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Gulf Chemical signs agreement resolving wastewater violations
FOCUS has received a grant of Rup 1.2 crore, and will be carried out by the School of Nano Science and Technology of NITC. The project is titled ‘Investigations on the application of catalytic nanoparticles in diesel and bio-diesel’. The method developed by the project which, when applied, is expected to increase the efficiency of fuel by 5-10%. The project will focus on producing new types of diesel and bio-diesel, modified by catalytic nanoparticles to produce better fuel performances and minimise emissions to a large extent when compared to conventional fuels. (1 crore=10 M, 1 lakh=100,000). Chemical Engineering World, Feb 2010, 45 (2), 30
Fuel cell catalysts without platinum Nisshinbo Industries and Showa Denko are developing alternatives to platinum catalysts in a race among companies to make fuel cells a costeffective technology for eco-cars and other applications. Nisshinbo’s doped carbon catalyst costs a tenth of platinum catalysts, but the electrical output of fuel cells will need to reach a certain threshold for the catalysts to become commercially viable in automotive applications. Showa Denko’s catalysts, created by adding nitrogen and carbon to niobium and titanium oxides, cost just 5% of platinum-based technology. The company expects to develop other substitutes by 2015 when fuel-cell vehicles are expected to enter the mainstream. Japan Chemical Web, 24 May 2010 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp)
Next generation autocatalysts from Nanostellar US firm Nanostellar has developed a new catalyst called NS Gold for automotive applications. The catalyst contains gold, together with conventional platinum and palladium metals. The use of gold as a partial substitute for more pricey platinum enables light- and heavy-duty diesel engine makers to cut emissions at lower costs. The company was recognized as 2008 Technology Pioneer by The World Economic Forum. Chemistry and Industry (London), 10 May 2010, (9), 26 (Website: http://www.chemind.org)
JULY 2010
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C ATA LY S T S
ENVIRONMENT Gulf Chemical signs agreement resolving wastewater violations Gulf Chemical & Metallurgical Corp (Gulf Chemical), the world’s largest recycler of spent petroleum catalysts and a leading producer of ferroalloys, announced it had reached an agreement with the Travis County District Attorney, resolving the district attorney’s and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) criminal investigation into the past operation of the company’s wastewater treatment system at its catalyst recycling plant in Freeport, TX. Press release from: Gulf Chemical & Metallurgical Corp, PO Box 2290, 302 Midway Road, Freeport, TX 77542 2290. Tel: +1 979 415 1500. Fax: +1 979 415 1600. Website: http://www.gulfchem.com (28 May 2010)
China to reduce mercury pollution from PVC manufacture In Nov 2009, Chinese authorities introduced new legislation aimed at preventing pollution by heavy metals such as mercury. The Ministry of Environmental Protection is currently assessing the extent of mercury pollution in China. The calcium carbide process for PVC production uses vinyl chloride monomer synthesized using around 6960 tonne/y of mercury chloride catalysts. International trends aimed at limiting mercury emissions could also impact China, which currently relies on imports for 50% of its mercury consumption. A low-mercury catalyst has successfully been developed in China and around 583 tonnes were consumed by over 20 Chinese firms in 2009. China Chemical Reporter, 6 May 2010, 21 (9), 12-13
PATENTS Olefin oligomerisation in ionic liquids Olefin oligomers, suitable for use as fuel or lubricant components, can be made from monomers by catalysis in an ionic liquid plus an acid such as HCl. The process minimises the production of additional unsaturation and of branched hydrocarbons. US 7,732,654, Chevron USA Inc, San Ramon, CA, USA, 8 Jun 2010
Regeneration of ionic liquid catalysts Ionic liquids used for oligomerisation tend to be de-activated by complexing with ‘conjunct polymers’. These polymers can be removed by reaction with aluminium metal, followed by extraction with a hydrocarbon solvent. US 7,732,364, Chevron USA Inc, San Ramon, CA, USA, 8 Jun 2010
Recovery of metals from unsupported catalysts Metals are commonly recovered commercially from supported hydroprocessing catalysts, but unsupported catalysts such as molybdenum sulfide and nickel sulfide present different problems. This process uses ammoniacal pressure leaching. It can also be used for recovering vanadium from supported vanadia catalysts. US 7,736,607, Chevron USA Inc, San Ramon, CA, USA, 15 Jun 2010
Increasing the catalytic activity of graphite nano-fibres Graphite nano-fibres are grown by heating metal powders in a carboncontaining atmosphere. Their catalytic activities can be increased by heating them to temperatures of 2300-3000°C in an inert atmosphere. They can catalyse oxidation, hydrogenation, oxidative dehydrogenation, and dehydrogenation. US 7,732,653, Catalytic Materials LLC, Pittsboro, NC, USA, 8 Jun 2010
Improved cobalt oxide catalysts It is difficult to make supported cobalt oxide catalysts (eg for the FischerTropsch process) of high surface area when the cobalt content is above about 20%. Addition of aluminium to the formulation permits the production of high surface area materials. It is hypothesised that metallic cobaltaluminium alloys are involved. US 7,732,370, Johnson Matthey PLC, London, UK, 8 Jun 2010
Improved SAPO-34 synthesis SAPO-34 is the preferred catalyst for the MTO process, but as usually made it consists of intergrowths of various zeotypes having both the CHA and AEI structures and differing
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Fuel cell catalysts without platinum Nisshinbo Industries and Showa Denko are developing alternatives to platinum catalysts in a race among companies to make fuel cells a costeffective technology for eco-cars and other applications. Nisshinbo’s doped carbon catalyst costs a tenth of platinum catalysts, but the electrical output of fuel cells will need to reach a certain threshold for the catalysts to become commercially viable in automotive applications. Showa Denko’s catalysts, created by adding nitrogen and carbon to niobium and titanium oxides, cost just 5% of platinum-based technology. The company expects to develop other substitutes by 2015 when fuel-cell vehicles are expected to enter the mainstream. Japan Chemical Web, 24 May 2010 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp)
Next generation autocatalysts from Nanostellar US firm Nanostellar has developed a new catalyst called NS Gold for automotive applications. The catalyst contains gold, together with conventional platinum and palladium metals. The use of gold as a partial substitute for more pricey platinum enables light- and heavy-duty diesel engine makers to cut emissions at lower costs. The company was recognized as 2008 Technology Pioneer by The World Economic Forum. Chemistry and Industry (London), 10 May 2010, (9), 26 (Website: http://www.chemind.org)
JULY 2010
ON
C ATA LY S T S
ENVIRONMENT Gulf Chemical signs agreement resolving wastewater violations Gulf Chemical & Metallurgical Corp (Gulf Chemical), the world’s largest recycler of spent petroleum catalysts and a leading producer of ferroalloys, announced it had reached an agreement with the Travis County District Attorney, resolving the district attorney’s and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) criminal investigation into the past operation of the company’s wastewater treatment system at its catalyst recycling plant in Freeport, TX. Press release from: Gulf Chemical & Metallurgical Corp, PO Box 2290, 302 Midway Road, Freeport, TX 77542 2290. Tel: +1 979 415 1500. Fax: +1 979 415 1600. Website: http://www.gulfchem.com (28 May 2010)
China to reduce mercury pollution from PVC manufacture In Nov 2009, Chinese authorities introduced new legislation aimed at preventing pollution by heavy metals such as mercury. The Ministry of Environmental Protection is currently assessing the extent of mercury pollution in China. The calcium carbide process for PVC production uses vinyl chloride monomer synthesized using around 6960 tonne/y of mercury chloride catalysts. International trends aimed at limiting mercury emissions could also impact China, which currently relies on imports for 50% of its mercury consumption. A low-mercury catalyst has successfully been developed in China and around 583 tonnes were consumed by over 20 Chinese firms in 2009. China Chemical Reporter, 6 May 2010, 21 (9), 12-13
PATENTS Olefin oligomerisation in ionic liquids Olefin oligomers, suitable for use as fuel or lubricant components, can be made from monomers by catalysis in an ionic liquid plus an acid such as HCl. The process minimises the production of additional unsaturation and of branched hydrocarbons. US 7,732,654, Chevron USA Inc, San Ramon, CA, USA, 8 Jun 2010
Regeneration of ionic liquid catalysts Ionic liquids used for oligomerisation tend to be de-activated by complexing with ‘conjunct polymers’. These polymers can be removed by reaction with aluminium metal, followed by extraction with a hydrocarbon solvent. US 7,732,364, Chevron USA Inc, San Ramon, CA, USA, 8 Jun 2010
Recovery of metals from unsupported catalysts Metals are commonly recovered commercially from supported hydroprocessing catalysts, but unsupported catalysts such as molybdenum sulfide and nickel sulfide present different problems. This process uses ammoniacal pressure leaching. It can also be used for recovering vanadium from supported vanadia catalysts. US 7,736,607, Chevron USA Inc, San Ramon, CA, USA, 15 Jun 2010
Increasing the catalytic activity of graphite nano-fibres Graphite nano-fibres are grown by heating metal powders in a carboncontaining atmosphere. Their catalytic activities can be increased by heating them to temperatures of 2300-3000°C in an inert atmosphere. They can catalyse oxidation, hydrogenation, oxidative dehydrogenation, and dehydrogenation. US 7,732,653, Catalytic Materials LLC, Pittsboro, NC, USA, 8 Jun 2010
Improved cobalt oxide catalysts It is difficult to make supported cobalt oxide catalysts (eg for the FischerTropsch process) of high surface area when the cobalt content is above about 20%. Addition of aluminium to the formulation permits the production of high surface area materials. It is hypothesised that metallic cobaltaluminium alloys are involved. US 7,732,370, Johnson Matthey PLC, London, UK, 8 Jun 2010
Improved SAPO-34 synthesis SAPO-34 is the preferred catalyst for the MTO process, but as usually made it consists of intergrowths of various zeotypes having both the CHA and AEI structures and differing
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