- Email: [email protected]
US
F O C U S Symyx Technologies and Celanese extend materials research collaboration Symyx Technologies Inc (Symyx) announced the fourth extension of their R&D collaboration with Celanese Chemicals (Celanese). The collaboration, which began in 1997, will continue to focus on the discovery of breakthrough catalysts for making commodity chemicals. Under the terms of the extended agreement, Celanese will continue to fund Symyx’ discovery efforts, and will have exclusive rights to commercialize materials discovered within the field of the collaboration. Symyx will receive royalties in connection with the sale of any products commercialized under the agreement. Press release from Symyx Technologies Inc, 3100, Central Expressway, Santa Clara, CA 95051, USA. Tel: +1 408 764 2000. Fax: +1 408 748 0175. Website: http://www.symyx.com (29 Jan 2003)
Univation inks polyethylene catalysts deal The first technology licence for the use of its metallocene catalysts in Japan has been granted to Nippon Unicar by Univation Technologies. The catalysts will be introduced at the company’s 120,000 tonne/y Unipol polyethylene plant in Kawasaki, enabling production of high performance and easy processing resins. The new resins are due to be commercialised in 2H 2003. European Chemical News, 13 Jan 2003, 78 (2035), 36
NEW PLANTS Ineos Silicas gels UK/US When Ineos Silicas completes its multimillion pound project, global capacity for silica gel will be increased by 20%. At Warrington, UK, capacity is to be streamlined. In 2Q 2003, capacity will be increased at the company’s smaller facilities in Joliet, IL. Over the next five years, the company plans to increase capacity by 50% in order to meet forecast growth in demand. No details have been disclosed of the company’s plans to increase its presence in China. Global demand for silica gel is increasing at 3-4%/y, with major
4
O N
C ATA LY S T S
applications being beverage processing, polymerisation catalysis, surface coating matting agents, and plastic film anti-block. European Chemical News, 13 Jan 2003, 78 (2035), 38
GEO opens alumina chemicals plant GEO Specialty Chemicals Inc of Cleveland, OH, has commenced production of alumina chemicals from its new plant in Lake Charles, LA. The plant will mainly produce sodium aluminate, which has extensive uses in water treatment, pulp and paper, and catalyst industries. Sodium aluminate expands the company’s range of alumina chemicals, allowing the company to cater to new markets. Industrial Minerals, Jan 2003, (424), 10
Nanotitania plant opened in China The research institute of Panzhihua Steel Corp in China has brought on line a 200 tonne/y nanometre titanium dioxide production line. Both rutile and anatase products are manufactured for use in plastics, coatings, cosmetics, and photo-catalysis. China Chemical Reporter, 6 Jan 2003, 14 (1), 11
construction work and 60 for operations. Prospect, Dec 2002-Feb 2003, 35
SK picks Haldor Topsoe’s catalyst for C2 SK Corp is to use Haldor Topsoe’s catalyst for its 45,000 tonne/y hydrocracking plant in Ulsan, South Korea. The hydrocracking and hydrotreating catalyst will lead to an improvement in quality and quantity of output for SK. Asian Chemical News, 3 Feb 2003, 9 (388), 5
Mitsui Chemicals to up cumene capacity three-fold Mitsui Chemicals plans to invest about Yen 2 bn to increase cumene capacity at its Osaka site to 280,000 tonne/y. Timing is likely to be mid 2004, when extra propylene capacity comes on-stream at the site. The company may replace existing phosphoric acid-based catalysts with zeolite catalysts. Mitsui Chemical currently has 750,000 tonne/y phenol – 200,000 tonne/y at Osaka, 300,000 tonne/y at Chiba, and 250,000 tonne/y in Singapore. Japan Chemical Week, 30 Jan 2003, 44 (2206), 1,6
Lion Akzo consolidating production in Yokkaichi Lion Akzo Co will close its plant at Osaka by Sep 2003 and will consolidate production at its site in Yokkaichi. At the same time, it will increase capacity for phase-transition catalysts and speciality industrial quaternary salts five-fold to 5000 tonne/y at a cost of Yen 1 bn. Japan Chemical Week, 23 Jan 2003, 44 (2205), 2 & Chimie Hebdo, 3 Feb 2003, (201), 13 (in French)
GTL Resources plans methanol plant on Burrup Peninsula GTL Resources is considering setting up a plant that would yield 1 M tonne/y of methanol starting mid 2005. The company has already forged a deal with Apache Corp, Globex Energy Inc, and Santos Ltd for the supply of natural gas to the proposed plant. Capital expenditure is pegged at A$770 M. The project is expected to generate 500 jobs for
Stone & Webster and JGC win Chinese cracking plant engineering contract Stone & Webster in partnership with JGC Corp has been awarded the contract to build an ethylene cracking plant in China for Shell and China National Offshore Oil Company. The 800,000 tonne/y ethylene plant will supply several other petrochemical and plastics plants on the same site at Huizhou. The plant, using “Advanced Recovery System” and “Ultra Selective Conversion” technologies, is scheduled to become operational by Sep 2005. Chimie Hebdo, 20 Jan 2003, (199), 4 (in French)
NEW TECHNOLOGY Carbonic acid catalyst Carbon dioxide dissolved in high temperature water (either near-critical
MARCH 2003
Univation inks polyethylene catalysts deal The first technology licence for the use of its metallocene catalysts in Japan has been granted to Nippon Unicar by Univation Technologies. The catalysts will be introduced at the company’s 120,000 tonne/y Unipol polyethylene plant in Kawasaki, enabling production of high performance and easy processing resins. The new resins are due to be commercialised in 2H 2003. European Chemical News, 13 Jan 2003, 78 (2035), 36
NEW PLANTS Ineos Silicas gels UK/US When Ineos Silicas completes its multimillion pound project, global capacity for silica gel will be increased by 20%. At Warrington, UK, capacity is to be streamlined. In 2Q 2003, capacity will be increased at the company’s smaller facilities in Joliet, IL. Over the next five years, the company plans to increase capacity by 50% in order to meet forecast growth in demand. No details have been disclosed of the company’s plans to increase its presence in China. Global demand for silica gel is increasing at 3-4%/y, with major
4
O N
C ATA LY S T S
applications being beverage processing, polymerisation catalysis, surface coating matting agents, and plastic film anti-block. European Chemical News, 13 Jan 2003, 78 (2035), 38
GEO opens alumina chemicals plant GEO Specialty Chemicals Inc of Cleveland, OH, has commenced production of alumina chemicals from its new plant in Lake Charles, LA. The plant will mainly produce sodium aluminate, which has extensive uses in water treatment, pulp and paper, and catalyst industries. Sodium aluminate expands the company’s range of alumina chemicals, allowing the company to cater to new markets. Industrial Minerals, Jan 2003, (424), 10
Nanotitania plant opened in China The research institute of Panzhihua Steel Corp in China has brought on line a 200 tonne/y nanometre titanium dioxide production line. Both rutile and anatase products are manufactured for use in plastics, coatings, cosmetics, and photo-catalysis. China Chemical Reporter, 6 Jan 2003, 14 (1), 11
construction work and 60 for operations. Prospect, Dec 2002-Feb 2003, 35
SK picks Haldor Topsoe’s catalyst for C2 SK Corp is to use Haldor Topsoe’s catalyst for its 45,000 tonne/y hydrocracking plant in Ulsan, South Korea. The hydrocracking and hydrotreating catalyst will lead to an improvement in quality and quantity of output for SK. Asian Chemical News, 3 Feb 2003, 9 (388), 5
Mitsui Chemicals to up cumene capacity three-fold Mitsui Chemicals plans to invest about Yen 2 bn to increase cumene capacity at its Osaka site to 280,000 tonne/y. Timing is likely to be mid 2004, when extra propylene capacity comes on-stream at the site. The company may replace existing phosphoric acid-based catalysts with zeolite catalysts. Mitsui Chemical currently has 750,000 tonne/y phenol – 200,000 tonne/y at Osaka, 300,000 tonne/y at Chiba, and 250,000 tonne/y in Singapore. Japan Chemical Week, 30 Jan 2003, 44 (2206), 1,6
Lion Akzo consolidating production in Yokkaichi Lion Akzo Co will close its plant at Osaka by Sep 2003 and will consolidate production at its site in Yokkaichi. At the same time, it will increase capacity for phase-transition catalysts and speciality industrial quaternary salts five-fold to 5000 tonne/y at a cost of Yen 1 bn. Japan Chemical Week, 23 Jan 2003, 44 (2205), 2 & Chimie Hebdo, 3 Feb 2003, (201), 13 (in French)
GTL Resources plans methanol plant on Burrup Peninsula GTL Resources is considering setting up a plant that would yield 1 M tonne/y of methanol starting mid 2005. The company has already forged a deal with Apache Corp, Globex Energy Inc, and Santos Ltd for the supply of natural gas to the proposed plant. Capital expenditure is pegged at A$770 M. The project is expected to generate 500 jobs for
Stone & Webster and JGC win Chinese cracking plant engineering contract Stone & Webster in partnership with JGC Corp has been awarded the contract to build an ethylene cracking plant in China for Shell and China National Offshore Oil Company. The 800,000 tonne/y ethylene plant will supply several other petrochemical and plastics plants on the same site at Huizhou. The plant, using “Advanced Recovery System” and “Ultra Selective Conversion” technologies, is scheduled to become operational by Sep 2005. Chimie Hebdo, 20 Jan 2003, (199), 4 (in French)
NEW TECHNOLOGY Carbonic acid catalyst Carbon dioxide dissolved in high temperature water (either near-critical
MARCH 2003