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Eurecat to build a new catalyst-processing plant in India
FOCUS has reported net sales of $1801.7 M ($1935.4 M for its fiscal 2009), of which: Refining Technologies accounted for $742.0 M ($992.1 M), Materials Technologies $673.6 M ($606.0 M), and Speciality Technologies $386.1 M ($337.3 M); and adjusted EBIT of $399.6 M ($307.3 M). There is discussion of the business and of the results, including: Refining Technologies (catalysts, chemical additives), Materials Technologies (engineered materials, coatings, sealants), and Speciality Technologies (catalysts). WR Grace Results 4Q and Full Year 2010, 10 Feb 2011, 3-5,13 (WR Grace & Co, 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. Website: http://www.grace.com)
NEW PLANTS Axens invests €25 M in Salindres Axens (the 100% subsidiary of IFP Energies Nouvelles) recently announced an €8 M investment in building a new unit (Isabel) at its site in Salindres, France. This will open at end 2012 making a new generation of hydrotreating catalysts (designed to reduce the sulfur content of fuels). The project follows on from the €18 M investment announced in 2010 concerning the construction of a new mixing/extrusion unit (Hector) at the site. These projects reflect Axens’ commitment to the Salindres site where it will have invested €25 M+ between 2011-2012. The group also has industrial units in Calvert City and Savannah in the US, and in Brockville, Canada. Thanks to its acquisition at start Jan 2011 of US reforming catalysts producer Criterion Catalysts and Technology, Axens will gain another US site (Willow Island, WV). Details of the deal have not been disclosed. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 7 Feb 2011, (538), 6 (in French)
Comar builds in Clariant park Comar Chemicals will construct its No 2 organometallic catalyst and nanoparticle chemicals facility within Clariant’s industrial complex in Muttenz, Switzerland. An R&D hub will also be set up by Comar in Muttenz. Comar’s products include rare earth catalysts for the synthetic
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Chemical Week, 14 Feb 2011 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
that DME is 100% clean in terms of sulfur, soot, and particulates, and the exhaust is about 50% lower in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
Comar Chemicals to open second catalyst production site
Press release from: Unitel Technologies Inc, 411 Business Centre Drive, 111, Mt Prospect, IL 60056, USA. Tel: +1 847 297 2265. Fax: +1 847 297 1365. Website: http://uniteltech.com (9 Feb 2011)
rubber sector and nanochemicals for pollution abatement systems.
The S African company Comar Chemicals is to open a second organometallic catalyst and nanoparticle production site in 2011. This will be at the Infrapark Baselland site run by Clariant at Muttenz, Switzerland. The announcement follows the signing of an agreement between the two companies. Comar will provide rare earths, catalysts for the production of high quality synthetic rubber used in automotive tyres. Its other plant in Cape Town, S Africa, has a production capacity of around 1000 tonne/month. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 14 Feb 2011, (539), 6 (in French)
Eurecat to build a new catalystprocessing plant in India Eurecat SA, a jv between IFP Investissements and Albemarle Corp, is setting up a new catalyst processing unit in India, with startup expected in 2Q 2012. The new plant will be focused on the ex-situ regeneration of spent catalysts and related services, as well as field services tools for industrial reactor turnarounds. Chemical Engineering (New York), Feb 2011, 118 (2), 55
Korea Gas to build 300,000 tonne/y DME plant Unitel Technologies Inc (Unitel) has been awarded a contract by Korea Gas Technology Corp (KOGAS) to prepare the basic engineering and design package for a plant that will make 300,000 tonne/y of dimethyl ether (DME). As of 9 Feb 2011, DME is currently manufactured by a cumbersome ‘two step’ process. KOGAS is the first organisation in the world to successfully develop and demonstrate a commercially viable catalytic ‘one step’ process. DME is an ideal one-to-one substitute and additive for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). It is also a direct replacement for diesel, with the added advantage
BASF plans to build second plant for sodium methoxide in S America BASF is to build an additional production plant for sodium methoxide in S America. Argentina is the planned location for the second plant with a capacity of 60,000 tonne/y. Thus, BASF wants to strengthen its regional presence in one of the most important growth markets for biodiesel. The construction of the plant is planned at BASF’s General Lagos site in Rosario, which is in the centre of Argentina’s biodiesel production. The start of operation for the first sodium methoxide plant in S America, located in Guaratingueta, Brazil, will take place as scheduled at end 2011. Sodium methoxide is a reliable and efficient catalyst for the production of biodiesel, allowing high yields. Press release from: BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 (0) 621 600. Website: http://www.basf.com (3 Mar 2011)
NEW TECHNOLOGY A paperweight for platinum A new combination of nanoparticles and graphene results in a more durable catalytic material for fuel cells, according to work published online at the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The catalytic material is not only hardier but also more chemically active. Nanite News, 19 Feb 2011 (Website: http://www.nanitenews.com)
New way to design metal nanoparticle catalysts Tiny metal nanoparticles are used as catalysts in many reactions, from refining chemicals to producing polymers and biofuels. How well these
APRIL 2011
NEW PLANTS Axens invests €25 M in Salindres Axens (the 100% subsidiary of IFP Energies Nouvelles) recently announced an €8 M investment in building a new unit (Isabel) at its site in Salindres, France. This will open at end 2012 making a new generation of hydrotreating catalysts (designed to reduce the sulfur content of fuels). The project follows on from the €18 M investment announced in 2010 concerning the construction of a new mixing/extrusion unit (Hector) at the site. These projects reflect Axens’ commitment to the Salindres site where it will have invested €25 M+ between 2011-2012. The group also has industrial units in Calvert City and Savannah in the US, and in Brockville, Canada. Thanks to its acquisition at start Jan 2011 of US reforming catalysts producer Criterion Catalysts and Technology, Axens will gain another US site (Willow Island, WV). Details of the deal have not been disclosed. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 7 Feb 2011, (538), 6 (in French)
Comar builds in Clariant park Comar Chemicals will construct its No 2 organometallic catalyst and nanoparticle chemicals facility within Clariant’s industrial complex in Muttenz, Switzerland. An R&D hub will also be set up by Comar in Muttenz. Comar’s products include rare earth catalysts for the synthetic
6
ON
C ATA LY S T S
Chemical Week, 14 Feb 2011 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
that DME is 100% clean in terms of sulfur, soot, and particulates, and the exhaust is about 50% lower in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
Comar Chemicals to open second catalyst production site
Press release from: Unitel Technologies Inc, 411 Business Centre Drive, 111, Mt Prospect, IL 60056, USA. Tel: +1 847 297 2265. Fax: +1 847 297 1365. Website: http://uniteltech.com (9 Feb 2011)
rubber sector and nanochemicals for pollution abatement systems.
The S African company Comar Chemicals is to open a second organometallic catalyst and nanoparticle production site in 2011. This will be at the Infrapark Baselland site run by Clariant at Muttenz, Switzerland. The announcement follows the signing of an agreement between the two companies. Comar will provide rare earths, catalysts for the production of high quality synthetic rubber used in automotive tyres. Its other plant in Cape Town, S Africa, has a production capacity of around 1000 tonne/month. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 14 Feb 2011, (539), 6 (in French)
Eurecat to build a new catalystprocessing plant in India Eurecat SA, a jv between IFP Investissements and Albemarle Corp, is setting up a new catalyst processing unit in India, with startup expected in 2Q 2012. The new plant will be focused on the ex-situ regeneration of spent catalysts and related services, as well as field services tools for industrial reactor turnarounds. Chemical Engineering (New York), Feb 2011, 118 (2), 55
Korea Gas to build 300,000 tonne/y DME plant Unitel Technologies Inc (Unitel) has been awarded a contract by Korea Gas Technology Corp (KOGAS) to prepare the basic engineering and design package for a plant that will make 300,000 tonne/y of dimethyl ether (DME). As of 9 Feb 2011, DME is currently manufactured by a cumbersome ‘two step’ process. KOGAS is the first organisation in the world to successfully develop and demonstrate a commercially viable catalytic ‘one step’ process. DME is an ideal one-to-one substitute and additive for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). It is also a direct replacement for diesel, with the added advantage
BASF plans to build second plant for sodium methoxide in S America BASF is to build an additional production plant for sodium methoxide in S America. Argentina is the planned location for the second plant with a capacity of 60,000 tonne/y. Thus, BASF wants to strengthen its regional presence in one of the most important growth markets for biodiesel. The construction of the plant is planned at BASF’s General Lagos site in Rosario, which is in the centre of Argentina’s biodiesel production. The start of operation for the first sodium methoxide plant in S America, located in Guaratingueta, Brazil, will take place as scheduled at end 2011. Sodium methoxide is a reliable and efficient catalyst for the production of biodiesel, allowing high yields. Press release from: BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 (0) 621 600. Website: http://www.basf.com (3 Mar 2011)
NEW TECHNOLOGY A paperweight for platinum A new combination of nanoparticles and graphene results in a more durable catalytic material for fuel cells, according to work published online at the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The catalytic material is not only hardier but also more chemically active. Nanite News, 19 Feb 2011 (Website: http://www.nanitenews.com)
New way to design metal nanoparticle catalysts Tiny metal nanoparticles are used as catalysts in many reactions, from refining chemicals to producing polymers and biofuels. How well these
APRIL 2011