- Email: [email protected]
BASF secures rare earth supply
FOCUS
MARKETS AND BUSINESS Johnson Matthey launches platinum 2011 interim review Gross demand for platinum is forecast to rise to 8.08 M ounces in 2011, close to pre-recession levels, according to Johnson Matthey in ‘PLATINUM 2011 Interim Review’, released on 15 Nov 2011. Continued strong demand will be more than matched by a rise in supplies and higher levels of recycling. Overall, the platinum market is expected to end the year in a small surplus of 195,000 oz. Supplies of platinum are expected to increase by 6% to 6.4 M ounces in 2011, while demand for platinum in autocatalysts is set to increase by 3% to 3.16 M ounces in 2011. Purchasing of platinum for industrial applications is forecast to reach a new record high of 1.96 M ounces. PR Newswire, 15 Nov 2011 (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com). Original Source: Financial Times, 16 Nov 2011, 32 (Website: http://www.ft.com), © The Financial Times Ltd 2011
BASF is partner in the EU research project BIONEXGEN BASF is participating in the EUsupported research project BIONEXGEN (Next Generation of Biocatalysts). Project leader Prof Nicholas J Turner (Director of the Centre of Excellence in Biocatalysis, Biotransformations and Biocatalytic Manufacture at the University of Manchester) explained that BIONEXGEN brings together 17 partners from industry and academia who share the common goal of developing a new generation of biocatalysts for more sustainable production processes in the chemical industry. BASF with its decades-long experience in White Biotechnology is taking part in research activities on new biocatalytic amine syntheses and on the use of enzymes for the synthesis of functional polymers from renewable feedstock. In one of the working groups of the EU project, BASF and its partners are searching for more efficient ways to produce amines using biocatalysts. Amines are important for many industries and have a broad
2
ON
C ATA LY S T S
spectrum of applications including fine chemicals, plastics, and agricultural products. The use of enzymes can make the production of these chemicals easier. In addition, chemists and biologists at BIONEXGEN are researching how to transform glycopolymers such as starch into high performance products. Press release from: BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany, tel: +49 (0) 621 600, website: http://www.basf.com (14 Nov 2011)
COMPANY NEWS Inaugural AIRG Medal awarded to Alcoa Alcoa received the inaugural AIRG Medal from the Australasian Industrial Research Group (AIRG) for its costeffective and eco-friendly technology for oxalate removal called the continuous biological oxalate destruction. Oxalate, an impurity in the alumina refining process, is consumed by naturally occurring microorganisms. The technology, like other oxalate removal solutions, allows for the oxalate to be transformed into sodium carbonate. Alcoa has implemented continuous biological oxalate destruction at its Kwinana Refinery, resulting in about $1.65 M/y in energy cost savings. The technology is presently being implemented at Alcoa’s Pinjarra Refinery, where it is expected to result in $1.24 M/y in energy savings. Original Source: Chemistry in Australia, Nov 2011, 8 (Website:http://www.raci.org.au) © The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Incorporated 2011
Alfa Aesar introduces range of bio products Alfa Aesar, a Johnson Matthey company, is pleased to introduce the latest addition to its complete range of over 33,000 products. The new biochemical product catalogue adds over 3000 products to the existing offering, providing a more complete selection for a broad spectrum of research applications. The new range includes a continuously growing variety of materials for biological research including electrophoresis reagents, enzymes, signal transduction reagents,
and much more. The bio product line is available now throughout North America, and will be launched globally over the next 18 months. Alfa Aesar extensively augments the technical content of the bio catalogue with application notes, synonym listings, and other specification details. The product listings for all hazardous substances are also enhanced with hazard pictograms and newly implemented precautionary and hazard phrases in accordance with Globally Harmonized System (GHS) standards. The bio catalogue also includes a convenient category index in addition to the alphabetical product listing. Press release from: Alfa Aesar, website: http://www.alfa.com/en/gh100w.pgm (27 Jun 2011). BioSpace, 8 Nov 2011 (Website: http://www.biospace.com/)
BASF secures rare earth supply BASF will source lanthanum for its industrial catalysts from Lynas’ new refinery in Kuantan, Malaysia. The new refinery was slated to start production in late 2011, but is now anticipated to come online during 2012 after technical experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency counselled the government not to grant approvals until a long-term management plan was put in place for the plant. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), Oct 2011, (844), 14 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2011
BlueFire Renewables signs financing MOU for three plants BlueFire Renewables Inc (BlueFire), a company focused on changing the world’s transportation fuel paradigm through the production of renewable fuels from non-food cellulosic wastes, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China Huadian Engineering Co Ltd (Huadian) to finance its integrated power plant and biorefinery in Fulton, MS, and up to 5 additional plants in the US. Under the MOU, Huadian will invest equity by purchasing an interest in the BlueFire Fulton Renewable Energy LLC and, optionally, debt for the Fulton project to complete financing and construction for this cellulosic ethanol plant. Additionally, upon the initial success of the Fulton
JANUARY 2012
MARKETS AND BUSINESS Johnson Matthey launches platinum 2011 interim review Gross demand for platinum is forecast to rise to 8.08 M ounces in 2011, close to pre-recession levels, according to Johnson Matthey in ‘PLATINUM 2011 Interim Review’, released on 15 Nov 2011. Continued strong demand will be more than matched by a rise in supplies and higher levels of recycling. Overall, the platinum market is expected to end the year in a small surplus of 195,000 oz. Supplies of platinum are expected to increase by 6% to 6.4 M ounces in 2011, while demand for platinum in autocatalysts is set to increase by 3% to 3.16 M ounces in 2011. Purchasing of platinum for industrial applications is forecast to reach a new record high of 1.96 M ounces. PR Newswire, 15 Nov 2011 (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com). Original Source: Financial Times, 16 Nov 2011, 32 (Website: http://www.ft.com), © The Financial Times Ltd 2011
BASF is partner in the EU research project BIONEXGEN BASF is participating in the EUsupported research project BIONEXGEN (Next Generation of Biocatalysts). Project leader Prof Nicholas J Turner (Director of the Centre of Excellence in Biocatalysis, Biotransformations and Biocatalytic Manufacture at the University of Manchester) explained that BIONEXGEN brings together 17 partners from industry and academia who share the common goal of developing a new generation of biocatalysts for more sustainable production processes in the chemical industry. BASF with its decades-long experience in White Biotechnology is taking part in research activities on new biocatalytic amine syntheses and on the use of enzymes for the synthesis of functional polymers from renewable feedstock. In one of the working groups of the EU project, BASF and its partners are searching for more efficient ways to produce amines using biocatalysts. Amines are important for many industries and have a broad
2
ON
C ATA LY S T S
spectrum of applications including fine chemicals, plastics, and agricultural products. The use of enzymes can make the production of these chemicals easier. In addition, chemists and biologists at BIONEXGEN are researching how to transform glycopolymers such as starch into high performance products. Press release from: BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany, tel: +49 (0) 621 600, website: http://www.basf.com (14 Nov 2011)
COMPANY NEWS Inaugural AIRG Medal awarded to Alcoa Alcoa received the inaugural AIRG Medal from the Australasian Industrial Research Group (AIRG) for its costeffective and eco-friendly technology for oxalate removal called the continuous biological oxalate destruction. Oxalate, an impurity in the alumina refining process, is consumed by naturally occurring microorganisms. The technology, like other oxalate removal solutions, allows for the oxalate to be transformed into sodium carbonate. Alcoa has implemented continuous biological oxalate destruction at its Kwinana Refinery, resulting in about $1.65 M/y in energy cost savings. The technology is presently being implemented at Alcoa’s Pinjarra Refinery, where it is expected to result in $1.24 M/y in energy savings. Original Source: Chemistry in Australia, Nov 2011, 8 (Website:http://www.raci.org.au) © The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Incorporated 2011
Alfa Aesar introduces range of bio products Alfa Aesar, a Johnson Matthey company, is pleased to introduce the latest addition to its complete range of over 33,000 products. The new biochemical product catalogue adds over 3000 products to the existing offering, providing a more complete selection for a broad spectrum of research applications. The new range includes a continuously growing variety of materials for biological research including electrophoresis reagents, enzymes, signal transduction reagents,
and much more. The bio product line is available now throughout North America, and will be launched globally over the next 18 months. Alfa Aesar extensively augments the technical content of the bio catalogue with application notes, synonym listings, and other specification details. The product listings for all hazardous substances are also enhanced with hazard pictograms and newly implemented precautionary and hazard phrases in accordance with Globally Harmonized System (GHS) standards. The bio catalogue also includes a convenient category index in addition to the alphabetical product listing. Press release from: Alfa Aesar, website: http://www.alfa.com/en/gh100w.pgm (27 Jun 2011). BioSpace, 8 Nov 2011 (Website: http://www.biospace.com/)
BASF secures rare earth supply BASF will source lanthanum for its industrial catalysts from Lynas’ new refinery in Kuantan, Malaysia. The new refinery was slated to start production in late 2011, but is now anticipated to come online during 2012 after technical experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency counselled the government not to grant approvals until a long-term management plan was put in place for the plant. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), Oct 2011, (844), 14 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2011
BlueFire Renewables signs financing MOU for three plants BlueFire Renewables Inc (BlueFire), a company focused on changing the world’s transportation fuel paradigm through the production of renewable fuels from non-food cellulosic wastes, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China Huadian Engineering Co Ltd (Huadian) to finance its integrated power plant and biorefinery in Fulton, MS, and up to 5 additional plants in the US. Under the MOU, Huadian will invest equity by purchasing an interest in the BlueFire Fulton Renewable Energy LLC and, optionally, debt for the Fulton project to complete financing and construction for this cellulosic ethanol plant. Additionally, upon the initial success of the Fulton
JANUARY 2012