- Email: [email protected]
Environmentally responsive ether solvent bared
F O C U S improved performance and fuel consumption. Press release from: Dow Corning Corp, PO Box 994, Midland, MI 48686-0994, USA. Tel: +1 989 496 4400. Fax: +1 989 496 6731. Website: http://www.dowcorning.com (24 Mar 2004)
Novozymes develops revolutionary enzyme for washing clothes Novozymes, Denmark, has discovered a new ground-breaking enzyme which helps to clean clothes in a more economical and environmentally friendly way. The new enzyme, Stainzyme, has the unique ability to clean clothes in cold water. Novozymes expects that this will reduce washing time as there is no need to heat the water and will allow clothes to retain their true colour for longer. Novozymes has been working to develop the enzyme for the last 5 years. Dagbladet Borsen, 31 Mar 2004 (Website: http://www.borsen.dk) (in Danish) & Press release from Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd 2880, Denmark, Website: http://www.novozymes.com (31 Mar 2004)
Stain-removing bleach catalysts from Unilever Unilever HPC has earned Patent No US 6,677,288 for a stain-removing bleach catalyst with an organic substance that creates a complex with a transition metal. The complex is a catalysing bleach obtained from a precursor substrate chosen from atmospheric oxygen, a peroxy species and a peroxy precursor. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Mar 2004, 41 (3), 30
Federal interest spurs nanotech development The US Department of Defence has awarded research contracts worth about $10 M to Mach 1 Inc (King of Prussia, PA) to develop a burning catalyst (based on nanosized amorphous ferric oxide) for solid rocket fuel (primarily ammonium perchlorate).
O N
C ATA LY S T S
issued and assigned to Fullerene USA Inc, PFCE’s parent company. The abstract reads as follows: A fuel cell having an electrode and/or catalyst formed from a nano-carbon material, such as fullerene, carbon nanotube, carbon nanohorn, carbon nano-fibre or metal encapsulated fullerene. Such fuel cells may not use platinum in the electrode or catalyst, or may use platinum in small amounts. The efficiency of the fuel cell may be increased by applying external energy to the electrode and/or catalyst. A cationic membrane may be positioned between the cathode and anode of the fuel cell. Also disclosed is an improved method for generating electricity from a fuel cell having at least one electrode formed from a nano-carbon material. To increase the efficiency of the fuel cell, the electrode or catalyst containing nano-carbon material may be irradiated with blue colour diode light, or an electric current may be directed to the nano-carbon material. Press release from: Pacific Fuel Cell Corp, USA. Tel: +1 714 564 1693 (29 Mar 2004)
Environmentally responsive ether solvent bared: Zeon A pyrolysis reaction with a solid catalyst has been used by Zeon to develop a new solvent, cyclopentene methyl ether (CPME). This has low toxicity and is environmentally friendly. In fiscal 2005, the company will construct a pilot plant at Mizushima with a capacity of several hundred tonne/y. Samples will be supplied and the market assessed. Within a few years, the company expects to build a production unit with a capacity of several thousand tonne/y. Production results in much lower effluent levels than traditional solvent manufacture. Japan Chemical Week, 1 Apr 2004, 45 (2264), 4
ENVIRONMENT
Chemical Market Reporter, 29 Mar 2004 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
EU to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 2010
Fullerenes for fuel cells reduce catalyst usage
The European Union plans to reduce the concentration of nitrogen oxides in air to below 20 parts per billion by 2010. In accordance with this strategy, the European Commission is
Pacific Fuel Cell Corp has announced that US Patent 6,706,431 has been
6
supporting research on the catalytic degradation of emissions, above all from traffic. Catalytic titanium dioxide is to become part of the surface of the road and the adjacent buildings. Tests are being done in a laboratory in Ispra, Italy, which is part of the EC Joint Research Centre. Pilot operation testing has been done in Milan, Italy, where a catalytic coat was applied to 7,000 m2 of road surface. In 2005 the research should result in commercially usable know-how. Ekonom, 11 Mar 2004, 48 (11), 14 (in Czech)
KleenAir receives highest UK government funding level KleenAir Systems Inc (KleenAir) announced that the Energy Savings Trust (EST) in the UK, in their restructuring of their emission control funding grants, has created a new category for KleenAir products and awarded that category the highest level of grant funding at a subsidy of 75%. This category is called SCRF, which consists of a combination of KleenAir’s Selective Catalytic Reduction systems combined with its particulate reduction system. Because the combination system addresses both NOx and particulates, this combination achieves the greatest level of emission reduction in a single system. The current listing is in conjunction with Dinex Exhaust Ltd, KleenAir’s European systems integrator. Other technologies have been downgraded from the previous general 75% level. For example, LPG systems are now listed at 50%, engine re-powers at 50%, Diesel Oxidizing Catalysts at 25%, and Particulate Filter retrofits at 60%. On the other hand, SCRF upgrades are listed at the 75% subsidy level. The immediate programmes for which the company anticipates applying are the London Taxi upgrade and London Bus retrofit programmes for which KleenAir’s SCRF systems have been in place for some time. Funds will be made available as of 1 Apr 2004 under the new UK budget for EST that was previously suspended in Oct 2003. KleenAir Systems Inc is at the cutting edge of automotive emission reduction technology, including Selective Catalytic Reduction, Diesel Particulate Filters, Diesel Oxidizing Catalysts, and advanced catalytic technology
MAY 2004
Novozymes develops revolutionary enzyme for washing clothes Novozymes, Denmark, has discovered a new ground-breaking enzyme which helps to clean clothes in a more economical and environmentally friendly way. The new enzyme, Stainzyme, has the unique ability to clean clothes in cold water. Novozymes expects that this will reduce washing time as there is no need to heat the water and will allow clothes to retain their true colour for longer. Novozymes has been working to develop the enzyme for the last 5 years. Dagbladet Borsen, 31 Mar 2004 (Website: http://www.borsen.dk) (in Danish) & Press release from Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd 2880, Denmark, Website: http://www.novozymes.com (31 Mar 2004)
Stain-removing bleach catalysts from Unilever Unilever HPC has earned Patent No US 6,677,288 for a stain-removing bleach catalyst with an organic substance that creates a complex with a transition metal. The complex is a catalysing bleach obtained from a precursor substrate chosen from atmospheric oxygen, a peroxy species and a peroxy precursor. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Mar 2004, 41 (3), 30
Federal interest spurs nanotech development The US Department of Defence has awarded research contracts worth about $10 M to Mach 1 Inc (King of Prussia, PA) to develop a burning catalyst (based on nanosized amorphous ferric oxide) for solid rocket fuel (primarily ammonium perchlorate).
O N
C ATA LY S T S
issued and assigned to Fullerene USA Inc, PFCE’s parent company. The abstract reads as follows: A fuel cell having an electrode and/or catalyst formed from a nano-carbon material, such as fullerene, carbon nanotube, carbon nanohorn, carbon nano-fibre or metal encapsulated fullerene. Such fuel cells may not use platinum in the electrode or catalyst, or may use platinum in small amounts. The efficiency of the fuel cell may be increased by applying external energy to the electrode and/or catalyst. A cationic membrane may be positioned between the cathode and anode of the fuel cell. Also disclosed is an improved method for generating electricity from a fuel cell having at least one electrode formed from a nano-carbon material. To increase the efficiency of the fuel cell, the electrode or catalyst containing nano-carbon material may be irradiated with blue colour diode light, or an electric current may be directed to the nano-carbon material. Press release from: Pacific Fuel Cell Corp, USA. Tel: +1 714 564 1693 (29 Mar 2004)
Environmentally responsive ether solvent bared: Zeon A pyrolysis reaction with a solid catalyst has been used by Zeon to develop a new solvent, cyclopentene methyl ether (CPME). This has low toxicity and is environmentally friendly. In fiscal 2005, the company will construct a pilot plant at Mizushima with a capacity of several hundred tonne/y. Samples will be supplied and the market assessed. Within a few years, the company expects to build a production unit with a capacity of several thousand tonne/y. Production results in much lower effluent levels than traditional solvent manufacture. Japan Chemical Week, 1 Apr 2004, 45 (2264), 4
ENVIRONMENT
Chemical Market Reporter, 29 Mar 2004 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
EU to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 2010
Fullerenes for fuel cells reduce catalyst usage
The European Union plans to reduce the concentration of nitrogen oxides in air to below 20 parts per billion by 2010. In accordance with this strategy, the European Commission is
Pacific Fuel Cell Corp has announced that US Patent 6,706,431 has been
6
supporting research on the catalytic degradation of emissions, above all from traffic. Catalytic titanium dioxide is to become part of the surface of the road and the adjacent buildings. Tests are being done in a laboratory in Ispra, Italy, which is part of the EC Joint Research Centre. Pilot operation testing has been done in Milan, Italy, where a catalytic coat was applied to 7,000 m2 of road surface. In 2005 the research should result in commercially usable know-how. Ekonom, 11 Mar 2004, 48 (11), 14 (in Czech)
KleenAir receives highest UK government funding level KleenAir Systems Inc (KleenAir) announced that the Energy Savings Trust (EST) in the UK, in their restructuring of their emission control funding grants, has created a new category for KleenAir products and awarded that category the highest level of grant funding at a subsidy of 75%. This category is called SCRF, which consists of a combination of KleenAir’s Selective Catalytic Reduction systems combined with its particulate reduction system. Because the combination system addresses both NOx and particulates, this combination achieves the greatest level of emission reduction in a single system. The current listing is in conjunction with Dinex Exhaust Ltd, KleenAir’s European systems integrator. Other technologies have been downgraded from the previous general 75% level. For example, LPG systems are now listed at 50%, engine re-powers at 50%, Diesel Oxidizing Catalysts at 25%, and Particulate Filter retrofits at 60%. On the other hand, SCRF upgrades are listed at the 75% subsidy level. The immediate programmes for which the company anticipates applying are the London Taxi upgrade and London Bus retrofit programmes for which KleenAir’s SCRF systems have been in place for some time. Funds will be made available as of 1 Apr 2004 under the new UK budget for EST that was previously suspended in Oct 2003. KleenAir Systems Inc is at the cutting edge of automotive emission reduction technology, including Selective Catalytic Reduction, Diesel Particulate Filters, Diesel Oxidizing Catalysts, and advanced catalytic technology
MAY 2004