- Email: [email protected]
Companies to watch: Catalytic Solutions
F O C U S behind amid the changing market conditions. Such problems include the rising prices of oil and precious metals; mounting demand for petrochemicals in Asia, particularly China, and the Middle East; and environmental policies that are becoming more rigorous. Activities being carried out by companies such as JGC Catalyst and Chemicals, Kawaken Fine Chemicals, Süd-Chemie Catalyst Japan, and Haldor Topsoe A/S are discussed. A table shows the catalyst business in tonnes during 2006, 2007 and Jan-Mar 2008. Japan Chemical Week, 11 Sep 2008, 49 (2481), 6-8
Launch of European bio-dimethyl ether project Over the next 4 years, Europe is to invest €28 M in a bio-dimethyl ether project aimed at demonstrating the technical viability of obtaining dimethyl ether from the biomass. Chemrec, Delphi Diesel Systems, Energy Technology Centre in Pitea (Sweden), Haldor Topsoe, Preem Petroleum, Total, and Volvo are all taking part in the project which was launched on 1 Sep 2008. The €28 M investment needed will be provided by members of the consortium, the seventh European programme (€8 M) and the Swedish Energy Agency. The aim is to produce fuel through the gasification of black liquor residue from paper pulp production. The dimethyl ether will then be transported to service stations in 4 Swedish villages to fuel a fleet of 14 lorries built by Volvo. This preliminary stage will test the usefulness of the technology on an industrial scale. The use of dimethyl ether as a fuel is still very limited but the compound produces no sulfur oxides or particulates. The reduction in pollution is even greater if the gas is produced from the biomass. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 22 Sep 2008, (437), 11 (in French)
COMPANY NEWS Albemarle certifies Tricat to offer React products and services Albemarle Corp has certified Tricat Industries Inc (Tricat) as a supplier of
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catalyst regeneration services, for commercial application of React technology for the rejuvenation of STARS hydroprocessing catalysts. Effective immediately, Tricat will be able to offer React products and services to refiners worldwide. Albemarle and its JV partner, Nippon Ketjen Co Ltd developed React technology so that refineries can maximize value from STARS hydroprocessing catalysts. 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 (2 Oct 2008)
Asahi makes catalysts for propane-toacrylonitrile plant Asahi Kasei Chemicals has started producing catalysts at its Mizushima factory in Japan, intended for supply to its large-scale propane-toacrylonitrile plant that is under development in Thailand. The modified catalysts had been adopted at the company’s Korea-based subsidiary Tongshu Petrochemical to produce 70,000 tonne/y of acrylonitrile from propane. Completion of Asahi’s new 200,000 tonne/y manufacturing plant in Thailand is slated at the end of Jul 2010, with start of operations expected by end of 2010. Japan Chemical Week, 18 Sep 2008, 49 (2482), 6
CCI and Nikki Chemical to merge The merger of Catalysts and Chemicals Industries and Nikki Chemical gave birth to a new company called JGC Catalysts and Chemicals in Jul 2008. Catalysts and Chemicals was a specialist in producing petroleum-refining catalysts, fluid-catalytic-cracking catalysts and denitrification catalysts, as well as optical parts and cosmetics ingredients. On the other hand, Nikki Chemical specializes in stabilized catalysts for hydrogenation, as well as in cathode parts for lithium-ion secondary batteries. Given both companies’ expertise, the merger is expected to create synergies. Sales of Yen 50 bn ($463 M) are projected for the new company in fiscal 2010 ending 31 Mar 2011. Japan Chemical Week, 11 Sep 2008, 49 (2481), 7
Companies to watch: Catalytic Solutions Catalytic Solutions, based in CA, is developing a proprietary technology platform geared towards improving conventional catalysts’ performance and cost for clean utilization of fossil fuels. The company uses unique coatings to cut the amount of platinum group metals by 50-80% while offering performance equal to or surpassing conventional coating counterparts. It uses sintering to ensure that the metal particles bond with other chemicals in the converter and thus eliminate their functionality. A variety of unique nanoscale compounds or phases each with its own functionality are made using the production process. Catalytic Solutions’ technology has been used by auto companies, such as Renault, Nissan, Ford, General Motors, and Honda. In 2007, the company posted $41.7 M in revenues. The company has a market capitalization of roughly $64 M. Emerging Tech Report (Forbes/Wolfe), Sep 2008, 7 (9), 7 (Website: http://forbesnewsletters.com)
The Futurol project to make bioethanol is launched According to the president of the French company Procethol 2G, which is leading the Futurol R&D project, this project aims to develop and test a production process for making bioethanol from lignocellulose, agricultural by products, forestry byproducts, residues, and dedicated biomasses. Futurol has a budget of €74 M, of which €29.9 M came from Oseo. The 11 partners in Futurol include the INRA research institute, the Total group, and the CA Nord Est financial institution. The first step is to build a pilot plant at Pomacle, Marne, France, to come online in 2010 with capacity for 180,000 litre/y ethanol. If all goes well a further plant is to be built to come online in 2015 with 3.5 M l/y capacity. Then the process could be used internationally. The Futurol project has 3 distinguishing features: a multiresource use of raw materials; a flexible pilot plant able to take different raw materials; and the integration of enzyme production by the pilot plant. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 15 Sep 2008, (436), 22 (in French)
NOVEMBER 2008
Launch of European bio-dimethyl ether project Over the next 4 years, Europe is to invest €28 M in a bio-dimethyl ether project aimed at demonstrating the technical viability of obtaining dimethyl ether from the biomass. Chemrec, Delphi Diesel Systems, Energy Technology Centre in Pitea (Sweden), Haldor Topsoe, Preem Petroleum, Total, and Volvo are all taking part in the project which was launched on 1 Sep 2008. The €28 M investment needed will be provided by members of the consortium, the seventh European programme (€8 M) and the Swedish Energy Agency. The aim is to produce fuel through the gasification of black liquor residue from paper pulp production. The dimethyl ether will then be transported to service stations in 4 Swedish villages to fuel a fleet of 14 lorries built by Volvo. This preliminary stage will test the usefulness of the technology on an industrial scale. The use of dimethyl ether as a fuel is still very limited but the compound produces no sulfur oxides or particulates. The reduction in pollution is even greater if the gas is produced from the biomass. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 22 Sep 2008, (437), 11 (in French)
COMPANY NEWS Albemarle certifies Tricat to offer React products and services Albemarle Corp has certified Tricat Industries Inc (Tricat) as a supplier of
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C ATA LY S T S
catalyst regeneration services, for commercial application of React technology for the rejuvenation of STARS hydroprocessing catalysts. Effective immediately, Tricat will be able to offer React products and services to refiners worldwide. Albemarle and its JV partner, Nippon Ketjen Co Ltd developed React technology so that refineries can maximize value from STARS hydroprocessing catalysts. 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 (2 Oct 2008)
Asahi makes catalysts for propane-toacrylonitrile plant Asahi Kasei Chemicals has started producing catalysts at its Mizushima factory in Japan, intended for supply to its large-scale propane-toacrylonitrile plant that is under development in Thailand. The modified catalysts had been adopted at the company’s Korea-based subsidiary Tongshu Petrochemical to produce 70,000 tonne/y of acrylonitrile from propane. Completion of Asahi’s new 200,000 tonne/y manufacturing plant in Thailand is slated at the end of Jul 2010, with start of operations expected by end of 2010. Japan Chemical Week, 18 Sep 2008, 49 (2482), 6
CCI and Nikki Chemical to merge The merger of Catalysts and Chemicals Industries and Nikki Chemical gave birth to a new company called JGC Catalysts and Chemicals in Jul 2008. Catalysts and Chemicals was a specialist in producing petroleum-refining catalysts, fluid-catalytic-cracking catalysts and denitrification catalysts, as well as optical parts and cosmetics ingredients. On the other hand, Nikki Chemical specializes in stabilized catalysts for hydrogenation, as well as in cathode parts for lithium-ion secondary batteries. Given both companies’ expertise, the merger is expected to create synergies. Sales of Yen 50 bn ($463 M) are projected for the new company in fiscal 2010 ending 31 Mar 2011. Japan Chemical Week, 11 Sep 2008, 49 (2481), 7
Companies to watch: Catalytic Solutions Catalytic Solutions, based in CA, is developing a proprietary technology platform geared towards improving conventional catalysts’ performance and cost for clean utilization of fossil fuels. The company uses unique coatings to cut the amount of platinum group metals by 50-80% while offering performance equal to or surpassing conventional coating counterparts. It uses sintering to ensure that the metal particles bond with other chemicals in the converter and thus eliminate their functionality. A variety of unique nanoscale compounds or phases each with its own functionality are made using the production process. Catalytic Solutions’ technology has been used by auto companies, such as Renault, Nissan, Ford, General Motors, and Honda. In 2007, the company posted $41.7 M in revenues. The company has a market capitalization of roughly $64 M. Emerging Tech Report (Forbes/Wolfe), Sep 2008, 7 (9), 7 (Website: http://forbesnewsletters.com)
The Futurol project to make bioethanol is launched According to the president of the French company Procethol 2G, which is leading the Futurol R&D project, this project aims to develop and test a production process for making bioethanol from lignocellulose, agricultural by products, forestry byproducts, residues, and dedicated biomasses. Futurol has a budget of €74 M, of which €29.9 M came from Oseo. The 11 partners in Futurol include the INRA research institute, the Total group, and the CA Nord Est financial institution. The first step is to build a pilot plant at Pomacle, Marne, France, to come online in 2010 with capacity for 180,000 litre/y ethanol. If all goes well a further plant is to be built to come online in 2015 with 3.5 M l/y capacity. Then the process could be used internationally. The Futurol project has 3 distinguishing features: a multiresource use of raw materials; a flexible pilot plant able to take different raw materials; and the integration of enzyme production by the pilot plant. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 15 Sep 2008, (436), 22 (in French)
NOVEMBER 2008