- Email: [email protected]
Albemarle doubles catalyst capacity
FOCUS Catalysts Division. This positive business performance resulted largely from a continuing rise in the demand for petrochemical catalysts in Asia, South Africa, and the Middle East. The increase in EBIT was due mainly to the strong market position held by the innovative catalyst portfolio, high capacity utilization in the production plants in the wake of business expansion, as well as the successive transfer of price rises for raw materials, especially metal compounds, to customers. Süd-Chemie Interim Report for the Nine Months ended 30 Sep 2007, 29 Oct 2007, 4 (Süd-Chemie AG, Lenbachplatz 6, D-80333 Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 51100. Fax: +49 89 5110375. Website: http://www.sud-chemie.com)
UOP targets renewable energy and chemicals UOP wants its Renewable Energy and Chemicals operations to be among the top-three revenue gaining division through 2017. The business, set up in Nov 2006, will develop biofuels through green diesel technology created by UOP and refiner Eni. The technology transforms vegetable oil into high-cetane diesel fuel and employs hydrodeoxygenation, decarboxylation, and hydroisomerization reactions. It will be used by Eni for its biofuel hydrotreating unit that is being built at its refinery in Livorno, Italy. The unit is due for commissioning in early 2009. UOP will also employ the green technology to generate gasoline fuel and chemicals. The company intends to demonstrate the technology by end of 2008. Chemical Week, 24 Oct 2007 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
UOP expands technology portfolio for clean gasoline and diesel UOP LLC, has expanded its portfolio of technologies to help refiners produce clean gasoline from heavier crude oil. UOP’s new slurry hydrocracking process, based on a technology licensed from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), is designed to upgrade bitumen, a heavy, tar-like, highly contaminated oil derived from oil sands commonly found in Canada, Venezuela, and the US, as well as other heavy, highly contaminated feeds found in other
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parts of South America and the Middle East. UOP’s slurry hydrocracking process utilizes a slurry catalyst to upgrade bitumen and heavy crudes to lighter distillates that can then be used to produce clean gasoline and ultra-low sulfur diesel. UOP’s slurry hydrocracking technology is based on a technology originally developed by NRCan that develops innovation and expertise in earth sciences, forestry, energy and minerals and metals to ensure the responsible and sustainable development of natural resources. It was further developed and proven commercially viable at the PetroCanada facility in Montreal over a 15year period starting in 1985. Press release from: UOP LLC, 25 East Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60017 5017, USA. Tel: +1 847 391 2000. Website: http://www.uop.com (14 Nov 2007)
Galp Energia selects UOP/Eni Ecofining technology to produce green diesel from biofeedstocks UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced that Portugal’s largest refiner, Galp Energia, will use the UOP/Eni Ecofining technology to produce diesel fuel from vegetable oils in a new process unit. Galp Energia is the second European refiner to licence Ecofining technology. Eni SpA, which co-developed the technology with UOP, is currently installing an Ecofining unit at its plant in Livorno, Italy. The Galp Energia plant, to be located in Sines, Portugal, will process 6500 bbl/day of vegetable oils to supply European refineries with a high-cetane green diesel fuel, to meet growing demand for high-quality, clean fuels and biofuels throughout Europe. The Ecofining process uses catalytic hydroprocessing technology to convert vegetable oils to a green diesel fuel. Press release from: UOP LLC, 25 East, Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60017-5017, USA. Tel: +1 847 391 2000. Website: http://www.uop.com (28 Nov 2007)
Verenium reports financial results for the 3Q and nine months ended Sep 2007 Verenium Corp, a leading developer of technologies for cellulosic ethanol production and a pioneer in the development of high-performance speciality enzymes, reported financial results for 3Q and nine months ended
Sep 2007. Revenues for 3Q 2007 were $10.9 M and for nine months of 2007 were $33.3 M ($14.3 M in 3Q 2006 and $34.4 M in nine months of 2006). Net loss was $20.5 M, or $0.34/share for 3Q 2007, and $86.0 M, or $1.64/share in nine months of 2007, which included a preliminary one-time, non-cash charge of $42.4 M for in-process R&D related to the merger with Celunol Corp in Jun 2007. Net loss in 3Q and nine months of 2006 was $4 M, or $0.08/share, and $33.1 M, or $0.72/share, respectively, which included a restructuring charge of $800,000 in 3Q 2006 and $11.5 M in the first nine months of 2006. Product revenues for 3Q 2007 were $6.3 M and $17.7 M, for nine months of 2007 ($4.7 M in 3Q 2006 and $10.6 M in nine months 2006). The increase in product revenues was primarily due to increased sales of Phyzyme XP by Danisco Animal Nutrition, which continues to expand its global phytase market share position in the animal feed industry. R&D expenses were higher at $16.119 M for 3Q 2007 ($11.162 M in 3Q 2006) and were $41.247 M for nine months of 2007 ($37.676 M in nine months of 2006). Verenium 3Q and Nine Months 2007 Financial Results, 6 Nov 2007 (Verenium Corporation, 55 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Tel: +1 617 674 5300. Website: http://www.verenium.com)
US Wellman sues Eastman over PET patents Wellman, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) maker based in USA, has filed suit against Eastman Chemical for supposedly violating its patents covering titanium-catalyzed PET. Eastman’s ParaStar resins made from the IntegRex process are the products allegedly infringing on Wellman’s patents. ICIS Chemical Business, 29 Oct 2007, 272 (16) (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chemical Week, 31 Oct 2007 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 29 Oct 2007, (399), 14 (in French)
NEW PLANTS Albemarle doubles catalyst capacity Albemarle will construct a new catalyst production plant at its site in Baton Rouge, LA, USA, in response
5
FOCUS to demand growth in the polyolefins market. The $15 M project will boost twofold the company’s current capacity for speciality polymer catalysts and components, including activators and metallocenes. Startup of the plant is slated in 4Q 2008. Chemical Week, 21 Nov 2007 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Press release from: Albemarle Corp, 330, South Fourth Street, PO Box 1335, Richmond, VA 23210, USA. Tel: +1 804 786 6000 (15 Nov 2007)
Ineos backs metallocenes Ineos Polyolefins aims to shore up the development of new metallocene polymers by making a major investment at its Innovene 3 PE production facility in Cologne, Germany. The investment will enable the plant to produce metallocene products in the company’s Eltex PE grade utilizing the Ineos Innovene G process. The company is aiming the grades at blown and cast film applications. European Plastics News, Oct 2007, 34 (9), 9
Range Fuels signs technology investment agreement with the US Department of Energy Range Fuels Inc has signed a $76 M Technology Investment Agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE). Range Fuels’ selection for negotiation of this grant was initially announced in Feb 2007 and the organizations have agreed on contract terms to allow project funding. Range Fuels was one of six companies selected by the DOE for financial support in building a commercial cellulosic ethanol plant, and will be the first to break ground with a celebratory event 6 Nov 2007 at the future site of its Soperton, GA, plant. Press release from: OutCast Communications, 123 Townsend Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. Tel: +1 415 392 8282. Fax: +1 415 392 8281. Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.outcastpr.com (6 Nov 2007)
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tonnes/y facility in Kuantan Port, Malaysia. Mission Biofuels plans to use palm oil as feedstock for the unit. Hydrocarbon Processing, Nov 2007, 86 (11), 42
PetroChina Daqing completes its first metallocene production campaign using Unipol PE process Univation Technologies LLC (Univation) announced that PetroChina Daqing Petrochemical Co (PetroChina Daqing) became the first polyethylene producer in China to manufacture XCAT Metallocene LLDPE using Univation’s proprietary technology and catalyst. Univation’s metallocene LLDPE products offer superior strength, puncture resistance and excellent sealing properties which make it particularly well-suited for advanced packaging applications. PetroChina Daqing, the first plant in China to utilize Univation’s Unipol PE technology, has been operating the plant successfully for nearly 20 years. With very minor modifications the plant produced state-of-the-art metallocene LLDPE products using Univation’s XCAT HP-100 Catalyst. Press release from: Univation Technologies LLC, 5555 San Felipe, Suite 1950, Houston, TX, 77056, USA. Tel: +1 713 892 3700. Website: http://www.univation.com (20 Nov 2007)
NEW TECHNOLOGY DSM announces investment in Keltan ACE technology The Managing Board of Royal DSM NV is to invest in the implementation of a new advanced catalyst technology in one of its existing EPDM facilities in Geleen, The Netherlands. Total investment will be up to €10 M. Mechanical completion of the plant is expected in 4Q 2008. Press release from: DSM Elastomers BV. Tel: +31 46 476 1108. Website: http://www.dsm.com (15 Oct 2007)
Mission Biofuels Ltd to build biodiesel plant Mission Biofuels Ltd will construct a 250,000 tonne/y biodiesel plant based on Axens’ heterogeneous catalyzed technology. The new plant will rise next to the almost finished 100,000
6
Topsoe launches new daisy-shaped dust protection catalyst for sulfuric acid plants Haldor Topsoe used the proven VK38 catalyst formulation to develop a 25
mm ring, a new dust protection catalyst that is shaped like a daisy. A plant that is experiencing pressure decline build up can boost output time between screenings by twofold through-top layer installation of the 25 mm ring. The company was also responsible for introducing the first dust protection catalyst in the 1970s, a 20 mm ring that has since provided savings to over 60 sulfuric acid units across the globe. Sulphur, Sep/Oct 2007, (312), 11 & Press release from: Haldor Topsoe A/S, Nymollevej 55, PO Box 213, DK 2800 Lyngby, Denmark. Tel: +45 4527 2000. Fax: +45 4527 2999. Website: http://www.haldortopsoe.com (14 Nov 2007)
A new catalyst ligand promises to cut costs for making chiral compounds Asahi Kasei Finechem has launched a new type of catalyst based on chiral-bis-hydroxamic acid (CBHA) ligands for the production of chiral compounds. The company has developed the production method for the catalyst and has the priority patent licence of the CBHA from the University of Chicago and Japan Science & Technology. CBHA-based ligands, when coordinated with oxidation catalysts like vanadium or molybdenum, can be used with a wide range of substrates such as homoallyl alcohols, cis- and trans- alcohols, simple olefins, and sulfides. The high chiral selectivity feature of the catalyst is expected to simplify the production of chiral compounds. Chemical Engineering (New York), Oct 2007, 114 (10), 16
AlmQuest and SeQuant commercialize new catalyst technology for pharmaceutical synthesis Professor Fredrik Almqvist of Umea University, which owns the company AlmQuest AB, has discovered a way of producing better catalysts for pharmaceutical synthesis and will now commercialize this with the help of SeQuant AB, a successful Umeabased company with advanced chromatographic columns. Solid phase catalysts in the pharmaceutical industry generally consist of transition metals built into polymers and are often advanced, expensive, and with limited scope for re-use. Almqvist,
JANUARY 2008
UOP targets renewable energy and chemicals UOP wants its Renewable Energy and Chemicals operations to be among the top-three revenue gaining division through 2017. The business, set up in Nov 2006, will develop biofuels through green diesel technology created by UOP and refiner Eni. The technology transforms vegetable oil into high-cetane diesel fuel and employs hydrodeoxygenation, decarboxylation, and hydroisomerization reactions. It will be used by Eni for its biofuel hydrotreating unit that is being built at its refinery in Livorno, Italy. The unit is due for commissioning in early 2009. UOP will also employ the green technology to generate gasoline fuel and chemicals. The company intends to demonstrate the technology by end of 2008. Chemical Week, 24 Oct 2007 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
UOP expands technology portfolio for clean gasoline and diesel UOP LLC, has expanded its portfolio of technologies to help refiners produce clean gasoline from heavier crude oil. UOP’s new slurry hydrocracking process, based on a technology licensed from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), is designed to upgrade bitumen, a heavy, tar-like, highly contaminated oil derived from oil sands commonly found in Canada, Venezuela, and the US, as well as other heavy, highly contaminated feeds found in other
JANUARY 2008
ON
C ATA LY S T S
parts of South America and the Middle East. UOP’s slurry hydrocracking process utilizes a slurry catalyst to upgrade bitumen and heavy crudes to lighter distillates that can then be used to produce clean gasoline and ultra-low sulfur diesel. UOP’s slurry hydrocracking technology is based on a technology originally developed by NRCan that develops innovation and expertise in earth sciences, forestry, energy and minerals and metals to ensure the responsible and sustainable development of natural resources. It was further developed and proven commercially viable at the PetroCanada facility in Montreal over a 15year period starting in 1985. Press release from: UOP LLC, 25 East Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60017 5017, USA. Tel: +1 847 391 2000. Website: http://www.uop.com (14 Nov 2007)
Galp Energia selects UOP/Eni Ecofining technology to produce green diesel from biofeedstocks UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced that Portugal’s largest refiner, Galp Energia, will use the UOP/Eni Ecofining technology to produce diesel fuel from vegetable oils in a new process unit. Galp Energia is the second European refiner to licence Ecofining technology. Eni SpA, which co-developed the technology with UOP, is currently installing an Ecofining unit at its plant in Livorno, Italy. The Galp Energia plant, to be located in Sines, Portugal, will process 6500 bbl/day of vegetable oils to supply European refineries with a high-cetane green diesel fuel, to meet growing demand for high-quality, clean fuels and biofuels throughout Europe. The Ecofining process uses catalytic hydroprocessing technology to convert vegetable oils to a green diesel fuel. Press release from: UOP LLC, 25 East, Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60017-5017, USA. Tel: +1 847 391 2000. Website: http://www.uop.com (28 Nov 2007)
Verenium reports financial results for the 3Q and nine months ended Sep 2007 Verenium Corp, a leading developer of technologies for cellulosic ethanol production and a pioneer in the development of high-performance speciality enzymes, reported financial results for 3Q and nine months ended
Sep 2007. Revenues for 3Q 2007 were $10.9 M and for nine months of 2007 were $33.3 M ($14.3 M in 3Q 2006 and $34.4 M in nine months of 2006). Net loss was $20.5 M, or $0.34/share for 3Q 2007, and $86.0 M, or $1.64/share in nine months of 2007, which included a preliminary one-time, non-cash charge of $42.4 M for in-process R&D related to the merger with Celunol Corp in Jun 2007. Net loss in 3Q and nine months of 2006 was $4 M, or $0.08/share, and $33.1 M, or $0.72/share, respectively, which included a restructuring charge of $800,000 in 3Q 2006 and $11.5 M in the first nine months of 2006. Product revenues for 3Q 2007 were $6.3 M and $17.7 M, for nine months of 2007 ($4.7 M in 3Q 2006 and $10.6 M in nine months 2006). The increase in product revenues was primarily due to increased sales of Phyzyme XP by Danisco Animal Nutrition, which continues to expand its global phytase market share position in the animal feed industry. R&D expenses were higher at $16.119 M for 3Q 2007 ($11.162 M in 3Q 2006) and were $41.247 M for nine months of 2007 ($37.676 M in nine months of 2006). Verenium 3Q and Nine Months 2007 Financial Results, 6 Nov 2007 (Verenium Corporation, 55 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Tel: +1 617 674 5300. Website: http://www.verenium.com)
US Wellman sues Eastman over PET patents Wellman, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) maker based in USA, has filed suit against Eastman Chemical for supposedly violating its patents covering titanium-catalyzed PET. Eastman’s ParaStar resins made from the IntegRex process are the products allegedly infringing on Wellman’s patents. ICIS Chemical Business, 29 Oct 2007, 272 (16) (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chemical Week, 31 Oct 2007 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 29 Oct 2007, (399), 14 (in French)
NEW PLANTS Albemarle doubles catalyst capacity Albemarle will construct a new catalyst production plant at its site in Baton Rouge, LA, USA, in response
5
FOCUS to demand growth in the polyolefins market. The $15 M project will boost twofold the company’s current capacity for speciality polymer catalysts and components, including activators and metallocenes. Startup of the plant is slated in 4Q 2008. Chemical Week, 21 Nov 2007 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Press release from: Albemarle Corp, 330, South Fourth Street, PO Box 1335, Richmond, VA 23210, USA. Tel: +1 804 786 6000 (15 Nov 2007)
Ineos backs metallocenes Ineos Polyolefins aims to shore up the development of new metallocene polymers by making a major investment at its Innovene 3 PE production facility in Cologne, Germany. The investment will enable the plant to produce metallocene products in the company’s Eltex PE grade utilizing the Ineos Innovene G process. The company is aiming the grades at blown and cast film applications. European Plastics News, Oct 2007, 34 (9), 9
Range Fuels signs technology investment agreement with the US Department of Energy Range Fuels Inc has signed a $76 M Technology Investment Agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE). Range Fuels’ selection for negotiation of this grant was initially announced in Feb 2007 and the organizations have agreed on contract terms to allow project funding. Range Fuels was one of six companies selected by the DOE for financial support in building a commercial cellulosic ethanol plant, and will be the first to break ground with a celebratory event 6 Nov 2007 at the future site of its Soperton, GA, plant. Press release from: OutCast Communications, 123 Townsend Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. Tel: +1 415 392 8282. Fax: +1 415 392 8281. Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.outcastpr.com (6 Nov 2007)
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tonnes/y facility in Kuantan Port, Malaysia. Mission Biofuels plans to use palm oil as feedstock for the unit. Hydrocarbon Processing, Nov 2007, 86 (11), 42
PetroChina Daqing completes its first metallocene production campaign using Unipol PE process Univation Technologies LLC (Univation) announced that PetroChina Daqing Petrochemical Co (PetroChina Daqing) became the first polyethylene producer in China to manufacture XCAT Metallocene LLDPE using Univation’s proprietary technology and catalyst. Univation’s metallocene LLDPE products offer superior strength, puncture resistance and excellent sealing properties which make it particularly well-suited for advanced packaging applications. PetroChina Daqing, the first plant in China to utilize Univation’s Unipol PE technology, has been operating the plant successfully for nearly 20 years. With very minor modifications the plant produced state-of-the-art metallocene LLDPE products using Univation’s XCAT HP-100 Catalyst. Press release from: Univation Technologies LLC, 5555 San Felipe, Suite 1950, Houston, TX, 77056, USA. Tel: +1 713 892 3700. Website: http://www.univation.com (20 Nov 2007)
NEW TECHNOLOGY DSM announces investment in Keltan ACE technology The Managing Board of Royal DSM NV is to invest in the implementation of a new advanced catalyst technology in one of its existing EPDM facilities in Geleen, The Netherlands. Total investment will be up to €10 M. Mechanical completion of the plant is expected in 4Q 2008. Press release from: DSM Elastomers BV. Tel: +31 46 476 1108. Website: http://www.dsm.com (15 Oct 2007)
Mission Biofuels Ltd to build biodiesel plant Mission Biofuels Ltd will construct a 250,000 tonne/y biodiesel plant based on Axens’ heterogeneous catalyzed technology. The new plant will rise next to the almost finished 100,000
6
Topsoe launches new daisy-shaped dust protection catalyst for sulfuric acid plants Haldor Topsoe used the proven VK38 catalyst formulation to develop a 25
mm ring, a new dust protection catalyst that is shaped like a daisy. A plant that is experiencing pressure decline build up can boost output time between screenings by twofold through-top layer installation of the 25 mm ring. The company was also responsible for introducing the first dust protection catalyst in the 1970s, a 20 mm ring that has since provided savings to over 60 sulfuric acid units across the globe. Sulphur, Sep/Oct 2007, (312), 11 & Press release from: Haldor Topsoe A/S, Nymollevej 55, PO Box 213, DK 2800 Lyngby, Denmark. Tel: +45 4527 2000. Fax: +45 4527 2999. Website: http://www.haldortopsoe.com (14 Nov 2007)
A new catalyst ligand promises to cut costs for making chiral compounds Asahi Kasei Finechem has launched a new type of catalyst based on chiral-bis-hydroxamic acid (CBHA) ligands for the production of chiral compounds. The company has developed the production method for the catalyst and has the priority patent licence of the CBHA from the University of Chicago and Japan Science & Technology. CBHA-based ligands, when coordinated with oxidation catalysts like vanadium or molybdenum, can be used with a wide range of substrates such as homoallyl alcohols, cis- and trans- alcohols, simple olefins, and sulfides. The high chiral selectivity feature of the catalyst is expected to simplify the production of chiral compounds. Chemical Engineering (New York), Oct 2007, 114 (10), 16
AlmQuest and SeQuant commercialize new catalyst technology for pharmaceutical synthesis Professor Fredrik Almqvist of Umea University, which owns the company AlmQuest AB, has discovered a way of producing better catalysts for pharmaceutical synthesis and will now commercialize this with the help of SeQuant AB, a successful Umeabased company with advanced chromatographic columns. Solid phase catalysts in the pharmaceutical industry generally consist of transition metals built into polymers and are often advanced, expensive, and with limited scope for re-use. Almqvist,
JANUARY 2008