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Dow expands catalytic polyol
F O C U S
NEW PLANTS Photocatalytic apatite used in air purifier filters Taihei Chemical Industrial has started making nanoparticulate apatite in a 10 tonne/y unit at its Nara, Japan, site. The material is used by Daikin Industries in its recently launched Photocatalytic Air Purifier. There is a technical discussion of the product and its applications. Japan Chemical Week, 11 Sep 2003, 44 (2236), 8
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C ATA LY S T S
NEW TECHNOLOGY Tosoh’s benzene-to-phenol catalyst A tellurium-palladium catalyst to convert benzene, oxygen, and hydrogen into phenol at low cost, has been developed by Tosoh. Long-term activity is retained. The company hopes to improve the conversion ratio of benzene in the first stop from its current level of just 10%. Chemical Week, 10 Sep 2003, 165 (31), 39
Sasol opens isomerization unit in S Africa A C5 fraction Axens isomerization unit converting linear pentanes into isoamylene has opened at Sasol’s refinery in Secunda, S Africa. This is the first use of the technology designed to maximize the concentration of olefins suitable for making tert-amyl methyl ether. The 50,000 kg/h unit uses a continuous catalyst regeneration process. Chimie Hebdo, 22 Sep 2003, (227), 7 (in French)
Grace’s Davison expands plant to make novel catalysts
Better homogeneous catalyst for alkoxysilates A tungsten-based catalyst for converting ketones to alkoxysilates has been developed at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, NY. The catalyst is soluble in the reactants but precipitates out when the reaction is completed. The technology could replace heterogeneous catalysts in some industrial processes. The method is solvent-free and does not require temperature changes.
ABB develops new alkylate production process with Akzo Nobel and Forum Oil & Gas ABB (Switzerland/Sweden), engineering concern, has developed a new alkylate production process with Akzo Nobel and Forum Oil & Gas. Alkylate is the chief petrol component. The process is named AlkyClean and is reliable, simple, and environmentfriendly. It is based on a solid catalyst, which prevents the formation of a byproduct, so-called acid-soluble heavy oil, which is hard to recycle and dispose of. So far it has been possible to produce sufficiently clean fuels with the help of liquid acids only, but their transport to refineries has always been connected with a certain risk. Solid acids can be supplied in plastic bags under the same costs but without risks for people and the environment. All the technology will be commercially available in 2005. The catalyst will be used in connection with a new alkyl reaction system, which prevents the acid from leaching. In 2003 there are more than 700 refineries with about 170 alkyl production units worldwide, mostly in North America. Technicky Tydenik, 26 Aug 2003, 51 (34), 7 (in Czech)
Chemical Week, 10 Sep 2003, 165 (31), 39
Davison Catalysts will be able to boost production of its alumina sol catalyst technologies, including the Imapct resid catalyst, with the completion of a multi-million dollar upgrading to its fluid cracking catalyst (FCC) plant at its production complex in Lake Charles, LA. The upgraded facility went online in May 2003 and will enable the firm to yield the Aurora-XLC and other premium cracking catalysts. Chemical Engineering Progress, Sep 2003, 99 (9), 18
Dow expands catalytic polyol Because of strong demand, Dow Chemical is converting a conventional polyols line in Freeport, TX, to produce Voranol Voractiv catalytically active polyol. Capacity for the product will rise from 80 M lb/y to 580 M lb/y by Oct 2003. The product reduces handing of amine catalysts, reduces processing steps, and dramatically cuts emissions for flexible foam makers. Chemical and Engineering News, 29 Sep 2003, 81 (39), 9-10 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
NOVEMBER 2003
Hydrogen skids into US Hydro-Chem, a subsidiary of Linde BOC Process Plants, has developed a skid-mounted hydrogen generator fuelled by methanol. The generator can supply fuel cell-powered vehicles and can be installed for $800,000. It can produce 100 cu m/hour and is suitable for use in fuelling stations. The generator uses a steam methanol reformer with a copper-zinc catalyst. Steam and methanol are reacted at 274° and yield hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The purity of the hydrogen is guaranteed by use of a pressure swing absorption system. California may require 2000 such generators by 2015 to support growing demand for fuel cell vehicles. It is estimated that methane from a single landfill site could support 3 such on-site methanol reformers. European Chemical News, 15 Sep 2003, 79 (2068), 25
New cracker process boosts propylene yield UOP LLC of Des Plains, IL, and Atofina of Feluy, Belgium have commercialised a jointly developed olefin-cracking process (OCP), which converts C4-C8 olefins into ethylene and propylene. OCP was developed to use low-value by-product streams coming from methanol-to-olefin (MTO) plants, petroleum refineries and steam crackers. Results from a study, which integrated OCP with a naphtha steam cracker, indicate that the propylene yield increases by 30% for the same total naphtha flow rate, which results in a net propylene-toethylene ratio of 0.8 ppm. The incremental expenditure for such an integration is approximately $72 M, with a payback period of four years as claimed by UOP. A demonstration plant began operating in Atofina’s Antwerp site in Belgium in 1998. The OCP process was further optimized since 2000 when UOP helped in the
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NEW PLANTS Photocatalytic apatite used in air purifier filters Taihei Chemical Industrial has started making nanoparticulate apatite in a 10 tonne/y unit at its Nara, Japan, site. The material is used by Daikin Industries in its recently launched Photocatalytic Air Purifier. There is a technical discussion of the product and its applications. Japan Chemical Week, 11 Sep 2003, 44 (2236), 8
O N
C ATA LY S T S
NEW TECHNOLOGY Tosoh’s benzene-to-phenol catalyst A tellurium-palladium catalyst to convert benzene, oxygen, and hydrogen into phenol at low cost, has been developed by Tosoh. Long-term activity is retained. The company hopes to improve the conversion ratio of benzene in the first stop from its current level of just 10%. Chemical Week, 10 Sep 2003, 165 (31), 39
Sasol opens isomerization unit in S Africa A C5 fraction Axens isomerization unit converting linear pentanes into isoamylene has opened at Sasol’s refinery in Secunda, S Africa. This is the first use of the technology designed to maximize the concentration of olefins suitable for making tert-amyl methyl ether. The 50,000 kg/h unit uses a continuous catalyst regeneration process. Chimie Hebdo, 22 Sep 2003, (227), 7 (in French)
Grace’s Davison expands plant to make novel catalysts
Better homogeneous catalyst for alkoxysilates A tungsten-based catalyst for converting ketones to alkoxysilates has been developed at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, NY. The catalyst is soluble in the reactants but precipitates out when the reaction is completed. The technology could replace heterogeneous catalysts in some industrial processes. The method is solvent-free and does not require temperature changes.
ABB develops new alkylate production process with Akzo Nobel and Forum Oil & Gas ABB (Switzerland/Sweden), engineering concern, has developed a new alkylate production process with Akzo Nobel and Forum Oil & Gas. Alkylate is the chief petrol component. The process is named AlkyClean and is reliable, simple, and environmentfriendly. It is based on a solid catalyst, which prevents the formation of a byproduct, so-called acid-soluble heavy oil, which is hard to recycle and dispose of. So far it has been possible to produce sufficiently clean fuels with the help of liquid acids only, but their transport to refineries has always been connected with a certain risk. Solid acids can be supplied in plastic bags under the same costs but without risks for people and the environment. All the technology will be commercially available in 2005. The catalyst will be used in connection with a new alkyl reaction system, which prevents the acid from leaching. In 2003 there are more than 700 refineries with about 170 alkyl production units worldwide, mostly in North America. Technicky Tydenik, 26 Aug 2003, 51 (34), 7 (in Czech)
Chemical Week, 10 Sep 2003, 165 (31), 39
Davison Catalysts will be able to boost production of its alumina sol catalyst technologies, including the Imapct resid catalyst, with the completion of a multi-million dollar upgrading to its fluid cracking catalyst (FCC) plant at its production complex in Lake Charles, LA. The upgraded facility went online in May 2003 and will enable the firm to yield the Aurora-XLC and other premium cracking catalysts. Chemical Engineering Progress, Sep 2003, 99 (9), 18
Dow expands catalytic polyol Because of strong demand, Dow Chemical is converting a conventional polyols line in Freeport, TX, to produce Voranol Voractiv catalytically active polyol. Capacity for the product will rise from 80 M lb/y to 580 M lb/y by Oct 2003. The product reduces handing of amine catalysts, reduces processing steps, and dramatically cuts emissions for flexible foam makers. Chemical and Engineering News, 29 Sep 2003, 81 (39), 9-10 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
NOVEMBER 2003
Hydrogen skids into US Hydro-Chem, a subsidiary of Linde BOC Process Plants, has developed a skid-mounted hydrogen generator fuelled by methanol. The generator can supply fuel cell-powered vehicles and can be installed for $800,000. It can produce 100 cu m/hour and is suitable for use in fuelling stations. The generator uses a steam methanol reformer with a copper-zinc catalyst. Steam and methanol are reacted at 274° and yield hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The purity of the hydrogen is guaranteed by use of a pressure swing absorption system. California may require 2000 such generators by 2015 to support growing demand for fuel cell vehicles. It is estimated that methane from a single landfill site could support 3 such on-site methanol reformers. European Chemical News, 15 Sep 2003, 79 (2068), 25
New cracker process boosts propylene yield UOP LLC of Des Plains, IL, and Atofina of Feluy, Belgium have commercialised a jointly developed olefin-cracking process (OCP), which converts C4-C8 olefins into ethylene and propylene. OCP was developed to use low-value by-product streams coming from methanol-to-olefin (MTO) plants, petroleum refineries and steam crackers. Results from a study, which integrated OCP with a naphtha steam cracker, indicate that the propylene yield increases by 30% for the same total naphtha flow rate, which results in a net propylene-toethylene ratio of 0.8 ppm. The incremental expenditure for such an integration is approximately $72 M, with a payback period of four years as claimed by UOP. A demonstration plant began operating in Atofina’s Antwerp site in Belgium in 1998. The OCP process was further optimized since 2000 when UOP helped in the
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