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Haldor Topsoe partner in new Danish BioRefining Alliance
FOCUS Eviagenics creates cell factories French biotechnology company Eviagenics is aiming to reduce the amount of time needed to develop and optimize cell factories from several years to several months. The company was formed at start 2010 and specializes in metabolic pathways (the series of biochemicals reactions that take place within a cell). Cells that are capable of synthesizing commercially interesting metabolites are known as cell factories. 40+ enzymes can be involved in cell factories. Whereas existing technologies take 3-6 months to optimize a single enzyme, Eviagenics’ technology enables the company to optimize an entire metabolic pathway within 1 year. It does this by allowing for the rapid testing of several hypotheses in order to select the best. This means it cuts both risks and costs. The technology is based on in vivo recombination. It has applications in the health care sector but also in biomass conversion into bioethanol and biomaterials. In the pharmaceuticals sector, Eviagenics is working with companies which are trying to identify compounds having new therapeutic properties. As well as providing services to outside companies, Eviagenics is also working on developing its own products in the aromas, vitamins, and amino acids sector. In 2011 the company is expected to post its turnover for the first time. By 2014 its turnover should reach € 4 M. The first income from licences to use its products should be generated in 2015. At present Eviagenics employs 9 people but that number will double in 2012 and reach 28 in 2013. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 28 Nov 2011, (572), 10 (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie) (in French) © ETAI Information 2011
Haldor Topsoe partner in new Danish BioRefining Alliance From waste to usable products: BioRefining Alliance is a new and groundbreaking partnership aiming at accelerating Denmark’s leading position in the field of sustainable biobased technologies. With sustainable technologies it is possible to transform biomass such as agricultural waste to high value fuels and chemicals, which we obtain from fossil resources today. The BioRefining Alliance intends to
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play a central role in establishing sustainable solutions to the global energy and resource challenges. The BioRefining Alliance counts three major Danish companies: Topsoe, Novozymes and DONG Energy as well as the Danish Agriculture and Food Council but will aim at including all relevant public and private partners. The BioRefining Alliance has defined four focus areas: Innovation, research, legislative rules, and dissemination. Remarkable results: “The task is challenging, but by gathering Denmark’s leading capacities in the field, we expect to achieve remarkable results,” says Jesper Nerlov, Executive Vice President, Research and Development, Topsoe. “We have already developed a large variety of catalytic technologies for sustainable conversion of biomass into valuable products. There is however a need for bringing all parties that can contribute to this development together in order to create, demonstrate, and industrialise future sustainable technologies. This will be the focus of the BioRefining Alliance.” BioRefining Alliance is a new public-private partnership which has been established to accelerate the development of biorefining solutions. The BioRefining Alliance aims at playing a key role in strengthening Denmark’s leading position in the field of biorefining and thereby supporting the transformation towards a societal independence of fossil fuels. Press release from: Haldor Topsoe A/S, Nymollevej 55, PO Box 213, DK 2800 Lyngby, Denmark, tel: +45 4527 2000, fax: +45 4527 2999, website: http://www.haldortopsoe.com ( 30 Nov 2011)
Imperium reports positive results for novel biodiesel process Imperium Renewables and the US DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have reported that a novel process for making the biomass-based drop-in jet fuel they are jointly developing has yielded a significant amount of fuels. The fuel is presently being studied to determine if it can be mixed into commercial volumes of conventional, petroleumderived jet fuel. The technology entails a catalytic process under development by PNNL, which transforms biomassbased alcohols into bio-based jet fuel. Original Source: Biodiesel Magazine, Nov 2011 (Website: http://www.biodieselmagazine.com) © BBI International 2011
JGC C&C unveils high-performance desulfurization catalysts JGC Catalysts and Chemicals has rolled its desulfurization catalysts called CDS-RS series designed for heavyfuel-oil direct-desulfurization units. The new catalysts, which were developed inhouse, are expected to help oil refineries boost productivity of residualoil fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC). The product has demonstrated its ability to consistently reduce the concentration of metals in residual oil by as much as 40%. This allows an 18% decrease in the use of RFCC catalysts under similar conditions. Original Source: Japan Chemical Web, 9 Dec 2011 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp) © The Chemical Daily Co Ltd 2011
KBR awarded contract for biomass-torenewable crude project in USA KBR, which is one of the global leaders in engineering, construction and services company, has bagged an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract by KiOR Inc to build a plant in Columbus, to convert biomass into drop-in biofuels such as gasoline and diesel blend stocks. The plant is devised to process about 500 tonne/day of wood biomass and produce around 11 M gallons of fuel/y. The plant is anticipated to decrease the dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emission and create jobs in rural areas. The plant would be based on the design and construction of the conventional fluid catalytic cracking units. Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, May 2011, 46 (5), 34 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com/) © Jasubhai Group 2011
Mascoma, Valero partner for cellulosic ethanol facility in USA Mascoma Corp has entered into agreement with Valero Energy Corp to develop and operate a 20 M gallon/y cellulosic ethanol facility in Kinross, MI, USA. The project cost is estimated at $232 M. The facility is built with a provision for future expansion to 40 M gallon/y. Financing will be partly done by Valero and the remaining funds will be arranged by US Department of Energy and the State of Michigan. The project is expected to be completed towards the end of 2013. Converting hardwood pulpwood into ethanol, the
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Haldor Topsoe partner in new Danish BioRefining Alliance From waste to usable products: BioRefining Alliance is a new and groundbreaking partnership aiming at accelerating Denmark’s leading position in the field of sustainable biobased technologies. With sustainable technologies it is possible to transform biomass such as agricultural waste to high value fuels and chemicals, which we obtain from fossil resources today. The BioRefining Alliance intends to
FEBRUARY 2012
ON
C ATA LY S T S
play a central role in establishing sustainable solutions to the global energy and resource challenges. The BioRefining Alliance counts three major Danish companies: Topsoe, Novozymes and DONG Energy as well as the Danish Agriculture and Food Council but will aim at including all relevant public and private partners. The BioRefining Alliance has defined four focus areas: Innovation, research, legislative rules, and dissemination. Remarkable results: “The task is challenging, but by gathering Denmark’s leading capacities in the field, we expect to achieve remarkable results,” says Jesper Nerlov, Executive Vice President, Research and Development, Topsoe. “We have already developed a large variety of catalytic technologies for sustainable conversion of biomass into valuable products. There is however a need for bringing all parties that can contribute to this development together in order to create, demonstrate, and industrialise future sustainable technologies. This will be the focus of the BioRefining Alliance.” BioRefining Alliance is a new public-private partnership which has been established to accelerate the development of biorefining solutions. The BioRefining Alliance aims at playing a key role in strengthening Denmark’s leading position in the field of biorefining and thereby supporting the transformation towards a societal independence of fossil fuels. Press release from: Haldor Topsoe A/S, Nymollevej 55, PO Box 213, DK 2800 Lyngby, Denmark, tel: +45 4527 2000, fax: +45 4527 2999, website: http://www.haldortopsoe.com ( 30 Nov 2011)
Imperium reports positive results for novel biodiesel process Imperium Renewables and the US DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have reported that a novel process for making the biomass-based drop-in jet fuel they are jointly developing has yielded a significant amount of fuels. The fuel is presently being studied to determine if it can be mixed into commercial volumes of conventional, petroleumderived jet fuel. The technology entails a catalytic process under development by PNNL, which transforms biomassbased alcohols into bio-based jet fuel. Original Source: Biodiesel Magazine, Nov 2011 (Website: http://www.biodieselmagazine.com) © BBI International 2011
JGC C&C unveils high-performance desulfurization catalysts JGC Catalysts and Chemicals has rolled its desulfurization catalysts called CDS-RS series designed for heavyfuel-oil direct-desulfurization units. The new catalysts, which were developed inhouse, are expected to help oil refineries boost productivity of residualoil fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC). The product has demonstrated its ability to consistently reduce the concentration of metals in residual oil by as much as 40%. This allows an 18% decrease in the use of RFCC catalysts under similar conditions. Original Source: Japan Chemical Web, 9 Dec 2011 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp) © The Chemical Daily Co Ltd 2011
KBR awarded contract for biomass-torenewable crude project in USA KBR, which is one of the global leaders in engineering, construction and services company, has bagged an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract by KiOR Inc to build a plant in Columbus, to convert biomass into drop-in biofuels such as gasoline and diesel blend stocks. The plant is devised to process about 500 tonne/day of wood biomass and produce around 11 M gallons of fuel/y. The plant is anticipated to decrease the dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emission and create jobs in rural areas. The plant would be based on the design and construction of the conventional fluid catalytic cracking units. Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, May 2011, 46 (5), 34 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com/) © Jasubhai Group 2011
Mascoma, Valero partner for cellulosic ethanol facility in USA Mascoma Corp has entered into agreement with Valero Energy Corp to develop and operate a 20 M gallon/y cellulosic ethanol facility in Kinross, MI, USA. The project cost is estimated at $232 M. The facility is built with a provision for future expansion to 40 M gallon/y. Financing will be partly done by Valero and the remaining funds will be arranged by US Department of Energy and the State of Michigan. The project is expected to be completed towards the end of 2013. Converting hardwood pulpwood into ethanol, the
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