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BASF erecting sodium methylate plant
F O C U S Süd-Chemie to pass on raw material costs Süd-Chemie is to pass on rises in raw material costs to customers. The company will react to market trends with higher prices. The company’s gross margin fell from 29% to 28.3% in 2007. It is to rise 1% again in 2008, but this can only be achieved by means of hikes in prices. Handelsblatt Wirtschafts- und Finanzzeitung, 31 May 2008 (Website: http://www.handelsblatt.com) (in German)
Süd-Chemie and Linde working together on second-generation biofuels On 6 May 2008, a unique European alliance was announced between two major companies in plant construction and biocatalysis to develop climatefriendly biofuels, which will not compete with food production. SüdChemie AG and The Linde Group entered into an exclusive cooperation agreement to develop and market plants for the production of secondgeneration biofuels. Under this agreement, biotechnology will be used to extract fuels such as ethanol from the parts of plants that contain cellulose, such as wheat and maize straw, grasses and wood. Secondgeneration biofuels, which are based on these renewable raw materials, have a significantly reduced effect on the climate and energy balance, when compared to the first-generation biofuels being used today, such as biodiesel derived from rapeseed oil. Moreover, they do not compete with the cultivation of crops for food and animal feed. The partners in this unique European alliance complement each other perfectly. Süd-Chemie will be supplying its know-how in biocatalysts and bioprocessing technology, while Linde through its subsidiary Linde-KCADresden has a high level of expertise in chemical and biotechnological plant engineering. Together they will form a highly effective partnership capable of planning and building secondgeneration biofuel plants worldwide for potential customers, such as ethanol producers and other companies in the industrial and agricultural sector, and for investors in these plants. Press releases from Linde AG, Corporate Center, Abraham Lincoln Strasse 21, 65189 Wiesbaden, Germany. Tel: +49 611 7700. Fax +49 611 770269.
JULY 2008
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Website: http://www.linde.de & Süd-Chemie AG, Germany. Website: http://www.sud-chemie.com (6 May 2008) & ICIS Chemical Business, 12 May 2008 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chemical Week, 26 May 2008, 170 (16), 5 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 19 May 2008, (423), 14 (in French) & Chemie Technik (Heidelberg), 27 May 2008 (Website: http://www.chemietechnik.de) (in German)
UOP announces price increase for solid phosphoric acid catalysts for refining and petrochemicals UOP LLC has announced a price increase of 15% for all solid phosphoric acid (SPA) catalysts used in the refining and petrochemical industries. The price adjustments are effective immediately or as contracts allow. UOP is increasing the prices of SPA catalysts because of the continued high cost of energy and rising raw material prices. The products affected include UOP SPA-1 catalyst, UOP SPA-2 catalyst, UOP SPA-1C catalyst, UOP HO B1 catalyst, and UOP HO B2 catalyst. Press release from: UOP LLC, Des Plaines, IL, USA. Tel: +1 847 391 2380. Website: http://www.uop.com (2 May 2008)
fuel for commercial jets. UOP is developing a range of biofuels technologies in addition to jet fuel and has already commercialized the Ecofining process technology to produce green diesel from biofeedstocks. Press release from: Honeywell International Inc, 101 Columbia Road, Morristown, NJ, USA. Tel: +1 973 4552000. Fax: +1 973 455 4807. Website: http://www.honeywell.com (15 May 2008)
Verenium developing cellulosic ethanol US firm Verenium has commenced operation of its pilot cellulosic ethanol plant, and is eyeing full commercialization. The enzyme and biofuel development firm expects to evaluate over 40 different demonstration facility systems by mid2008. The company aims to reach optimization by the end of 2008 by unveiling biomass and enzymes to generate ethanol. The demonstration facility will manufacture 5300 cu m/y of cellulosic ethanol. If the pilot plant demonstrates viability, the commercial plant will make 265,000 cu m/y. TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), May 2008, (803), 15
Honeywell partnering Airbus, JetBlue Airways, and International Aero Engines to study biofuels for commercial aircraft Honeywell International Inc announced on 15 May 2008 that UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, and Honeywell Aerospace will partner with Airbus, JetBlue Airways, and International Aero Engines to study sustainable biofuel use for commercial aircraft. The effort will focus on developing and testing renewable energy technology to convert biofeedstocks to commercial aviation fuels, with specific focus on second-generation feedstocks such as algae which do not compete with food or water resources. UOP has already developed process technology to convert natural oils and greases to military jet fuel as part of a project funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The process technology produces green jet fuel that is a dropin replacement for traditional kerosene-based jet fuel and meets all the critical performance specifications for flight. This technology will also be viable for use in the production of jet
NEW PLANTS BASF erecting sodium methylate plant BASF is to erect a plant for the production of sodium methylate in Guaratingueta, Brazil. The 60,000 tonne/y plant will go onstream in 2010. Sodium methylate is a catalyst used in biodiesel production. Global demand for biodiesel is expected to increase to around 18 M tonne/y in the next few years. Around 15% of this will be produced in S America. Nachrichten für Aussenhandel, 28 May 2008 (Website: http://www.nfa-online.de) (in German) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 2 Jun 2008, (425), 10 (in French) & BNAmericas Petrochemicals News, 29 May 2008, (Business News Americas Ltda, website: http://www.bnamericas.com)
Lummus Technology awarded contract from PL Propylene Lummus Technology, a CB&I company, has been awarded a contract from PL Propylene LLC (a PetroLogistics company) for the licence and basic engineering of the proprietary CATOFIN technology. The
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Süd-Chemie and Linde working together on second-generation biofuels On 6 May 2008, a unique European alliance was announced between two major companies in plant construction and biocatalysis to develop climatefriendly biofuels, which will not compete with food production. SüdChemie AG and The Linde Group entered into an exclusive cooperation agreement to develop and market plants for the production of secondgeneration biofuels. Under this agreement, biotechnology will be used to extract fuels such as ethanol from the parts of plants that contain cellulose, such as wheat and maize straw, grasses and wood. Secondgeneration biofuels, which are based on these renewable raw materials, have a significantly reduced effect on the climate and energy balance, when compared to the first-generation biofuels being used today, such as biodiesel derived from rapeseed oil. Moreover, they do not compete with the cultivation of crops for food and animal feed. The partners in this unique European alliance complement each other perfectly. Süd-Chemie will be supplying its know-how in biocatalysts and bioprocessing technology, while Linde through its subsidiary Linde-KCADresden has a high level of expertise in chemical and biotechnological plant engineering. Together they will form a highly effective partnership capable of planning and building secondgeneration biofuel plants worldwide for potential customers, such as ethanol producers and other companies in the industrial and agricultural sector, and for investors in these plants. Press releases from Linde AG, Corporate Center, Abraham Lincoln Strasse 21, 65189 Wiesbaden, Germany. Tel: +49 611 7700. Fax +49 611 770269.
JULY 2008
O N
C ATA LY S T S
Website: http://www.linde.de & Süd-Chemie AG, Germany. Website: http://www.sud-chemie.com (6 May 2008) & ICIS Chemical Business, 12 May 2008 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chemical Week, 26 May 2008, 170 (16), 5 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 19 May 2008, (423), 14 (in French) & Chemie Technik (Heidelberg), 27 May 2008 (Website: http://www.chemietechnik.de) (in German)
UOP announces price increase for solid phosphoric acid catalysts for refining and petrochemicals UOP LLC has announced a price increase of 15% for all solid phosphoric acid (SPA) catalysts used in the refining and petrochemical industries. The price adjustments are effective immediately or as contracts allow. UOP is increasing the prices of SPA catalysts because of the continued high cost of energy and rising raw material prices. The products affected include UOP SPA-1 catalyst, UOP SPA-2 catalyst, UOP SPA-1C catalyst, UOP HO B1 catalyst, and UOP HO B2 catalyst. Press release from: UOP LLC, Des Plaines, IL, USA. Tel: +1 847 391 2380. Website: http://www.uop.com (2 May 2008)
fuel for commercial jets. UOP is developing a range of biofuels technologies in addition to jet fuel and has already commercialized the Ecofining process technology to produce green diesel from biofeedstocks. Press release from: Honeywell International Inc, 101 Columbia Road, Morristown, NJ, USA. Tel: +1 973 4552000. Fax: +1 973 455 4807. Website: http://www.honeywell.com (15 May 2008)
Verenium developing cellulosic ethanol US firm Verenium has commenced operation of its pilot cellulosic ethanol plant, and is eyeing full commercialization. The enzyme and biofuel development firm expects to evaluate over 40 different demonstration facility systems by mid2008. The company aims to reach optimization by the end of 2008 by unveiling biomass and enzymes to generate ethanol. The demonstration facility will manufacture 5300 cu m/y of cellulosic ethanol. If the pilot plant demonstrates viability, the commercial plant will make 265,000 cu m/y. TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), May 2008, (803), 15
Honeywell partnering Airbus, JetBlue Airways, and International Aero Engines to study biofuels for commercial aircraft Honeywell International Inc announced on 15 May 2008 that UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, and Honeywell Aerospace will partner with Airbus, JetBlue Airways, and International Aero Engines to study sustainable biofuel use for commercial aircraft. The effort will focus on developing and testing renewable energy technology to convert biofeedstocks to commercial aviation fuels, with specific focus on second-generation feedstocks such as algae which do not compete with food or water resources. UOP has already developed process technology to convert natural oils and greases to military jet fuel as part of a project funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The process technology produces green jet fuel that is a dropin replacement for traditional kerosene-based jet fuel and meets all the critical performance specifications for flight. This technology will also be viable for use in the production of jet
NEW PLANTS BASF erecting sodium methylate plant BASF is to erect a plant for the production of sodium methylate in Guaratingueta, Brazil. The 60,000 tonne/y plant will go onstream in 2010. Sodium methylate is a catalyst used in biodiesel production. Global demand for biodiesel is expected to increase to around 18 M tonne/y in the next few years. Around 15% of this will be produced in S America. Nachrichten für Aussenhandel, 28 May 2008 (Website: http://www.nfa-online.de) (in German) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 2 Jun 2008, (425), 10 (in French) & BNAmericas Petrochemicals News, 29 May 2008, (Business News Americas Ltda, website: http://www.bnamericas.com)
Lummus Technology awarded contract from PL Propylene Lummus Technology, a CB&I company, has been awarded a contract from PL Propylene LLC (a PetroLogistics company) for the licence and basic engineering of the proprietary CATOFIN technology. The
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