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Sumitomo Metal Mining Co develops new catalytic reduction method
F O C U S engines that operate on a combination of natural gas and diesel fuels. Engelhard’s DPX catalytic particulate filter has been approved for use on Dual-Fuel engines developed by Clean Air Partners (CAP). Refuse trucks, school buses, and other heavy-duty vehicles that operate in urban areas are considered the primary market for these engines. The filter, which dramatically reduces emissions of aldehydes, non-methane hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide, is also approved for installation on vehicles powered by Caterpillar, Cummins, DDC, International, Mack, and Volvo engines. Press release from: Engelhard, Iselin, NJ, USA. Website: http://www.engelhard.com (11 Dec 2002)
Nippon Oil’s new catalyst makes lowsulfur high-octane gasoline Nippon Oil Corp has developed a new catalyst made from alumina with added molybdenum, cobalt, and an activating agent, which can remove 75% of the sulfur from gasoline with no corresponding reduction in the quality. Starting in summer 2003, the firm intends to start pilot production using the catalyst at its Sendai refinery, and will invest Yen 5 bn in the project. The Japanese government is expected to introduce tighter restrictions on the sulfur content of gasoline starting in 2008. Nikkei Net, 8 Jan 2003 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
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approved the use of Clean Diesel Technologies’ Platinum Plus fuel borne catalyst (FBC) as part of a diesel particulate filter system supplied by New Mexico-based CleanAIR Systems Inc for use in underground mines. The PERMIT FBC Filter system uses a catalyzed ceramic filter and Clean Diesel Technologies’ patented FBC to reduce toxic diesel particulates by more than 85%. Press release from: Clean Diesel Technologies Inc, 300, Atlantic Street, Suite 702, Stamford, CT 6901, USA. Tel: +1 203 327 7050. Fax: +1 203 323 0461 (7 Jan 2003)
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co develops new catalytic reduction method Sumitomo Metal Mining Co of Tokyo, Japan, is offering a new catalytic reduction process that eliminates nitrates from industrial wastewater. The N-Free method can be used for nitrate concentrations amounting to a maximum of 30,000 mg/L, as compared to the traditional bioprocessing with a maximum of around 1000 mg/L. Alternatives for second-step reaction are also offered, including a palladium catalyst for the reduction of nitrite to nitrogen, plus the byproduct sodium hydroxide. Pilot tests have shown that nitrogen content of wastewater has been lowered from 4500 mg/L to 40 mg/L. Chemical Engineering (New York), Nov 2002, 109 (12), 21
Diesel desulfurization Catalysts & Chemicals Industries Co of Kawasaki, Japan, has developed a catalytic system which reduces the sulfur content of diesel fuel to less than 10 ppm. The system is made up of two catalyst layers in a reactor. The catalysts contain a cobalt-molybdenum composition with an alumina support. The carrier for each catalyst varies in terms of hydrogenation and decomposition activity. Chemical Engineering (New York), Nov 2002, 109 (12), 19
Clean Diesel technology approved for use in mines Clean Diesel Technologies Inc has announced that the US Mining Safety Health Administration (MSHA) has
FEBRUARY 2003
Thermal process reduces nitrous oxide emissions by more than 90% The Chemical Industry Association of Japan has awarded Asahi Kasei Corp of Tokyo an environmental technology prize for a proprietary nitrous oxide gas decomposition process, which can be used in nitric acid and adipic acid production. The firm has been implementing the process since 2000 in its 120,000 tonne/y adipic acid plant at Nobeoka; it is claimed to reduce nitrous oxide emission by over 90%. The process is also claimed to cost less than a catalytic system since it recovers approximately 20% more nitric acid without using a catalyst. Chemical Engineering (New York), Dec 2002, 109 (13), 13
Bugs demonstrate their prowess in destroying nitrogen oxide UOP, Paques Bio Systems BV, and Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems Inc have demonstrated a biological process for treating nitrogen oxides on a fluid catalytic cracker at Navajo Refining Co’s refinery at Artesia, NM. The process, dubbed BioDeNox, removed up to 95% of the nitrogen oxides from a fluegas slipstream of the said plant. In the process, a patented scrubbing solution contains a chelating agent which selectively absorbs nitrogen oxides from fluegas. Chemical Engineering (New York), Dec 2002, 109 (13), 19
PATENTS Reducing the CBA-content of terephthalic acid Terephthalic acid is conventionally made by oxidising p-xylene in acetic acid using atmospheric oxygen and a combined cobalt/bromine catalyst. An undesirable impurity formed in this process is 4-carboxybenzaldehyde (CBA). The production of CBA can be minimised by treating the catalyst solution with hydrogen gas before it is used. US 6,506,931, 14 Jan 2003, Mitsui Chemicals Inc, Tokyo
Gold catalyses vapour-phase carbonylation Vapour-phase carbonylation of alcohols to acids or esters (eg methanol to acetic acid or methyl acetate) is catalysed by metallic gold, plus a halide promoter, on an inert support. US 6,506,933, 14 Jan 2003, Eastman Chemical Co, Kingsport, TN, USA
Conversion of benzene to cyclohexylbenzene by hydrodealkylation The catalyst is a novel zeolite, MCM68, made by using a novel cyclodipyrrolidine template, plus a hydrogenating metal (Pd, Ru, Ni, or Co). US 6,506,953, 14 Jan 2003, ExxonMobil Oil Corp, Fairfax, VA, USA
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Nippon Oil’s new catalyst makes lowsulfur high-octane gasoline Nippon Oil Corp has developed a new catalyst made from alumina with added molybdenum, cobalt, and an activating agent, which can remove 75% of the sulfur from gasoline with no corresponding reduction in the quality. Starting in summer 2003, the firm intends to start pilot production using the catalyst at its Sendai refinery, and will invest Yen 5 bn in the project. The Japanese government is expected to introduce tighter restrictions on the sulfur content of gasoline starting in 2008. Nikkei Net, 8 Jan 2003 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
O N
C ATA LY S T S
approved the use of Clean Diesel Technologies’ Platinum Plus fuel borne catalyst (FBC) as part of a diesel particulate filter system supplied by New Mexico-based CleanAIR Systems Inc for use in underground mines. The PERMIT FBC Filter system uses a catalyzed ceramic filter and Clean Diesel Technologies’ patented FBC to reduce toxic diesel particulates by more than 85%. Press release from: Clean Diesel Technologies Inc, 300, Atlantic Street, Suite 702, Stamford, CT 6901, USA. Tel: +1 203 327 7050. Fax: +1 203 323 0461 (7 Jan 2003)
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co develops new catalytic reduction method Sumitomo Metal Mining Co of Tokyo, Japan, is offering a new catalytic reduction process that eliminates nitrates from industrial wastewater. The N-Free method can be used for nitrate concentrations amounting to a maximum of 30,000 mg/L, as compared to the traditional bioprocessing with a maximum of around 1000 mg/L. Alternatives for second-step reaction are also offered, including a palladium catalyst for the reduction of nitrite to nitrogen, plus the byproduct sodium hydroxide. Pilot tests have shown that nitrogen content of wastewater has been lowered from 4500 mg/L to 40 mg/L. Chemical Engineering (New York), Nov 2002, 109 (12), 21
Diesel desulfurization Catalysts & Chemicals Industries Co of Kawasaki, Japan, has developed a catalytic system which reduces the sulfur content of diesel fuel to less than 10 ppm. The system is made up of two catalyst layers in a reactor. The catalysts contain a cobalt-molybdenum composition with an alumina support. The carrier for each catalyst varies in terms of hydrogenation and decomposition activity. Chemical Engineering (New York), Nov 2002, 109 (12), 19
Clean Diesel technology approved for use in mines Clean Diesel Technologies Inc has announced that the US Mining Safety Health Administration (MSHA) has
FEBRUARY 2003
Thermal process reduces nitrous oxide emissions by more than 90% The Chemical Industry Association of Japan has awarded Asahi Kasei Corp of Tokyo an environmental technology prize for a proprietary nitrous oxide gas decomposition process, which can be used in nitric acid and adipic acid production. The firm has been implementing the process since 2000 in its 120,000 tonne/y adipic acid plant at Nobeoka; it is claimed to reduce nitrous oxide emission by over 90%. The process is also claimed to cost less than a catalytic system since it recovers approximately 20% more nitric acid without using a catalyst. Chemical Engineering (New York), Dec 2002, 109 (13), 13
Bugs demonstrate their prowess in destroying nitrogen oxide UOP, Paques Bio Systems BV, and Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems Inc have demonstrated a biological process for treating nitrogen oxides on a fluid catalytic cracker at Navajo Refining Co’s refinery at Artesia, NM. The process, dubbed BioDeNox, removed up to 95% of the nitrogen oxides from a fluegas slipstream of the said plant. In the process, a patented scrubbing solution contains a chelating agent which selectively absorbs nitrogen oxides from fluegas. Chemical Engineering (New York), Dec 2002, 109 (13), 19
PATENTS Reducing the CBA-content of terephthalic acid Terephthalic acid is conventionally made by oxidising p-xylene in acetic acid using atmospheric oxygen and a combined cobalt/bromine catalyst. An undesirable impurity formed in this process is 4-carboxybenzaldehyde (CBA). The production of CBA can be minimised by treating the catalyst solution with hydrogen gas before it is used. US 6,506,931, 14 Jan 2003, Mitsui Chemicals Inc, Tokyo
Gold catalyses vapour-phase carbonylation Vapour-phase carbonylation of alcohols to acids or esters (eg methanol to acetic acid or methyl acetate) is catalysed by metallic gold, plus a halide promoter, on an inert support. US 6,506,933, 14 Jan 2003, Eastman Chemical Co, Kingsport, TN, USA
Conversion of benzene to cyclohexylbenzene by hydrodealkylation The catalyst is a novel zeolite, MCM68, made by using a novel cyclodipyrrolidine template, plus a hydrogenating metal (Pd, Ru, Ni, or Co). US 6,506,953, 14 Jan 2003, ExxonMobil Oil Corp, Fairfax, VA, USA
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