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Catalyst for FT synthesis close to commercialisation
F O C U S
NEW PLANTS Shell to build GTL plant in Qatar On 20 Oct 2003 Shell concluded an agreement with Qatar over the construction and exploitation of a plant for converting natural gas to high value fuels. This comes just a few weeks after a similar agreement with Iran. Both plants will use an innovative gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology for producing sulfur-free diesel and kerosene, amongst other products, from natural gas. The Qatar plant will be sited close to North Field, the biggest gasfield in the world. Shell has a licence to recover gas from a 400 bn cu m block. The project will commence in 2008 or 2009 and within 25 years $5 bn will have been invested. In Iran Shell hopes, on the basis of an agreement in principle with the National Petrochemical Company of Iran, to take gas from the South Pars gasfield for the two largescale GTL plants. Het Financieele Dagblad, 21 Oct 2003, (248), 1 (in Dutch)
Sasol starts C5 isomerization unit Sasol has commissioned a plant at Secunda, S Africa, that is the first using Iso-5, a catalytic C5 isomerization process developed by Axens. The unit will convert linear pentanes into 50,000 kg/h of isoamylene, a raw material for t-amyl ether, a fuel additive. Chemical Week, 1 Oct 2003, 165 (35), 23
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C ATA LY S T S
hydrogen for chemical and petrochemical processes. The new technology gives a higher yield than the steam reforming process which is the method mainly used nowadays. Chemisch2Weekblad, 22 Oct 2003 (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/) (in Dutch)
Basell unveils novel Ziegler-Natta PP catalysts A new series of ethyl benzoate Ziegler-Natta catalysts has been developed by Basell for making liquidand gas-phase polypropylene (PP). The catalysts will be offered for license. Polymers with improved bulk density and morphology are produced using the catalysts. Applications cover a wide variety of products including films. Chemical Week, 24 Sep 2003, 165 (33), 9
Mitsubishi’s new polyester catalysts A titanium-based catalyst for the synthesis of polyester has been developed by Mitsubishi Chemical. The company intends to license the catalyst, which has a similar performance and price to existing antimony catalysts.
New hydrogen production technology from SHEC Labs The Canadian firm SHEC (Solar Hydrogen Energy Corp) Labs has developed a new technology for making hydrogen from natural gas. The biggest advantage of ‘Dry Fuel Reformation’ technology is that the catalyst does not become silted up by carbon deposition (coking). SHEC Labs intends to use the anti-coking reformer primarily for making
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A new approach to the synthesis of zeolites using a structure-directing agent that can be removed easily from the finished product, has been developed at the California Institute of Technology and Chevron Texaco. Chemical Week, 8 Oct 2003, 165 (36), 18 & Chemistry in Britain, Nov 2003, 39 (11), 13
Sumitomo Chemical to launch visible light titania photocatalyst In spring 2004, a new photocatalyst is to be launched on the market by Sumitomo Chemical. Based on titanium dioxide, it will be sensitive to visible light. Pilot scale production is currently being undertaken at Ehime and samples are being supplied. In 2005, a commercial scale plant is to be built and the company plans to expand its market. Demand is expected to be large as the photocatalysts can be used in a range of applications to bestow antibacterial, disinfectant, deodorising, and antifungal properties. Japan Chemical Week, 9 Oct 2003, 44 (2240), 1,12
Chemical Week, 8 Oct 2003, 165 (36), 18
Catalyst for FT synthesis close to commercialisation A cobalt catalyst for use in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has been developed by Nippon Steel. There is an extensive technical discussion of the catalyst and its potential applications. Japan Chemical Week, 2 Oct 2003, 44 (2239), 2
NEW TECHNOLOGY
A novel route to zeolites
Novel alkylation process cuts costs and downtime
Sto develops photocatalytic airpurifying coatings Sto AG of Germany is formulating photocatalytic coatings to purify the air inside buildings. The paint incorporates a catalyst that can break down organic substances into water and carbon dioxide with the help of white pigments and light energy. The coatings can reportedly eliminate odours, formaldehyde, or ammonia from the air. The new product is planned for introduction under the Sto-Color Climasan name in 2004. European Paint and Resin News, Sep 2003, 41 (9), 13
A new alkylation process was developed by Lurgi Oel Gas Chemie GmbH of Frankfurt, based on a reactive distillation system. The method uses a zeolite catalyst developed by Süd Chemie and Technical University of Munich. The process cuts investment costs by around 20% and eliminates the need to regenerate huge amount of spent acid offsite, allowing a 30% reduction in operating costs. Chemical Engineering Progress, Oct 2003, 99 (10), 12
ENVIRONMENT Diesel fuel economy catalyst goes on trial: Cerulean International and Stagecoach UK Stagecoach UK is to conduct trials in over 1000 vehicles of a new catalyst from Cerulean International, UK, which is claimed to give a 10-12% rise
DECEMBER 2003
NEW PLANTS Shell to build GTL plant in Qatar On 20 Oct 2003 Shell concluded an agreement with Qatar over the construction and exploitation of a plant for converting natural gas to high value fuels. This comes just a few weeks after a similar agreement with Iran. Both plants will use an innovative gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology for producing sulfur-free diesel and kerosene, amongst other products, from natural gas. The Qatar plant will be sited close to North Field, the biggest gasfield in the world. Shell has a licence to recover gas from a 400 bn cu m block. The project will commence in 2008 or 2009 and within 25 years $5 bn will have been invested. In Iran Shell hopes, on the basis of an agreement in principle with the National Petrochemical Company of Iran, to take gas from the South Pars gasfield for the two largescale GTL plants. Het Financieele Dagblad, 21 Oct 2003, (248), 1 (in Dutch)
Sasol starts C5 isomerization unit Sasol has commissioned a plant at Secunda, S Africa, that is the first using Iso-5, a catalytic C5 isomerization process developed by Axens. The unit will convert linear pentanes into 50,000 kg/h of isoamylene, a raw material for t-amyl ether, a fuel additive. Chemical Week, 1 Oct 2003, 165 (35), 23
O N
C ATA LY S T S
hydrogen for chemical and petrochemical processes. The new technology gives a higher yield than the steam reforming process which is the method mainly used nowadays. Chemisch2Weekblad, 22 Oct 2003 (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/) (in Dutch)
Basell unveils novel Ziegler-Natta PP catalysts A new series of ethyl benzoate Ziegler-Natta catalysts has been developed by Basell for making liquidand gas-phase polypropylene (PP). The catalysts will be offered for license. Polymers with improved bulk density and morphology are produced using the catalysts. Applications cover a wide variety of products including films. Chemical Week, 24 Sep 2003, 165 (33), 9
Mitsubishi’s new polyester catalysts A titanium-based catalyst for the synthesis of polyester has been developed by Mitsubishi Chemical. The company intends to license the catalyst, which has a similar performance and price to existing antimony catalysts.
New hydrogen production technology from SHEC Labs The Canadian firm SHEC (Solar Hydrogen Energy Corp) Labs has developed a new technology for making hydrogen from natural gas. The biggest advantage of ‘Dry Fuel Reformation’ technology is that the catalyst does not become silted up by carbon deposition (coking). SHEC Labs intends to use the anti-coking reformer primarily for making
6
A new approach to the synthesis of zeolites using a structure-directing agent that can be removed easily from the finished product, has been developed at the California Institute of Technology and Chevron Texaco. Chemical Week, 8 Oct 2003, 165 (36), 18 & Chemistry in Britain, Nov 2003, 39 (11), 13
Sumitomo Chemical to launch visible light titania photocatalyst In spring 2004, a new photocatalyst is to be launched on the market by Sumitomo Chemical. Based on titanium dioxide, it will be sensitive to visible light. Pilot scale production is currently being undertaken at Ehime and samples are being supplied. In 2005, a commercial scale plant is to be built and the company plans to expand its market. Demand is expected to be large as the photocatalysts can be used in a range of applications to bestow antibacterial, disinfectant, deodorising, and antifungal properties. Japan Chemical Week, 9 Oct 2003, 44 (2240), 1,12
Chemical Week, 8 Oct 2003, 165 (36), 18
Catalyst for FT synthesis close to commercialisation A cobalt catalyst for use in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has been developed by Nippon Steel. There is an extensive technical discussion of the catalyst and its potential applications. Japan Chemical Week, 2 Oct 2003, 44 (2239), 2
NEW TECHNOLOGY
A novel route to zeolites
Novel alkylation process cuts costs and downtime
Sto develops photocatalytic airpurifying coatings Sto AG of Germany is formulating photocatalytic coatings to purify the air inside buildings. The paint incorporates a catalyst that can break down organic substances into water and carbon dioxide with the help of white pigments and light energy. The coatings can reportedly eliminate odours, formaldehyde, or ammonia from the air. The new product is planned for introduction under the Sto-Color Climasan name in 2004. European Paint and Resin News, Sep 2003, 41 (9), 13
A new alkylation process was developed by Lurgi Oel Gas Chemie GmbH of Frankfurt, based on a reactive distillation system. The method uses a zeolite catalyst developed by Süd Chemie and Technical University of Munich. The process cuts investment costs by around 20% and eliminates the need to regenerate huge amount of spent acid offsite, allowing a 30% reduction in operating costs. Chemical Engineering Progress, Oct 2003, 99 (10), 12
ENVIRONMENT Diesel fuel economy catalyst goes on trial: Cerulean International and Stagecoach UK Stagecoach UK is to conduct trials in over 1000 vehicles of a new catalyst from Cerulean International, UK, which is claimed to give a 10-12% rise
DECEMBER 2003