F O C U S oils and fats processing, pharmaceuticals and foods, and other applications. Production of catalysts for pollution control rose 21.0% to 18,149 tonnes with volume sales up 23.0% to 19.191 tonnes. Sales value fell 7.0% to Yen 141,050 M. There was a 20% rise in production of automotive catalysts to 13,082 tonnes with sales volumes also 20% higher at 13,968 tonnes. Sales value was down 8% to Yen 132,161 tonnes. Overall catalyst production amounted to 90.786 tonnes, up 4%, and volume sales also rose 4% to 91,011 tonnes. Sales value overall declined by 10% to Yen 221,497 M. Japan Chemical Week, 18 Sep 2003, 44 (2237), 10
Platinum producers shine on fears of production cuts at Anglo The world’s most expensive metal was yesterday more expensive than it has been for 23 years, amid fears that Anglo American will next month dramatically scale back its platinum mining plans. With the platinum price jumping to its highest level since March 1980 at $726/oz, companies which mine or refine the precious metal saw big share price gains. Anglo American, the mining giant whose AngloPlat subsidiary is threatening the cuts, was up 41p to 1166p. The company said over the summer that it might abandon some of its more ambitious plans to expand platinum production in South Africa if the rand (in which it incurs wage costs) did not weaken against the dollar (in which it sells the extracted metal). With the rand continuing to strengthen, speculation is that AngloPlat will next month formally abandon its plan to increase platinum production by three-quarters by 2007. The Independent, 4 Oct 2003, (Website: http://www.independent.co.uk/)
COMPANY NEWS Akzo Nobel to sell three chemical units Akzo Nobel intends to sell its phosphorus, coating resins, and refinery catalyst businesses for between € 500 M and € 1 bn. During
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2001 the three businesses generated sales of € 1 bn. This amounted to 21% of total sales in Akzo’s chemicals unit and 7% of the company’s overall sales. The refinery catalyst business generated sales of € 375 M in 2002. It produces hydroprocessing catalysts and fluidized catalytic cracking catalysts at Amsterdam in The Netherlands and at Pasadena, TX. The business has jvs also in France, Japan, and Brazil. Chemical Week, 10 Sep 2003, 165 (31), 8 & Chemical Market Reporter, 8 Sep 2003 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & La Tribune, 5 Sep 2003, (24.465-2732), 14 (in French) & Chimie Hebdo, 8 Sep 2003, (225), 26 (in French) & Het Financieele Dagblad, 5 Sep 2003, (209), 9 (in Dutch) & Nachrichten für Aussenhandel, 5 Sep 2003, 66 (171), 1 (in German)
Avantium and ABB Lummus extend catalyst R&D Avantium Technologies and ABB Lummus are extending their R&D cooperation in petrochemical and refining catalysts. Avantium undertakes high-throughput screening work for ABB. A new zeolite which the two have already discovered will be used commercially by ABB. Chemical and Engineering News, 29 Sep 2003, 81 (39), 9-10 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & European Chemical News, 29 Sep 2003, 79 (2070), 25
Basell develops new PP catalysts A new range of ethylbenzoate catalysts for both gas and liquid polypropylene (PP) production have been developed by Basell. The PP resins obtained using the new catalysts have superior properties to PP produced via traditional phthalates methods. European Chemical News, 22 Sep 2003, 79 (2069), 35 & Plastics and Rubber Weekly, 19 Sep 2003, 2 & 26 Sep 2003, 2 & Asian Chemical News, 22-29 Sep 2003, 417 (9), 4
gas. The technology is commercially available from Lurgi. Lurgi also supplies MegaMethanol technology to provide feedstock methanol for MTP units. The technology is described. European Chemical News, 22 Sep 2003, 79 (2069), 35
Chevron Philips, ExxonMobil enter strategic alliance Chevron Philips Chemical Co (Chevron Philips) has entered into an alliance with ExxonMobil Chemical Co (ExxonMobil) which will enable exchange of the proprietary loop slurry technology first developed by ConocoPhilips. The technology is applicable to advanced catalysts such as metallocenes and dual site catalyst systems for single-reactor bimodal resins. Through this cross-licensing alliance, Chevron Philips will become an exclusive licensor to third parties of Chevron Philips’ and ExxonMobil’s loop slurry process technology. The agreement also grants ExxonMobil rights to use Chevron Philips’ technology at its Baton Rouge unit and other defined areas. Loop slurry technology is applicable to various densities of polyethylene. Chemical Engineering World, Jul 2003, 38 (7), 26
Diversa and Givaudan Flavors reach target US biotechnology company Diversa Corp in San Diego, CA and Givaudan Flavors in Cincinnati, OH reached an important milestone target in the framework of its partnership for the development of new enzymes and processes for consumer applications. The companies are currently optimising a new biocatalyst for the more efficient manufacture of a natural flavour compound. According to the contract Diversa will receive a milestone payment from Givaudan.
Methanol-to-Propylene process progressed
Chemische Rundschau, 9 Sep 2003, 56 (17), 61 (in German)
Lurgi is collaborating with Borealis to further develop its methanol-topropylene (MTP) technology. Lurgi has been operating a MTP pilot plant at Tjeldbergodden in collaboration with Statoil since 2002. Süd-Chemie developed and supplies the catalyst for the process. By-products of the process are gasoline, LPG, and fuel
Cargill Dow names Genencor its enzyme partner for a biorefinery project Genencor International Inc (Genencor) has been named by Cargill Dow LLC as its development partner to create advanced enzyme systems for a biomass project
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