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Algal booms: military might
FOCUS makes up 4% of all petrol in Britain, derived from crop waste and wood chips, could be available at the pump by 2015. Research shows the new technology, along with other second generation or “2G” biofuels, could produce up to 90 bn litres of bioethanol in Europe by 2020 and displace more than 60% of conventional petrol use as well as reducing reliance on crops such as maize, which has been blamed for fuelling the global food crisis. But scientists warn there is a lack of political will across Europe to provide the support and subsidy for largescale production. Environmentalists also question whether the hundreds of millions of tonnes of “bio-mass” required can be produced without encroaching on land used for food production. Original Source: The Independent, 30 Aug 2011 (Website: http://www.independent.co.uk) © independent.co.uk 2011
Algal booms: military might Military investment plays a major role in advancing development and commercialization of renewable energy and related technologies. In the USA, Independence Bio-Products’ algal oil has been converted into jet fuel. Based on the tests conducted by the US Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson air force base, the resulting product has comparable composition to biofuel derived from other plant oils, such as soya beans, Jatropha and camelina. The algae were cultivated in open ‘raceway’ ponds adjacent to a power plant in Shadyside, OH, USA. Applied Research Associates, using a catalytic hydrothermolysis process, upgraded Independence BioProduct’s algal oil to fuel. The project is part of the federally funded initiative to study Algae To Fuel processing strategies. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), 22 Aug 2011, (16) (Website: http://www.chemind.org) © SCI 2011
DoE: gene could increase biomass yield At the BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) in the USA, scientists have identified the gene which affects a
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microorganism’s capacity for ethanol production. It is thought that Clostridium thermocellum has applications in the genetic modification of biomass plants for maximum ethanol production. The use of the gene could also avoid the need for enzymes in bioethanol production. The BESC is offering licences to utilise the gene. Original Source: Renewable Energy Focus (Online Version), 16 Aug 2011 (Website: http://www.renewableenergyfocususa.com) © Elsevier Ltd 2011
Solid performance from Bac2 CSR catalysts
PATENTS Fuels from biomass A blockbuster patent with 82 pages, 56 examples, and very many references, describing the BioForming process developed at the University of Wisconsin and a spinout company from 2006. The process converts plant carbohydrates, and other oxygenates, to hydrocarbons in an aqueous environment. Many catalysts are exemplified. US 8,017,818, Virent Energy Systems Inc, Madison, WI, USA, 13 Sep 2011
Bac2’s materials portfolio now includes solid CSR latent acid catalysts, which are used in producing resins for various products, including glass-reinforced plastic composites, foam insulation, laminates, and abrasives. The catalysts are claimed to ensure safer transportation, storage and processing of pre-polymeric mixes, with the solid versions wellsuited for incorporation into dry mixes and non-aqueous pre-polymers.
Tungsten oxide photocatalysts
Original Source: Plastics and Rubber Weekly, 5 Aug 2011, 9 (Website: http://www.prw.com/) © Crain Communications Inc 2011
Manufacture of noble metal alloy particles
ENVIRONMENT ISK and Nippon Soda form photocatalytic-coating alliance Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha (ISK) has entered into a cooperation agreement with Nippon Soda, covering product sales and marketing, and provision of engineering support services, in the business of photocatalytic antifouling coatings for the construction industry. In Jul 2011, ISK will begin distributing Nippon Soda’s external-wall coatings under its own brand. Photocatalytic coatings create hydrophilic films that allow dirt collected on their surface to be washed off by rainwater. Both firms market the coatings for home renovation, with those from ISK offered for window uses, and those from Nippon Soda for external-wall application. Original Source: Japan Chemical Web, 11 Aug 2011 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp) © The Chemical Daily Co Ltd 2011
Particles of WO3 on which particles of Pt have been deposited are active photocatalysts in visible light. They oxidise simple organic compounds such as acetic and formic acids to CO2 in both the gas and liquid phase. US 8,017,238, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, and Sumitomo Chemical Company, Tokyo, Japan, 13 Sep 2011
Compounds of the two metals are reduced to particles of alloys of the metals in a two-stage process in a polyol solvent. The products are useful electrocatalysts. US 8,017,548, Umicore AG & Co, Hanau-Wolfgang, Germany, 13 Sep 2011
Conversion of glycerol to propanediol Glycerol, in the gas phase, is converted to 1,2-propanediol in the presence of hydrogen and a copper chromite catalyst. The purpose is to make an inexpensive anti-freeze from unrefined glycerol. US 8,017,816, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA, and Renewable Alterrnatives, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA, 13 Sep 2011
Desulfurization of fuels The sulfur compounds are oxidised by atmospheric oxygen in the presence of a supported transition metal oxide catalyst. US 8,016,999, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, Singapore, 13 Sep 2011
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Algal booms: military might Military investment plays a major role in advancing development and commercialization of renewable energy and related technologies. In the USA, Independence Bio-Products’ algal oil has been converted into jet fuel. Based on the tests conducted by the US Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson air force base, the resulting product has comparable composition to biofuel derived from other plant oils, such as soya beans, Jatropha and camelina. The algae were cultivated in open ‘raceway’ ponds adjacent to a power plant in Shadyside, OH, USA. Applied Research Associates, using a catalytic hydrothermolysis process, upgraded Independence BioProduct’s algal oil to fuel. The project is part of the federally funded initiative to study Algae To Fuel processing strategies. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), 22 Aug 2011, (16) (Website: http://www.chemind.org) © SCI 2011
DoE: gene could increase biomass yield At the BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) in the USA, scientists have identified the gene which affects a
OCTOBER 2011
ON
C ATA LY S T S
microorganism’s capacity for ethanol production. It is thought that Clostridium thermocellum has applications in the genetic modification of biomass plants for maximum ethanol production. The use of the gene could also avoid the need for enzymes in bioethanol production. The BESC is offering licences to utilise the gene. Original Source: Renewable Energy Focus (Online Version), 16 Aug 2011 (Website: http://www.renewableenergyfocususa.com) © Elsevier Ltd 2011
Solid performance from Bac2 CSR catalysts
PATENTS Fuels from biomass A blockbuster patent with 82 pages, 56 examples, and very many references, describing the BioForming process developed at the University of Wisconsin and a spinout company from 2006. The process converts plant carbohydrates, and other oxygenates, to hydrocarbons in an aqueous environment. Many catalysts are exemplified. US 8,017,818, Virent Energy Systems Inc, Madison, WI, USA, 13 Sep 2011
Bac2’s materials portfolio now includes solid CSR latent acid catalysts, which are used in producing resins for various products, including glass-reinforced plastic composites, foam insulation, laminates, and abrasives. The catalysts are claimed to ensure safer transportation, storage and processing of pre-polymeric mixes, with the solid versions wellsuited for incorporation into dry mixes and non-aqueous pre-polymers.
Tungsten oxide photocatalysts
Original Source: Plastics and Rubber Weekly, 5 Aug 2011, 9 (Website: http://www.prw.com/) © Crain Communications Inc 2011
Manufacture of noble metal alloy particles
ENVIRONMENT ISK and Nippon Soda form photocatalytic-coating alliance Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha (ISK) has entered into a cooperation agreement with Nippon Soda, covering product sales and marketing, and provision of engineering support services, in the business of photocatalytic antifouling coatings for the construction industry. In Jul 2011, ISK will begin distributing Nippon Soda’s external-wall coatings under its own brand. Photocatalytic coatings create hydrophilic films that allow dirt collected on their surface to be washed off by rainwater. Both firms market the coatings for home renovation, with those from ISK offered for window uses, and those from Nippon Soda for external-wall application. Original Source: Japan Chemical Web, 11 Aug 2011 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp) © The Chemical Daily Co Ltd 2011
Particles of WO3 on which particles of Pt have been deposited are active photocatalysts in visible light. They oxidise simple organic compounds such as acetic and formic acids to CO2 in both the gas and liquid phase. US 8,017,238, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, and Sumitomo Chemical Company, Tokyo, Japan, 13 Sep 2011
Compounds of the two metals are reduced to particles of alloys of the metals in a two-stage process in a polyol solvent. The products are useful electrocatalysts. US 8,017,548, Umicore AG & Co, Hanau-Wolfgang, Germany, 13 Sep 2011
Conversion of glycerol to propanediol Glycerol, in the gas phase, is converted to 1,2-propanediol in the presence of hydrogen and a copper chromite catalyst. The purpose is to make an inexpensive anti-freeze from unrefined glycerol. US 8,017,816, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA, and Renewable Alterrnatives, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA, 13 Sep 2011
Desulfurization of fuels The sulfur compounds are oxidised by atmospheric oxygen in the presence of a supported transition metal oxide catalyst. US 8,016,999, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, Singapore, 13 Sep 2011
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