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Biométhodes and its US subsidiary OptaFuel builds pilot plant
F O C U S ended its membrane-electrode assembly business in the US on 1 Aug 2013. The closure of the plant in Somerset, NJ, affected approximately 25 employees. The plant had been making Celtec MEAs for hightemperature PEM fuel cell systems. BASF remains expectant of significant market growth for electro- and reformer catalysts as well as various fuel cell technologies. Following the shutdown of the BASF Fuel Cell plant in Germany in 2010, the Somerset plant covered the entire MEA production process. Original Source: Fuel Cells Bulletin, Aug 2013, 1 (Website: http://www.elsevierscitech.com/nl/fcb/ home.asp) © Elsevier Ltd 2013. Original Source: Speciality Chemicals, Aug 2013, 33 (8), (Website: http://www.specchemonline.com) © Quartz Business Media Ltd 2013
Biométhodes and its US subsidiary OptaFuel builds pilot plant A $24 M pilot plant is being constructed by France-based Biométhodes and its US subsidiary OptaFuel in Norton, VA. Expected start of operation is in 2014 with commercial production also planned. Local hardwoods will be the main raw materials. The company’s biorefinery process is a combination of chemically pretreating the lignocellulosic material from non-food biomass and hydrolyzing using the Optazyme process. The process produces enzymes that convert cellulose and hemicellulose into fuels, chemicals, and materials. Original Source: Speciality Chemicals, Oct 2013, 33 (10), (Website: http://www.specchemonline.com) © Quartz Business Media Ltd 2013
Blue Sun launches most advanced biodiesel plant in the world Blue Sun Energy announced the implementation of its enzymatic biodiesel processing technology, making the Blue Sun St Joe Refinery the most advanced biodiesel production facility in the world. Blue Sun engineers developed a unique propriety process for enzymatic biodiesel production. This was necessary to overcome the hurdles typical in an entirely new manufacturing process. This new process utilizes Novozymes’ Callera Trans L enzyme. This is the first implementation in the world of
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enzymatic transesterification at a significant commercial scale. The Blue Sun St Joe plant is a 30 M gallon/y plant. Original Source: Blue Sun, 2014. Found on PR Newswire, 16 Jan 2014, (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com)
JV between Cargill and Evolva for sweetening agents A jv between Cargill of the US and Evolva of Switzerland to produce fermentation-based steviol glycosides will enter the pilot scale ahead of the 2014 deadline. The products will be offered as cost-effective sweetening solutions for food and beverages. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), Oct 2013, 77 (10), 15 (Website: http://www.soci.org/) © Society of Chemical Industry 2013
Catacel partners with DJW Technology on CPOX hydrogen unit In the US, Catacel and DJW Technology have partnered to develop a catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) system for an unnamed company. The system produces hydrogen-rich syngas, under nearly any altitude, temperature, or humidity conditions. Catacel used its compact catalytic reactor technology for the project and DJW Technology provided support with the system engineering. The hydrogen generator will now be trialled under realistic conditions at a global fuel cell company’s US plant. The generator converts natural gas or anaerobic digester gas (ADG: 60% CH4, 40% CO2) feedstock to a hydrogen-rich syngas. Original Source: Fuel Cells Bulletin, Nov 2013, 9 (Website: http://www.elsevierscitech.com/nl/fcb/home.asp) © Elsevier Ltd 2013
DSM & DONG Energy demonstrate lowcost production of bio-ethanol from cellulosic feedstock Royal DSM together with Denmarkbased DONG Energy has demonstrated the combined fermentation of C6 and C5 sugars from wheat straw on an industrial scale. The combined fermentation results in a 40% increase in ethanol yield per tonne of straw, which can result in significant cost cuts in the
production of bio-ethanol from cellulosic feedstock. The demonstration took place in DONG Energy’s Inbicon demonstration plant in Kalundborg, Denmark. In this demonstration, DSM has successfully established a supply chain framework for C5/C6 dry yeast and shown its ability to produce and transport this advanced yeast for use on an industrial scale. The joint work by DONG Energy and DSM, in which excellent collaboration has produced an important result, is co-funded by the KACELLE project. DSM’s BioEnergy cluster has its main activities in Elgin, IL, US, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Delft, The Netherlands. Original Source: DSM, 2013. Found on SpecialChem Coatings and Inks Formulation, 27 Dec 2013, (Website: http://www.specialchem4coatings.com)
Eastman, Davy tie up for MEG production An advanced patented technology to manufacture ethylene glycol has been developed by Eastman Chemical and UK-based Johnson Matthey Davy Technologies. The process uses synthesis gas obtained from various raw materials, such as coal, natural gas and biomass. The two companies developed catalysts and process design for the technology, which does not involve oxalate intermediates. Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, Nov 2013, 48 (11), 16 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com) © Jasubhai Group 2013
Econic secures £5.1 M to convert waste CO2 to polycarbonates for PU Econic Technologies Ltd has completed a £5.1 M series A investment round. The investors are Imperial Innovations and Jetstream Capital. Econic polycarbonates replace between 30% and 50% of traditional petrochemical feedstock with lower cost CO2, resulting in 3040% cost reductions as well as improved product characteristics. The resulting polycarbonates can be used in a variety of applications including the production of polyurethane – a $40 bn global market. The funds raised in this investment round will be used to further the testing and scale up of the Econic catalyst technology MARCH 2014
Biométhodes and its US subsidiary OptaFuel builds pilot plant A $24 M pilot plant is being constructed by France-based Biométhodes and its US subsidiary OptaFuel in Norton, VA. Expected start of operation is in 2014 with commercial production also planned. Local hardwoods will be the main raw materials. The company’s biorefinery process is a combination of chemically pretreating the lignocellulosic material from non-food biomass and hydrolyzing using the Optazyme process. The process produces enzymes that convert cellulose and hemicellulose into fuels, chemicals, and materials. Original Source: Speciality Chemicals, Oct 2013, 33 (10), (Website: http://www.specchemonline.com) © Quartz Business Media Ltd 2013
Blue Sun launches most advanced biodiesel plant in the world Blue Sun Energy announced the implementation of its enzymatic biodiesel processing technology, making the Blue Sun St Joe Refinery the most advanced biodiesel production facility in the world. Blue Sun engineers developed a unique propriety process for enzymatic biodiesel production. This was necessary to overcome the hurdles typical in an entirely new manufacturing process. This new process utilizes Novozymes’ Callera Trans L enzyme. This is the first implementation in the world of
4
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C ATA LY S T S
enzymatic transesterification at a significant commercial scale. The Blue Sun St Joe plant is a 30 M gallon/y plant. Original Source: Blue Sun, 2014. Found on PR Newswire, 16 Jan 2014, (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com)
JV between Cargill and Evolva for sweetening agents A jv between Cargill of the US and Evolva of Switzerland to produce fermentation-based steviol glycosides will enter the pilot scale ahead of the 2014 deadline. The products will be offered as cost-effective sweetening solutions for food and beverages. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), Oct 2013, 77 (10), 15 (Website: http://www.soci.org/) © Society of Chemical Industry 2013
Catacel partners with DJW Technology on CPOX hydrogen unit In the US, Catacel and DJW Technology have partnered to develop a catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) system for an unnamed company. The system produces hydrogen-rich syngas, under nearly any altitude, temperature, or humidity conditions. Catacel used its compact catalytic reactor technology for the project and DJW Technology provided support with the system engineering. The hydrogen generator will now be trialled under realistic conditions at a global fuel cell company’s US plant. The generator converts natural gas or anaerobic digester gas (ADG: 60% CH4, 40% CO2) feedstock to a hydrogen-rich syngas. Original Source: Fuel Cells Bulletin, Nov 2013, 9 (Website: http://www.elsevierscitech.com/nl/fcb/home.asp) © Elsevier Ltd 2013
DSM & DONG Energy demonstrate lowcost production of bio-ethanol from cellulosic feedstock Royal DSM together with Denmarkbased DONG Energy has demonstrated the combined fermentation of C6 and C5 sugars from wheat straw on an industrial scale. The combined fermentation results in a 40% increase in ethanol yield per tonne of straw, which can result in significant cost cuts in the
production of bio-ethanol from cellulosic feedstock. The demonstration took place in DONG Energy’s Inbicon demonstration plant in Kalundborg, Denmark. In this demonstration, DSM has successfully established a supply chain framework for C5/C6 dry yeast and shown its ability to produce and transport this advanced yeast for use on an industrial scale. The joint work by DONG Energy and DSM, in which excellent collaboration has produced an important result, is co-funded by the KACELLE project. DSM’s BioEnergy cluster has its main activities in Elgin, IL, US, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Delft, The Netherlands. Original Source: DSM, 2013. Found on SpecialChem Coatings and Inks Formulation, 27 Dec 2013, (Website: http://www.specialchem4coatings.com)
Eastman, Davy tie up for MEG production An advanced patented technology to manufacture ethylene glycol has been developed by Eastman Chemical and UK-based Johnson Matthey Davy Technologies. The process uses synthesis gas obtained from various raw materials, such as coal, natural gas and biomass. The two companies developed catalysts and process design for the technology, which does not involve oxalate intermediates. Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, Nov 2013, 48 (11), 16 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com) © Jasubhai Group 2013
Econic secures £5.1 M to convert waste CO2 to polycarbonates for PU Econic Technologies Ltd has completed a £5.1 M series A investment round. The investors are Imperial Innovations and Jetstream Capital. Econic polycarbonates replace between 30% and 50% of traditional petrochemical feedstock with lower cost CO2, resulting in 3040% cost reductions as well as improved product characteristics. The resulting polycarbonates can be used in a variety of applications including the production of polyurethane – a $40 bn global market. The funds raised in this investment round will be used to further the testing and scale up of the Econic catalyst technology MARCH 2014