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CB&I to convert Rentech plant
FOCUS
ON
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2009 under the US EPA’s Clean Air Interstate Rule.
Süd-Chemie Group has 18 facilities and 10 R&D complexes worldwide.
Press release from: SCR-Tech, Charlotte, NC, USA. Website: http://www.SCR-Tech.com (14 Aug 2007)
Japan Chemical Week, 13 Sep 2007, 48 (2432), 8
Süd-Chemie to invest in China Süd-Chemie celebrates 150-year anniversary Süd-Chemie AG in Munich celebrated its 150-year anniversary in 2007. The company has been established in 1857 and started with the manufacture of artificial fertilizer to combat the famine that threatened Germany at the time. Today SüdChemie is an international and technology-oriented manufacturer of speciality chemicals including catalysts and nanoadditives for plastics. The company achieved double-digit growth rates during the last 3 years. Turnover exceeded the €1 bn threshold for the first time in 2006. Süd-Chemie carries out the largest part of its R&D in Germany and plans to recruit 100 new employees in this country in 2007. Kunststoffe, Sep 2007, 97 (9), 8 (in German) & Chemische Rundschau, 11 Sep 2007, 60 (9), 90 (in German)
One Equity Partners now owns 50%+ of Süd-Chemie Investment fund One Equity Partners has increased its stake in SüdChemie from 39.19% to 50%+. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 3 Sep 2007, (392), 13 (in French) & Chemical and Engineering News, 20 Aug 2007, 85 (34), 26
Süd-Chemie Catalysts Japan: focusing on investment in plant, equipment, R&D Süd-Chemie Catalysts Japan has commissioned facilities for dehydrogenation catalysts at the Toyama Plant that increased capacity by 80% and bought out a zeolite catalyst plant in Germany. The company is pursuing technically oriented sales activities, development of environmental catalysts and other new products, and improvement of the R&D system and business foundation. Süd-Chemie AG commemorated its 150th year in Jul 2007. The group’s 2006 sales exceeded €1 bn, of which 45% was represented by the catalyst business. Sales in Japan were up around 25% during 2004-2007. The
NOVEMBER 2007
Süd-Chemie plans to invest €100 M in the next 2-3 years. The company already has 5 plants in China and a holding company in Hong Kong. The new investment will focus on catalysts for coal-to-liquids and coal-tochemicals. Chemical Week, 26 Sep 2007, 169 (31), 5
NEW PLANTS Aker Kvaerner to provide engineering and design for new bioethanol plant Aker Kvaerner will implement frontend engineering and design for a proposed new bioethanol plant. British Sugar Plc, the subsidiary of Associated British Foods Plc (ABF), and BP will each hold 45% of the new grassroots plant while DuPont will own the remainder. The wheat-toethanol plant, planned for BP’s Saltend site, near Hull, UK, will yield around 420 M litre/y of fuel ethanol. Aker Kvaerner’s jv partner Praj Industries of India will supply the technology and process package. Hydrocarbon Processing, Sep 2007, 86 (9), 42
Ethanol from wood waste The first plant to make ethanol from waste wood is to be built by Range Fuels in Georgia, USA. The wood is pyrolised with steam, making syngas. A proprietary catalyst converts this syngas to ethanol plus smaller quantities of other alcohols. The process is claimed to be cheaper and more flexible than enzymic processes using wood. Chemical Engineering (New York), Aug 2007, 114 (8), 16
Chennai selects Axens’ technologies for clean fuels project Axens has been assigned by the Chennai Petroleum Corp Ltd to provide technologies for its clean fuels projects in the 9.5 M ton/y Manali refinery in Chennai, India. A new 1.8 tonne/y Prime-D unit will be set up to
improve gasoil feed to yield superior diesel fuel. A 154,000 ton/y C5/C6 deisohexanizer configuration isomerization unit will be installed to render a high-octane component for the gasoline pool. Hydrocarbon Processing, Sep 2007, 86 (9), 44
BASF eyes expansion in China and India BASF’s catalysts division aims to raise the capacities of its automotive catalyst plants in China and India in anticipation of strong demand for the catalysts. Production capacity in Shanghai, China, will nearly double, while capacity in Chennai will triple. Completion of the capacity expansions at the two sites are expected by early 2009. ICIS Chemical Business, 3 Sep 2007 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chemical Week 5 Sep 2007, 169 (29), & 12 Sep 2007 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Chemical & Engineering News, 3 Sep 2007, 85 (36), 25 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 3 Sep 2007, (392), 17 (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French) & Chemie Technik (Heidelberg), 14 Sep 2007 (Website: http://www/chemietechnik.de) (in German) & Press release from: BASF Group, Germany. Website: http://media.basf.com (27 Aug 2007)
Japan’s GTL process to be studied in Thailand A memorandum of understanding involving Japan’s gas-to-liquid (GTL) process has been entered into by Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp (JOGMEC) and Thailand’s PTT. The commercial feasibility of the GTL process in producing liquid fuels will be examined in Thailand. The use of smaller facilities is said to render the process more cost efficient than the technology created by Shell. JOGMEC and Nippon GTL jointly came up with the GTL process. Both groups are mulling setting up a 500 bbl/day pilot project in Niigata estimated to launch in 2009. The enforcement of tightened emission control regulations for automobiles is expected to result in greater demand for sulfur-free GTL diesel oil. Construction of the world’s second major GTL project is currently ongoing in Qatar. Japan Chemical Week, 13 Sep 2007, 48 (2432), 1-2
CB&I to convert Rentech plant US-based alternative fuels company Rentech Inc commissioned Chicago
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FOCUS Bridge & Iron Co (CB&I) to change a natural gas plant to a gasificationbased fertilizer and ultra-clean synthetic fuels unit. CB&I will install equipment using Rentech’s patented advanced derivative of the FischerTropsch process in the initial stages. The Rentech Energy Midwest Corp (REMC) plant is expected to yield at least 1250 bbl/day or 17.8 M gallon/y of ultra clean Fischer-Tropsch fuels. The plant is also predicted to churn out roughly 545,000 ton/y of ammonia and other nitrogen fertilizers. The project is expected to be completed in 2010. Chemical Engineering Progress, Aug 2007, 103 (8), 14-15
Nikki to boost output of hydrogenation catalysts Nikki Chemical plans to raise the capacity for hydrogenation catalysts, particularly its series of stabilized nickel catalysts, by 50% to 900 tonne/y. The company intends to commence construction of new plants in 2H 2008. Nickel and copper-based hydrogenation catalysts are the company’s major products and development has focused on the areas of petrochemicals and fine chemicals. Nikki Chemical had strengthened its global business to gain a share of around 40% of its overall sales. Sales have been robust and total sales have escalated 2.5 times from those in 2002. Under the revised plan, the company targets sales of Yen 8 bn ($66.7 M) in fiscal 2008 ending 31 Mar 2009 and Yen 10 bn in fiscal 2010. Japan Chemical Week, 6 Sep 2007, 48 (2431), 2
Novozymes seeks new production site in US Novozymes has great expectations for market growth in the US and is looking for a new construction site in the Mid-West. The acquisition of more land in America will help the company to meet future market demand quickly. Novozymes is planning to establish facilities to supply chain-service activities in the area of biofuels and at the same time is considering the possibility of a new plant for the production of enzymes. In the near future the Danish firm will initiate negotiations with five US states, Iowa,
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Nebraska, S Dakota, Minnesota, and Illinois, over a possible plant location. Dagbladet Borsen, 27 Sep 2007 (Website: http://www.borsen.dk) (in Danish)
NEW TECHNOLOGY New HDS catalyst uses titania Chiyoda Corp has awarded Axens its proprietary titania-supported catalyst for ultra-deep hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of gas oil. Axens intends to commence commercial production of the new catalyst in 1Q 2008. The catalyst is derived from titania support that provides higher HDS activity per unit area compared with traditional alumina-supported catalysts. Chiyoda’s multi-gelation process allows the formulation of titaniasupported catalysts with surface areas of more than 160 sq m/g and with a narrow pore-size distribution. Chemical Engineering (New York), 31 Aug 2007, 114 (8), 14
Breakthrough, low-risk alkylation catalyst Albemarle Corp has teamed up with ABB Lummus Global and Neste Oil in the development of a new and improved solid acid catalyst, AlkyStar. Claimed as a low-risk method, the technology can significantly improve the safety of existing refinery processes and minimize hazards during transport and handling of liquid acids utilized in alkylate production. The catalyst, which is used exclusively with the AlkyClean alkylation process, imparts 25% higher activity and 35% lower precious metals content. Hydrocarbon Processing, Sep 2007, 86 (9), 32,35
from 2008. Mazda’s announcement caused the prices of platinum and palladium to fall slightly. Financial Times, 2 Oct 2007
Chemspec Europe 2007: Johnson Matthey/X-Zyme Johnson Matthey’s Catalysts division won a global licence from German biotechnology firm X-Zyme covering the application and marketing of carbonyl reductase enzyme technology in the manufacture of chiral alcohols, for use in the fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals markets. A new oxidoreductase that acts as a catalyst to reduce various carbonyl compounds was developed by X-Zyme. The material particularly reduces keto esters to their matching chiral hydroxy esters. Conversion of aldehydes, aliphatic and aromatic ketones, cyclic ketones and diketones, and ketoacetals is also possible, all of which with superior enantiomeric purity. The products will soon be made available via the Alfa Aesar catalogue. Johnson Matthey announced these developments at the recent Chemspec Europe 2007 in Amsterdam. Speciality Chemicals, Jul/Aug 2007, 27 (6), 45
BioDiesel develops new biodiesel production process BioDiesel International has unveiled a biodiesel manufacturing process that is said to yield higher quality at reduced cost for multi-feed operations and to boost the quality of by-product glycerol. With the RepCat reusable catalyst, the new technology utilizes animal fats or used cooking oils and skips the process of blending with clean vegetable oils while retaining the free fatty acid content. Oils and Fats International, Sep 2007, 23 (6), 9
Mazda can cut PGM usage in cars Mazda has announced that it has developed an auto catalyst which uses up to 90% less platinum and palladium than present commercial catalysts. But it has not yet decided when to use it in new models. Nissan made a similar announcement in Jul 2007 and plans to use its catalysts
Eco-friendly adipic acid process advances to pilot plant A 30 tonne/y pilot plant, to produce adipic acid by a new, eco-friendly process, has been constructed by Daicel Chemical Industry. The new, one-step process converts cyclohexane to adipic acid, using
NOVEMBER 2007
ON
C ATA LY S T S
2009 under the US EPA’s Clean Air Interstate Rule.
Süd-Chemie Group has 18 facilities and 10 R&D complexes worldwide.
Press release from: SCR-Tech, Charlotte, NC, USA. Website: http://www.SCR-Tech.com (14 Aug 2007)
Japan Chemical Week, 13 Sep 2007, 48 (2432), 8
Süd-Chemie to invest in China Süd-Chemie celebrates 150-year anniversary Süd-Chemie AG in Munich celebrated its 150-year anniversary in 2007. The company has been established in 1857 and started with the manufacture of artificial fertilizer to combat the famine that threatened Germany at the time. Today SüdChemie is an international and technology-oriented manufacturer of speciality chemicals including catalysts and nanoadditives for plastics. The company achieved double-digit growth rates during the last 3 years. Turnover exceeded the €1 bn threshold for the first time in 2006. Süd-Chemie carries out the largest part of its R&D in Germany and plans to recruit 100 new employees in this country in 2007. Kunststoffe, Sep 2007, 97 (9), 8 (in German) & Chemische Rundschau, 11 Sep 2007, 60 (9), 90 (in German)
One Equity Partners now owns 50%+ of Süd-Chemie Investment fund One Equity Partners has increased its stake in SüdChemie from 39.19% to 50%+. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 3 Sep 2007, (392), 13 (in French) & Chemical and Engineering News, 20 Aug 2007, 85 (34), 26
Süd-Chemie Catalysts Japan: focusing on investment in plant, equipment, R&D Süd-Chemie Catalysts Japan has commissioned facilities for dehydrogenation catalysts at the Toyama Plant that increased capacity by 80% and bought out a zeolite catalyst plant in Germany. The company is pursuing technically oriented sales activities, development of environmental catalysts and other new products, and improvement of the R&D system and business foundation. Süd-Chemie AG commemorated its 150th year in Jul 2007. The group’s 2006 sales exceeded €1 bn, of which 45% was represented by the catalyst business. Sales in Japan were up around 25% during 2004-2007. The
NOVEMBER 2007
Süd-Chemie plans to invest €100 M in the next 2-3 years. The company already has 5 plants in China and a holding company in Hong Kong. The new investment will focus on catalysts for coal-to-liquids and coal-tochemicals. Chemical Week, 26 Sep 2007, 169 (31), 5
NEW PLANTS Aker Kvaerner to provide engineering and design for new bioethanol plant Aker Kvaerner will implement frontend engineering and design for a proposed new bioethanol plant. British Sugar Plc, the subsidiary of Associated British Foods Plc (ABF), and BP will each hold 45% of the new grassroots plant while DuPont will own the remainder. The wheat-toethanol plant, planned for BP’s Saltend site, near Hull, UK, will yield around 420 M litre/y of fuel ethanol. Aker Kvaerner’s jv partner Praj Industries of India will supply the technology and process package. Hydrocarbon Processing, Sep 2007, 86 (9), 42
Ethanol from wood waste The first plant to make ethanol from waste wood is to be built by Range Fuels in Georgia, USA. The wood is pyrolised with steam, making syngas. A proprietary catalyst converts this syngas to ethanol plus smaller quantities of other alcohols. The process is claimed to be cheaper and more flexible than enzymic processes using wood. Chemical Engineering (New York), Aug 2007, 114 (8), 16
Chennai selects Axens’ technologies for clean fuels project Axens has been assigned by the Chennai Petroleum Corp Ltd to provide technologies for its clean fuels projects in the 9.5 M ton/y Manali refinery in Chennai, India. A new 1.8 tonne/y Prime-D unit will be set up to
improve gasoil feed to yield superior diesel fuel. A 154,000 ton/y C5/C6 deisohexanizer configuration isomerization unit will be installed to render a high-octane component for the gasoline pool. Hydrocarbon Processing, Sep 2007, 86 (9), 44
BASF eyes expansion in China and India BASF’s catalysts division aims to raise the capacities of its automotive catalyst plants in China and India in anticipation of strong demand for the catalysts. Production capacity in Shanghai, China, will nearly double, while capacity in Chennai will triple. Completion of the capacity expansions at the two sites are expected by early 2009. ICIS Chemical Business, 3 Sep 2007 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chemical Week 5 Sep 2007, 169 (29), & 12 Sep 2007 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Chemical & Engineering News, 3 Sep 2007, 85 (36), 25 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 3 Sep 2007, (392), 17 (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French) & Chemie Technik (Heidelberg), 14 Sep 2007 (Website: http://www/chemietechnik.de) (in German) & Press release from: BASF Group, Germany. Website: http://media.basf.com (27 Aug 2007)
Japan’s GTL process to be studied in Thailand A memorandum of understanding involving Japan’s gas-to-liquid (GTL) process has been entered into by Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp (JOGMEC) and Thailand’s PTT. The commercial feasibility of the GTL process in producing liquid fuels will be examined in Thailand. The use of smaller facilities is said to render the process more cost efficient than the technology created by Shell. JOGMEC and Nippon GTL jointly came up with the GTL process. Both groups are mulling setting up a 500 bbl/day pilot project in Niigata estimated to launch in 2009. The enforcement of tightened emission control regulations for automobiles is expected to result in greater demand for sulfur-free GTL diesel oil. Construction of the world’s second major GTL project is currently ongoing in Qatar. Japan Chemical Week, 13 Sep 2007, 48 (2432), 1-2
CB&I to convert Rentech plant US-based alternative fuels company Rentech Inc commissioned Chicago
5
FOCUS Bridge & Iron Co (CB&I) to change a natural gas plant to a gasificationbased fertilizer and ultra-clean synthetic fuels unit. CB&I will install equipment using Rentech’s patented advanced derivative of the FischerTropsch process in the initial stages. The Rentech Energy Midwest Corp (REMC) plant is expected to yield at least 1250 bbl/day or 17.8 M gallon/y of ultra clean Fischer-Tropsch fuels. The plant is also predicted to churn out roughly 545,000 ton/y of ammonia and other nitrogen fertilizers. The project is expected to be completed in 2010. Chemical Engineering Progress, Aug 2007, 103 (8), 14-15
Nikki to boost output of hydrogenation catalysts Nikki Chemical plans to raise the capacity for hydrogenation catalysts, particularly its series of stabilized nickel catalysts, by 50% to 900 tonne/y. The company intends to commence construction of new plants in 2H 2008. Nickel and copper-based hydrogenation catalysts are the company’s major products and development has focused on the areas of petrochemicals and fine chemicals. Nikki Chemical had strengthened its global business to gain a share of around 40% of its overall sales. Sales have been robust and total sales have escalated 2.5 times from those in 2002. Under the revised plan, the company targets sales of Yen 8 bn ($66.7 M) in fiscal 2008 ending 31 Mar 2009 and Yen 10 bn in fiscal 2010. Japan Chemical Week, 6 Sep 2007, 48 (2431), 2
Novozymes seeks new production site in US Novozymes has great expectations for market growth in the US and is looking for a new construction site in the Mid-West. The acquisition of more land in America will help the company to meet future market demand quickly. Novozymes is planning to establish facilities to supply chain-service activities in the area of biofuels and at the same time is considering the possibility of a new plant for the production of enzymes. In the near future the Danish firm will initiate negotiations with five US states, Iowa,
6
ON
C ATA LY S T S
Nebraska, S Dakota, Minnesota, and Illinois, over a possible plant location. Dagbladet Borsen, 27 Sep 2007 (Website: http://www.borsen.dk) (in Danish)
NEW TECHNOLOGY New HDS catalyst uses titania Chiyoda Corp has awarded Axens its proprietary titania-supported catalyst for ultra-deep hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of gas oil. Axens intends to commence commercial production of the new catalyst in 1Q 2008. The catalyst is derived from titania support that provides higher HDS activity per unit area compared with traditional alumina-supported catalysts. Chiyoda’s multi-gelation process allows the formulation of titaniasupported catalysts with surface areas of more than 160 sq m/g and with a narrow pore-size distribution. Chemical Engineering (New York), 31 Aug 2007, 114 (8), 14
Breakthrough, low-risk alkylation catalyst Albemarle Corp has teamed up with ABB Lummus Global and Neste Oil in the development of a new and improved solid acid catalyst, AlkyStar. Claimed as a low-risk method, the technology can significantly improve the safety of existing refinery processes and minimize hazards during transport and handling of liquid acids utilized in alkylate production. The catalyst, which is used exclusively with the AlkyClean alkylation process, imparts 25% higher activity and 35% lower precious metals content. Hydrocarbon Processing, Sep 2007, 86 (9), 32,35
from 2008. Mazda’s announcement caused the prices of platinum and palladium to fall slightly. Financial Times, 2 Oct 2007
Chemspec Europe 2007: Johnson Matthey/X-Zyme Johnson Matthey’s Catalysts division won a global licence from German biotechnology firm X-Zyme covering the application and marketing of carbonyl reductase enzyme technology in the manufacture of chiral alcohols, for use in the fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals markets. A new oxidoreductase that acts as a catalyst to reduce various carbonyl compounds was developed by X-Zyme. The material particularly reduces keto esters to their matching chiral hydroxy esters. Conversion of aldehydes, aliphatic and aromatic ketones, cyclic ketones and diketones, and ketoacetals is also possible, all of which with superior enantiomeric purity. The products will soon be made available via the Alfa Aesar catalogue. Johnson Matthey announced these developments at the recent Chemspec Europe 2007 in Amsterdam. Speciality Chemicals, Jul/Aug 2007, 27 (6), 45
BioDiesel develops new biodiesel production process BioDiesel International has unveiled a biodiesel manufacturing process that is said to yield higher quality at reduced cost for multi-feed operations and to boost the quality of by-product glycerol. With the RepCat reusable catalyst, the new technology utilizes animal fats or used cooking oils and skips the process of blending with clean vegetable oils while retaining the free fatty acid content. Oils and Fats International, Sep 2007, 23 (6), 9
Mazda can cut PGM usage in cars Mazda has announced that it has developed an auto catalyst which uses up to 90% less platinum and palladium than present commercial catalysts. But it has not yet decided when to use it in new models. Nissan made a similar announcement in Jul 2007 and plans to use its catalysts
Eco-friendly adipic acid process advances to pilot plant A 30 tonne/y pilot plant, to produce adipic acid by a new, eco-friendly process, has been constructed by Daicel Chemical Industry. The new, one-step process converts cyclohexane to adipic acid, using
NOVEMBER 2007