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Catalyst for making glycolic acid
FOCUS Carelflex service that reduce the possibility of leaks. However, in the early 2000s Arkema successfully introduced the DMDS Evolution grade with an improved odour that is less unpleasant for those living or working near refineries but can still be detected immediately should a leak occur. After extensive testing in the company’s R&D laboratory, a more pleasant scent was optimized in order to improve the efficiency of the additive composition. The result is DMDS Evolution E2, whose odour is again significantly improved compared to the current DMDS Evolution grade, while ensuring the same level of performance as DMDS. Original Source: Arkema, 420, rue d’Estienne d’Orves, F-92705 Colombes, France, tel: +33 1 4900 8080, fax: +33 1 4900 8396, website: http://www.arkema.com (27 Sep 2012) © Arkema 2012
New cobalt-graphene catalyst could challenge platinum for use in fuel cells There’s a new contender in the race to find an inexpensive alternative to platinum catalysts for use in hydrogen fuel cells. Brown University chemist Shouheng Sun and his students have developed a new material, a graphene sheet covered by cobalt and cobalt-oxide nanoparticles that can catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction nearly as well as platinum does and is substantially more durable. Original Source: Nanotechnology Now, 17 Oct 2012, (Website: http://www.nanotech-now.com/) © 7thWave Inc 2012. Original Source: Nanite News, 20 Oct 2012, (Website: http://www.nanitenews.com) © Web Doodle LLC 2012
SDK’s subsidiary develops fine particles of titania with high photocatalytic activity Showa Titanium Co Ltd has developed titanium oxide fine particles for use in UV-light-responsive photocatalysts with highest-level activity. The product has been developed as part of a project sponsored by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Showa Titanium is conducting tests for volume production at its pilot plant,
DECEMBER 2012
ON
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aiming to commercialize the product by the end of 2013. When used as a photocatalyst, titanium oxide causes strong oxidation/reduction reactions in the presence of UV light, decomposing organic contaminants. It also exhibits ultra hydrophilicity, causing water to spread as a thin film. Thus, titanium-oxide-based photocatalysts are expected to contribute to environmental purification using natural energy, for such applications as antifogging window glass and antifouling coating for external walls. When titanium oxide particles are made finer, their photocatalytic activity improves. However, fine particles of titanium oxide often develop crystal defects, resulting in lower efficiency in the use of light and lower photocatalytic activity. Showa Titanium has developed decahedral titanium oxide fine particles with minimized defects, by applying its gas-phase technology to produce titanium oxide nanoparticles for ceramic capacitors. Original Source: Showa-Denko KK, website: http://www.sdk.co.jp (16 Oct 2012) © Showa-Denko KK 2012
1983, so this has to be an important invention. US Patent 8,304,593, UOP LLC, Des Plaines, IL, USA, 6 Nov 2012
Catalyst for making glycolic acid Glycolic acid is made by the catalytic reaction of carbon monoxide with formaldehyde. Several catalysts are known but they are all prone to leaching during subsequent processing. In this patent, the catalyst is a polyoxometallate encapsulated in a zeolite which prevents leaching. US 8,299,297, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Liaoning, China, and BP PLC, UK, 30 Oct 2012
Continuous esterification of fatty acids in biodiesel manufacture Vegetable and animal fats and oils used for making biodiesel usually contain free fatty acids which need to be removed by esterification. In this process the acids are removed continuously by esterification using an acid ion exchange catalyst. US 8,299,282, Bayer Technology Services GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany, 30 Oct 2012
The best of both catalytic worlds Researchers with the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have combined the best properties of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts by encapsulating nanoclusters of a metallic heterogeneous catalyst within the branched arms of molecules known as dendrimers. Original Source: Nanotechnology Now, 10 Oct 2012, (Website: http://www.nanotech-now.com/) © 7thWave Inc 2012
PATENTS Magnesium zeotype for isomerisation A zeotype called MgAPSO-31 is described. It contains magnesium, aluminium, phosphate, and silica. It is useful for isomerising aromatic hydrocarbons, giving a greater than equilibrium concentration of p-xylene. One of the inventors, Stephen Wilson, was an inventor of the ALPO series of zeotypes in 1980 (US 4,310,440), for which he won the Don Breck Award in
Hydrating alkylene oxides to alkylene glycols Alkylene oxides are hydrated to form diols using various catalysts in water, but the reactions are typically slow because of the limited solubility of the reactants in water. The reaction can be accelerated by mixing the reactants in a very high shear device. US 8,304,584, HRD Corp, Houston, TX, USA, 6 Nov 2012
Production of dimethyl ether from methanol This is basically an acid-catalysed dehydration process and is usually conducted in a fixed catalyst bed, but the process is exothermic and it is difficult to remove the heat. In this version the catalyst is contained in a fluidised bed having several gas inlets. Several types of catalysts are exemplified but the preferred one is probably a SAPO zeotype. US 8,304,582, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, Beijing, and Research Institute of Petroleum Processing, Sinopec, Beijing, China, 6 Nov 2012
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New cobalt-graphene catalyst could challenge platinum for use in fuel cells There’s a new contender in the race to find an inexpensive alternative to platinum catalysts for use in hydrogen fuel cells. Brown University chemist Shouheng Sun and his students have developed a new material, a graphene sheet covered by cobalt and cobalt-oxide nanoparticles that can catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction nearly as well as platinum does and is substantially more durable. Original Source: Nanotechnology Now, 17 Oct 2012, (Website: http://www.nanotech-now.com/) © 7thWave Inc 2012. Original Source: Nanite News, 20 Oct 2012, (Website: http://www.nanitenews.com) © Web Doodle LLC 2012
SDK’s subsidiary develops fine particles of titania with high photocatalytic activity Showa Titanium Co Ltd has developed titanium oxide fine particles for use in UV-light-responsive photocatalysts with highest-level activity. The product has been developed as part of a project sponsored by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Showa Titanium is conducting tests for volume production at its pilot plant,
DECEMBER 2012
ON
C ATA LY S T S
aiming to commercialize the product by the end of 2013. When used as a photocatalyst, titanium oxide causes strong oxidation/reduction reactions in the presence of UV light, decomposing organic contaminants. It also exhibits ultra hydrophilicity, causing water to spread as a thin film. Thus, titanium-oxide-based photocatalysts are expected to contribute to environmental purification using natural energy, for such applications as antifogging window glass and antifouling coating for external walls. When titanium oxide particles are made finer, their photocatalytic activity improves. However, fine particles of titanium oxide often develop crystal defects, resulting in lower efficiency in the use of light and lower photocatalytic activity. Showa Titanium has developed decahedral titanium oxide fine particles with minimized defects, by applying its gas-phase technology to produce titanium oxide nanoparticles for ceramic capacitors. Original Source: Showa-Denko KK, website: http://www.sdk.co.jp (16 Oct 2012) © Showa-Denko KK 2012
1983, so this has to be an important invention. US Patent 8,304,593, UOP LLC, Des Plaines, IL, USA, 6 Nov 2012
Catalyst for making glycolic acid Glycolic acid is made by the catalytic reaction of carbon monoxide with formaldehyde. Several catalysts are known but they are all prone to leaching during subsequent processing. In this patent, the catalyst is a polyoxometallate encapsulated in a zeolite which prevents leaching. US 8,299,297, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Liaoning, China, and BP PLC, UK, 30 Oct 2012
Continuous esterification of fatty acids in biodiesel manufacture Vegetable and animal fats and oils used for making biodiesel usually contain free fatty acids which need to be removed by esterification. In this process the acids are removed continuously by esterification using an acid ion exchange catalyst. US 8,299,282, Bayer Technology Services GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany, 30 Oct 2012
The best of both catalytic worlds Researchers with the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have combined the best properties of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts by encapsulating nanoclusters of a metallic heterogeneous catalyst within the branched arms of molecules known as dendrimers. Original Source: Nanotechnology Now, 10 Oct 2012, (Website: http://www.nanotech-now.com/) © 7thWave Inc 2012
PATENTS Magnesium zeotype for isomerisation A zeotype called MgAPSO-31 is described. It contains magnesium, aluminium, phosphate, and silica. It is useful for isomerising aromatic hydrocarbons, giving a greater than equilibrium concentration of p-xylene. One of the inventors, Stephen Wilson, was an inventor of the ALPO series of zeotypes in 1980 (US 4,310,440), for which he won the Don Breck Award in
Hydrating alkylene oxides to alkylene glycols Alkylene oxides are hydrated to form diols using various catalysts in water, but the reactions are typically slow because of the limited solubility of the reactants in water. The reaction can be accelerated by mixing the reactants in a very high shear device. US 8,304,584, HRD Corp, Houston, TX, USA, 6 Nov 2012
Production of dimethyl ether from methanol This is basically an acid-catalysed dehydration process and is usually conducted in a fixed catalyst bed, but the process is exothermic and it is difficult to remove the heat. In this version the catalyst is contained in a fluidised bed having several gas inlets. Several types of catalysts are exemplified but the preferred one is probably a SAPO zeotype. US 8,304,582, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, Beijing, and Research Institute of Petroleum Processing, Sinopec, Beijing, China, 6 Nov 2012
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