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Clariant closes Süd-Chemie acquisition
FOCUS first commercial producer in the bio-SA market, with a 25,000 tonne/y fermentation plant at Purac’s facility near Barcelona by no later than 2013. The two firms also target to set up a 50,000 tonne/y world-scale unit, with demand seen to significantly increase. BASF and Purac have jointly developed a process to produce bio-SA using the microorganism Basfia succiniciproducens. Meanwhile, BASF will concentrate production of polyacrylamide (PAM) beads in its backward-integrated Bradford site in the UK starting Jan 2012. The firm is slated to shut down its PAM beads plant in Suffolk, VA, USA, resulting in the elimination of 50 jobs. Original Source: Speciality Chemicals, Aug 2011, 31 (8) (Website: http://www.specchemonline.com/) © Quartz Business Media Ltd 2011
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DONG Energy establishes bioenergy consortium Mabjerg Energy Concept
yeast that yields isobutanol instead of ethanol.
Together with local players, including the waste company Nomi, DONG Energy is establishing a green energy consortium, Mabjerg Energy Concept, which over the next 15 months will determine whether a range of bioenergy projects can be realized and be profitable. The projects, which will involve new and existing facilities, will be based on local biomass and waste resources from which biogas, hydrogen, bioethanol, electricity, and heat can be produced. DONG Energy has built up considerable know-how in the areas of biogas, enzyme treatment of biomass, and bioethanol production.
Original Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, Jul 2011 (Website: http://www.ethanolproducer.com/) © BBI International 2011
Original Source: NP Investor, 26 Aug 2011 (Website: http://www.npinvestor.dk/) (in Danish) © Npinvestor A/S 2011
BASF enters marketing agreement with Topsoe Draths to make bio-muconic acid BASF’s Catalysts division will market Haldor Topsoe’s range of tail gas treatment catalysts for sulfur recovery units across all regions, excluding North America. The agreement covers Topsoe’s TK-220 quadralobe extrudates, TK-224 spheres, and TK222 rings. The catalysts are used in removing sulfur compounds as the last step of a Claus sulfur recovery unit so as to comply with local emission standards. BASF will oversee the business via the Adsorbents group, a unit of its Process Catalysts and Technologies business. According to BASF, Topsoe’s tail gas treatment catalysts complement its existing portfolio of adsorbents products, allowing it to provide custom packages for the entire sulfur recovery train. Original Source: Sulphur, Jan-Feb 2011, (332), 10 (Website: http://www.bcinsight.com/) © BCInsight Ltd 2011
Clariant closes Süd-Chemie acquisition Speciality chemicals producer Clariant has concluded its acquisition of 96.15% of the shares in process catalysts and adsorbent agents producer Süd-Chemie. The total value of the acquisition stands at about €1.9 bn (SFR 2.5 bn). Original Source: Pitture e Vernici - European Coatings, Jul/Aug 2011, 87 (4), 69 (Website: http://www.pittureevernici.it/)
OCTOBER 2011
Draths Corp employs synthetic biology and a fermentation process to produce muconic acid as the building block for its Bio-PTA. The company’s strategy is to make bio-based monomers like PET, nylon 6, and urethanes for fibres. It aims to commission a 1000 kg pilot unit by 2012, a 10 M kg demonstration plant between 2013 and 2014, and ultimately a commercial plant with capacity of 100 M kgs by 2015. Draths is also working on bio-based caprolactam to produce nylon 6, and bio-based adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine for nylon 6/6 and polyurethane. Original Source: Plastics News, 11 Aug 2011 (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2011
Gevo on the move Gevo Inc has commenced the conversion of a Luverne, MN, USA ethanol plant to isobutanol production and has signed letters of intent for the conversion of two 50 M gallon/y Midwest ethanol plants. The 22 M gallon/y Luverne plant by Agri-Energy LLC is expected to be completely converted into an 18 M gallon/y isobutanol plant by Jun 2012. The conversion will only require the installation of a separation unit, which will isolate the more toxic butanol during fermentation. Another unique element of Gevo’s technology is the
Cost, viability to determine winners in biomaterials competition: Gevo Inc Gevo Inc, a US renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company, announced at the recent 2011 Bioplastek conference that paraxylene made from its totally renewable isobutanol was used by Toray Industries Inc to produce 100% renewable PET. The company employs a process based on an integrated fermentation technology that transforms biomass-derived sugars into isobutanol. Gevo operates a 1 M gallon/y demonstration plant in St Joseph, MO, USA, where it produces renewable isobutanol and paraxylene. It expects to start commercial production at a plant in Lucerne, MN, USA in late 2012. Original Source: Plastics News, 11 Aug 2011 (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2011
ICIS Innovation Awards 2011 entrants shortlisted: best innovation by an SME: Novomer/Praxair USA-based Novomer is nominated for best innovation by an SME for its catalyst platform for the production of inexpensive and environmentally friendly acrylic acid, butanediol, and succinic acid. The company’s homogenous catalyst permits carbon monoxide to combine with ethylene oxide to yield propiolactone, a chemical intermediate that can be processed into acrylic acid and various other value-added chemicals. Novomer and Praxair are in talks to combine a new technology that utilizes an electrochemical ceramic membrane technology to convert waste carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 1 Aug 2011 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2011
Nagase investing in Hayashibara to boost enzymes business Chemical trading house Nagase & Co is expecting its investment in biochemical firm Hayashibara Co to
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ON
C ATA LY S T S
DONG Energy establishes bioenergy consortium Mabjerg Energy Concept
yeast that yields isobutanol instead of ethanol.
Together with local players, including the waste company Nomi, DONG Energy is establishing a green energy consortium, Mabjerg Energy Concept, which over the next 15 months will determine whether a range of bioenergy projects can be realized and be profitable. The projects, which will involve new and existing facilities, will be based on local biomass and waste resources from which biogas, hydrogen, bioethanol, electricity, and heat can be produced. DONG Energy has built up considerable know-how in the areas of biogas, enzyme treatment of biomass, and bioethanol production.
Original Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, Jul 2011 (Website: http://www.ethanolproducer.com/) © BBI International 2011
Original Source: NP Investor, 26 Aug 2011 (Website: http://www.npinvestor.dk/) (in Danish) © Npinvestor A/S 2011
BASF enters marketing agreement with Topsoe Draths to make bio-muconic acid BASF’s Catalysts division will market Haldor Topsoe’s range of tail gas treatment catalysts for sulfur recovery units across all regions, excluding North America. The agreement covers Topsoe’s TK-220 quadralobe extrudates, TK-224 spheres, and TK222 rings. The catalysts are used in removing sulfur compounds as the last step of a Claus sulfur recovery unit so as to comply with local emission standards. BASF will oversee the business via the Adsorbents group, a unit of its Process Catalysts and Technologies business. According to BASF, Topsoe’s tail gas treatment catalysts complement its existing portfolio of adsorbents products, allowing it to provide custom packages for the entire sulfur recovery train. Original Source: Sulphur, Jan-Feb 2011, (332), 10 (Website: http://www.bcinsight.com/) © BCInsight Ltd 2011
Clariant closes Süd-Chemie acquisition Speciality chemicals producer Clariant has concluded its acquisition of 96.15% of the shares in process catalysts and adsorbent agents producer Süd-Chemie. The total value of the acquisition stands at about €1.9 bn (SFR 2.5 bn). Original Source: Pitture e Vernici - European Coatings, Jul/Aug 2011, 87 (4), 69 (Website: http://www.pittureevernici.it/)
OCTOBER 2011
Draths Corp employs synthetic biology and a fermentation process to produce muconic acid as the building block for its Bio-PTA. The company’s strategy is to make bio-based monomers like PET, nylon 6, and urethanes for fibres. It aims to commission a 1000 kg pilot unit by 2012, a 10 M kg demonstration plant between 2013 and 2014, and ultimately a commercial plant with capacity of 100 M kgs by 2015. Draths is also working on bio-based caprolactam to produce nylon 6, and bio-based adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine for nylon 6/6 and polyurethane. Original Source: Plastics News, 11 Aug 2011 (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2011
Gevo on the move Gevo Inc has commenced the conversion of a Luverne, MN, USA ethanol plant to isobutanol production and has signed letters of intent for the conversion of two 50 M gallon/y Midwest ethanol plants. The 22 M gallon/y Luverne plant by Agri-Energy LLC is expected to be completely converted into an 18 M gallon/y isobutanol plant by Jun 2012. The conversion will only require the installation of a separation unit, which will isolate the more toxic butanol during fermentation. Another unique element of Gevo’s technology is the
Cost, viability to determine winners in biomaterials competition: Gevo Inc Gevo Inc, a US renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company, announced at the recent 2011 Bioplastek conference that paraxylene made from its totally renewable isobutanol was used by Toray Industries Inc to produce 100% renewable PET. The company employs a process based on an integrated fermentation technology that transforms biomass-derived sugars into isobutanol. Gevo operates a 1 M gallon/y demonstration plant in St Joseph, MO, USA, where it produces renewable isobutanol and paraxylene. It expects to start commercial production at a plant in Lucerne, MN, USA in late 2012. Original Source: Plastics News, 11 Aug 2011 (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2011
ICIS Innovation Awards 2011 entrants shortlisted: best innovation by an SME: Novomer/Praxair USA-based Novomer is nominated for best innovation by an SME for its catalyst platform for the production of inexpensive and environmentally friendly acrylic acid, butanediol, and succinic acid. The company’s homogenous catalyst permits carbon monoxide to combine with ethylene oxide to yield propiolactone, a chemical intermediate that can be processed into acrylic acid and various other value-added chemicals. Novomer and Praxair are in talks to combine a new technology that utilizes an electrochemical ceramic membrane technology to convert waste carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 1 Aug 2011 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2011
Nagase investing in Hayashibara to boost enzymes business Chemical trading house Nagase & Co is expecting its investment in biochemical firm Hayashibara Co to
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