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From seaweed to biofuels
FOCUS several energy-related firms, worked with JOGMEC to establish a GTL technology and will be disbanded in Aug 2012. The JAPAN-GTL process was employed in a 500 bbl/day demonstration unit in Niiagata Prefecture until Dec 2011 when it achieved the set target of stable continuous operation for over 3000 hrs. The technology can be utilized in 15,000 bbl/day commercial-scale units. Original Source: Japan Chemical Web, 6 Apr 2012 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp) © The Chemical Daily Co Ltd 2012
Kuraray sets Kurarity target Kurarity, the new acrylic thermoplastic elastomer commercialized by Kuraray, is expected to generate sales of Yen 10 bn/y by 2018. A block copolymer produced from methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate, the elastomer is the first of its type to be commercialized globally. Initial applications are expected to include adhesives, films, and materials for light guides and moulding. Kuraray started to produce acrylic thermoplastic elastomers via a 400 tonne/y pilot plant at Kashima, Japan, in 2004. A 5000 tonne/y unit for Kurarity was officially opened on 9 Nov 2011 at Niigata, Japan, but the company intends to double its capacity by 2018. The development of proprietary living anion polymerization technology using a new catalyst and reactor design is noted, as are the beneficial properties offered by Kurarity. Original source: ICIS Chemical Business, 26 Mar 2012, 281 (12), 16 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2012
Novozymes: US ethanol producers under pressure Novozymes has a 60% share of the market for enzymes for US ethanol producers but the company’s share price fell by 1.6% after news that American demand for petrol had fallen. It is no longer profitable to produce ethanol in the US and American producers will not reach the target of 13.2 bn gallon in output for 2012. Original Source: NP Investor, 10 Apr 2012 (Website: http://npinvestor.dk) (in Danish) © NPinvestor A/S 2012
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From seaweed to biofuels New research collaboration between Novozymes and Sea6 Energy will explore enzymatic technology to produce fuel ethanol, fine chemicals, and protein from seaweed. Novozymes has announced an exploratory research agreement with India-based Sea6 Energy to jointly develop a process for the production of biofuels from seaweed. The research alliance will use enzymes to convert seaweed-based carbohydrates to sugar, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol for fuel, fine chemicals, proteins for food, and fertilizers for plants. Novozymes will research, develop, and manufacture enzymes for the conversion process, while Sea6 Energy contributes its offshore seaweed cultivation technology. “Seaweed is a natural complement to our efforts to convert other types of biomass to fuel ethanol,” says Per Falholt, Executive Vice President of Novozymes. “More than half of the dry mass in seaweed is sugar, and the potential is therefore significant,” he concludes. Original Source: BioTimes, Spring 2012 (Website: http://www.biotimes.com) © Novozymes 2012
On the right path to cellulosic ethanol Novozymes’ Cellic CTec3 is the newest innovation for the emerging cellulosic biofuels industry, enabling pioneering plants to take the final steps to commercialization. Cellic CTec3 is a highly robust enzyme that across feedstocks unlocks new ways to optimize a plant’s conversion processes enabling a reduction in the total cost of producing ethanol. The performance of Cellic CTec3 is 1.5 times better than the previous generation of enzyme, Cellic CTec2. With Cellic CTec3, five times less enzyme is needed than when using standard biomass-degrading enzymes on the market. The performance improvement with Cellic CTec3 allows the cost of producing ethanol from biomass to approach the level of corn ethanol and gasoline. Several of Novozymes’ partners have made the decision to move forward with their plans for commercialization. The first plants start commercial production of advanced biofuels in 2012.
Novozymes has signed supply deals with a number of the leading players. M&G, an Italian chemicals company, will be starting up production at its first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Crescentino, Italy, in 2012. The US company Fiberight uses municipal solid waste as its cellulose-containing substrate. Fiberight will open a small scale plant in Lawrenceville, VA, in 2012, and is also currently building a plant in Blairstown, IA, that will be up and running in the first half of 2013. Both plants will be using Cellic CTec3. Original Source: BioTimes, Spring 2012 (Website http://www.biotimes.com) © Novozymes 2012
Novozymes 1Q 2012: household care enzyme sales Household Care Enzymes sales for 1Q 2012 increased by 10% to DKR 913 M (1Q 2011: DKR 830 M). The solid sales growth was driven by a continued increase in enzyme penetration across detergent tiers to enhance wash performance, enable low temperature washing, and replace traditional chemicals in detergent formulations. Sales of Household Care enzymes to the emerging markets continued to be a significant driver of growth. Key sales data are presented in graphs and tables. Original Source: Novozymes A/S, Krogshojvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark, tel: +45 4446 0000, fax: +45 4446 9999, e-mail: [email protected], website: http://www.novozymes.com (25 Apr 2012) © Novozymes 2012
Novozymes 1Q 2012: bioenergy enzyme sales Bioenergy Enzymes sales for 1Q 2012 were down by 5% in DKR to DKR 432 M (1Q 2011: DKR 457 M). The US Energy Information Administration estimates US fuel ethanol production to have increased by 12% during 1Q 2012 compared to 1Q 2011. The decline in Bioenergy Enzymes sales in 1Q 2012 is a result of lower enzyme content per gallon of ethanol produced as ethanol producers have optimized their production, a shift in the ethanol output among ethanol producers, and an impact of price reductions granted during 2H 2011 to counteract competition. While challenging sales growth in the short term, these
JUNE 2012
Kuraray sets Kurarity target Kurarity, the new acrylic thermoplastic elastomer commercialized by Kuraray, is expected to generate sales of Yen 10 bn/y by 2018. A block copolymer produced from methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate, the elastomer is the first of its type to be commercialized globally. Initial applications are expected to include adhesives, films, and materials for light guides and moulding. Kuraray started to produce acrylic thermoplastic elastomers via a 400 tonne/y pilot plant at Kashima, Japan, in 2004. A 5000 tonne/y unit for Kurarity was officially opened on 9 Nov 2011 at Niigata, Japan, but the company intends to double its capacity by 2018. The development of proprietary living anion polymerization technology using a new catalyst and reactor design is noted, as are the beneficial properties offered by Kurarity. Original source: ICIS Chemical Business, 26 Mar 2012, 281 (12), 16 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2012
Novozymes: US ethanol producers under pressure Novozymes has a 60% share of the market for enzymes for US ethanol producers but the company’s share price fell by 1.6% after news that American demand for petrol had fallen. It is no longer profitable to produce ethanol in the US and American producers will not reach the target of 13.2 bn gallon in output for 2012. Original Source: NP Investor, 10 Apr 2012 (Website: http://npinvestor.dk) (in Danish) © NPinvestor A/S 2012
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From seaweed to biofuels New research collaboration between Novozymes and Sea6 Energy will explore enzymatic technology to produce fuel ethanol, fine chemicals, and protein from seaweed. Novozymes has announced an exploratory research agreement with India-based Sea6 Energy to jointly develop a process for the production of biofuels from seaweed. The research alliance will use enzymes to convert seaweed-based carbohydrates to sugar, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol for fuel, fine chemicals, proteins for food, and fertilizers for plants. Novozymes will research, develop, and manufacture enzymes for the conversion process, while Sea6 Energy contributes its offshore seaweed cultivation technology. “Seaweed is a natural complement to our efforts to convert other types of biomass to fuel ethanol,” says Per Falholt, Executive Vice President of Novozymes. “More than half of the dry mass in seaweed is sugar, and the potential is therefore significant,” he concludes. Original Source: BioTimes, Spring 2012 (Website: http://www.biotimes.com) © Novozymes 2012
On the right path to cellulosic ethanol Novozymes’ Cellic CTec3 is the newest innovation for the emerging cellulosic biofuels industry, enabling pioneering plants to take the final steps to commercialization. Cellic CTec3 is a highly robust enzyme that across feedstocks unlocks new ways to optimize a plant’s conversion processes enabling a reduction in the total cost of producing ethanol. The performance of Cellic CTec3 is 1.5 times better than the previous generation of enzyme, Cellic CTec2. With Cellic CTec3, five times less enzyme is needed than when using standard biomass-degrading enzymes on the market. The performance improvement with Cellic CTec3 allows the cost of producing ethanol from biomass to approach the level of corn ethanol and gasoline. Several of Novozymes’ partners have made the decision to move forward with their plans for commercialization. The first plants start commercial production of advanced biofuels in 2012.
Novozymes has signed supply deals with a number of the leading players. M&G, an Italian chemicals company, will be starting up production at its first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Crescentino, Italy, in 2012. The US company Fiberight uses municipal solid waste as its cellulose-containing substrate. Fiberight will open a small scale plant in Lawrenceville, VA, in 2012, and is also currently building a plant in Blairstown, IA, that will be up and running in the first half of 2013. Both plants will be using Cellic CTec3. Original Source: BioTimes, Spring 2012 (Website http://www.biotimes.com) © Novozymes 2012
Novozymes 1Q 2012: household care enzyme sales Household Care Enzymes sales for 1Q 2012 increased by 10% to DKR 913 M (1Q 2011: DKR 830 M). The solid sales growth was driven by a continued increase in enzyme penetration across detergent tiers to enhance wash performance, enable low temperature washing, and replace traditional chemicals in detergent formulations. Sales of Household Care enzymes to the emerging markets continued to be a significant driver of growth. Key sales data are presented in graphs and tables. Original Source: Novozymes A/S, Krogshojvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark, tel: +45 4446 0000, fax: +45 4446 9999, e-mail: [email protected], website: http://www.novozymes.com (25 Apr 2012) © Novozymes 2012
Novozymes 1Q 2012: bioenergy enzyme sales Bioenergy Enzymes sales for 1Q 2012 were down by 5% in DKR to DKR 432 M (1Q 2011: DKR 457 M). The US Energy Information Administration estimates US fuel ethanol production to have increased by 12% during 1Q 2012 compared to 1Q 2011. The decline in Bioenergy Enzymes sales in 1Q 2012 is a result of lower enzyme content per gallon of ethanol produced as ethanol producers have optimized their production, a shift in the ethanol output among ethanol producers, and an impact of price reductions granted during 2H 2011 to counteract competition. While challenging sales growth in the short term, these
JUNE 2012