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Ionic liquid alkylation catalysts
F O C U S 2007 (ended 31 Mar 2008) from Yen 27,526 M in FY 2006 (ended 31 Mar 2007), while operating income fell to Yen 2812 M from Yen 2982 M. Sales of automotive catalysts went up, reflecting higher sales volume, and an upswing in selling prices accompanying the escalation in precious metal prices. Sales of process catalysts were up due to the high demand for replacements. Sales of De-NOx catalysts, and equipment and catalysts for waste gas treatment were up due to growth in sales volume. Sales of equipment and catalysts for wastewater treatment dropped in an absence of large-sized equipment projects which contributed to the sales performance in the previous year. Nippon Shokubai Annual Report 2008, 19 Jun 2008, 4-5 (Nippon Shokubai Co Ltd, General Affairs Department, Public Relations Group, Japan. Tel: +81 6 6223 9105. Website: http://www.shokubai.co.jp/eng)
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under the license agreement for the period it was in force. Oxonica Interim Results 1H 2008, 22 Sep 2008 (Oxonica plc, Unit 7, Begbroke Science Park, Sandy Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1PF, UK. Tel: +44 1865 856 700. Fax: +44 1865 856 701. Website: http://www.oxonica.com)
Short on reserves: recycling key to addressing metal reserves decline Recycling could serve as a new way to boost the depleting reserves of metals. For example, platinum can be extracted from road-side dust, which is originally sourced from catalytic converters. This approach might prove profitable and would boost the amount of platinum available, which is currently scarce in the market. Rejected cell phones might also prove to be a great resource for platinum. Rhenium is also recovered from scrap bi-metallic catalysts applied in the oil refining sector. Chemistry and Industry (London), 25 Aug 2008, (16), 21-23
Oxonica: interim results for 1H 2008: Oxonica Energy For its 1H 2008 (period ends 30 Jun 2008), the Oxonica Energy segment of Oxonica plc has reported revenue of £532,000 (£2.411 M for its 1H 2007) and an operating loss of £816,000 (operating profit of £536,000). The Energy business comprises the Envirox Fuel-Borne Nanocatalyst with demonstrated improvements in fuel economy and reduced emissions for diesel vehicles. Following the successful outcome of the follow-on trial with Stagecoach announced in Feb 2008, there has been a significant increase in interest in Envirox and Oxonica Energy now has a stronger pipeline of potential UK customers than at any time in its history. The rise in oil prices and enhanced environmental pressures are making Envirox an increasingly attractive product for all types of significant diesel fuel users. In addition to growing sales in the UK, Oxonica Energy has now made initial sales into Russia for applications in the mining sector. The patent licensing dispute with Neuftec: as announced on 5 Sep 2008, in the judgment issued on 5 Sep 2008 it was found that royalties are payable to Neuftec on Envirox sourced from Oxonica Energy’s current supplier
NOVEMBER 2008
Formia launches next generation low concentration VOC incinerators Finland’s Formia has launched a range of incinerators for the disposal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to meet EU regulations and standards on VOC emissions. The new incinerators combine robust catalytic technology with heat exchangers for the disposal of emissions containing low levels of VOCs. The Formia Smart VOC LV uses active carbon or zeolites to absorb the VOCs, before burning them in a precious metal catalyst. This enables the processing of low VOC concentrations without the need for supporting energy, resulting in low operational costs. The heat exchanger gathers heat from the catalytic process and transfers it to the incoming VOC gas. Press release from: Formia Technology Group Oy, Kauhajoki, Finland. Tel: +358 207 570 492. Fax: +358 207 570 430. Website: http://www.formiatech.com (19 Sep 2008)
paraffins into useful products. Conventional alkylation is ineffective with ethylene, and the usual alkylation catalysts (HF, H2SO4) are generally undesirable. Ionic liquids, in addition to being good solvents, can also act as acid catalysts. A typical ionic liquid catalyst, N-butyl pyridinium chloroaluminate, will convert isopentane and ethylene into a useful gasoline blending component. US 7,432,408 & 7,432,409, Chevron USA Inc, San Ramon, CA, USA, 7 Oct 2008
Improved SCR system A selective catalytic reduction system for removing NOx from combustion gases which is stable and operates over a wide temperature range. There are three stages. The first stage uses an organic reductant such as ethanol and a catalyst containing gallium oxide. The second stage, catalysed by an oxide doped with a transition metal, destroys intermediates containing nitrogen. The third, optional, stage uses a platinum metal to destroy residual organic matter. US 7,431,905, General Electric Co, Niskayuna, New York, USA, 7 Oct 2008
Special silica support for heteropoly acid catalysts The catalysts are used for making esters by reacting an olefin with a carboxylic acid, particularly for making ethyl acetate from ethylene and acetic acid. Preferred catalysts are tungstosilicic acid and tungstophosphoric acid supported on silica. If the silica is exposed to steam at 100300° prior to impregnation, the physical properties of the catalyst are improved and the quantities of undesirable by-products produced are reduced. US 7,432,393, BP Chemicals Ltd, Middlesex, UK, 7 Oct 2008
Improved dehydrogenation catalysts
PATENTS Ionic liquid alkylation catalysts In oil refineries there is a need to convert both ethylene and iso-
Dehydrogenation catalysts, for making olefins from alkanes, can be made from zeolites containing tin and platinum. This patent teaches that if the tin is incorporated in the zeolite framework, rather than merely lying in
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O N
C ATA LY S T S
under the license agreement for the period it was in force. Oxonica Interim Results 1H 2008, 22 Sep 2008 (Oxonica plc, Unit 7, Begbroke Science Park, Sandy Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1PF, UK. Tel: +44 1865 856 700. Fax: +44 1865 856 701. Website: http://www.oxonica.com)
Short on reserves: recycling key to addressing metal reserves decline Recycling could serve as a new way to boost the depleting reserves of metals. For example, platinum can be extracted from road-side dust, which is originally sourced from catalytic converters. This approach might prove profitable and would boost the amount of platinum available, which is currently scarce in the market. Rejected cell phones might also prove to be a great resource for platinum. Rhenium is also recovered from scrap bi-metallic catalysts applied in the oil refining sector. Chemistry and Industry (London), 25 Aug 2008, (16), 21-23
Oxonica: interim results for 1H 2008: Oxonica Energy For its 1H 2008 (period ends 30 Jun 2008), the Oxonica Energy segment of Oxonica plc has reported revenue of £532,000 (£2.411 M for its 1H 2007) and an operating loss of £816,000 (operating profit of £536,000). The Energy business comprises the Envirox Fuel-Borne Nanocatalyst with demonstrated improvements in fuel economy and reduced emissions for diesel vehicles. Following the successful outcome of the follow-on trial with Stagecoach announced in Feb 2008, there has been a significant increase in interest in Envirox and Oxonica Energy now has a stronger pipeline of potential UK customers than at any time in its history. The rise in oil prices and enhanced environmental pressures are making Envirox an increasingly attractive product for all types of significant diesel fuel users. In addition to growing sales in the UK, Oxonica Energy has now made initial sales into Russia for applications in the mining sector. The patent licensing dispute with Neuftec: as announced on 5 Sep 2008, in the judgment issued on 5 Sep 2008 it was found that royalties are payable to Neuftec on Envirox sourced from Oxonica Energy’s current supplier
NOVEMBER 2008
Formia launches next generation low concentration VOC incinerators Finland’s Formia has launched a range of incinerators for the disposal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to meet EU regulations and standards on VOC emissions. The new incinerators combine robust catalytic technology with heat exchangers for the disposal of emissions containing low levels of VOCs. The Formia Smart VOC LV uses active carbon or zeolites to absorb the VOCs, before burning them in a precious metal catalyst. This enables the processing of low VOC concentrations without the need for supporting energy, resulting in low operational costs. The heat exchanger gathers heat from the catalytic process and transfers it to the incoming VOC gas. Press release from: Formia Technology Group Oy, Kauhajoki, Finland. Tel: +358 207 570 492. Fax: +358 207 570 430. Website: http://www.formiatech.com (19 Sep 2008)
paraffins into useful products. Conventional alkylation is ineffective with ethylene, and the usual alkylation catalysts (HF, H2SO4) are generally undesirable. Ionic liquids, in addition to being good solvents, can also act as acid catalysts. A typical ionic liquid catalyst, N-butyl pyridinium chloroaluminate, will convert isopentane and ethylene into a useful gasoline blending component. US 7,432,408 & 7,432,409, Chevron USA Inc, San Ramon, CA, USA, 7 Oct 2008
Improved SCR system A selective catalytic reduction system for removing NOx from combustion gases which is stable and operates over a wide temperature range. There are three stages. The first stage uses an organic reductant such as ethanol and a catalyst containing gallium oxide. The second stage, catalysed by an oxide doped with a transition metal, destroys intermediates containing nitrogen. The third, optional, stage uses a platinum metal to destroy residual organic matter. US 7,431,905, General Electric Co, Niskayuna, New York, USA, 7 Oct 2008
Special silica support for heteropoly acid catalysts The catalysts are used for making esters by reacting an olefin with a carboxylic acid, particularly for making ethyl acetate from ethylene and acetic acid. Preferred catalysts are tungstosilicic acid and tungstophosphoric acid supported on silica. If the silica is exposed to steam at 100300° prior to impregnation, the physical properties of the catalyst are improved and the quantities of undesirable by-products produced are reduced. US 7,432,393, BP Chemicals Ltd, Middlesex, UK, 7 Oct 2008
Improved dehydrogenation catalysts
PATENTS Ionic liquid alkylation catalysts In oil refineries there is a need to convert both ethylene and iso-
Dehydrogenation catalysts, for making olefins from alkanes, can be made from zeolites containing tin and platinum. This patent teaches that if the tin is incorporated in the zeolite framework, rather than merely lying in
7