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Bayer launches novel route for catalyst production
F O C U S 2003. Overseas markets will be targeted. Japan Chemical Week, 19 Sep 2002, 43 (2188), 2
Dow, BASF develop new HP-PO route New technology to produce propylene oxide (PO) using hydrogen peroxide (HP) is being developed by Dow and BASF. This route is thought to have advantages over the PO/styrene monomer process. In particular, it would enable the separate planning of PO and styrene monomer expansions rather than as co-products. Dow acquired the HP-PO technology with EniChem’s polyurethane activities, which it bought in May 2001. BASF has been developing HP-PO technology since 1995, with a pilot plant operational since 4Q 2000. The BASF process uses a proprietary heterogeneous titanium silicate catalyst to epoxidise chemical-grade propylene with HP in methanol at moderate pressure. Chemistry and Industry (London), 19 Aug 2002, (16), 4
Chiyoda to license acetic acid production technology A firm located in Guizhou Province, China, has signed an agreement to license Chiyoda Corp’s environmentally-friendly acetic acid production technology. By Sep 2003 the Chinese firm plans to build a factory with output capacity of 36,000 tonne/y, the first to use the new technology, which reacts methanol and carbon monoxide with a catalyst to produce acetic acid without the usual mercury byproducts. Chiyoda expects the technology to bring in revenues of several hundred million Yen from licensing fees and consultancy work. Nikkei Net, 20 Sep 2002 (Website: www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/) & Asian Chemical News, 30 Sep 2002, 8 (373), 5
Cyclics Corp sets first plant Cyclics Corp is erecting its first cyclic butylene terephthalate plant at BASF’s site at Schwarzheide, Germany. The $20 M, 5.5 M lb/y plant is due onstream in 2004 and will use
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feedstock from BASF’s PBT plant. CBT is converted into PBT when a catalyst is added. CBT has low viscosity allowing it to be processed like a thermoset resin, while retaining the properties of a thermoplastic Chemical and Engineering News, 16 Sep 2002, 80 (37), 10
Direct aromatic fluorination A direct catalytic process to convert benzene and hydrogen fluoride to fluorobenzene using a copper fluoride catalyst has been developed by DuPont. The process does not produce waste materials. The process is to be licensed shortly. Chemical Week, 11 Sep 2002, 164 (35), 35
Mitsui Chemicals making PET resin by using titanium catalyst Mitsui Chemicals Inc has developed a new titanium catalyst for use in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate resin, which is twenty times more reactive than conventional antimony catalysts. Titanium catalysts tend to discolour the resin, but the firm has overcome this problem, and is now manufacturing 3000-4000 tonnes of PE resin using the catalyst at its Indonesian plant. The plant has the capacity to produce 75,000 tonne/y of PET resin, and will eventually use the new catalyst for its entire output. The firm’s new factory in Thailand, expected to start production at the end of 2003, will also use the new titanium catalyst. Nikkei Net, 18 Sep 2002 (Website: www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
Synetix saves the world’s polyester supply – groovy! Synetix researchers assert that polyester quality and production can be significantly enhanced with a newly discovered titanium-based catalyst that exhibits greater reaction compared with the current antimonybased packages. A sharper and brighter colour is also rendered by the new catalyst, which can be used in smaller batches and is easier to process as it uses 90% less metal. With the new catalyst, Synetix aspires to forestall the prediction that polyester will run out by 2008. Synetix also claims that increases of as high as 15% in productivity can be achieved with the new catalyst. Nurel is already manufacturing polyester fibre in Spain using the new catalyst in preparation for the rising demand for environmentally-sound products by sportswear companies such as Puma and Adidas. Speciality Chemicals, Sep 2002, 22 (8), 8
Bayer launches novel route for catalyst production A new process to produce ligands for asymmetric hydrogenation catalysts has been developed by Bayer. The new technology for the production of the R and S versions of 5,5’-dichloro6,6’-dimethoxy-2,2’-bis(diphenylphosphino-)-1,1’-biphenyl ligand (Cl-MeO-BIPHEP) enables the catalysts to be more effectively ‘fine tuned’. Bayer has appointed Strem Chemicals to promote the ligands to researchers. European Chemical News, 30 Sep 2002, 77 (2023), 39 & Chemical Market Reporter, 30 Sep 2002 (www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
Light gasoline etherification technology approved A light gasoline etherification technology has been developed by Lanzhou Petrochemical Co Ltd in partnership with the University of Petroleum in Beijing, China, which improves the quality and safety of gasoline. A new resin catalyst developed by Lanzhou’s Petrochemical Research Institute can be used in the production of corrugated packaging for column plates. China Chemical Reporter, 26 Sep 2002, 13 (27), 31
Way to mass-produce single-walled carbon nanotubes developed Japan’s Institute of Research and Innovation has developed a technique which should enable it to produce single-walled carbon nanotubes at a rate of 1 tonne/y, making it the world’s largest-scale producer. The institute’s new “plasma spray” method involves mixing carbon powder with metal catalysts such as cobalt in an argon environment at a temperature above 10,000°C. The carbon is converted into a plasma which cools rapidly
NOVEMBER 2002
Dow, BASF develop new HP-PO route New technology to produce propylene oxide (PO) using hydrogen peroxide (HP) is being developed by Dow and BASF. This route is thought to have advantages over the PO/styrene monomer process. In particular, it would enable the separate planning of PO and styrene monomer expansions rather than as co-products. Dow acquired the HP-PO technology with EniChem’s polyurethane activities, which it bought in May 2001. BASF has been developing HP-PO technology since 1995, with a pilot plant operational since 4Q 2000. The BASF process uses a proprietary heterogeneous titanium silicate catalyst to epoxidise chemical-grade propylene with HP in methanol at moderate pressure. Chemistry and Industry (London), 19 Aug 2002, (16), 4
Chiyoda to license acetic acid production technology A firm located in Guizhou Province, China, has signed an agreement to license Chiyoda Corp’s environmentally-friendly acetic acid production technology. By Sep 2003 the Chinese firm plans to build a factory with output capacity of 36,000 tonne/y, the first to use the new technology, which reacts methanol and carbon monoxide with a catalyst to produce acetic acid without the usual mercury byproducts. Chiyoda expects the technology to bring in revenues of several hundred million Yen from licensing fees and consultancy work. Nikkei Net, 20 Sep 2002 (Website: www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/) & Asian Chemical News, 30 Sep 2002, 8 (373), 5
Cyclics Corp sets first plant Cyclics Corp is erecting its first cyclic butylene terephthalate plant at BASF’s site at Schwarzheide, Germany. The $20 M, 5.5 M lb/y plant is due onstream in 2004 and will use
6
O N
C ATA LY S T S
feedstock from BASF’s PBT plant. CBT is converted into PBT when a catalyst is added. CBT has low viscosity allowing it to be processed like a thermoset resin, while retaining the properties of a thermoplastic Chemical and Engineering News, 16 Sep 2002, 80 (37), 10
Direct aromatic fluorination A direct catalytic process to convert benzene and hydrogen fluoride to fluorobenzene using a copper fluoride catalyst has been developed by DuPont. The process does not produce waste materials. The process is to be licensed shortly. Chemical Week, 11 Sep 2002, 164 (35), 35
Mitsui Chemicals making PET resin by using titanium catalyst Mitsui Chemicals Inc has developed a new titanium catalyst for use in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate resin, which is twenty times more reactive than conventional antimony catalysts. Titanium catalysts tend to discolour the resin, but the firm has overcome this problem, and is now manufacturing 3000-4000 tonnes of PE resin using the catalyst at its Indonesian plant. The plant has the capacity to produce 75,000 tonne/y of PET resin, and will eventually use the new catalyst for its entire output. The firm’s new factory in Thailand, expected to start production at the end of 2003, will also use the new titanium catalyst. Nikkei Net, 18 Sep 2002 (Website: www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
Synetix saves the world’s polyester supply – groovy! Synetix researchers assert that polyester quality and production can be significantly enhanced with a newly discovered titanium-based catalyst that exhibits greater reaction compared with the current antimonybased packages. A sharper and brighter colour is also rendered by the new catalyst, which can be used in smaller batches and is easier to process as it uses 90% less metal. With the new catalyst, Synetix aspires to forestall the prediction that polyester will run out by 2008. Synetix also claims that increases of as high as 15% in productivity can be achieved with the new catalyst. Nurel is already manufacturing polyester fibre in Spain using the new catalyst in preparation for the rising demand for environmentally-sound products by sportswear companies such as Puma and Adidas. Speciality Chemicals, Sep 2002, 22 (8), 8
Bayer launches novel route for catalyst production A new process to produce ligands for asymmetric hydrogenation catalysts has been developed by Bayer. The new technology for the production of the R and S versions of 5,5’-dichloro6,6’-dimethoxy-2,2’-bis(diphenylphosphino-)-1,1’-biphenyl ligand (Cl-MeO-BIPHEP) enables the catalysts to be more effectively ‘fine tuned’. Bayer has appointed Strem Chemicals to promote the ligands to researchers. European Chemical News, 30 Sep 2002, 77 (2023), 39 & Chemical Market Reporter, 30 Sep 2002 (www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
Light gasoline etherification technology approved A light gasoline etherification technology has been developed by Lanzhou Petrochemical Co Ltd in partnership with the University of Petroleum in Beijing, China, which improves the quality and safety of gasoline. A new resin catalyst developed by Lanzhou’s Petrochemical Research Institute can be used in the production of corrugated packaging for column plates. China Chemical Reporter, 26 Sep 2002, 13 (27), 31
Way to mass-produce single-walled carbon nanotubes developed Japan’s Institute of Research and Innovation has developed a technique which should enable it to produce single-walled carbon nanotubes at a rate of 1 tonne/y, making it the world’s largest-scale producer. The institute’s new “plasma spray” method involves mixing carbon powder with metal catalysts such as cobalt in an argon environment at a temperature above 10,000°C. The carbon is converted into a plasma which cools rapidly
NOVEMBER 2002