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CB&I to provide dehydrogenation technology for Shandong Chengtai
F O C U S palladium has now reached a 13-year high. According to Johnson Matthey, Russia is responsible for 41% of global palladium production. Some 73% of palladium is used in the automotive sector, where it is used in catalysts. Palladium prices have already risen 25% in 2014. Original Source: Nachrichten fuer Aussenhandel, 3 Sep 2014, (Website: http://www.maerkte-weltweit.de) (in German) © MBM Martin Brueckner Medien GmbH 2014
COMPANY NEWS AkzoNobel to develop sun-derived chems A collaboration between AkzoNobel and Netherlands’ clean technology specialist Photanol has been finalized to develop a technology for producing green equivalents of hydrocarbonbased raw materials, such as butanol and acetic acid, from sunlight. Photanol’s proprietary technology, which uses light to convert CO2 from the air into pre-determined raw materials, will be used in the research. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 22-28 Sep 2014, 286 (9), 7 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2014
Almac Group forms academia-industry collaboration to develop green chemicals Almac Group has announced its high level involvement in a synthetic biology project to develop novel routes to chemicals. Other partners in the academic-industry collaboration include Bangor University (Wales) and Hockley International. A grant of £1 M has been awarded to the research team by the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council and Technology Strategy Board. The funding is specifically targeted at bringing a novel chemical produced via an enzymatic route from underutilized natural oil to the market. Almac is currently performing the R&D work at its Northern Irelandbased laboratories. The company is partnering with scientific experts from both the University’s College of NOVEMBER 2014
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Natural Sciences and Hockley to progress the project over a three year period. Original Source: BioSpace.com, 2014, From BioSpace, 8 Sep 2014 (Website http://www.biospace.com)
BASF, Cargill and Novozymes achieve another milestone in bio-based acrylic acid On 15 Sep 2014, BASF, Cargill, and Novozymes announced the achievement of another milestone in their joint development of technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable raw materials. The team has demonstrated the successful conversion of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), to glacial acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers. Moreover they have selected the process for further scale-up. BASF initially plans to use the bio-based acrylic acid to manufacture superabsorbent polymers. Together with the pilot plant for 3-HP, operated by Cargill and supported by Novozymes, this will further support BASF’s plans for fast market entry of superabsorbent polymers derived from bio-based acrylic acid. Original Source: BASF, website: http://www.basf.com/ (15 Sep 2014) © BASF 2014
Braskem joins Amyris and Michelin to accelerate the industrialization of renewable isoprene On 9 Sep 2014, Amyris, Braskem and Michelin announced that Braskem is joining a collaboration already launched in 2011 between Michelin and Amyris. This collaboration was initiated to develop and commercialize renewable isoprene, sourced from varied biomass as an additional sustainable pathway to produce isoprene. Under the terms of the agreement, Braskem, Michelin, and Amyris will work together to develop a technology to utilize plant sugars, such as those found in Brazilian sugarcane or cellulosic feedstocks, to produce renewable isoprene. Adding the expertise of Braskem, Amyris and Michelin will accelerate the industrialization of renewable isoprene. Original Source: Braskem, website: http://www.braskem.com.br/ (9 Sep 2014) © Braskem 2014
CB&I to provide dehydrogenation technology for Shandong Chengtai CB&I has received a contract from Shandong Chengtai Chemical Industry for the licence and engineering design of a grassroots isobutane dehydrogenation facility, which will be constructed in Changyi, Shandong Province, China. The new unit will utilize CB&I’s Catofin dehydrogenation technology and Clariant’s Catofin catalyst in processing isobutane feed to generate 114,000 tonne/y of isobutylene. Isobutylene will be used in producing MTBE and other downstream products. Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, 30 Apr 2014, 49 (4), 14 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com) © Jasubhai Group 2014
Clariant introduces ShiftMax 120 HCF: new HTS catalyst with essentially no hexavalent chromium On 12 Sep 2014, Clariant, a world leader in speciality chemicals, announced the launch of its new ShiftMax 120 HCF catalyst. The enhanced high temperature shift (HTS) catalyst avoids health and safety risks in ammonia and hydrogen production as it contains essentially no hexavalent chromium (Cr6+). This was tested and confirmed by the independent institute, Seibersdorf Laboratories, according to OECD test no 29. ShiftMax 120 HCF is thus fully compliant with REACH Regulations of the European Community (Annex XIV to EC No 1907/2006), which will inhibit the sale of compounds containing Cr6+ beyond a very low threshold. Original Source: Clariant, website: http://www.clariant.com (12 Sep 2014) © Clariant 2014
Dow and ExxonMobil announce agreement making Univation Technologies a subsidiary of Dow On 2 Oct 2014, The Dow Chemical Company and ExxonMobil Chemical Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to restructure the ownership of Univation Technologies LLC, currently a 50/50 jv between affiliates of Dow and ExxonMobil. This transaction will result in Univation Technologies becoming a whollyowned subsidiary of Dow aligned to
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COMPANY NEWS AkzoNobel to develop sun-derived chems A collaboration between AkzoNobel and Netherlands’ clean technology specialist Photanol has been finalized to develop a technology for producing green equivalents of hydrocarbonbased raw materials, such as butanol and acetic acid, from sunlight. Photanol’s proprietary technology, which uses light to convert CO2 from the air into pre-determined raw materials, will be used in the research. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 22-28 Sep 2014, 286 (9), 7 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2014
Almac Group forms academia-industry collaboration to develop green chemicals Almac Group has announced its high level involvement in a synthetic biology project to develop novel routes to chemicals. Other partners in the academic-industry collaboration include Bangor University (Wales) and Hockley International. A grant of £1 M has been awarded to the research team by the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council and Technology Strategy Board. The funding is specifically targeted at bringing a novel chemical produced via an enzymatic route from underutilized natural oil to the market. Almac is currently performing the R&D work at its Northern Irelandbased laboratories. The company is partnering with scientific experts from both the University’s College of NOVEMBER 2014
O N
C ATA LY S T S
Natural Sciences and Hockley to progress the project over a three year period. Original Source: BioSpace.com, 2014, From BioSpace, 8 Sep 2014 (Website http://www.biospace.com)
BASF, Cargill and Novozymes achieve another milestone in bio-based acrylic acid On 15 Sep 2014, BASF, Cargill, and Novozymes announced the achievement of another milestone in their joint development of technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable raw materials. The team has demonstrated the successful conversion of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), to glacial acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers. Moreover they have selected the process for further scale-up. BASF initially plans to use the bio-based acrylic acid to manufacture superabsorbent polymers. Together with the pilot plant for 3-HP, operated by Cargill and supported by Novozymes, this will further support BASF’s plans for fast market entry of superabsorbent polymers derived from bio-based acrylic acid. Original Source: BASF, website: http://www.basf.com/ (15 Sep 2014) © BASF 2014
Braskem joins Amyris and Michelin to accelerate the industrialization of renewable isoprene On 9 Sep 2014, Amyris, Braskem and Michelin announced that Braskem is joining a collaboration already launched in 2011 between Michelin and Amyris. This collaboration was initiated to develop and commercialize renewable isoprene, sourced from varied biomass as an additional sustainable pathway to produce isoprene. Under the terms of the agreement, Braskem, Michelin, and Amyris will work together to develop a technology to utilize plant sugars, such as those found in Brazilian sugarcane or cellulosic feedstocks, to produce renewable isoprene. Adding the expertise of Braskem, Amyris and Michelin will accelerate the industrialization of renewable isoprene. Original Source: Braskem, website: http://www.braskem.com.br/ (9 Sep 2014) © Braskem 2014
CB&I to provide dehydrogenation technology for Shandong Chengtai CB&I has received a contract from Shandong Chengtai Chemical Industry for the licence and engineering design of a grassroots isobutane dehydrogenation facility, which will be constructed in Changyi, Shandong Province, China. The new unit will utilize CB&I’s Catofin dehydrogenation technology and Clariant’s Catofin catalyst in processing isobutane feed to generate 114,000 tonne/y of isobutylene. Isobutylene will be used in producing MTBE and other downstream products. Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, 30 Apr 2014, 49 (4), 14 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com) © Jasubhai Group 2014
Clariant introduces ShiftMax 120 HCF: new HTS catalyst with essentially no hexavalent chromium On 12 Sep 2014, Clariant, a world leader in speciality chemicals, announced the launch of its new ShiftMax 120 HCF catalyst. The enhanced high temperature shift (HTS) catalyst avoids health and safety risks in ammonia and hydrogen production as it contains essentially no hexavalent chromium (Cr6+). This was tested and confirmed by the independent institute, Seibersdorf Laboratories, according to OECD test no 29. ShiftMax 120 HCF is thus fully compliant with REACH Regulations of the European Community (Annex XIV to EC No 1907/2006), which will inhibit the sale of compounds containing Cr6+ beyond a very low threshold. Original Source: Clariant, website: http://www.clariant.com (12 Sep 2014) © Clariant 2014
Dow and ExxonMobil announce agreement making Univation Technologies a subsidiary of Dow On 2 Oct 2014, The Dow Chemical Company and ExxonMobil Chemical Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to restructure the ownership of Univation Technologies LLC, currently a 50/50 jv between affiliates of Dow and ExxonMobil. This transaction will result in Univation Technologies becoming a whollyowned subsidiary of Dow aligned to
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