- Email: [email protected]
Evonik's new metathesis catalysts
F O C U S CNPC and UOP team up on biofuels Honeywell’s subsidiary UOP and China National Petroleum Corp have decided to collaborate on biofuels projects in China. Under the agreement the two companies will collaborate on a range of biofuels technologies, and biodiesel and green jet fuel projects in China. Locally available Chinese feedstock will be largely used in these projects. CNPC is also evaluating a demonstration scale unit for producing biodiesel by utilising UOP’s technology, either at an existing facility or at a new facility. It is understood that China has mandated a 15% blending of biofuels with transportation fuels by 2020. Owing to concern about the impact of first generation biofuels on food crops, the Chinese biofuel blending target looks far-fetched. UOP produces renewable jet fuel from non-food feedstocks such as camelina oil, animal fats, and algae. Biofuels International, Nov 2009, 3 (9), 17
Cytec promoting speciality phosphines Cytec Industries Inc will promote its range of speciality phosphine products at the upcoming Informex in San Francisco. Cytec is a global leader with over 75 years of experience in the scale-up and manufacture of speciality phosphines and phosphorus derivatives under the CYTOP and CYPHOS brands. Cytec offers phosphines for many speciality chemical applications including bisphosphonates, organophosphine catalyst ligands and ligand precursors, phosphonates, phosphine and phosphonic acids, alkylphosphine reducing agents and chloroorganophosphorus activating reagents. In addition, Cytec specializes in arrangements to develop and manufacture proprietary technology for speciality chemical companies worldwide. Cytec Industries Inc is a global speciality chemicals and materials company focused on developing, manufacturing and selling valueadded products. Press release from: Cytec Industries Inc, 5 Garret Mountain Plaza, West Paterson, NJ 07424, USA. Tel: +1 973 357 3249 or +1 973 357 3319. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.cytec.com (4 Feb 2010)
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Danisco once again a potential takeover candidate A number of banks have labelled Danisco as a clear takeover candidate in view of the fact that it has sold off problematic businesses, markedly reduced its debts, improved operating earnings, and removed voting rights restrictions, as well as having an attractive technology platform. It is thought that major chemical companies perceive enzymes as a potential threat to their business and the easiest way to eliminate this threat is to buy up enzyme operations. Private equity funds have shown interest in Danisco in the past, but this time it is higher grade industrial players who are taking notice. Dagbladet Borsen, 22 Feb 2010 (Website: http://www.borsen.dk) (in Danish)
Evonik’s new metathesis catalysts The catalysts business line of Evonik Industries has expanded its portfolio of metathesis catalysts. It is offering its customers three new, efficient homogeneous catalysts that cover a broad spectrum of reactions in crossmetathesis, ring-closing metathesis, and ring-opening metathesis through catMETium RF2, catMETium RF3, and catMETium RF4. The primary areas of application for the new catalysts are polymer chemistry and the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Evonik markets the new catalysts based on a business model that requires no licensing agreements and ensures transparency. The total kilogram price for the catalysts already includes the licensing fees for the use of the intellectual property rights. Press release from: Evonik Industries AG, Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11 45128, Essen, Germany. Website: http://www.evonik.com (16 Feb 2010)
Genencor introduces another biomass conversion enzyme Genencor introduced Accellerase Duet at the Renewable Fuels Association’s 15th Annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, FL. This product is the latest generation in the company’s line of enzymes used to convert biomass into sugars, a critical step in the production of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels and biochemicals from non-food
feedstocks. With improved overall hemicellulase activity, Accellerase Duet builds on the advances in betaglucosidase and cellulase activity previously made by Accellerase 1500. These additional improvements allow Accellerase Duet to achieve higher sugar and biofuel yields, often at 3-fold lower dosing, and to be feedstock- and pretreatment-flexible. Press releases from: Genencor International Inc, 200, Meridian Centre Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14618 3916, USA. Tel: +1 585 256 5200. Fax: +1 585 256 6952. Website: http://www.genencor.com, & Danisco A/S, Langebrogade 1, PO Box 17, DK-1001 Copenhagen K, Denmark. Tel: +45 3266 2000. Fax: +45 3266 2175. Website: http://www.danisco.com (15 Feb 2010) & NP Investor, 15 Feb 2010 (Website: http://www.npinvestor.dk/) (in Danish)
Genencor wins big loan to market bioisoprene Danisco has received a loan of €40 M from the Nordic Investment Bank to fund two R&D projects at its Genencor enzymes division. The fund will be used towards the production of marketable bio-isoprene for use in rubber application and cellulosic-based bioethanol. Genencor recently inked a deal to develop bio-isoprene for potential use as an ingredient in the synthetic rubber production programme of Goodyear. European Rubber Journal, Jan/Feb 2010, 192 (1), 11
HC Starck sells catalysts business to Evonik HC Starck sold its Amperkat business to Evonik Degussa GmbH on 26 Feb 2010. Evonik will acquire know-how and technology for the production and use of catalysts. Amperkat stands for activated metal catalysts. Starck has produced these at Laufenberg and this facility will be used for a transition period, before Evonik moves production to its site at Hanau. Starck had announced it was selling the business some time ago, as the catalysts no longer form a part of the company’s core business. Chemie Technik (Heidelberg), 2 Mar 2010 (Website: http://www.chemietechnik.de) (in German)
New methanol synthesis catalyst from Topsoe Haldor Topsoe has launched a new methanol synthesis catalyst system called MK-151 FENCE. It is the third
APRIL 2010
Cytec promoting speciality phosphines Cytec Industries Inc will promote its range of speciality phosphine products at the upcoming Informex in San Francisco. Cytec is a global leader with over 75 years of experience in the scale-up and manufacture of speciality phosphines and phosphorus derivatives under the CYTOP and CYPHOS brands. Cytec offers phosphines for many speciality chemical applications including bisphosphonates, organophosphine catalyst ligands and ligand precursors, phosphonates, phosphine and phosphonic acids, alkylphosphine reducing agents and chloroorganophosphorus activating reagents. In addition, Cytec specializes in arrangements to develop and manufacture proprietary technology for speciality chemical companies worldwide. Cytec Industries Inc is a global speciality chemicals and materials company focused on developing, manufacturing and selling valueadded products. Press release from: Cytec Industries Inc, 5 Garret Mountain Plaza, West Paterson, NJ 07424, USA. Tel: +1 973 357 3249 or +1 973 357 3319. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.cytec.com (4 Feb 2010)
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Danisco once again a potential takeover candidate A number of banks have labelled Danisco as a clear takeover candidate in view of the fact that it has sold off problematic businesses, markedly reduced its debts, improved operating earnings, and removed voting rights restrictions, as well as having an attractive technology platform. It is thought that major chemical companies perceive enzymes as a potential threat to their business and the easiest way to eliminate this threat is to buy up enzyme operations. Private equity funds have shown interest in Danisco in the past, but this time it is higher grade industrial players who are taking notice. Dagbladet Borsen, 22 Feb 2010 (Website: http://www.borsen.dk) (in Danish)
Evonik’s new metathesis catalysts The catalysts business line of Evonik Industries has expanded its portfolio of metathesis catalysts. It is offering its customers three new, efficient homogeneous catalysts that cover a broad spectrum of reactions in crossmetathesis, ring-closing metathesis, and ring-opening metathesis through catMETium RF2, catMETium RF3, and catMETium RF4. The primary areas of application for the new catalysts are polymer chemistry and the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Evonik markets the new catalysts based on a business model that requires no licensing agreements and ensures transparency. The total kilogram price for the catalysts already includes the licensing fees for the use of the intellectual property rights. Press release from: Evonik Industries AG, Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11 45128, Essen, Germany. Website: http://www.evonik.com (16 Feb 2010)
Genencor introduces another biomass conversion enzyme Genencor introduced Accellerase Duet at the Renewable Fuels Association’s 15th Annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, FL. This product is the latest generation in the company’s line of enzymes used to convert biomass into sugars, a critical step in the production of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels and biochemicals from non-food
feedstocks. With improved overall hemicellulase activity, Accellerase Duet builds on the advances in betaglucosidase and cellulase activity previously made by Accellerase 1500. These additional improvements allow Accellerase Duet to achieve higher sugar and biofuel yields, often at 3-fold lower dosing, and to be feedstock- and pretreatment-flexible. Press releases from: Genencor International Inc, 200, Meridian Centre Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14618 3916, USA. Tel: +1 585 256 5200. Fax: +1 585 256 6952. Website: http://www.genencor.com, & Danisco A/S, Langebrogade 1, PO Box 17, DK-1001 Copenhagen K, Denmark. Tel: +45 3266 2000. Fax: +45 3266 2175. Website: http://www.danisco.com (15 Feb 2010) & NP Investor, 15 Feb 2010 (Website: http://www.npinvestor.dk/) (in Danish)
Genencor wins big loan to market bioisoprene Danisco has received a loan of €40 M from the Nordic Investment Bank to fund two R&D projects at its Genencor enzymes division. The fund will be used towards the production of marketable bio-isoprene for use in rubber application and cellulosic-based bioethanol. Genencor recently inked a deal to develop bio-isoprene for potential use as an ingredient in the synthetic rubber production programme of Goodyear. European Rubber Journal, Jan/Feb 2010, 192 (1), 11
HC Starck sells catalysts business to Evonik HC Starck sold its Amperkat business to Evonik Degussa GmbH on 26 Feb 2010. Evonik will acquire know-how and technology for the production and use of catalysts. Amperkat stands for activated metal catalysts. Starck has produced these at Laufenberg and this facility will be used for a transition period, before Evonik moves production to its site at Hanau. Starck had announced it was selling the business some time ago, as the catalysts no longer form a part of the company’s core business. Chemie Technik (Heidelberg), 2 Mar 2010 (Website: http://www.chemietechnik.de) (in German)
New methanol synthesis catalyst from Topsoe Haldor Topsoe has launched a new methanol synthesis catalyst system called MK-151 FENCE. It is the third
APRIL 2010