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Avantium gets €18 M injection for biofuels production
F O C U S hydrogenation technology-based facility in Geismar, LA, which will produce 5000 bbl/day of renewable diesel when it comes online in 2010. Meanwhile, Italian oil firm Eni and Galp Energy intend to use UOP’s ecofining hydrogenation process in their new facilities, which are being constructed in Italy and Portugal, respectively. Chemical and Engineering News, 10 Nov 2008, 86 (45), 26-28
Liquid detergent trends: increasing opportunities for enzymes New challenges and opportunities in the use of enzymes in liquid detergents are emerging owing to various trends, including a shift in more compact liquid detergents, increased raw material costs, lower wash temperatures, and shorter wash cycles. Liquid detergents’ share in the US laundry market, based on retail value, is projected to grow to 89% by 2012, compared to 84% in 2008. Europe’s share is expected to reach 33% by the same period. In 2008, the US detergent market reported an estimated retail value of €6.1 bn. By 2012, the Western European detergents market is projected to have an estimated value of €8.7 bn. Lower temperature washing could significantly reduce the activity of bleach and enzymes, but this could be solved by using an appropriate enzyme replacement. The use of the appropriate enzymes may also close the cleaning disparity brought about by the shorter wash cycles chosen by consumers. For increased raw material prices, one of the tools available to detergent formulators is the selection and dosing of enzymes to optimize price/performance of laundry detergents. HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Oct 2008, (3), 64-67
COMPANY NEWS Avantium gets €18 M injection for biofuels production A consortium of investors led by Navitas Capital is making capital of
JANUARY 2009
O N
C ATA LY S T S
€18 M available to Avantium for production of the sulfur-free biofuel Furanics which Avantium claims is cheaper and cleaner than existing biofuels. Avantium will also use part of the money for research into improving its existing medicines. The company already has several litres of Furanics and with the new cash will be able to increase this to several thousand litres. Avantium also wants to test the fuel in cars and lorries and expects it could be selling the product by 2012. It is seeking more personnel for the Furanics team which currently numbers 20. The other members of the consortium are Aescap Venture, Capricorn Cleantech Fund, and ING Corporate Investments. Avantium is predicting a turnover of around €19 M for 2008. Het Financieele Dagblad, 30 Oct 2008, (256), 23 (in Dutch)
Biofuels: DSM launches research initiative with the US DOE In line with its strategy of developing alternatives to traditional petrochemical products, Dutch group DSM has launched a research programme, creating new jobs for specialists in green energies at its site in Belvidere, NJ. In Feb 2008 a consortium headed by DSM (and including Abengoa Bioenergy New Technologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratory) obtained $7.4 M in funding from the US Department of Energy. The $33 M programme has now begun. Its aim is to develop low cost enzymes for the industrial scale production of second generation biofuels. The investment will play a part in achieving the DOE’s objectives regarding cellulosic ethanol production for biofuels by 2012 as well as the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007’s goal of producing 136 bn litres of biofuels in the US by 2022. DSM and the DOE will work together on the project over the next 4 years. Several enzymes for the hydrolysis of cellulose and xylose from plant waste are already available. However, major R&D work is needed to make a commercially viable process. To this end, the DOE recently granted Danish company Novozymes $12.3 M in funding for its Decrease (Development of a
Commercial-Ready Enzyme Application System for Ethanol) programme. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 3 Nov 2008, (442), 17 (in French)
Enzyme researcher receives Evonik Research Award of €100,000 Evonik Industries AG’s Innovation Award for White Biotechnology and the €100,000 in prize money was given to Dr Paul Dalby of University College London. The winner outclassed two other European competitors in the final round of the European Science-to-Business Award. Dalby’s method for combining enzymes and customizing them for new tasks convinced the international jury. Press release from: Evonik Industries AG, Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11 45128, Essen, Germany. Website: http://www.evonik.com (12 Nov 2008)
New Haldor Topsoe subsidiary in Latin America On 3 Nov 2008, Haldor Topsoe A/S announced that it has opened a subsidiary in Argentina. The new subsidiary covers all Topsoe business areas and serves as the prime contact to clients in Latin America. The office aims to strengthen Topsoe’s presence in the area and to promote technologies and catalysts to local clients within ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen production as well as synthesis gas and sulfuric acid production, refinery hydroprocessing, and environmental protection. The Topsoe subsidiary in Latin America is planning a seminar for clients which will take place 24-27 Mar 2009 in Calafate, Argentina. 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 (3 Nov 2008)
JGC Catalysts and Chemicals founded JGC Catalysts & Chemicals Ltd has been created with the merger of SaciCfpa’s principal Catalyst & Chemicals Industries and Nikki Chemicals Co Ltd. Saci-Cfpa will remain as a distributor. Parfums, Cosmétiques Actualités, Oct/Nov 2008, (203), 46
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Liquid detergent trends: increasing opportunities for enzymes New challenges and opportunities in the use of enzymes in liquid detergents are emerging owing to various trends, including a shift in more compact liquid detergents, increased raw material costs, lower wash temperatures, and shorter wash cycles. Liquid detergents’ share in the US laundry market, based on retail value, is projected to grow to 89% by 2012, compared to 84% in 2008. Europe’s share is expected to reach 33% by the same period. In 2008, the US detergent market reported an estimated retail value of €6.1 bn. By 2012, the Western European detergents market is projected to have an estimated value of €8.7 bn. Lower temperature washing could significantly reduce the activity of bleach and enzymes, but this could be solved by using an appropriate enzyme replacement. The use of the appropriate enzymes may also close the cleaning disparity brought about by the shorter wash cycles chosen by consumers. For increased raw material prices, one of the tools available to detergent formulators is the selection and dosing of enzymes to optimize price/performance of laundry detergents. HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Oct 2008, (3), 64-67
COMPANY NEWS Avantium gets €18 M injection for biofuels production A consortium of investors led by Navitas Capital is making capital of
JANUARY 2009
O N
C ATA LY S T S
€18 M available to Avantium for production of the sulfur-free biofuel Furanics which Avantium claims is cheaper and cleaner than existing biofuels. Avantium will also use part of the money for research into improving its existing medicines. The company already has several litres of Furanics and with the new cash will be able to increase this to several thousand litres. Avantium also wants to test the fuel in cars and lorries and expects it could be selling the product by 2012. It is seeking more personnel for the Furanics team which currently numbers 20. The other members of the consortium are Aescap Venture, Capricorn Cleantech Fund, and ING Corporate Investments. Avantium is predicting a turnover of around €19 M for 2008. Het Financieele Dagblad, 30 Oct 2008, (256), 23 (in Dutch)
Biofuels: DSM launches research initiative with the US DOE In line with its strategy of developing alternatives to traditional petrochemical products, Dutch group DSM has launched a research programme, creating new jobs for specialists in green energies at its site in Belvidere, NJ. In Feb 2008 a consortium headed by DSM (and including Abengoa Bioenergy New Technologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratory) obtained $7.4 M in funding from the US Department of Energy. The $33 M programme has now begun. Its aim is to develop low cost enzymes for the industrial scale production of second generation biofuels. The investment will play a part in achieving the DOE’s objectives regarding cellulosic ethanol production for biofuels by 2012 as well as the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007’s goal of producing 136 bn litres of biofuels in the US by 2022. DSM and the DOE will work together on the project over the next 4 years. Several enzymes for the hydrolysis of cellulose and xylose from plant waste are already available. However, major R&D work is needed to make a commercially viable process. To this end, the DOE recently granted Danish company Novozymes $12.3 M in funding for its Decrease (Development of a
Commercial-Ready Enzyme Application System for Ethanol) programme. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 3 Nov 2008, (442), 17 (in French)
Enzyme researcher receives Evonik Research Award of €100,000 Evonik Industries AG’s Innovation Award for White Biotechnology and the €100,000 in prize money was given to Dr Paul Dalby of University College London. The winner outclassed two other European competitors in the final round of the European Science-to-Business Award. Dalby’s method for combining enzymes and customizing them for new tasks convinced the international jury. Press release from: Evonik Industries AG, Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11 45128, Essen, Germany. Website: http://www.evonik.com (12 Nov 2008)
New Haldor Topsoe subsidiary in Latin America On 3 Nov 2008, Haldor Topsoe A/S announced that it has opened a subsidiary in Argentina. The new subsidiary covers all Topsoe business areas and serves as the prime contact to clients in Latin America. The office aims to strengthen Topsoe’s presence in the area and to promote technologies and catalysts to local clients within ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen production as well as synthesis gas and sulfuric acid production, refinery hydroprocessing, and environmental protection. The Topsoe subsidiary in Latin America is planning a seminar for clients which will take place 24-27 Mar 2009 in Calafate, Argentina. 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 (3 Nov 2008)
JGC Catalysts and Chemicals founded JGC Catalysts & Chemicals Ltd has been created with the merger of SaciCfpa’s principal Catalyst & Chemicals Industries and Nikki Chemicals Co Ltd. Saci-Cfpa will remain as a distributor. Parfums, Cosmétiques Actualités, Oct/Nov 2008, (203), 46
3