches better enzymes for detergents Termamyl Ultra 300L is an improved amylase for liquid detergents, launched by Novozymes in Jun 2002. The product improves stability without using or by reducing the amount of calcium chloride used in a formulation. Novozyme launched Lipex, a lipase enzyme for first-wash removal of fatty stains in cooler water temperatures, in Apr 2002. Chemical Market Reporter, 27 Jan 2003 (http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
DME production technology in Luming Shandong Linyi Luming Chemical Co Ltd’s dimethyl ether production technology has been approved. Dimethyl ether is considered to be an alternative energy source. The proprietary production technology is a liquid-phase composite acid catalytic dehydration. Luming Chemical has already taken the lead in China by constructing a 5000 tonne/y plant, the production cost of which is only 33-50% that for the gaseous phase process. China Chemical Reporter, 16 Jan 2003, 14 (2), 13
Monolith loop reactor Johnson Matthey of Wayne, PA, will exclusively supply the new line of catalysts developed for Air Products and Chemicals Inc’s Monolith Loop Reactor (MLR). The supply agreement was forged as part of Air Product Chemicals’ bid to commercialize MLP, a new technology based on a monolithic catalyst bed claimed to provide reaction rates 10 to 100 times greater than technologies based on slurry-tank reactors. Chemical Engineering (New York), Jan 2003, 110 (1), 17
MARCH 2003
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ENVIRONMENT Codexis readies carbon fixation technology An enzymatic system that allows companies to take atmospheric carbon dioxide and create carbon compounds which could be reinserted into the economic cycle has been developed by the Maxygen subsidiary, Codexis of Redwood City, CA, US. The technology will enable carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes to be reduced. During 2000 Maxygen agreed to fund a 3 year research study by Rio Tinto into carbon dioxide fixation research. Commercialization rights to the technology outside the field of energy production have been retained by Maxygen. Chemical Week, 29 Jan 2003, 165 (4), 7
Faurecia Exhaust Systems foresees growth in the prices of catalytic converters Faurecia Exhaust Systems (FES) (Bakovnad Jizerou, Czech Republic), an automotive parts manufacturer, assumes that the prices of catalytic converters may rise in 2Q 2003 at the earliest. The growth of the prices of precious metals, including platinum that is used in catalytic converters, is taken into consideration in the next quarter. The prices are increasing owing to the insecure situation around Iraq. The price of platinum has seen the biggest rise since the beginning of 2003, by 13.5% to $ 679/Troy ounce on 6 Feb 2003. According to FES, the price standards are negotiated for a quarter and they are agreed between the car company and its monoliths supplier. FES fits catalytic converters into exhaust pipes for the car companies Skoda Auto (Czech Republic) and Volkswagen (Germany). It imports precious-metals containing monolith from Degussa (Canada), a member of the samename German concern. Monoliths for automotive catalytic converters are produced from beeswax, which is saturated with precious metals such as platinum, palladium or rhodium. The metals then bind the dangerous substances that are products of the catalytic reaction in the monoliths.
The quantity of platinum in one converter is measured in grams. In 2002 platinum catalytic converters worth more than CEK 135 M were imported by the Czech Republic. Hospodarske Noviny, 7 Feb 2003, 47 (27), 18 (in Czech)
PATENTS Hemi-hydrogenation of dinitriles Dintriles (eg adiponitrile) can be hemihydrogenated if the Raney nickel catalyst contains copper (or silver or gold) and an alkali or alkaline earth hydroxide promoter. US 6,521,779, 18 Feb 2003, Rhodia Fiber & Resin Intermediates, Courbevoie, France
Production of adipic acid Oxidation of cyclohexanol/one using air or oxygen is catalysed by an organic Co/Mn cluster catalyst, CoxMny (O)(OOCR), where R is an alkyl or aryl group. One of the inventors, Paul Ratnasamy, is Director of the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. US 6,521,789, 18 Feb 2003, CSIR, New Delhi, India
Carbonylation of epoxides Carbonylation of epoxides to make 1,3-alkanediols is catalysed by a chromium carbonyl with an organic nitrogen compound such as imidazole. US 6,521,801, 18 Feb 2003, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, South Korea
Oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene The catalyst is Mo or V on silica/titania made by the sol gel process. US 6,521,808, 18 Feb 2003, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
Regenerating a monolithic catalyst A monolith which has been used for liquid-phase hydrogenations is regenerated by heating in a current of an oxidising gas mixture, and then heating in hydrogen. US 6,521,791, 18 Feb 2003, Air Products & Chemicals, Allentown, PA, USA
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Novozymes launches better enzymes for detergents Termamyl Ultra 300L is an improved amylase for liquid detergents, launched by Novozymes in Jun 2002. The product improves stability without using or by reducing the amount of calcium chloride used in a formulation. Novozyme launched Lipex, a lipase enzyme for first-wash removal of fatty stains in cooler water temperatures, in Apr 2002. Chemical Market Reporter, 27 Jan 2003 (http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
DME production technology in Luming Shandong Linyi Luming Chemical Co Ltd’s dimethyl ether production technology has been approved. Dimethyl ether is considered to be an alternative energy source. The proprietary production technology is a liquid-phase composite acid catalytic dehydration. Luming Chemical has already taken the lead in China by constructing a 5000 tonne/y plant, the production cost of which is only 33-50% that for the gaseous phase process. China Chemical Reporter, 16 Jan 2003, 14 (2), 13
Monolith loop reactor Johnson Matthey of Wayne, PA, will exclusively supply the new line of catalysts developed for Air Products and Chemicals Inc’s Monolith Loop Reactor (MLR). The supply agreement was forged as part of Air Product Chemicals’ bid to commercialize MLP, a new technology based on a monolithic catalyst bed claimed to provide reaction rates 10 to 100 times greater than technologies based on slurry-tank reactors. Chemical Engineering (New York), Jan 2003, 110 (1), 17
MARCH 2003
O N
C ATA LY S T S
ENVIRONMENT Codexis readies carbon fixation technology An enzymatic system that allows companies to take atmospheric carbon dioxide and create carbon compounds which could be reinserted into the economic cycle has been developed by the Maxygen subsidiary, Codexis of Redwood City, CA, US. The technology will enable carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes to be reduced. During 2000 Maxygen agreed to fund a 3 year research study by Rio Tinto into carbon dioxide fixation research. Commercialization rights to the technology outside the field of energy production have been retained by Maxygen. Chemical Week, 29 Jan 2003, 165 (4), 7
Faurecia Exhaust Systems foresees growth in the prices of catalytic converters Faurecia Exhaust Systems (FES) (Bakovnad Jizerou, Czech Republic), an automotive parts manufacturer, assumes that the prices of catalytic converters may rise in 2Q 2003 at the earliest. The growth of the prices of precious metals, including platinum that is used in catalytic converters, is taken into consideration in the next quarter. The prices are increasing owing to the insecure situation around Iraq. The price of platinum has seen the biggest rise since the beginning of 2003, by 13.5% to $ 679/Troy ounce on 6 Feb 2003. According to FES, the price standards are negotiated for a quarter and they are agreed between the car company and its monoliths supplier. FES fits catalytic converters into exhaust pipes for the car companies Skoda Auto (Czech Republic) and Volkswagen (Germany). It imports precious-metals containing monolith from Degussa (Canada), a member of the samename German concern. Monoliths for automotive catalytic converters are produced from beeswax, which is saturated with precious metals such as platinum, palladium or rhodium. The metals then bind the dangerous substances that are products of the catalytic reaction in the monoliths.
The quantity of platinum in one converter is measured in grams. In 2002 platinum catalytic converters worth more than CEK 135 M were imported by the Czech Republic. Hospodarske Noviny, 7 Feb 2003, 47 (27), 18 (in Czech)
PATENTS Hemi-hydrogenation of dinitriles Dintriles (eg adiponitrile) can be hemihydrogenated if the Raney nickel catalyst contains copper (or silver or gold) and an alkali or alkaline earth hydroxide promoter. US 6,521,779, 18 Feb 2003, Rhodia Fiber & Resin Intermediates, Courbevoie, France
Production of adipic acid Oxidation of cyclohexanol/one using air or oxygen is catalysed by an organic Co/Mn cluster catalyst, CoxMny (O)(OOCR), where R is an alkyl or aryl group. One of the inventors, Paul Ratnasamy, is Director of the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. US 6,521,789, 18 Feb 2003, CSIR, New Delhi, India
Carbonylation of epoxides Carbonylation of epoxides to make 1,3-alkanediols is catalysed by a chromium carbonyl with an organic nitrogen compound such as imidazole. US 6,521,801, 18 Feb 2003, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, South Korea
Oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene The catalyst is Mo or V on silica/titania made by the sol gel process. US 6,521,808, 18 Feb 2003, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
Regenerating a monolithic catalyst A monolith which has been used for liquid-phase hydrogenations is regenerated by heating in a current of an oxidising gas mixture, and then heating in hydrogen. US 6,521,791, 18 Feb 2003, Air Products & Chemicals, Allentown, PA, USA
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