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Dream production using carbon dioxide
FOCUS 12% compared with 4Q 2011. Double-digit percentage increases in polypropylene catalyst sales offset lower polyethylene catalyst sales. Segment gross margin was 41.0% compared with 38.0% in 4Q 2011. The increase in gross margin primarily was due to improved base pricing and lower unit manufacturing costs resulting from increased operating leverage and productivity initiatives. Segment operating income was $102.6 M compared with $96.9 M in 4Q 2011. Segment operating margin was 31.3%, an increase of 490 basis points compared with 4Q 2011. Catalyst Technologies’ sales for full year 2012 were $1268.1 M (2011: $1347.3 M). Adjusted EBIT for 2012 was $393.8 M (2011: $388.8 M). Key results are tabulated. Original Source: WR Grace & Co, website: http://www.grace.com ( 6 Feb 2013) © WR Grace & Co - Conn 2013
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largest refiner in Kazakhstan to help it upgrade its plant and boost the production of gasoline and diesel. KazMunaiGas’ (KMG) Pavlodar Oil Chemical Refinery (POCR) will use a range of UOP processes and services to modernise its plant in Northeast Kazakhstan Province, allowing it to meet Euro-5 standards aimed at reducing motor vehicle pollution. Original Source: Honeywell, 2013. Found on PR Newswire, 21 Feb 2013, (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com)
NEW TECHNOLOGY Dream production using carbon dioxide
UOP technology selected to modernise refinery in Kazakhstan to produce gasoline and diesel
Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) is working with the CAT Catalytic Center at the RWTH Aachen University in its catalytic research. The centre, near the firm’s Leverkusen headquarters, was founded by Bayer and the university in 2008. It is also backed by the state of North-Rheine Westphalia. The partners have spent €20 M on the first two phases of activities at the centre, which now extend to 2022. The interdisciplinary centre is now focused on developing new catalytic reactions, labelled dream reactions, with the primary area of interest being the use of carbon dioxide recovered from electricity generating plants as a building block for plastics. Under the BMS Dream Production project, the CAT Catalytic Center is looking for ways to enhance the catalyst system used to develop carbon dioxide as a feedstock for polyol production. The polyols are initially to serve as building blocks for flexible polyurethane foam for mattresses and furniture. Bayer and the CAT Catalytic Center are also part of the 13-member research alliance for the CO2RRECT project (CO2-Reaction using Regenerative Energies and Catalytic Technologies). One goal of the group is to use surplus electricity from wind farms in an innovative process to generate hydrogen.
UOP LLC announced that its technology has been selected by the
Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), Jan 2013, 77 (1), 15 (Website: http://www.soci.org/) © Society of Chemical Industry 2013
Tin-free catalyst for condensationcuring for mould-making compounds New from Wacker Group is a tin-free catalyst for two-part, room temperaturecuring silicone rubber grades for use in encapsulation and mould-making applications. Elastosil Catalyst NEO has been customized for the condensation-curing base components of Elastosil M rubber grades. The organo-tin free material offers a practical alternative to traditional tinbased catalysts. Mould-making compounds catalyzed with Elastosil Catalyst NEO can be processed using conventional methods. They have the same mechanical properties as conventionally cured compounds. Elastosil Catalyst NEO is intended to provide an amply long pot life for making moulds of large objects and ensure curing of the compounds within 24 hours. Original Source: Rubber World, Jan 2013, 247 (4), 16 (Website: http://www.rubberworld.com/) © Rubber World Magazine 2013
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Petronas and LanzaTech to recycle carbon dioxide into sustainable chemicals Malaysia’s national oil firm Petronas and LanzaTech have announced a partnership aimed at advancing the development and commercialization of technologies to produce sustainable chemicals from carbon dioxide and natural gas. The agreement brings together Petronas’ considerable experience and in the petroleum industry with LanzaTech’s proprietary gas fermentation technology to create a sustainable and economical source of high value chemicals. LanzaTech’s process transforms carbon monoxide in industrial waste gases, reformed natural gas, and gas obtained from any biomass source, into low carbon fuels and chemicals. It will be used to capture waste from Petronas’ operations to develop low-cost routes to downstream products. The partners are looking to extend the technology to include carbon dioxide-containing gases from various sources including refinery off-gases and natural gas wells to produce acetic acid, a highvalue chemical used in polymers and plastics applications. Original Source: Green Chemistry Network Newsletter, Feb 2013, (42), 9 (Website: http://www.greenchemistrynetwork.org) © Green Chemistry Network 2013
Cobalt-free curing taking off AkzoNobel has developed a range of cobalt-free accelerators for the ambient temperature curing of unsaturated polyesters and vinyl ester resins in anticipation of the growing environmental pressure on cobalt. Since Aug 2012, cobalt carboxylates such as cobalt octoate have been listed as CMR2 Reprotoxic under CLP by the Cobalt REACH Consortium. The material may be reclassified to carcinogenic class 1B, which would limit their application. AkzoNobel’s Nouryact range of cobalt-free accelerators is based on copper, manganese, and iron. The easy-touse accelerators can be blended at room temperature into a normal base resin, making them ideal for all composite component makers, endusers and resin producers. The Nouryact range can also be used to APRIL 2013
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largest refiner in Kazakhstan to help it upgrade its plant and boost the production of gasoline and diesel. KazMunaiGas’ (KMG) Pavlodar Oil Chemical Refinery (POCR) will use a range of UOP processes and services to modernise its plant in Northeast Kazakhstan Province, allowing it to meet Euro-5 standards aimed at reducing motor vehicle pollution. Original Source: Honeywell, 2013. Found on PR Newswire, 21 Feb 2013, (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com)
NEW TECHNOLOGY Dream production using carbon dioxide
UOP technology selected to modernise refinery in Kazakhstan to produce gasoline and diesel
Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) is working with the CAT Catalytic Center at the RWTH Aachen University in its catalytic research. The centre, near the firm’s Leverkusen headquarters, was founded by Bayer and the university in 2008. It is also backed by the state of North-Rheine Westphalia. The partners have spent €20 M on the first two phases of activities at the centre, which now extend to 2022. The interdisciplinary centre is now focused on developing new catalytic reactions, labelled dream reactions, with the primary area of interest being the use of carbon dioxide recovered from electricity generating plants as a building block for plastics. Under the BMS Dream Production project, the CAT Catalytic Center is looking for ways to enhance the catalyst system used to develop carbon dioxide as a feedstock for polyol production. The polyols are initially to serve as building blocks for flexible polyurethane foam for mattresses and furniture. Bayer and the CAT Catalytic Center are also part of the 13-member research alliance for the CO2RRECT project (CO2-Reaction using Regenerative Energies and Catalytic Technologies). One goal of the group is to use surplus electricity from wind farms in an innovative process to generate hydrogen.
UOP LLC announced that its technology has been selected by the
Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), Jan 2013, 77 (1), 15 (Website: http://www.soci.org/) © Society of Chemical Industry 2013
Tin-free catalyst for condensationcuring for mould-making compounds New from Wacker Group is a tin-free catalyst for two-part, room temperaturecuring silicone rubber grades for use in encapsulation and mould-making applications. Elastosil Catalyst NEO has been customized for the condensation-curing base components of Elastosil M rubber grades. The organo-tin free material offers a practical alternative to traditional tinbased catalysts. Mould-making compounds catalyzed with Elastosil Catalyst NEO can be processed using conventional methods. They have the same mechanical properties as conventionally cured compounds. Elastosil Catalyst NEO is intended to provide an amply long pot life for making moulds of large objects and ensure curing of the compounds within 24 hours. Original Source: Rubber World, Jan 2013, 247 (4), 16 (Website: http://www.rubberworld.com/) © Rubber World Magazine 2013
NEW PLANTS
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Petronas and LanzaTech to recycle carbon dioxide into sustainable chemicals Malaysia’s national oil firm Petronas and LanzaTech have announced a partnership aimed at advancing the development and commercialization of technologies to produce sustainable chemicals from carbon dioxide and natural gas. The agreement brings together Petronas’ considerable experience and in the petroleum industry with LanzaTech’s proprietary gas fermentation technology to create a sustainable and economical source of high value chemicals. LanzaTech’s process transforms carbon monoxide in industrial waste gases, reformed natural gas, and gas obtained from any biomass source, into low carbon fuels and chemicals. It will be used to capture waste from Petronas’ operations to develop low-cost routes to downstream products. The partners are looking to extend the technology to include carbon dioxide-containing gases from various sources including refinery off-gases and natural gas wells to produce acetic acid, a highvalue chemical used in polymers and plastics applications. Original Source: Green Chemistry Network Newsletter, Feb 2013, (42), 9 (Website: http://www.greenchemistrynetwork.org) © Green Chemistry Network 2013
Cobalt-free curing taking off AkzoNobel has developed a range of cobalt-free accelerators for the ambient temperature curing of unsaturated polyesters and vinyl ester resins in anticipation of the growing environmental pressure on cobalt. Since Aug 2012, cobalt carboxylates such as cobalt octoate have been listed as CMR2 Reprotoxic under CLP by the Cobalt REACH Consortium. The material may be reclassified to carcinogenic class 1B, which would limit their application. AkzoNobel’s Nouryact range of cobalt-free accelerators is based on copper, manganese, and iron. The easy-touse accelerators can be blended at room temperature into a normal base resin, making them ideal for all composite component makers, endusers and resin producers. The Nouryact range can also be used to APRIL 2013