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Codexis buys epoxides technology
F O C U S aluminium alkyl products by about 30% on a global basis effective 15 Jun 2006, or as contracts allow. Prices for solvent blends of aluminium alkyls also will be increased to reflect higher solvent acquisition costs as needed. Drivers for this price increase include the need to recover record high aluminium, ethylene, and energy costs. Press release from: Albemarle Corp, 451 Florida Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, USA. Tel: +1 225 388 7402 or +1 800 535 3030. Fax: +1 225 388 7848. Website: http://www.albemarle.com (15 May 2006)
US Energy Initiatives acquires nonexclusive licence for CAVD technology from EarthFirst Technologies US Energy Initiatives Corp (US Energy) announced that the company has acquired a world-wide non-exclusive licence agreement for the Catalytic Activated Vacuum Distillation (CAVD) technology from EarthFirst Technologies Inc (EFTI). Under the terms of the licence, US Energy will issue 1 M restricted common shares to be held by EFTI or distributed amongst the EFTI shareholders of record. In addition, US Energy will pay a fee of 5% of revenues of all sales related to the licensed technology. The licence grants to HYFS a world-wide nonexclusive right to commercialise the CAVD technology and to manage the previous agreement with Internal Hydro International. The CAVD technology has shown great promise in the biofuel area. Press release from: US Energy Initiatives Corp, 2701 N, Rocky Point Suite 325, Tampa, Fl 33607, USA. Tel: +1 813 287 5787. Fax: +1 813 287 1518. Website: http://www.usenergyic.com (10 May 2006)
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BASF makes upward revision of performance forecast for 2006 BASF, with the increased price of petroleum, has made an upward revision of 2006 performance forecasts for its petrochemicals division. The figure presented by BASF and Bloomberg gives details of group performance for 1Q 2006 when net profit increased 10.3% from €861 M to €950 M. The BASF share price has increased steadily from just under €55 in early 2005 to €69.01 on 4 May 2006. Engelhard is offering to buy back 20% of its shares for $45 per share in order to dissuade shareholders from accepting an offer of $38 per share by BASF. La Tribune, 5 May 2006, (24.465-3406), 26 (in French)
Engelhard agrees new offer from BASF The Engelhard Board has recommended its shareholders to accept BASF’s latest offer of $39 per share, which is scheduled to expire on 5 June. ICIS Chemical Business, 5 Jun 2006, 1 (22), 16 & 12 Jun 2006, 1 (23), 15 & Chemical & Engineering News, 5 Jun 2006, 84 (23), 10 & Nachrichten für Aussenhandel, 31 May 2006 (Website: http://www.nfa-online.de) (in German)
Heraeus interested in Engelhard’s pgms If BASF were to buy Engelhard, Heraeus would be interested in buying the trading section of the platinum metals business.
Codexis buys epoxides technology Codexis, an enzyme technology provider and custom manufacturer, has acquired Enzis’ technologies for the enzymatic conversion of epoxides into pharma intermediates. Patents for the technology are awaiting approval in Europe, Japan, and the USA. Enzis, a biotechnology start-up, will halt its operations after the deal. Chemical Week, 10 May 2006 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 15 May 2006, (340), 5 (in French)
Criterion signs supply agreement with Southern Ionics Criterion Catalysts & Technologies LP has entered into a 10-year supply contract with Southern Ionics Inc, involving the delivery of 30 M lb/y of speciality alumina for Criterion’s planned hydroprocessing catalyst plant. Completion of the plant is slated in 2007. Hydrocarbon Processing, May 2006, 85 (5), 37
Novozymes to build R&D department in India The Danish enzymes producer Novozymes has decided to establish an R&D department at Bangalore, India. The number of R&D workers should be 15-20. The department will also accommodate sales and marketing and supply chain operations staff and should be opened at the end of 2007. Net Posten, 17 May 2006 (Website: http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)
ICIS ChemicalBusiness, 22 May 2006, 1 (20), 10
Basell’s Metocene PP process is available for licensing Basell Polyolefins NV has offered its Metocene polypropylene (PP) technology, which is claimed to be adaptable to any PP process. The technology is used to make polyolefins in single-site catalyst systems. It permits lower levels of extractables and xylene solubles, improved transparency, and peroxidefree reactor grades. Metocene PP packages will be customized to the client’s process upgrades, product information, intellectual property rights, and catalysts systems. Chemical Engineering Progress, May 2006, 102 (5), 14 & High Performance Plastics, May 2006, 10
JULY 2006
BASF opens nanotechnology R&D centre in Singapore BASF recently opened a new nanotechnology R&D centre in Singapore. This is the group’s eighteenth Asian R&D centre, but its first specializing in this sector. Between 2006-2008 BASF will invest €13 M in the site which will employ 20 scientists and technicians, whose work will concentrate on surface nanostructuring and its applications (such as environment-friendly antifouling agents). Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 9 May 2006, (339), 3 (in French) & Press release from: BASF Group, Germany. Website: http://media.basf.com (27 Apr 2006)
DegussaHeadwaters acquires Korean peroxide factory from Kemira DegussaHeadwaters (the jv between Degussa and Headwaters) is to buy Kemira’s hydrogen peroxide unit in Ulsan, Korea for €27.5 M. The company plans to double capacity at the unit to 68,000 tonne/y in the next few months and will use it to supply the new propylene oxide unit it is building near Korean company SKC Chemicals. The latter is due to enter service in 2008 producing 100,000 tonne/y propylene oxide. Unlike Kemira, which prefers to sell its hydrogen peroxide to the paper and water treatment sectors, Degussa is interested in its growing use in the
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US Energy Initiatives acquires nonexclusive licence for CAVD technology from EarthFirst Technologies US Energy Initiatives Corp (US Energy) announced that the company has acquired a world-wide non-exclusive licence agreement for the Catalytic Activated Vacuum Distillation (CAVD) technology from EarthFirst Technologies Inc (EFTI). Under the terms of the licence, US Energy will issue 1 M restricted common shares to be held by EFTI or distributed amongst the EFTI shareholders of record. In addition, US Energy will pay a fee of 5% of revenues of all sales related to the licensed technology. The licence grants to HYFS a world-wide nonexclusive right to commercialise the CAVD technology and to manage the previous agreement with Internal Hydro International. The CAVD technology has shown great promise in the biofuel area. Press release from: US Energy Initiatives Corp, 2701 N, Rocky Point Suite 325, Tampa, Fl 33607, USA. Tel: +1 813 287 5787. Fax: +1 813 287 1518. Website: http://www.usenergyic.com (10 May 2006)
ON
C ATA LY S T S
BASF makes upward revision of performance forecast for 2006 BASF, with the increased price of petroleum, has made an upward revision of 2006 performance forecasts for its petrochemicals division. The figure presented by BASF and Bloomberg gives details of group performance for 1Q 2006 when net profit increased 10.3% from €861 M to €950 M. The BASF share price has increased steadily from just under €55 in early 2005 to €69.01 on 4 May 2006. Engelhard is offering to buy back 20% of its shares for $45 per share in order to dissuade shareholders from accepting an offer of $38 per share by BASF. La Tribune, 5 May 2006, (24.465-3406), 26 (in French)
Engelhard agrees new offer from BASF The Engelhard Board has recommended its shareholders to accept BASF’s latest offer of $39 per share, which is scheduled to expire on 5 June. ICIS Chemical Business, 5 Jun 2006, 1 (22), 16 & 12 Jun 2006, 1 (23), 15 & Chemical & Engineering News, 5 Jun 2006, 84 (23), 10 & Nachrichten für Aussenhandel, 31 May 2006 (Website: http://www.nfa-online.de) (in German)
Heraeus interested in Engelhard’s pgms If BASF were to buy Engelhard, Heraeus would be interested in buying the trading section of the platinum metals business.
Codexis buys epoxides technology Codexis, an enzyme technology provider and custom manufacturer, has acquired Enzis’ technologies for the enzymatic conversion of epoxides into pharma intermediates. Patents for the technology are awaiting approval in Europe, Japan, and the USA. Enzis, a biotechnology start-up, will halt its operations after the deal. Chemical Week, 10 May 2006 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 15 May 2006, (340), 5 (in French)
Criterion signs supply agreement with Southern Ionics Criterion Catalysts & Technologies LP has entered into a 10-year supply contract with Southern Ionics Inc, involving the delivery of 30 M lb/y of speciality alumina for Criterion’s planned hydroprocessing catalyst plant. Completion of the plant is slated in 2007. Hydrocarbon Processing, May 2006, 85 (5), 37
Novozymes to build R&D department in India The Danish enzymes producer Novozymes has decided to establish an R&D department at Bangalore, India. The number of R&D workers should be 15-20. The department will also accommodate sales and marketing and supply chain operations staff and should be opened at the end of 2007. Net Posten, 17 May 2006 (Website: http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)
ICIS ChemicalBusiness, 22 May 2006, 1 (20), 10
Basell’s Metocene PP process is available for licensing Basell Polyolefins NV has offered its Metocene polypropylene (PP) technology, which is claimed to be adaptable to any PP process. The technology is used to make polyolefins in single-site catalyst systems. It permits lower levels of extractables and xylene solubles, improved transparency, and peroxidefree reactor grades. Metocene PP packages will be customized to the client’s process upgrades, product information, intellectual property rights, and catalysts systems. Chemical Engineering Progress, May 2006, 102 (5), 14 & High Performance Plastics, May 2006, 10
JULY 2006
BASF opens nanotechnology R&D centre in Singapore BASF recently opened a new nanotechnology R&D centre in Singapore. This is the group’s eighteenth Asian R&D centre, but its first specializing in this sector. Between 2006-2008 BASF will invest €13 M in the site which will employ 20 scientists and technicians, whose work will concentrate on surface nanostructuring and its applications (such as environment-friendly antifouling agents). Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 9 May 2006, (339), 3 (in French) & Press release from: BASF Group, Germany. Website: http://media.basf.com (27 Apr 2006)
DegussaHeadwaters acquires Korean peroxide factory from Kemira DegussaHeadwaters (the jv between Degussa and Headwaters) is to buy Kemira’s hydrogen peroxide unit in Ulsan, Korea for €27.5 M. The company plans to double capacity at the unit to 68,000 tonne/y in the next few months and will use it to supply the new propylene oxide unit it is building near Korean company SKC Chemicals. The latter is due to enter service in 2008 producing 100,000 tonne/y propylene oxide. Unlike Kemira, which prefers to sell its hydrogen peroxide to the paper and water treatment sectors, Degussa is interested in its growing use in the
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