- Email: [email protected]
From CO2 to plastic
FOCUS modelling and tests. The end-goal is to identify the optimal SCR catalysts and then produce them in a controlled way. The ProNOx programme is collaboration between Haldor Topsoe and two research teams at Aarhus University, one team from the chemistry department and the other team from the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO). Innovation Fund Denmark has invested approximately $2.8 M in the project. Currently, Topsoe produces and markets highly effective SCR catalysts to clean flue gases from industry, power plants, and heavy diesel engines.
Original source: Haldor Topsoe, 10 Feb 2017, (Haldor Topsoe, website: http://www.topsoe. com/) © Haldor Topsoe A/S 2017.
Grace reports 4Q and FY 2016 results: Grace Catalysts Technologies For WR Grace & Co's Catalysts Technologies segment, which includes catalysts and additives for refinery, plastics and other chemical process applications, as well as polypropylene process technology, sales were $328.9 M, an increase of 7% compared with 4Q 2015. Gross margin was 43.5%, an increase of 40 basis points compared with 4Q 2015. Operating income of $107.7 M increased 7% compared with 4Q 2015. Operating margin was 32.7%, a decrease of 10 basis points compared with 4Q 2015. ART contributed $11.8 M to operating income compared with $8.3 M in 4Q 2015.
Original source: W. R. Grace & Co., 8 Feb 2017, (Website: http://www.grace.com) © WR Grace & Co - Conn 2017.
Biobased materials hit the big time Several bio-based chemical firms have reached major commercial milestones in 2016. BASF and Avantium established a joint venture to construct a $500 M furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) facility in Antwerp, Belgium, utilizing Avantium's catalysts to manufacture sugarbased FDCA. In Sep 2016, Avantium and Toyobo announced their plans to jointly produce polyethylene furanoate (PEF) polymers and films in Japan. Separately, DuPont and ADM partnered to develop polytrimethylene furandicarboxylate using biobased chemicals (1,3 propanediol and furan dicarboxylic methyl ester). The partners plan to build a demonstration plant in Decatur, IL, US. Meanwhile, Novomer has divested its polyols unit for an estimated value of $100 M to Saudi Aramco. While the polyols are not bio-based, carbon dioxide is utilized as raw material. Proceeds from the sale will be used by Novomer to establish a facility that manufactures bio-based acrylic acid. In Silsbee, TX, US, Anellotech commissioned a pilot facility to convert lignocellulosic biomass into aromatic chemicals (xylene, toluene and benzene). The company also secured funding from Japan's Suntory and a Toyota unit.
Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 19 Dec 2016, 94 (49), (Website: http:// cen.acs.org/index.html) © American Chemical Society 2016.
March 2017
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AkzoNobel raises Mexican organic peroxides capacity AkzoNobel has finished the EUR 22 M plant expansion for its 'Laurox' brand of organic peroxides in Los Reyes, Mexico.
Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 24 Jan 2017, 62 (25), 177 (Website: http://www. chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2017.
Molecular Assemblies raises first round financing US-based Molecular Assemblies, a start-up focused on enzyme-based DNA synthesis, has raised $2.3 M in an initial funding round from investors including Agilent Technologies. The company's biocatalyst method is cleaner and created longer DNA sequences than conventional phosphoramidite chemical routes.
Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 19 Dec 2016, 94 (49), 19 (Website: http://cen.acs.org/index.html) © American Chemical Society 2016.
Velocys & Morimatsu Heavy Industry sign MoU for GTL and BTL plants Velocys and Morimatsu (Jiangsu) Heavy Industry Co have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic alliance for gas-to-liquids (GTL) and biomassto-liquids (BTL) plants. Morimatsu will be Velocys' preferred supplier of module engineering and fabrication services for GTL and BTL plants based on Velocys technology, reducing the cost of the plants. The two companies have been working together for the past 18 months on the modular design of the Fischer-Tropsch section for a range of plant sizes; a design that will deliver targeted reductions in both capital cost and plant footprint. The companies also plan to partner with other strategic partners. Velocys said it expects the MoU to become legally binding within the next few months.
Original Source: PetroChemical News, 23 Jan 2017, 4 (Website: http://www. petrochemical-news.com) © William F. Bland Co. 2017.
back-to-back five-day turnaround batch times over much of the quarter. It surpassed production cost targets, demonstrating variable costs of production of less than the targeted $3.00-3.50/gal. Ethanol production continued to operate well in the SBS configuration of the plant, with 2.8 M gal of ethanol produced in the quarter. For the year, the volume of isobutanol production was approximately 440,000 gallons, below the previously announced estimate of approximately 500,000 gallons. On 21 Dec 2016, the Luverne Plant was taken offline to perform unplanned necessary repairs and maintenance on certain components of the plant's regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO), a piece of pollution control equipment. The Luverne Plant remains offline at this time, as Gevo has decided to make further upgrades to the RTO while it is down. Given the age of the equipment (the RTO was installed approximately ten years ago prior to Gevo purchasing the plant in 2010) such upgrades were expected to be made in the near future, in any event. Gevo expects the plant to be back online in the next two weeks.
Original Source: Gevo, 2017. Found on SpecialChem Plastics and Elastomers Formulation, 24 Jan 2017, (Website: http:// www.specialchem4polymers.com).
Tosoh reports its consolidated results for the first nine months of fiscal 2017: Specialty Group For Tosoh's Specialty Group, net sales in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017 (1 Apr-31 Dec 2016) decreased Yen 8.3 bn, or 6.4%, compared with the same period in fiscal 2016, to Yen 122.7 bn ($1.2 bn). However, operating income increased to Yen 26.5 bn ($248.6 M), an improvement of Yen 1.1 bn, or 4.3%. Ethyleneamine product prices declined because of the strengthening yen and softening markets overseas. Among the group's separation-related products, liquid chromatography packing materials experienced increased shipments. The group's diagnosticrelated products likewise saw increased shipments, of in vitro diagnostic reagents. Shipments of high-silica zeolites for application in automobile catalytic converters increased. And shipments of zirconia for use in dental materials also increased.
Original Source: Tosoh, 2 Feb 2017, (Website: http://www.tosoh.com/) © Tosoh Corporation 2017.
Gevo gives operational update on Luverne plant
From CO2 to plastic
Gevo has provided an update on the operations of its production facility in Luverne, MN, US for 4Q 2016. The facility produced approximately 190,000 gal of isobutanol, the highest quarterly production level in Gevo's history, representing an annualized rate of over 750,000 gal/y. It demonstrated an isobutanol fermentation production capacity of approximately 1.5 M gal/y based on the results measured across the last 6 weeks of production in the quarter. It produced a record number of batches in a quarter since switching the Luverne Plant to the side-by-side mode of production (SBS), achieving Gevo's targeted
Germany-based Covestro and UK-based Climate-KIC are taking the lead in converting CO2 emissions into a source of value for European industry as replacement for petroleum feedstock through the EnCO2re programme. Chemical intermediates and polymers utilized in the manufacture of everyday plastics will be the first commercialscale applications of CO2 reuse targeted by the programme. The partners of EnCO2re assert that the reuse market can possibly grow to more than 20 times its current size, reaching 3.7 bn tonnes/y. The programme recently has active CO2-to-chemicals projects in
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FOCUS electrochemistry and catalysis. In 2017, it aims to add more projects involving the biological route.
Original Source: Materials World, Jan 2017, 25 (1), (Website: http://www.iom3.org) © The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) 2017.
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'CodeEvolver' protein technology for use in Tate & Lyle's food ingredient production.
Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 10 Jan 2017, 183 (Website: http://www. chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2017.
Evonik caps busy 2016 with two more moves
Novozymes expands India production capabilities
German specialty chemicals firm Evonik AG is substantially expanding its silica business in North America with a total investment of $750 M through two major moves. The company has inked a deal to buy J.M. Huber Corp's silica division for $630 M to boost Evonik's position in Asia and North America. Huber Silica has around 4000 employees in six facilities, two in Europe, two in the US, one in India, and one in China. The deal is slated for completion by 2H 2017, subject to the clearance from relevant authorities. In 2016, Huber Silica is projected to reach roughly $300 M in sales with $60 M EBITDA. By 2021, the deal is expected to provide nearly $20 M in cost synergies mainly in the field of logistics, production, and procurement in addition to the integration of the product portfolio. A Freedonia Group analyst predicts the US precipitated silica market to grow by nearly 5%/y through 2019. Evonik also announced that it will construct a precipitated silica facility at the Charleston International Manufacturing Center in Charleston, SC, US, with nearly $120 M investment. The plant is slated for completion in 2018, and will create 55 jobs. Evonik earlier announced that the plant would manufacture its Ultrasil-brand of rubber silica. The firm received a $500,000 Economic Development grant from the South Carolina Department of Commerce to fund the project. Evonik is also building a silica manufacturing plant in Brazil that is slated for completion by end-2017.
Novozymes has secured land in the Patalganga industrial area in India where it will build a new enzyme manufacturing and supply chain facilities that will commence operations in 2018. The company will initially spend around DKR 300 M (Rup 300 crore) on the facility, which will hire 150 staff during phase one. The new plant, which will serve the Indian and Southeast Asian markets, will manufacture enzymes via solid-state fermentation. It will also produce enzymes imported from the company's overseas sites. (1 crore=10 M, 1 lakh=100,000).
Original Source: Rubber and Plastics News, 9 Jan 2017, 46 (10), 4 (Website: http://www. rubbernews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2017.
AkzoNobel signs JDA with Itaconix for bio-based polymers AkzoNobel has signed a framework joint development agreement with Itaconix to explore opportunities for the production of biobased polymers. With this agreement, AkzoNobel will pursue the development and commercialization of bio-based polymers. Itaconix will contribute a proprietary polymerization technology to turn itaconic acid (obtained from sugars through fermentation) into polymers.
Original Source: AkzoNobel, 2017. Found on SpecialChem Coatings and Inks Formulation, 30 Jan 2017, (Website: http://www. specialchem4coatings.com).
Codexis inks enzyme supply deal with Tate & Lyle Under an exclusive deal, Codexis will supply proprietary enzyme engineered using its
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Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, Nov 2016, 51 (11), 12 (Website: http://www. cewindia.com) © Jasubhai Group 2016.
Novozymes release: company reports 6% organic sales growth in 4Q 2016 Novozymes, the world's largest producer of industrial enzymes, announced on 18 Jan 2017 its results for 2016. Sales grew by 2% organically and by 1% in DKR, primarily driven by Agriculture & Feed and Technical & Pharma. The EBIT margin improved by 0.2 percentage points to 27.9%, and EBIT grew by 2%. Net profit increased by 8%. In 4Q 2016, sales grew by 6% organically and by 8% in DKR compared with 4Q 2015. The proposed dividend payout of DKR 4.00/share is equivalent to dividend growth of 14% and a payout ratio of 39%. In 2017, Novozymes expects to deliver organic sales growth of 25%, with contributions from all five business areas. The company expects an EBIT margin of around 28% and a ROIC including goodwill of 24-25%. A new stock buyback programme worth up to DKR 2 bn is planned.
Original Source: BioSpace, 19 Jan 2017, (Website: http://www.biospace.com) © Biospace, 2017.
Business briefs: Novozymes has launched Fermax Fermax, an enzyme protease that inhibits foam growth during the sugarcane ethanol fermentation process, has been launched by Novozymes. Compared with using chemicals, testing partners reported an up to 20% cost reduction when utilizing the enzyme.
Original Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, Jan 2017, 23 (1), 19 (Website: http://www. ethanolproducer.com/) © BBI International 2017.
Synthetic Genomics and ExxonMobil renew algae biofuels research agreement Synthetic Genomics Inc and ExxonMobil announced on 18 Jan 2017 that they have extended their agreement to conduct joint research into advanced algae biofuels after making significant progress in understanding algae genetics, growth characteristics and increasing oil production. ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics have been jointly researching and developing oil from algae for use as a renewable, lower-emission alternative to traditional transportation fuels since launching the programme in 2009. Work continues toward developing strains of algae that demonstrate significantly improved photosynthetic efficiency and oil production through selection and genetic engineering of higher-performance algae strains. The agreement continues to focus on Synthetic Genomics' core strengths in synthetic biology and builds on recent discoveries of biological pathways regulating lipid production and growth in advanced algal strains. The vice president for research and development at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, said that renewal of the agreement underscores the importance of the research and recognition of milestones the team has achieved together over the past few years. The development of algae biofuels and a path toward commercial-scale production remain key components of ExxonMobil's suite of research projects focused on producing energy to meet global demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the risk of climate change.
Original Source: ExxonMobil, 18 Jan 2017, (Website: http://www.exxonmobil.com/) © ExxonMobil Mobil Corporation 2017.
Avantium takes over Liquid Light; commercializing technology for cosmetics production Avantium has announced it has acquired the assets of Liquid Light Inc. Liquid Light has developed proprietary process technology to make major chemicals from low-cost, globallyabundant carbon dioxide (CO2). The acquisition combines the technologies of both Liquid Light and Avantium to develop a world leading electro-catalysis platform and to commercialize new process technologies using CO2 as feedstock to produce sustainable chemicals and materials. Its patent portfolio includes filings on producing multiple chemical building blocks used in large existing markets, including oxalic acid, glycolic acid, ethylene glycol, propylene, isopropanol, methylmethacrylate and acetic acid for the production of polymers, coatings and cosmetics. The technology and patent portfolio of Liquid Light will be integrated in Avantium's Renewable Chemistry business unit and its existing R&D program in electrochemistry. The combination of Liquid Light's expertise in electrochemistry with Avantium's expertise in catalysis and process engineering will be the basis of an unrivalled technology platform to develop novel production technologies for converting CO2 to chemicals and materials.
March 2017
Original source: Haldor Topsoe, 10 Feb 2017, (Haldor Topsoe, website: http://www.topsoe. com/) © Haldor Topsoe A/S 2017.
Grace reports 4Q and FY 2016 results: Grace Catalysts Technologies For WR Grace & Co's Catalysts Technologies segment, which includes catalysts and additives for refinery, plastics and other chemical process applications, as well as polypropylene process technology, sales were $328.9 M, an increase of 7% compared with 4Q 2015. Gross margin was 43.5%, an increase of 40 basis points compared with 4Q 2015. Operating income of $107.7 M increased 7% compared with 4Q 2015. Operating margin was 32.7%, a decrease of 10 basis points compared with 4Q 2015. ART contributed $11.8 M to operating income compared with $8.3 M in 4Q 2015.
Original source: W. R. Grace & Co., 8 Feb 2017, (Website: http://www.grace.com) © WR Grace & Co - Conn 2017.
Biobased materials hit the big time Several bio-based chemical firms have reached major commercial milestones in 2016. BASF and Avantium established a joint venture to construct a $500 M furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) facility in Antwerp, Belgium, utilizing Avantium's catalysts to manufacture sugarbased FDCA. In Sep 2016, Avantium and Toyobo announced their plans to jointly produce polyethylene furanoate (PEF) polymers and films in Japan. Separately, DuPont and ADM partnered to develop polytrimethylene furandicarboxylate using biobased chemicals (1,3 propanediol and furan dicarboxylic methyl ester). The partners plan to build a demonstration plant in Decatur, IL, US. Meanwhile, Novomer has divested its polyols unit for an estimated value of $100 M to Saudi Aramco. While the polyols are not bio-based, carbon dioxide is utilized as raw material. Proceeds from the sale will be used by Novomer to establish a facility that manufactures bio-based acrylic acid. In Silsbee, TX, US, Anellotech commissioned a pilot facility to convert lignocellulosic biomass into aromatic chemicals (xylene, toluene and benzene). The company also secured funding from Japan's Suntory and a Toyota unit.
Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 19 Dec 2016, 94 (49), (Website: http:// cen.acs.org/index.html) © American Chemical Society 2016.
March 2017
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AkzoNobel raises Mexican organic peroxides capacity AkzoNobel has finished the EUR 22 M plant expansion for its 'Laurox' brand of organic peroxides in Los Reyes, Mexico.
Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 24 Jan 2017, 62 (25), 177 (Website: http://www. chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2017.
Molecular Assemblies raises first round financing US-based Molecular Assemblies, a start-up focused on enzyme-based DNA synthesis, has raised $2.3 M in an initial funding round from investors including Agilent Technologies. The company's biocatalyst method is cleaner and created longer DNA sequences than conventional phosphoramidite chemical routes.
Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 19 Dec 2016, 94 (49), 19 (Website: http://cen.acs.org/index.html) © American Chemical Society 2016.
Velocys & Morimatsu Heavy Industry sign MoU for GTL and BTL plants Velocys and Morimatsu (Jiangsu) Heavy Industry Co have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic alliance for gas-to-liquids (GTL) and biomassto-liquids (BTL) plants. Morimatsu will be Velocys' preferred supplier of module engineering and fabrication services for GTL and BTL plants based on Velocys technology, reducing the cost of the plants. The two companies have been working together for the past 18 months on the modular design of the Fischer-Tropsch section for a range of plant sizes; a design that will deliver targeted reductions in both capital cost and plant footprint. The companies also plan to partner with other strategic partners. Velocys said it expects the MoU to become legally binding within the next few months.
Original Source: PetroChemical News, 23 Jan 2017, 4 (Website: http://www. petrochemical-news.com) © William F. Bland Co. 2017.
back-to-back five-day turnaround batch times over much of the quarter. It surpassed production cost targets, demonstrating variable costs of production of less than the targeted $3.00-3.50/gal. Ethanol production continued to operate well in the SBS configuration of the plant, with 2.8 M gal of ethanol produced in the quarter. For the year, the volume of isobutanol production was approximately 440,000 gallons, below the previously announced estimate of approximately 500,000 gallons. On 21 Dec 2016, the Luverne Plant was taken offline to perform unplanned necessary repairs and maintenance on certain components of the plant's regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO), a piece of pollution control equipment. The Luverne Plant remains offline at this time, as Gevo has decided to make further upgrades to the RTO while it is down. Given the age of the equipment (the RTO was installed approximately ten years ago prior to Gevo purchasing the plant in 2010) such upgrades were expected to be made in the near future, in any event. Gevo expects the plant to be back online in the next two weeks.
Original Source: Gevo, 2017. Found on SpecialChem Plastics and Elastomers Formulation, 24 Jan 2017, (Website: http:// www.specialchem4polymers.com).
Tosoh reports its consolidated results for the first nine months of fiscal 2017: Specialty Group For Tosoh's Specialty Group, net sales in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017 (1 Apr-31 Dec 2016) decreased Yen 8.3 bn, or 6.4%, compared with the same period in fiscal 2016, to Yen 122.7 bn ($1.2 bn). However, operating income increased to Yen 26.5 bn ($248.6 M), an improvement of Yen 1.1 bn, or 4.3%. Ethyleneamine product prices declined because of the strengthening yen and softening markets overseas. Among the group's separation-related products, liquid chromatography packing materials experienced increased shipments. The group's diagnosticrelated products likewise saw increased shipments, of in vitro diagnostic reagents. Shipments of high-silica zeolites for application in automobile catalytic converters increased. And shipments of zirconia for use in dental materials also increased.
Original Source: Tosoh, 2 Feb 2017, (Website: http://www.tosoh.com/) © Tosoh Corporation 2017.
Gevo gives operational update on Luverne plant
From CO2 to plastic
Gevo has provided an update on the operations of its production facility in Luverne, MN, US for 4Q 2016. The facility produced approximately 190,000 gal of isobutanol, the highest quarterly production level in Gevo's history, representing an annualized rate of over 750,000 gal/y. It demonstrated an isobutanol fermentation production capacity of approximately 1.5 M gal/y based on the results measured across the last 6 weeks of production in the quarter. It produced a record number of batches in a quarter since switching the Luverne Plant to the side-by-side mode of production (SBS), achieving Gevo's targeted
Germany-based Covestro and UK-based Climate-KIC are taking the lead in converting CO2 emissions into a source of value for European industry as replacement for petroleum feedstock through the EnCO2re programme. Chemical intermediates and polymers utilized in the manufacture of everyday plastics will be the first commercialscale applications of CO2 reuse targeted by the programme. The partners of EnCO2re assert that the reuse market can possibly grow to more than 20 times its current size, reaching 3.7 bn tonnes/y. The programme recently has active CO2-to-chemicals projects in
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FOCUS electrochemistry and catalysis. In 2017, it aims to add more projects involving the biological route.
Original Source: Materials World, Jan 2017, 25 (1), (Website: http://www.iom3.org) © The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) 2017.
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'CodeEvolver' protein technology for use in Tate & Lyle's food ingredient production.
Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 10 Jan 2017, 183 (Website: http://www. chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2017.
Evonik caps busy 2016 with two more moves
Novozymes expands India production capabilities
German specialty chemicals firm Evonik AG is substantially expanding its silica business in North America with a total investment of $750 M through two major moves. The company has inked a deal to buy J.M. Huber Corp's silica division for $630 M to boost Evonik's position in Asia and North America. Huber Silica has around 4000 employees in six facilities, two in Europe, two in the US, one in India, and one in China. The deal is slated for completion by 2H 2017, subject to the clearance from relevant authorities. In 2016, Huber Silica is projected to reach roughly $300 M in sales with $60 M EBITDA. By 2021, the deal is expected to provide nearly $20 M in cost synergies mainly in the field of logistics, production, and procurement in addition to the integration of the product portfolio. A Freedonia Group analyst predicts the US precipitated silica market to grow by nearly 5%/y through 2019. Evonik also announced that it will construct a precipitated silica facility at the Charleston International Manufacturing Center in Charleston, SC, US, with nearly $120 M investment. The plant is slated for completion in 2018, and will create 55 jobs. Evonik earlier announced that the plant would manufacture its Ultrasil-brand of rubber silica. The firm received a $500,000 Economic Development grant from the South Carolina Department of Commerce to fund the project. Evonik is also building a silica manufacturing plant in Brazil that is slated for completion by end-2017.
Novozymes has secured land in the Patalganga industrial area in India where it will build a new enzyme manufacturing and supply chain facilities that will commence operations in 2018. The company will initially spend around DKR 300 M (Rup 300 crore) on the facility, which will hire 150 staff during phase one. The new plant, which will serve the Indian and Southeast Asian markets, will manufacture enzymes via solid-state fermentation. It will also produce enzymes imported from the company's overseas sites. (1 crore=10 M, 1 lakh=100,000).
Original Source: Rubber and Plastics News, 9 Jan 2017, 46 (10), 4 (Website: http://www. rubbernews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2017.
AkzoNobel signs JDA with Itaconix for bio-based polymers AkzoNobel has signed a framework joint development agreement with Itaconix to explore opportunities for the production of biobased polymers. With this agreement, AkzoNobel will pursue the development and commercialization of bio-based polymers. Itaconix will contribute a proprietary polymerization technology to turn itaconic acid (obtained from sugars through fermentation) into polymers.
Original Source: AkzoNobel, 2017. Found on SpecialChem Coatings and Inks Formulation, 30 Jan 2017, (Website: http://www. specialchem4coatings.com).
Codexis inks enzyme supply deal with Tate & Lyle Under an exclusive deal, Codexis will supply proprietary enzyme engineered using its
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Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, Nov 2016, 51 (11), 12 (Website: http://www. cewindia.com) © Jasubhai Group 2016.
Novozymes release: company reports 6% organic sales growth in 4Q 2016 Novozymes, the world's largest producer of industrial enzymes, announced on 18 Jan 2017 its results for 2016. Sales grew by 2% organically and by 1% in DKR, primarily driven by Agriculture & Feed and Technical & Pharma. The EBIT margin improved by 0.2 percentage points to 27.9%, and EBIT grew by 2%. Net profit increased by 8%. In 4Q 2016, sales grew by 6% organically and by 8% in DKR compared with 4Q 2015. The proposed dividend payout of DKR 4.00/share is equivalent to dividend growth of 14% and a payout ratio of 39%. In 2017, Novozymes expects to deliver organic sales growth of 25%, with contributions from all five business areas. The company expects an EBIT margin of around 28% and a ROIC including goodwill of 24-25%. A new stock buyback programme worth up to DKR 2 bn is planned.
Original Source: BioSpace, 19 Jan 2017, (Website: http://www.biospace.com) © Biospace, 2017.
Business briefs: Novozymes has launched Fermax Fermax, an enzyme protease that inhibits foam growth during the sugarcane ethanol fermentation process, has been launched by Novozymes. Compared with using chemicals, testing partners reported an up to 20% cost reduction when utilizing the enzyme.
Original Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, Jan 2017, 23 (1), 19 (Website: http://www. ethanolproducer.com/) © BBI International 2017.
Synthetic Genomics and ExxonMobil renew algae biofuels research agreement Synthetic Genomics Inc and ExxonMobil announced on 18 Jan 2017 that they have extended their agreement to conduct joint research into advanced algae biofuels after making significant progress in understanding algae genetics, growth characteristics and increasing oil production. ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics have been jointly researching and developing oil from algae for use as a renewable, lower-emission alternative to traditional transportation fuels since launching the programme in 2009. Work continues toward developing strains of algae that demonstrate significantly improved photosynthetic efficiency and oil production through selection and genetic engineering of higher-performance algae strains. The agreement continues to focus on Synthetic Genomics' core strengths in synthetic biology and builds on recent discoveries of biological pathways regulating lipid production and growth in advanced algal strains. The vice president for research and development at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, said that renewal of the agreement underscores the importance of the research and recognition of milestones the team has achieved together over the past few years. The development of algae biofuels and a path toward commercial-scale production remain key components of ExxonMobil's suite of research projects focused on producing energy to meet global demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the risk of climate change.
Original Source: ExxonMobil, 18 Jan 2017, (Website: http://www.exxonmobil.com/) © ExxonMobil Mobil Corporation 2017.
Avantium takes over Liquid Light; commercializing technology for cosmetics production Avantium has announced it has acquired the assets of Liquid Light Inc. Liquid Light has developed proprietary process technology to make major chemicals from low-cost, globallyabundant carbon dioxide (CO2). The acquisition combines the technologies of both Liquid Light and Avantium to develop a world leading electro-catalysis platform and to commercialize new process technologies using CO2 as feedstock to produce sustainable chemicals and materials. Its patent portfolio includes filings on producing multiple chemical building blocks used in large existing markets, including oxalic acid, glycolic acid, ethylene glycol, propylene, isopropanol, methylmethacrylate and acetic acid for the production of polymers, coatings and cosmetics. The technology and patent portfolio of Liquid Light will be integrated in Avantium's Renewable Chemistry business unit and its existing R&D program in electrochemistry. The combination of Liquid Light's expertise in electrochemistry with Avantium's expertise in catalysis and process engineering will be the basis of an unrivalled technology platform to develop novel production technologies for converting CO2 to chemicals and materials.
March 2017