- Email: [email protected]
Ethyl acetate made by reactive distillation
FOCUS Heterogeneous esterification catalyst Workers in the Engineering Faculty of Shinsu University have invented a heterogeneous catalyst for making methyl esters under relatively anhydrous conditions. The catalyst is an alkali metal salt supported on alumina, used as a slurry in tetrahydrofuran. Chemical Engineering, Jan 2004, 111 (1), 15
Rohm and Haas Advanced Biosciences develops new line of functionalised resins A new line of functionalised resins, called Amberzyme, designed to immobilize biocatalysts has been introduced by Rohm and Haas Advanced Biosciences. Amberzyme oxirane, the initial product to be marketed commercially, features an oxirane functional group that creates a covalent bond along with the amine terminus of an enzyme. Chemical Engineering (New York), Dec 2003, 10 (13), 16
Hydrogen from renewable biomass Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have developed a new catalyst suitable for the generation of hydrogen from plant by-products. The Raney-nickel/tin catalyst offers a low cost alternative to platinum catalysts. The use of a nickel-only catalyst produces methane. The team found that with a nickel/tin alloy the reaction mainly produces hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The catalyst could allow the development of the first ever hydrogen fuel cells to use renewable sources. The technology will be developed and marketed by Virent Energy Systems. The firm is building a larger reactor to test the process. Nickel, Oct 2003, 19 (1), 8-9 (Nickel Development Institute, 214 King St W, Suite 510, Toronto, Canada M5H 356. Tel: +1 416 591 7999. Fax: +1 416 591 7987. Website: http://www.nickelmagazine.org)
ENVIRONMENT Supercritical water helps make hydrogen from plastic A new catalysed, supercritical water process for the efficient production of
MARCH 2004
ON
C ATA LY S T S
hydrogen from waste plastic has been developed by researchers at Shizuoka University, Japan. Catalysts evaluated include nickel, and sodium or potassium hydroxide. There is a brief discussion of the process and its applications. Japan Chemical Week, 15 Jan 2004, 45 (2253), 8
Clean Diesel’s new biodiesel blend reduces particulates and NOx Clean Diesel Technologies Inc announced that results of testing of its new Cleaner Burning Biodiesel fuel blend produced emissions reductions of 23% particulates and 5% NOx versus normal on-highway diesel fuel. Testing was conducted at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) on a 1991 certified Cummins 8.3 lt medium-duty engine typical of school buses and delivery fleets. The Cleaner Burning Biodiesel formulation is a blend of No 1D and 20% biodiesel, along with Clean Diesel Technologies’ patented Platinum Plus fuel-borne catalyst (FBC). The No 1D is commercial pipeline-grade kerosene widely used by municipalities. The addition of 20% biodiesel not only displaces 20% petroleum with a renewable energy source, but in conjunction with the Platinum Plus FBC, provides reductions in all regulated pollutants. Earlier testing by CDT at SwRI had shown the ability of the Platinum Plus FBC and No 1D to produce dramatic PM and NOx reductions, and these reductions were maintained or even improved by the addition of biodiesel to the fuel blend. In this new blend, with the FBC, No 1D and 20% biodiesel, NOx is reduced below the baseline levels measured on normal No 2D fuel. Tested at SwRI in conjunction with a new catalyzed wire-mesh filter system, the biodiesel blend reduced PM, HC and CO by over 75% with NOx reduced by 5%. Particulate emissions were actually 50% the emissions of a new 2004 engine. Clean Diesel Technologies Inc is a speciality chemical company with patented products that reduce emissions from diesel engines while simultaneously improving fuel economy and power. Press release from: Clean Diesel Technologies Inc, 300, Atlantic Street, Suite 702, Stamford, CT 06901, USA. Tel: +1 203 327 7050. Fax: +1 203 323 0461. Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.cdti.com (2 Feb 2004)
PATENTS Mordenite membrane A mordenite membrane in which the crystals are essentially orientated in one direction is made by impregnating a porous substrate with a zeolite precursor gel and heating it under hydrothermal conditions. US 6,692,640, 17 Feb 2004, NGK Insulators Ltd, Nagoya, Japan
Liquid-phase fluorinations A process for fluorinating HCFs and HCFCs using HF, catalysed by TiCl4, SnCl4, or various antimony pentahalides. Particularly useful for converting 1,1,1,3,3pentachloropropane to the corresponding pentafluoropropane. US 6,689,924, 10 Feb 2004, Honeywell International, Morristown, NJ, USA
Selective CO oxidation CO and methanol are selectively oxidised to CO2 in the presence of hydrogen, using a gold catalyst deposited on a non-reducible magnesium aluminium spinel. Temperatures in the range 50-150° C are effective. US 6,692,713, 17 Feb 2004, Haldor Topsoe A/S, Lyngby, Denmark
Selective oxidation catalysts Alkanes are oxidised to unsaturated aldehydes and carboxylic acids using an oxide catalyst which is essentially tungsten vanadate plus elements from Groups V and VI. US 6,693,059, 17 Feb 2004, Rohm & Haas Co, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Ethyl acetate made by reactive distillation Ethyl acetate is made continuously from ethanol and acetic acid in a three-zone distillation column. The central zone contains an acidic catalyst such as an ion-exchange resin. The reactants are fed to this zone. Product, together with water, distils out from the upper zone. US 6,693,213, 17 Feb 2004, Sulzer Chemtech AG, Winterthur, Switzerland
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Rohm and Haas Advanced Biosciences develops new line of functionalised resins A new line of functionalised resins, called Amberzyme, designed to immobilize biocatalysts has been introduced by Rohm and Haas Advanced Biosciences. Amberzyme oxirane, the initial product to be marketed commercially, features an oxirane functional group that creates a covalent bond along with the amine terminus of an enzyme. Chemical Engineering (New York), Dec 2003, 10 (13), 16
Hydrogen from renewable biomass Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have developed a new catalyst suitable for the generation of hydrogen from plant by-products. The Raney-nickel/tin catalyst offers a low cost alternative to platinum catalysts. The use of a nickel-only catalyst produces methane. The team found that with a nickel/tin alloy the reaction mainly produces hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The catalyst could allow the development of the first ever hydrogen fuel cells to use renewable sources. The technology will be developed and marketed by Virent Energy Systems. The firm is building a larger reactor to test the process. Nickel, Oct 2003, 19 (1), 8-9 (Nickel Development Institute, 214 King St W, Suite 510, Toronto, Canada M5H 356. Tel: +1 416 591 7999. Fax: +1 416 591 7987. Website: http://www.nickelmagazine.org)
ENVIRONMENT Supercritical water helps make hydrogen from plastic A new catalysed, supercritical water process for the efficient production of
MARCH 2004
ON
C ATA LY S T S
hydrogen from waste plastic has been developed by researchers at Shizuoka University, Japan. Catalysts evaluated include nickel, and sodium or potassium hydroxide. There is a brief discussion of the process and its applications. Japan Chemical Week, 15 Jan 2004, 45 (2253), 8
Clean Diesel’s new biodiesel blend reduces particulates and NOx Clean Diesel Technologies Inc announced that results of testing of its new Cleaner Burning Biodiesel fuel blend produced emissions reductions of 23% particulates and 5% NOx versus normal on-highway diesel fuel. Testing was conducted at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) on a 1991 certified Cummins 8.3 lt medium-duty engine typical of school buses and delivery fleets. The Cleaner Burning Biodiesel formulation is a blend of No 1D and 20% biodiesel, along with Clean Diesel Technologies’ patented Platinum Plus fuel-borne catalyst (FBC). The No 1D is commercial pipeline-grade kerosene widely used by municipalities. The addition of 20% biodiesel not only displaces 20% petroleum with a renewable energy source, but in conjunction with the Platinum Plus FBC, provides reductions in all regulated pollutants. Earlier testing by CDT at SwRI had shown the ability of the Platinum Plus FBC and No 1D to produce dramatic PM and NOx reductions, and these reductions were maintained or even improved by the addition of biodiesel to the fuel blend. In this new blend, with the FBC, No 1D and 20% biodiesel, NOx is reduced below the baseline levels measured on normal No 2D fuel. Tested at SwRI in conjunction with a new catalyzed wire-mesh filter system, the biodiesel blend reduced PM, HC and CO by over 75% with NOx reduced by 5%. Particulate emissions were actually 50% the emissions of a new 2004 engine. Clean Diesel Technologies Inc is a speciality chemical company with patented products that reduce emissions from diesel engines while simultaneously improving fuel economy and power. Press release from: Clean Diesel Technologies Inc, 300, Atlantic Street, Suite 702, Stamford, CT 06901, USA. Tel: +1 203 327 7050. Fax: +1 203 323 0461. Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.cdti.com (2 Feb 2004)
PATENTS Mordenite membrane A mordenite membrane in which the crystals are essentially orientated in one direction is made by impregnating a porous substrate with a zeolite precursor gel and heating it under hydrothermal conditions. US 6,692,640, 17 Feb 2004, NGK Insulators Ltd, Nagoya, Japan
Liquid-phase fluorinations A process for fluorinating HCFs and HCFCs using HF, catalysed by TiCl4, SnCl4, or various antimony pentahalides. Particularly useful for converting 1,1,1,3,3pentachloropropane to the corresponding pentafluoropropane. US 6,689,924, 10 Feb 2004, Honeywell International, Morristown, NJ, USA
Selective CO oxidation CO and methanol are selectively oxidised to CO2 in the presence of hydrogen, using a gold catalyst deposited on a non-reducible magnesium aluminium spinel. Temperatures in the range 50-150° C are effective. US 6,692,713, 17 Feb 2004, Haldor Topsoe A/S, Lyngby, Denmark
Selective oxidation catalysts Alkanes are oxidised to unsaturated aldehydes and carboxylic acids using an oxide catalyst which is essentially tungsten vanadate plus elements from Groups V and VI. US 6,693,059, 17 Feb 2004, Rohm & Haas Co, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Ethyl acetate made by reactive distillation Ethyl acetate is made continuously from ethanol and acetic acid in a three-zone distillation column. The central zone contains an acidic catalyst such as an ion-exchange resin. The reactants are fed to this zone. Product, together with water, distils out from the upper zone. US 6,693,213, 17 Feb 2004, Sulzer Chemtech AG, Winterthur, Switzerland
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