- Email: [email protected]
DuPont has no plans to make biofuels
FOCUS modular GTL projects. Included in the five-year framework contract are putting the outcome of data from CGTL’s various demonstration facilities into commercial practice, conducting feasibility and scoping studies, as well as supporting the delivery of EPC contracts. Fluor is the UK operating unit of US-based Fluor Corp. Original Source: Nitrogen + Syngas, Jan/Feb 2012, (315), 16 (Website: http://www.bcinsight.com/) © BCInsight Ltd 2012
DuPont has no plans to make biofuels DuPont has no plans to become a producer of biofuels, according to the firm’s president James Collins. The firm’s interest is in licensing its technology and supporting licensees to improve their supply chain and plant operations. DuPont will also supply the associated enzymes and its ethanologen, a yeast that digests C5 and C6 sugars.
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JM announces the expansion of its autocatalyst plant in Macedonia On 9 May 2012, Johnson Matthey held a ground breaking ceremony to mark the start of a major expansion project at its emission control catalyst manufacturing plant in Macedonia. The project is being undertaken in response to rapidly growing demand for more sophisticated, complex catalysts to meet tightening European emission control legislation coming into force over the next few years. This legislation covers both light and heavy duty vehicles as well as nonroad applications such as construction and agricultural equipment. The expansion will be carried out in two phases at total cost of around GBP 50 M and will double the existing capacity of the plant. The expansion project will result in the creation of more than 100 additional jobs.
Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 7 May 2012 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2012
Original Source: Johnson Matthey plc, 40-42 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8EE, United Kingdom, tel: +44 20 7269 8400, fax: +44 20 7269 8433, website: http://www.matthey.com (9 May 2012) © Johnson Matthey plc 2012
Genomatica partners with Mitsubishi Chemical
Novozymes in Danish bioenergy consortium
US firm Genomatica and Japanese chemical major Mitsubishi Chemical Corp have agreed to exclusively negotiate regarding the possible joint commercial production of biobased butanediol (BDO) in Asia using Genomatica’s process technology. Genomatica received an upfront payment of $3.5 M from Mitsubishi, while the two firms work on completing definitive agreements.
Novozymes has become a partner in the consortium Maarbjerg Energy Concept, which will use Novozymes’ biotechnology expertise in the design of a production facility for biogas, cellulose-based bioethanol, electricity, and heat. Other partners in the consortium are Dong Energy and the local energy firms Vestforsyning, Struer Forsyning, and Nomi.
Original Source: Biorefining Magazine, May/Jun 2012 (Website: http://biorefiningmagazine.com) © BBI International 2012
Canadian ethanol companies stumble Canada’s Iogen Energy is ending its cellulosic ethanol commercialization programme and compatriot Enerkem has abandoned its initial public offering (IPO). Iogen has cancelled plans to construct a bigger biomass-to-ethanol plant in Manitoba. The decision will eliminate 150 jobs. Enerkem cited market conditions as the reason for its decision to withdraw its $160 M IPO. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 7 May 2012, 90 (19), 16-17 (Website: http://www.cenonline.org) © American Chemical Society 2012
JULY 2012
Original Source: NP Investor, 26 Apr 2012 (Website: http://www.npinvestor.dk/) (in Danish) © NPinvestor A/S 2012
Rosneft GTL demo plant to include Oxford reactors Oxford Catalysts Group PLC is pleased to announce selection of the Group’s technology for a small scale Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) facility commissioned by Rosneft. Rosneft (an integrated oil company majority owned by the Russian government) has announced a partnership with technology commercialisation firm Gazohim Techno (Gazohi), to design and construct a GTL demonstration plant using Oxford Catalysts’ FischerTropsch technology. This plant will
have a capacity of some 10 M cu m/y natural gas (equivalent to approximately 100 barrel/d synthetic crude oil). It will be located at Rosneft’s Angarsk Petrochemical Complex in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, and is targeted to be complete by end 2014. Rosneft has a stated objective and budget to reduce flaring and make better use of associated gas. This facility is envisioned as the first of many commercial GTL plants that will convert gas associated with oil production into synthetic crude or high quality downstream products, including synthetic diesel, waxes and naphtha. Original Source: Oxford Catalysts, 115E-H Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RZ, UK, tel: +44 (0)1235 841 70, fax: +44 (0)1235 841 701, email: [email protected], website: http://www.oxfordcatalysts.com/ (11 May 2012) © Oxford Catalysts Group plc 2012
Foreclosure sale for Range Fuels Range Fuels Inc’s commercial-scale cellulosic biofuels plant in Soperton, GA, will be up for grabs in Jan 2012. The firm, which defaulted on its USDA loan guarantee, was not able to refinance itself during 2011 and its assets are now being liquidated. The wood-to-ethanol/methanol facility was supposed to utilize locally sourced wood to make cellulosic biofuels based on the firm’s proprietary technology. Original Source: Nitrogen + Syngas, Jan/Feb 2012, (315), 16 (Website: http://www.bcinsight.com/) © BCInsight Ltd 2012
Süd-Chemie’s CATOFIN propane dehydrogenation catalyst delivers significant savings Süd-Chemie AG, a Clariant Group company, has announced that its breakthrough in CATOFIN propane dehydrogenation (PDH) catalyst has been successful in delivering a significant increase in propylene selectivity, while simultaneously reducing energy consumption. Since the new catalyst was introduced just over a year ago, commercial operations employing the improved catalyst have delivered a 2-3% selectivity boost as well as energy savings of between 5% and 10%, both of which have a significant and very positive impact on plant economics, enabling an increase in production without additional operating costs. For
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DuPont has no plans to make biofuels DuPont has no plans to become a producer of biofuels, according to the firm’s president James Collins. The firm’s interest is in licensing its technology and supporting licensees to improve their supply chain and plant operations. DuPont will also supply the associated enzymes and its ethanologen, a yeast that digests C5 and C6 sugars.
ON
C ATA LY S T S
JM announces the expansion of its autocatalyst plant in Macedonia On 9 May 2012, Johnson Matthey held a ground breaking ceremony to mark the start of a major expansion project at its emission control catalyst manufacturing plant in Macedonia. The project is being undertaken in response to rapidly growing demand for more sophisticated, complex catalysts to meet tightening European emission control legislation coming into force over the next few years. This legislation covers both light and heavy duty vehicles as well as nonroad applications such as construction and agricultural equipment. The expansion will be carried out in two phases at total cost of around GBP 50 M and will double the existing capacity of the plant. The expansion project will result in the creation of more than 100 additional jobs.
Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 7 May 2012 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2012
Original Source: Johnson Matthey plc, 40-42 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8EE, United Kingdom, tel: +44 20 7269 8400, fax: +44 20 7269 8433, website: http://www.matthey.com (9 May 2012) © Johnson Matthey plc 2012
Genomatica partners with Mitsubishi Chemical
Novozymes in Danish bioenergy consortium
US firm Genomatica and Japanese chemical major Mitsubishi Chemical Corp have agreed to exclusively negotiate regarding the possible joint commercial production of biobased butanediol (BDO) in Asia using Genomatica’s process technology. Genomatica received an upfront payment of $3.5 M from Mitsubishi, while the two firms work on completing definitive agreements.
Novozymes has become a partner in the consortium Maarbjerg Energy Concept, which will use Novozymes’ biotechnology expertise in the design of a production facility for biogas, cellulose-based bioethanol, electricity, and heat. Other partners in the consortium are Dong Energy and the local energy firms Vestforsyning, Struer Forsyning, and Nomi.
Original Source: Biorefining Magazine, May/Jun 2012 (Website: http://biorefiningmagazine.com) © BBI International 2012
Canadian ethanol companies stumble Canada’s Iogen Energy is ending its cellulosic ethanol commercialization programme and compatriot Enerkem has abandoned its initial public offering (IPO). Iogen has cancelled plans to construct a bigger biomass-to-ethanol plant in Manitoba. The decision will eliminate 150 jobs. Enerkem cited market conditions as the reason for its decision to withdraw its $160 M IPO. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 7 May 2012, 90 (19), 16-17 (Website: http://www.cenonline.org) © American Chemical Society 2012
JULY 2012
Original Source: NP Investor, 26 Apr 2012 (Website: http://www.npinvestor.dk/) (in Danish) © NPinvestor A/S 2012
Rosneft GTL demo plant to include Oxford reactors Oxford Catalysts Group PLC is pleased to announce selection of the Group’s technology for a small scale Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) facility commissioned by Rosneft. Rosneft (an integrated oil company majority owned by the Russian government) has announced a partnership with technology commercialisation firm Gazohim Techno (Gazohi), to design and construct a GTL demonstration plant using Oxford Catalysts’ FischerTropsch technology. This plant will
have a capacity of some 10 M cu m/y natural gas (equivalent to approximately 100 barrel/d synthetic crude oil). It will be located at Rosneft’s Angarsk Petrochemical Complex in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, and is targeted to be complete by end 2014. Rosneft has a stated objective and budget to reduce flaring and make better use of associated gas. This facility is envisioned as the first of many commercial GTL plants that will convert gas associated with oil production into synthetic crude or high quality downstream products, including synthetic diesel, waxes and naphtha. Original Source: Oxford Catalysts, 115E-H Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RZ, UK, tel: +44 (0)1235 841 70, fax: +44 (0)1235 841 701, email: [email protected], website: http://www.oxfordcatalysts.com/ (11 May 2012) © Oxford Catalysts Group plc 2012
Foreclosure sale for Range Fuels Range Fuels Inc’s commercial-scale cellulosic biofuels plant in Soperton, GA, will be up for grabs in Jan 2012. The firm, which defaulted on its USDA loan guarantee, was not able to refinance itself during 2011 and its assets are now being liquidated. The wood-to-ethanol/methanol facility was supposed to utilize locally sourced wood to make cellulosic biofuels based on the firm’s proprietary technology. Original Source: Nitrogen + Syngas, Jan/Feb 2012, (315), 16 (Website: http://www.bcinsight.com/) © BCInsight Ltd 2012
Süd-Chemie’s CATOFIN propane dehydrogenation catalyst delivers significant savings Süd-Chemie AG, a Clariant Group company, has announced that its breakthrough in CATOFIN propane dehydrogenation (PDH) catalyst has been successful in delivering a significant increase in propylene selectivity, while simultaneously reducing energy consumption. Since the new catalyst was introduced just over a year ago, commercial operations employing the improved catalyst have delivered a 2-3% selectivity boost as well as energy savings of between 5% and 10%, both of which have a significant and very positive impact on plant economics, enabling an increase in production without additional operating costs. For
3