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Asahi Kasei develops mc route to ultrahigh mw PE
F O C U S the formation of syngas, and instead cracks natural gas into acetylene. Chemical Engineering Progress, Nov 2002, 98 (11), 15 & Chemical Engineering World, Oct 2002, 37 (10), 96
New oxidation catalyst for alcohols Workers at the University of Tokyo have developed a catalyst for oxidising alcohols to ketones or aldehydes using air or oxygen. The catalyst is ruthenium on alumina, suspended in trifluorotoluene. Turnover numbers of 1,000 have been achieved. Chemical and Engineering News, 2 Dec 2002, 80 (48), 30 & Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 2002, 41, 4538
New route to fatty acid esters developed Sumitomo Chemical of Japan has come up with a new process for making fatty acid methyl esters without producing byproducts that could otherwise harm the environment. The process is based on the reaction of methanol with vegetable oil in a supercritical state. Conventional methods that use alkaline compounds to catalyse the methanol-vegetable oil reaction produce a byproduct soap component that must be removed. With the new process, the catalyst is easily removed to yield cost savings. Nitrogen and Methanol, Nov-Dec 2002, (260), 12
C94: Alternative PET catalyst Acordis Industrial Fibres has come up with C94, a new heavy metal-free catalyst intended for use in the production of bottles and textiles. The new polymer is a titanium-based catalyst having a similar thermal stability as common tin polymers. Applications in the industrial textile spinning and dyeing are claimed to be excellent, except for minor colour adjustments for certain applications. Chemical Fibers International, Dec 2002, 52 (6), 403
FI catalyst helps produce oligomer with double bond at one end Pilot scale production of an ethylene oligomer (molecular weight 20005000), with a double bond at one end
FEBRUARY 2003
O N
C ATA LY S T S
of the molecule, has been achieved by Mitsui Chemicals using its in-house developed fenoxyimine (FI) catalyst. Technical details and potential applications are discussed. The process is scalable to full production level.
expected to have reached Yen 400 bn, and by 2010 to have exceeded Yen 5 trn. Takasago plans to develop sales in its fine chemicals division, including organic EL materials, targeting Yen 13 bn after three years.
Japan Chemical Week, 28 Nov 2002, 43 (2198), 1
Nikkei Net, 2 Dec 2002 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
Asahi Kasei develops mc route to ultrahigh mw PE
Iron catalyst makes hydrogen from water
Asahi Kasei has used metallocene catalysis to develop a UHMWPE. Market development has already started. This is the first time UHMWPE has been produced using metallocene catalysts. Asahi Kasei has been supplying conventional UHMWPE from a plant in Mizushima that was recently expanded to 4000-5000 tonne/y.
Uchiya Thermostat has developed a process for making hydrogen from water, at 200°, using an iron oxide catalyst. It should be suitable for making hydrogen for fuel cells, since no CO is produced. (It is unclear what the other product is – Ed.)
Japan Chemical Week, 12 Dec 2002, 43 (2200), 4
Improved LCP production process
Basell launches Spherizone process for PP Basell has reinforced its 6.8 M tonne/y position as world leader in PP production with the introduction of its new Spherizone process which could be adapted for production of PE and other polymers. Basell has been operating a Spherizone PP pilot plant at Ferrara and now plans to use the process at its 160,000 tonne/y PP plant at Brindisi. The Spherizone process is likely to replace the Spheripol process used in Basell’s PP plants at Tarragona in Spain and in jv plants in China and Iran. Info Chimie Magazine, Nov 2002, (443), 33-35 (in French) & Kunststoffe, Nov 2002, 92 (11), 6 (in German) & Kunststof en Rubber, Dec 2002, 55 (12), 24-25 (in Dutch) & Asia Pacific Chemicals, Nov-Dec 2002, 13 (6), 19, & Macplas, Nov 2002, 27 (243), 63 (in Italian)
Takasago to mass-produce materials for organic EL displays Takasago International Corp has developed an inexpensive manufacturing process which produces organic electroluminescent materials in half the normal number of steps and with fewer impurities. The technique is based on a proprietary catalyst, and the firm aims to have a commercial system of mass production ready by 2005. By that time, the market for products containing organic EL displays is
Japan Chemical Week, 9 Jan 2003, 43 (2203), 8
Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd has come up with a new manufacturing process for LCPs that offer a highperformance material with better production efficiency. Flowability is enhanced while high heat resistance is preserved, with the reduced amount of low molecular weight LCP enhancing heat stability during moulding and lessening blistering during soldering. The novel technology employs a basic organic catalyst that boosts the rate of reaction between monomers while controlling unwanted side reactions. The catalyst reacts swiftly and does not remain in the polymer as it is removed from the reaction system through by-products during polymerisation. With the new technology, Sumitomo can double capacity to 4 kt/y at its existing LCP plant in Ehime, Japan. High Performance Plastics, Dec 2002, 9-10
ENVIRONMENT Egypt: contract awarded for gas treatment plant using new technology The Alexandria Mineral Oil Company (AMOC) has awarded to Technip Coflexip the contract for an acid gas treatment plant at Alexandria, Egypt. The new plant is to use a new technology, Thiopaq, from the Dutch company Paques, adapted for
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New oxidation catalyst for alcohols Workers at the University of Tokyo have developed a catalyst for oxidising alcohols to ketones or aldehydes using air or oxygen. The catalyst is ruthenium on alumina, suspended in trifluorotoluene. Turnover numbers of 1,000 have been achieved. Chemical and Engineering News, 2 Dec 2002, 80 (48), 30 & Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 2002, 41, 4538
New route to fatty acid esters developed Sumitomo Chemical of Japan has come up with a new process for making fatty acid methyl esters without producing byproducts that could otherwise harm the environment. The process is based on the reaction of methanol with vegetable oil in a supercritical state. Conventional methods that use alkaline compounds to catalyse the methanol-vegetable oil reaction produce a byproduct soap component that must be removed. With the new process, the catalyst is easily removed to yield cost savings. Nitrogen and Methanol, Nov-Dec 2002, (260), 12
C94: Alternative PET catalyst Acordis Industrial Fibres has come up with C94, a new heavy metal-free catalyst intended for use in the production of bottles and textiles. The new polymer is a titanium-based catalyst having a similar thermal stability as common tin polymers. Applications in the industrial textile spinning and dyeing are claimed to be excellent, except for minor colour adjustments for certain applications. Chemical Fibers International, Dec 2002, 52 (6), 403
FI catalyst helps produce oligomer with double bond at one end Pilot scale production of an ethylene oligomer (molecular weight 20005000), with a double bond at one end
FEBRUARY 2003
O N
C ATA LY S T S
of the molecule, has been achieved by Mitsui Chemicals using its in-house developed fenoxyimine (FI) catalyst. Technical details and potential applications are discussed. The process is scalable to full production level.
expected to have reached Yen 400 bn, and by 2010 to have exceeded Yen 5 trn. Takasago plans to develop sales in its fine chemicals division, including organic EL materials, targeting Yen 13 bn after three years.
Japan Chemical Week, 28 Nov 2002, 43 (2198), 1
Nikkei Net, 2 Dec 2002 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
Asahi Kasei develops mc route to ultrahigh mw PE
Iron catalyst makes hydrogen from water
Asahi Kasei has used metallocene catalysis to develop a UHMWPE. Market development has already started. This is the first time UHMWPE has been produced using metallocene catalysts. Asahi Kasei has been supplying conventional UHMWPE from a plant in Mizushima that was recently expanded to 4000-5000 tonne/y.
Uchiya Thermostat has developed a process for making hydrogen from water, at 200°, using an iron oxide catalyst. It should be suitable for making hydrogen for fuel cells, since no CO is produced. (It is unclear what the other product is – Ed.)
Japan Chemical Week, 12 Dec 2002, 43 (2200), 4
Improved LCP production process
Basell launches Spherizone process for PP Basell has reinforced its 6.8 M tonne/y position as world leader in PP production with the introduction of its new Spherizone process which could be adapted for production of PE and other polymers. Basell has been operating a Spherizone PP pilot plant at Ferrara and now plans to use the process at its 160,000 tonne/y PP plant at Brindisi. The Spherizone process is likely to replace the Spheripol process used in Basell’s PP plants at Tarragona in Spain and in jv plants in China and Iran. Info Chimie Magazine, Nov 2002, (443), 33-35 (in French) & Kunststoffe, Nov 2002, 92 (11), 6 (in German) & Kunststof en Rubber, Dec 2002, 55 (12), 24-25 (in Dutch) & Asia Pacific Chemicals, Nov-Dec 2002, 13 (6), 19, & Macplas, Nov 2002, 27 (243), 63 (in Italian)
Takasago to mass-produce materials for organic EL displays Takasago International Corp has developed an inexpensive manufacturing process which produces organic electroluminescent materials in half the normal number of steps and with fewer impurities. The technique is based on a proprietary catalyst, and the firm aims to have a commercial system of mass production ready by 2005. By that time, the market for products containing organic EL displays is
Japan Chemical Week, 9 Jan 2003, 43 (2203), 8
Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd has come up with a new manufacturing process for LCPs that offer a highperformance material with better production efficiency. Flowability is enhanced while high heat resistance is preserved, with the reduced amount of low molecular weight LCP enhancing heat stability during moulding and lessening blistering during soldering. The novel technology employs a basic organic catalyst that boosts the rate of reaction between monomers while controlling unwanted side reactions. The catalyst reacts swiftly and does not remain in the polymer as it is removed from the reaction system through by-products during polymerisation. With the new technology, Sumitomo can double capacity to 4 kt/y at its existing LCP plant in Ehime, Japan. High Performance Plastics, Dec 2002, 9-10
ENVIRONMENT Egypt: contract awarded for gas treatment plant using new technology The Alexandria Mineral Oil Company (AMOC) has awarded to Technip Coflexip the contract for an acid gas treatment plant at Alexandria, Egypt. The new plant is to use a new technology, Thiopaq, from the Dutch company Paques, adapted for
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