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Titanium-iodine catalyst photodegrades BPA
FOCUS expertise with processing technology, technical support and world-class enzymes supplied by DuPont, NTL will be able to produce cellulosic renewable fuel for the rapidly growing Chinese liquid biofuel market, which is projected to exceed 1.7 bn gallons/y by 2020. This announcement is particularly important in light of China's aggressive goals for renewable energy, cutting its reliance on foreign oil and increasing employment opportunities for its large number of rural citizens. Original Source: DuPont, 16 Jul 2015, (DuPont, Website: http://www2.dupont.com/,) © DuPont 2015.
NEW PLANTS Evonik starts up catalyst pilot plant in Shanghai, China Evonik has completed the construction and commissioning of a new pilot plant for precious metal powder catalysts (PMPC) at its production site in Shanghai, China. The set-up is analogous to the existing commercial production plant operating since Jul 2010 at Evonik's Xinzhuang site in Shanghai. The purpose of the pilot plant is to accelerate the scale-up process for commercial catalysts and to quickly provide pilot scale PMPC for customer projects. Original Source: Evonik Industries, 9 Jul 2015, (Website: http://corporate.evonik.com/en/) © Evonik Industries AG 2015.
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This will allow Sasol to respond to growing demand for alumina for noncatalyst and catalyst applications. It will focus on the market for catalysts in the refining sector. The extra capacity is at Sasol's Performance Chemicals Inorganics, which produces high purity alumina. No financial details have been released. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 25 May 2015, (719), (Website: http://www.industrie. com/chimie) © ETAI Information 2015.
NEW TECHNOLOGY Researchers use zeolites to improve polylactic acid (PLA) Belgian experts at KU Leuven have developed a patented, zeolitecatalyzed reaction for producing biobased PLA from sugar-derived lactic acid. The metal-free synthesis offers lower cost by eliminating the preplastic phase after sugar fermentation, along with reduced waste generation by directly converting lactic acid into PLA building blocks. Original Source: Film and Sheet Extrusion, JulAug 2015, 5 (Website: http://www.amiplastics. com/mags) © Applied Market Information Ltd 2015.
A catalyst for change
Catalyst shifts rate-limiting step in Haber-Bosch process A new catalyst for Haber-Bosch ammonia (NH3) production has been developed by researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The Haber-Bosch process utilizes about 2% of world energy use, producing pesticides that are estimated to promote increased agricultural production. The catalyst is based on calcium and aluminium oxides. Researchers also utilized a newly discovered compound and combined this with ruthenium, which has been found to not be prone to poisoning by hydrogen. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), May 2015, (887), 18 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2015.
Titanium-iodine catalyst photodegrades BPA Engineers from National Yunlin University of Science and Technology have found that using an iodinedoped photocatalyst can completely degrade bisphenol A (BPA) in the presence of sunlight. Of the three different doped catalysts tested, the 0.5% TiO2 was the most effective, removing 86% of the BPA after 66.5 minutes with visible light. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), May 2015, (887), 53 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2015.
New catalyst promises bright hydrogen future
Sasol strengthens German activities
SunCatalyst Laboratories, a spin-out from Queen's University Belfast, is specializing in the development of photocatalysts to catalyse chemical reactions. The company uses photocatalysts in producing sunburn warning indicators, antibacterial plastic films, rust-removing inks, flexible electronics and water purifying bags. The firm is expanding its business taking advantage of the growing industry, which is now worth over £680 M/y. The company offers independent testing service and helps entities like Unilever to develop and commercialize their own innovative photocatalysts. SunCatalyst is looking to be part of a major photocatalyst player's initiative to build a network of accredited testing centres in Europe.
Sasol has opened an extra 4000 tonnes/y of capacity for alumina spheres at Brunsbuettel, Germany.
Original Source: Materials World, May 2015, 23 (5), (Website: http://www.iom3.org) © The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) 2015.
Researchers from the Universities of Virginia and North Texas in the US have developed a new rhodium
Business roundup: Ineos building a polyalphaolefins (PAO) plant in Texas Ineos is constructing a polyalphaolefins facility in La Porte, TX, US. The 20,000 tonnes/y facility is set to operate in 2016. The facility will be using the company's metallocene-catalyzed highviscosity polyalphaolefin technology introduced last 2012. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 13 Jul 2015, 93 (28), 15 (Website: http://cen.acs.org/index.html) © American Chemical Society 2015.
September 2015
Scientists from Yale University in the US and University of Bath in the UK have developed a new water-splitting catalyst for a highly efficient oxidation half reaction. The iridium catalyst selfadheres to the electrode and catalyzes the oxidation of water at high frequency and minimal degradation over time. The development is a potential breakthrough innovation in the use of hydrogen as an eco-friendly fuel. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), Jun 2015, (888), 20 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2015
One step to styrene
5
NEW PLANTS Evonik starts up catalyst pilot plant in Shanghai, China Evonik has completed the construction and commissioning of a new pilot plant for precious metal powder catalysts (PMPC) at its production site in Shanghai, China. The set-up is analogous to the existing commercial production plant operating since Jul 2010 at Evonik's Xinzhuang site in Shanghai. The purpose of the pilot plant is to accelerate the scale-up process for commercial catalysts and to quickly provide pilot scale PMPC for customer projects. Original Source: Evonik Industries, 9 Jul 2015, (Website: http://corporate.evonik.com/en/) © Evonik Industries AG 2015.
ON
C ATA LY S T S
This will allow Sasol to respond to growing demand for alumina for noncatalyst and catalyst applications. It will focus on the market for catalysts in the refining sector. The extra capacity is at Sasol's Performance Chemicals Inorganics, which produces high purity alumina. No financial details have been released. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 25 May 2015, (719), (Website: http://www.industrie. com/chimie) © ETAI Information 2015.
NEW TECHNOLOGY Researchers use zeolites to improve polylactic acid (PLA) Belgian experts at KU Leuven have developed a patented, zeolitecatalyzed reaction for producing biobased PLA from sugar-derived lactic acid. The metal-free synthesis offers lower cost by eliminating the preplastic phase after sugar fermentation, along with reduced waste generation by directly converting lactic acid into PLA building blocks. Original Source: Film and Sheet Extrusion, JulAug 2015, 5 (Website: http://www.amiplastics. com/mags) © Applied Market Information Ltd 2015.
A catalyst for change
Catalyst shifts rate-limiting step in Haber-Bosch process A new catalyst for Haber-Bosch ammonia (NH3) production has been developed by researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The Haber-Bosch process utilizes about 2% of world energy use, producing pesticides that are estimated to promote increased agricultural production. The catalyst is based on calcium and aluminium oxides. Researchers also utilized a newly discovered compound and combined this with ruthenium, which has been found to not be prone to poisoning by hydrogen. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), May 2015, (887), 18 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2015.
Titanium-iodine catalyst photodegrades BPA Engineers from National Yunlin University of Science and Technology have found that using an iodinedoped photocatalyst can completely degrade bisphenol A (BPA) in the presence of sunlight. Of the three different doped catalysts tested, the 0.5% TiO2 was the most effective, removing 86% of the BPA after 66.5 minutes with visible light. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), May 2015, (887), 53 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2015.
New catalyst promises bright hydrogen future
Sasol strengthens German activities
SunCatalyst Laboratories, a spin-out from Queen's University Belfast, is specializing in the development of photocatalysts to catalyse chemical reactions. The company uses photocatalysts in producing sunburn warning indicators, antibacterial plastic films, rust-removing inks, flexible electronics and water purifying bags. The firm is expanding its business taking advantage of the growing industry, which is now worth over £680 M/y. The company offers independent testing service and helps entities like Unilever to develop and commercialize their own innovative photocatalysts. SunCatalyst is looking to be part of a major photocatalyst player's initiative to build a network of accredited testing centres in Europe.
Sasol has opened an extra 4000 tonnes/y of capacity for alumina spheres at Brunsbuettel, Germany.
Original Source: Materials World, May 2015, 23 (5), (Website: http://www.iom3.org) © The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) 2015.
Researchers from the Universities of Virginia and North Texas in the US have developed a new rhodium
Business roundup: Ineos building a polyalphaolefins (PAO) plant in Texas Ineos is constructing a polyalphaolefins facility in La Porte, TX, US. The 20,000 tonnes/y facility is set to operate in 2016. The facility will be using the company's metallocene-catalyzed highviscosity polyalphaolefin technology introduced last 2012. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 13 Jul 2015, 93 (28), 15 (Website: http://cen.acs.org/index.html) © American Chemical Society 2015.
September 2015
Scientists from Yale University in the US and University of Bath in the UK have developed a new water-splitting catalyst for a highly efficient oxidation half reaction. The iridium catalyst selfadheres to the electrode and catalyzes the oxidation of water at high frequency and minimal degradation over time. The development is a potential breakthrough innovation in the use of hydrogen as an eco-friendly fuel. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), Jun 2015, (888), 20 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2015
One step to styrene
5