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Kronos launches photochemical titania for visible light
FOCUS heat-resistant bottles, except in Japan where germanium catalysts are primarily used. Japan Unipet will renovate its PET facilities at the Iwakuni complex to be compatible with both aluminium and germanium catalysts. Completion of the renovation is due in Jun 2008 with startup slated for Jul 2008. Japan Chemical Week, 11 Oct 2007, 48 (2436), 4
TFESA: a ‘new’ superacid DuPont FluoroIntermediates has come up with a superacid dubbed TFESA (1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane sulfonic acid) for use as a catalyst for several hydrocarbon conversions such as aromatic alkylation and Fries rearrangement. The compound has acidity similar to trifluoromethane sulfonic acid but has lower vapour pressure, providing safety benefits and ease of handling. It can also be utilized in polyol condensation reactions and as an esterification catalyst. Speciality Chemicals, Sep 2007, 27 (7), 42-43
Enantis has a patent for disposal of mustard gas by enzymes Enantis (Brno, Czech Republic), a biotechnological spin-off company, has a patent for mustard gas disposal by enzymes, which are able to decontaminate military equipment. Mustard gas disposal by enzymes is much more effective and environmentally friendly than existing chemical methods. That is why armies in many countries are interested in the patent. Enantis is also developing a decontamination mixture, which will be tested within the bounds of a control pilot test of the NATO’s member countries at the end of 2007. Ekonom, 11 Oct 2007, 51 (41), 16 (in Czech)
Genencor launches first ever commercial enzyme product for cellulosic ethanol Genencor announced a new product, Accellerase 1000, the first ever commercially available biomass enzyme developed specifically for second generation biorefineries. Accellerase 1000 contains a potent complex of enzymes that reduces complex lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars – an indispensable
DECEMBER 2007
ON
C ATA LY S T S
step for the production of cellulosic ethanol. Genencor has been developing its biomass enzymes for well over 10 years. The effort was partially supported by contracts with the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Accellerase 1000 will fill a large unmet need for reliable biomass enzyme supply to pilot and demonstration plant developers who are actively working on process development, scale up and integration. Accellerase 1000 will be available for sample and sale immediately. Press release from: Genencor Inc, 200, Meridian Centre Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14618 3916, USA. Tel: +1 585 256 5200. Fax: +1 585 256 6952. Website: http://www.genencor.com (15 Oct 2007) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 22 Oct 2007, (398), 12 (in French)
PATENTS Inexpensive ozone scavengers Conventional ozone scavengers are based on either carbon fibre or a zeolite containing a catalytic metal. They are unsatisfactory for destroying ozone at both low and high concentrations, and can be expensive. The new material has an organic polymer base which is converted to an ion-exchanger by radiation-induced graft polymerisation and then impregnated by a catalytic metal ion such as manganese. US 7,291,312, Ebara Corp, Tokyo, Japan, 6 Nov 2007
Production of supported metal catalysts by hydrometallurgical processes Kronos launches photochemical titania for visible light Kronos International Inc has unveiled a range of Visible Light Photocatalyst (vlp) titanium dioxide products. The vlp 7000, 7001, 7100 and 7101 compounds provide maximum degradation of atmospheric pollutants and direct-contact organic compounds in the presence of both visible light and UV radiation. The products have potential applications in plastics sheeting, filters, and various textiles. Modern Plastics Worldwide, Oct 2007, 84 (10), 56
ENVIRONMENT SCR to be used on Beijing buses Beijing is phasing out most of its old diesel buses before the 2008 Olympic games, replacing them with about 1000 new buses fitted with SCR catalysts. AECC Newsletter, Sep-Oct 2007, 9 & ICIS ChemicalBusiness, 12 Nov 2007, 272 (18), 12
Europe’s cleanest power plant Norway is building a large, gas-fired power plant, claimed to be the cleanest fossil-fuel power plant in Europe. The exhaust will be cleaned by SCR, using aqueous ammonia, which should reduce the NOx concentration to about 2 ppm. AECC Newsletter, Sep-Oct 2007, 6
Supported metal catalysts such as nickel on alumina are made by hydrometallurgical processes in which the support is suspended in an aqueous solution of the metal and reduced by hydrogen under pressure. US 7,291,577, Sulzer Metco (Canada) Inc, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada, 6 Nov 2007
Desulfurizing by adsorption Although catalytic hydrodesulfurization of petroleum streams is widely practised it has some major drawbacks – it is capital intensive, operationally complex, uses significant amounts of hydrogen, reduces octane number, reduces yield, and needs expensive catalysts. An alternative desulfurization process uses selective adsorption on a mixed metal oxide such as zinc titanate aluminate at temperatures above 300°C. The adsorbent is regenerated by heating in air. (RTI has been working on zinc titanate adsorbents for some years – see US 5,714,431 – Ed) US 7,291,259 (96 claims), Research Triangle Institute, North Carolina, USA, 6 Nov 2007
Selective oxidation of H2S Selective oxidation of H2S by Claus and similar catalysts with the production of elemental sulfur is difficult to engineer when high concentrations of H2S are involved. In this disclosure, the reaction is conducted at 120-160° so that the sulfur is produced as a liquid which
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TFESA: a ‘new’ superacid DuPont FluoroIntermediates has come up with a superacid dubbed TFESA (1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane sulfonic acid) for use as a catalyst for several hydrocarbon conversions such as aromatic alkylation and Fries rearrangement. The compound has acidity similar to trifluoromethane sulfonic acid but has lower vapour pressure, providing safety benefits and ease of handling. It can also be utilized in polyol condensation reactions and as an esterification catalyst. Speciality Chemicals, Sep 2007, 27 (7), 42-43
Enantis has a patent for disposal of mustard gas by enzymes Enantis (Brno, Czech Republic), a biotechnological spin-off company, has a patent for mustard gas disposal by enzymes, which are able to decontaminate military equipment. Mustard gas disposal by enzymes is much more effective and environmentally friendly than existing chemical methods. That is why armies in many countries are interested in the patent. Enantis is also developing a decontamination mixture, which will be tested within the bounds of a control pilot test of the NATO’s member countries at the end of 2007. Ekonom, 11 Oct 2007, 51 (41), 16 (in Czech)
Genencor launches first ever commercial enzyme product for cellulosic ethanol Genencor announced a new product, Accellerase 1000, the first ever commercially available biomass enzyme developed specifically for second generation biorefineries. Accellerase 1000 contains a potent complex of enzymes that reduces complex lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars – an indispensable
DECEMBER 2007
ON
C ATA LY S T S
step for the production of cellulosic ethanol. Genencor has been developing its biomass enzymes for well over 10 years. The effort was partially supported by contracts with the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Accellerase 1000 will fill a large unmet need for reliable biomass enzyme supply to pilot and demonstration plant developers who are actively working on process development, scale up and integration. Accellerase 1000 will be available for sample and sale immediately. Press release from: Genencor Inc, 200, Meridian Centre Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14618 3916, USA. Tel: +1 585 256 5200. Fax: +1 585 256 6952. Website: http://www.genencor.com (15 Oct 2007) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 22 Oct 2007, (398), 12 (in French)
PATENTS Inexpensive ozone scavengers Conventional ozone scavengers are based on either carbon fibre or a zeolite containing a catalytic metal. They are unsatisfactory for destroying ozone at both low and high concentrations, and can be expensive. The new material has an organic polymer base which is converted to an ion-exchanger by radiation-induced graft polymerisation and then impregnated by a catalytic metal ion such as manganese. US 7,291,312, Ebara Corp, Tokyo, Japan, 6 Nov 2007
Production of supported metal catalysts by hydrometallurgical processes Kronos launches photochemical titania for visible light Kronos International Inc has unveiled a range of Visible Light Photocatalyst (vlp) titanium dioxide products. The vlp 7000, 7001, 7100 and 7101 compounds provide maximum degradation of atmospheric pollutants and direct-contact organic compounds in the presence of both visible light and UV radiation. The products have potential applications in plastics sheeting, filters, and various textiles. Modern Plastics Worldwide, Oct 2007, 84 (10), 56
ENVIRONMENT SCR to be used on Beijing buses Beijing is phasing out most of its old diesel buses before the 2008 Olympic games, replacing them with about 1000 new buses fitted with SCR catalysts. AECC Newsletter, Sep-Oct 2007, 9 & ICIS ChemicalBusiness, 12 Nov 2007, 272 (18), 12
Europe’s cleanest power plant Norway is building a large, gas-fired power plant, claimed to be the cleanest fossil-fuel power plant in Europe. The exhaust will be cleaned by SCR, using aqueous ammonia, which should reduce the NOx concentration to about 2 ppm. AECC Newsletter, Sep-Oct 2007, 6
Supported metal catalysts such as nickel on alumina are made by hydrometallurgical processes in which the support is suspended in an aqueous solution of the metal and reduced by hydrogen under pressure. US 7,291,577, Sulzer Metco (Canada) Inc, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada, 6 Nov 2007
Desulfurizing by adsorption Although catalytic hydrodesulfurization of petroleum streams is widely practised it has some major drawbacks – it is capital intensive, operationally complex, uses significant amounts of hydrogen, reduces octane number, reduces yield, and needs expensive catalysts. An alternative desulfurization process uses selective adsorption on a mixed metal oxide such as zinc titanate aluminate at temperatures above 300°C. The adsorbent is regenerated by heating in air. (RTI has been working on zinc titanate adsorbents for some years – see US 5,714,431 – Ed) US 7,291,259 (96 claims), Research Triangle Institute, North Carolina, USA, 6 Nov 2007
Selective oxidation of H2S Selective oxidation of H2S by Claus and similar catalysts with the production of elemental sulfur is difficult to engineer when high concentrations of H2S are involved. In this disclosure, the reaction is conducted at 120-160° so that the sulfur is produced as a liquid which
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