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HDPE investments
FOCUS petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. Petrotrin, as the national petroleum company, operates to optimize the return from its resources for the benefit of its shareholders and the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. Press release from: UOP LLC, 25 East Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60017-5017, USA. Tel: +1 847 391 2000. Website: http://www.uop.com (19 Sep 2006)
NEW PLANTS Basell completes catalyst plant expansion The expansion at Basell’s production unit for Ziegler polyethylene and Ziegler-Natta polypropylene (PP) catalysts in Ferrara, Italy, has been completed. The new facility, which has increased capacity by 40%, can provide catalysts for the manufacture of 30 M tonne/y of polyolefins. ICIS Chemical Business, 25 Sep 2006 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 18 Sep 2006, (352), 8 (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French)
Recycling catalyst materials in Japan Nippon Inorganic Colour & Chemical plans to build a dedicated recycling plant for tungsten compounds at its factory in Tokyo, Japan. The company’s production capacity for these catalyst materials will be increased by around 10% when the new recycling line starts operations, which is expected by late Sep 2006. The company also has a dedicated recycling facility for molybdenum compounds, which started operations at the start of 2006. The catalysts are heteropolyacid oxidation catalysts. Japan Chemical Week, 7 Sep 2006, 47 (2382), 2
HDPE investments Basell and Sabic Europe will build their respective HDPE facilities in Germany. Basell will establish a new 120,000 tonne/y unit at Munchsmunster near Munich. The facility will be commissioned in 2009 and will employ the Holstalen ACP technology. It will have room for expansion to 150,000 tonne/y. A total of €200 M will be spent by Sabic Europe for its new 250,000 tonne/y
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bimodal HDPE unit at Gelsenkirchen, which will serve as a replacement for the company’s 100,000 tonne/y plant at the Gelsenkirchen site. The new unit will start operating at the end of 2008. European Plastics News, Sep 2006, 33 (8), 11 & High Performance Plastics, Sep 2006, 9-10 & Chemische Rundschau, 29 Aug 2006, 59 (8), 11 (in German)
Innovation triggers new PP pilot plans Plastics producer Borealis will set up a €20-30 M ($25-38 M) full-scale polypropylene (PP) pilot facility in Schwechat, Austria, by late 2008 or early 2009. The multi-reactor unit will utilize technological innovations which are expected to be introduced between 2011-2016, to produce 50 kg/hr of second generation Borstar PP. The company will also invest over €90 M ($114.5 M) in R&D through 2011, with its main R&D centre to be located in Linz, northern Austria. An investment of €67 M will also be placed in Finland through 2009-2010 for process and catalyst studies. Another R&D facility will be set up in Abu Dhabi, UAE by 2009. The company intends to retain the Borstar technology, and probably license it to one or two partners. ICIS Chemical Business, 18 Sep 2006 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 18 Sep 2006, (352), 10 (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French)
Toyo supplying technology and catalysts for DME plant Toyo Engineering is to provide process technology, catalysts, and technical support to Shanxi Lanhua Clean Energy, which is erecting a 150,000 tonne/y coal-based dimethyl ether plant in Jincheng, China.
NEW TECHNOLOGY Honda process for making bioethanol from rice Researchers at the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), Kyoto, and at Honda’s Fundamental Research Center have developed a microorganism which can produce more bioethanol from the leaves and stems of the rice plant than can existing enzymes. The RITEHonda process comprises four stages: cellulose and hemicellulose are produced from soft, non-woody biomass at high temperature and pressure; the enzyme breaks down the hemicellulose to sugars which are then converted by the microorganism to ethanol; the final step is distillation and purification. The researchers solved the problem of the formation of fermentation inhibitors during the first stage by using a special RITE strain of microorganism and through the process technology developed by Honda. RITE and Honda are planning to develop a plant in which the four production steps will be integrated, allowing a mutual exchange of energy. ICIS Chemical Business, 25 Sep 2006, 1 (33), 12 & Press release from: Honda Worldwide. Website: http://www.world.honda.com/news/ (14 Sep 2006) & Chemisch2Weekblad, 18 Sep 2006 (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/) (in Dutch)
New desulfurization catalyst extends life of fuel cell
Larsen and Toubro (L&T) has been awarded $150 M for setting up high technology methanol and carbon monoxide plants in Saudi Arabia by Saudi Formaldehyde Chemical Co Ltd. L&T has collaborated with Haldor Topsoe of Denmark in setting up these plants.
A high performance desulfurization catalyst that can potentially extend the life of fuel cells and decrease their size has been created by a research group backed by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The consortium, led by Taiyo Oil, used a sputtering technique to develop the nickelsupported alumina catalyst. The material can completely remove carbonyl sulfide, a capability currently not offered by traditional nickel based catalysts. Other members of the consortium are Hagio Koatsu Yoki, Uzushio Electric, and research group from the University of Ehime.
Chemical Weekly, 5 Sep 2006, 52 (3), 120
Japan Chemical Week, 7 Sep 2006, 47 (2382), 5
Chemical and Engineering News, 18 Sep 2006, 84 (38), 21-22
Larsen and Toubro bags $150 M Saudi order
5
NEW PLANTS Basell completes catalyst plant expansion The expansion at Basell’s production unit for Ziegler polyethylene and Ziegler-Natta polypropylene (PP) catalysts in Ferrara, Italy, has been completed. The new facility, which has increased capacity by 40%, can provide catalysts for the manufacture of 30 M tonne/y of polyolefins. ICIS Chemical Business, 25 Sep 2006 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 18 Sep 2006, (352), 8 (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French)
Recycling catalyst materials in Japan Nippon Inorganic Colour & Chemical plans to build a dedicated recycling plant for tungsten compounds at its factory in Tokyo, Japan. The company’s production capacity for these catalyst materials will be increased by around 10% when the new recycling line starts operations, which is expected by late Sep 2006. The company also has a dedicated recycling facility for molybdenum compounds, which started operations at the start of 2006. The catalysts are heteropolyacid oxidation catalysts. Japan Chemical Week, 7 Sep 2006, 47 (2382), 2
HDPE investments Basell and Sabic Europe will build their respective HDPE facilities in Germany. Basell will establish a new 120,000 tonne/y unit at Munchsmunster near Munich. The facility will be commissioned in 2009 and will employ the Holstalen ACP technology. It will have room for expansion to 150,000 tonne/y. A total of €200 M will be spent by Sabic Europe for its new 250,000 tonne/y
NOVEMBER 2006
ON
C ATA LY S T S
bimodal HDPE unit at Gelsenkirchen, which will serve as a replacement for the company’s 100,000 tonne/y plant at the Gelsenkirchen site. The new unit will start operating at the end of 2008. European Plastics News, Sep 2006, 33 (8), 11 & High Performance Plastics, Sep 2006, 9-10 & Chemische Rundschau, 29 Aug 2006, 59 (8), 11 (in German)
Innovation triggers new PP pilot plans Plastics producer Borealis will set up a €20-30 M ($25-38 M) full-scale polypropylene (PP) pilot facility in Schwechat, Austria, by late 2008 or early 2009. The multi-reactor unit will utilize technological innovations which are expected to be introduced between 2011-2016, to produce 50 kg/hr of second generation Borstar PP. The company will also invest over €90 M ($114.5 M) in R&D through 2011, with its main R&D centre to be located in Linz, northern Austria. An investment of €67 M will also be placed in Finland through 2009-2010 for process and catalyst studies. Another R&D facility will be set up in Abu Dhabi, UAE by 2009. The company intends to retain the Borstar technology, and probably license it to one or two partners. ICIS Chemical Business, 18 Sep 2006 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 18 Sep 2006, (352), 10 (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French)
Toyo supplying technology and catalysts for DME plant Toyo Engineering is to provide process technology, catalysts, and technical support to Shanxi Lanhua Clean Energy, which is erecting a 150,000 tonne/y coal-based dimethyl ether plant in Jincheng, China.
NEW TECHNOLOGY Honda process for making bioethanol from rice Researchers at the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), Kyoto, and at Honda’s Fundamental Research Center have developed a microorganism which can produce more bioethanol from the leaves and stems of the rice plant than can existing enzymes. The RITEHonda process comprises four stages: cellulose and hemicellulose are produced from soft, non-woody biomass at high temperature and pressure; the enzyme breaks down the hemicellulose to sugars which are then converted by the microorganism to ethanol; the final step is distillation and purification. The researchers solved the problem of the formation of fermentation inhibitors during the first stage by using a special RITE strain of microorganism and through the process technology developed by Honda. RITE and Honda are planning to develop a plant in which the four production steps will be integrated, allowing a mutual exchange of energy. ICIS Chemical Business, 25 Sep 2006, 1 (33), 12 & Press release from: Honda Worldwide. Website: http://www.world.honda.com/news/ (14 Sep 2006) & Chemisch2Weekblad, 18 Sep 2006 (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/) (in Dutch)
New desulfurization catalyst extends life of fuel cell
Larsen and Toubro (L&T) has been awarded $150 M for setting up high technology methanol and carbon monoxide plants in Saudi Arabia by Saudi Formaldehyde Chemical Co Ltd. L&T has collaborated with Haldor Topsoe of Denmark in setting up these plants.
A high performance desulfurization catalyst that can potentially extend the life of fuel cells and decrease their size has been created by a research group backed by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The consortium, led by Taiyo Oil, used a sputtering technique to develop the nickelsupported alumina catalyst. The material can completely remove carbonyl sulfide, a capability currently not offered by traditional nickel based catalysts. Other members of the consortium are Hagio Koatsu Yoki, Uzushio Electric, and research group from the University of Ehime.
Chemical Weekly, 5 Sep 2006, 52 (3), 120
Japan Chemical Week, 7 Sep 2006, 47 (2382), 5
Chemical and Engineering News, 18 Sep 2006, 84 (38), 21-22
Larsen and Toubro bags $150 M Saudi order
5