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MA catalyst plant to be built in China
F O C U S business plan to 2015. Under the medium-term plan, sales of Yen 13 bn/y are targeted in 2007 with an increase to Yen 20 bn/y in 2010. The four divisions have been restructured and a sales network established in Korea, Taiwan, Shanghai in China, Thailand, and Singapore. Product specifications are being standardised at the company’s 17 production facilities worldwide and production is being streamlined and optimised. Japan Chemical Week, 15 Sep 2005, 46 (2334), 7-8
Südzucker allies with Biotech Research Germany-based Biotechnology Research and Information Network (BRAIN) has established an alliance with its compatriot Südzucker, a sugar producer in Europe, to enhance the manufacturing process for functional sugar specialities. The move is BRAIN’s fourth collaborative research project in the past 18 months after working with several others, including Ciba Speciality Chemicals and Degussa for speciality chemicals, and Nutrinova in nutraceuticals. BRAIN will identify and formulate biocatalysts for biological processes in the manufacture of sugar specialities, starting with sucrose within its proprietary BioArchives of more than 100 M genes from unique, noncultivable microorganisms. Compared with traditional chemical methods, the process will reduce energy costs and downstream product processing steps. Südzucker and others are now refining a growing proportion of raw sugar beet to specialities, utilising both chemical and biological means. Several health benefits are being identified when used in functional foods. Speciality Chemicals, Oct 2005, 25 (8), 17
NEW PLANTS MA catalyst plant to be built in China Liaoning Huajin Chemical (Group) Corp and Süd-Chemie, Germany, have jointly funded the RMB Yuan 45 M E-16 project in Panjin, Liaoning Province. This is a 150 tonne/y maleic anhydride catalyst production unit scheduled for completion in Dec 2006. It will meet a need for maleic anhydride catalyst
DECEMBER 2005
O N
C ATA LY S T S
production in China. Over 95% of output will be exported. China Chemical Reporter, 16 Sep 2005, 16 (26), 14
NEW TECHNOLOGY
Noblestar Oilchem plans refining catalyst plant in China
New peroxide route advances
$100 M is being invested by Qingdao Nobelstar Oilchem Co Ltd, in partnership with Fuling Group, to build a 100,000 tonne/y refining catalyst plant in China. Qingdao Nobelstar Oilchem currently produces 10,000 tonne/y refining additives and has a registered capital of RMB Yuan 30 bn. A 10 M tonne/y refinery is being built by Sinopec in Qingdao, Shandong province. Qingdao Nobelstar Oilchem hopes to supply this plant.
DegussaHeadwaters, the jv of Degussa and Headwaters, is to commission a demonstration plant for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide in Hanau-Wolfang, Germany, in 2Q 2006. The technology should be available commercially from 2007. The partners predict that worldscale single train DSHP plants will have a capacity of 150,000 tonne/y, with investment costs one-third to one-half less than conventional technology
China Chemical Reporter, 26 Sep 2005, 16 (27), 8
Chemical and Engineering News, 17 Oct 2005, 83 (42), 13-14 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & European Chemical News, 17 Oct 2005, 83 (2167), 19 & Chemistry and Industry, 7 Nov 2005, (21), 13 & Chemisch2Weekblad, 12 Oct 2005 (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/) (in Dutch)
Textan Chemicals commences civil construction at new plant for new industrial enzymes Textan Chemicals P Ltd, Chennaibased manufacturer of industrial enzymes for diverse industries, has begun to build its new plant at Mappedu village near Chennai. The high-tech plant requiring about Rup 100 M is likely to start commercial production of enzymes such as protease, acid and alkali xylanases, lipase and, cellulase along with various formulations for the feed, leather tanning, and pulp and paper industries by Feb 2006.
Nanoparticulate gold catalyses oxidations Workers at the University of Wales in Cardiff have shown that nanoparticulate gold, supported on carbon, will catalyse the reaction of dioxygen with alkenes under mild conditions. The partial oxidation products can be varied by changing the solvent. Chemical & Engineering News, 24 Oct 2005, 83 (43), 14 & Nature, 2005, 437, 1132
Chemical Weekly, 30 Aug 2005, 51 (2), 128
UOP designs new hydroprocessing unit for “synthetic crude oil” UOP has been assigned by North West Upgrading Inc to design and license a new hydroprocessing unit to upgrade synthetically derived crude oil. The plant will be situated near Edmonton, Alberta. An integrated distillate Unionfining process and Unicracking process unit will manufacture a synthetic crude oil blend by both hydrotreating 31,750 bbl/day of naphtha and distillate range feedstock, and partially converting hydrocracking 27,200 bbl/day of distillate and vacuum gas oil range feedstock. Hydrocarbon Processing, Oct 2005, 84 (10), 33 & Press release from Headwaters Inc, 11778, S Election Road, Suite 210, Draper, UT 84020, USA. Tel: +1 801 984 9400. Fax: +1 801 984 9410. Website: http://www.hdwtrs.com (4 Oct 2005)
Mitsui Chemicals develops indoor photocatalyst A new high-performance photocatalyst developed by Mitsui Chemicals has been introduced to the market. Sales are due to begin in 2H fiscal 2006. The company’s proprietary technology for inorganic nano-control has been used to modify titanium dioxide with a significantly higher breakdown performance under indoor fluorescent light. Previously, conventional catalysts had not been able to work inside. Even without the presence of light, the new photocatalyst exhibits excellent adsorption and removal of toxic substances and odours. Sales in fiscal 2011 are targeted at Yen 2.5 bn/y. After eight hours, the new catalyst has an 80% breakdown ratio
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Südzucker allies with Biotech Research Germany-based Biotechnology Research and Information Network (BRAIN) has established an alliance with its compatriot Südzucker, a sugar producer in Europe, to enhance the manufacturing process for functional sugar specialities. The move is BRAIN’s fourth collaborative research project in the past 18 months after working with several others, including Ciba Speciality Chemicals and Degussa for speciality chemicals, and Nutrinova in nutraceuticals. BRAIN will identify and formulate biocatalysts for biological processes in the manufacture of sugar specialities, starting with sucrose within its proprietary BioArchives of more than 100 M genes from unique, noncultivable microorganisms. Compared with traditional chemical methods, the process will reduce energy costs and downstream product processing steps. Südzucker and others are now refining a growing proportion of raw sugar beet to specialities, utilising both chemical and biological means. Several health benefits are being identified when used in functional foods. Speciality Chemicals, Oct 2005, 25 (8), 17
NEW PLANTS MA catalyst plant to be built in China Liaoning Huajin Chemical (Group) Corp and Süd-Chemie, Germany, have jointly funded the RMB Yuan 45 M E-16 project in Panjin, Liaoning Province. This is a 150 tonne/y maleic anhydride catalyst production unit scheduled for completion in Dec 2006. It will meet a need for maleic anhydride catalyst
DECEMBER 2005
O N
C ATA LY S T S
production in China. Over 95% of output will be exported. China Chemical Reporter, 16 Sep 2005, 16 (26), 14
NEW TECHNOLOGY
Noblestar Oilchem plans refining catalyst plant in China
New peroxide route advances
$100 M is being invested by Qingdao Nobelstar Oilchem Co Ltd, in partnership with Fuling Group, to build a 100,000 tonne/y refining catalyst plant in China. Qingdao Nobelstar Oilchem currently produces 10,000 tonne/y refining additives and has a registered capital of RMB Yuan 30 bn. A 10 M tonne/y refinery is being built by Sinopec in Qingdao, Shandong province. Qingdao Nobelstar Oilchem hopes to supply this plant.
DegussaHeadwaters, the jv of Degussa and Headwaters, is to commission a demonstration plant for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide in Hanau-Wolfang, Germany, in 2Q 2006. The technology should be available commercially from 2007. The partners predict that worldscale single train DSHP plants will have a capacity of 150,000 tonne/y, with investment costs one-third to one-half less than conventional technology
China Chemical Reporter, 26 Sep 2005, 16 (27), 8
Chemical and Engineering News, 17 Oct 2005, 83 (42), 13-14 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & European Chemical News, 17 Oct 2005, 83 (2167), 19 & Chemistry and Industry, 7 Nov 2005, (21), 13 & Chemisch2Weekblad, 12 Oct 2005 (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/) (in Dutch)
Textan Chemicals commences civil construction at new plant for new industrial enzymes Textan Chemicals P Ltd, Chennaibased manufacturer of industrial enzymes for diverse industries, has begun to build its new plant at Mappedu village near Chennai. The high-tech plant requiring about Rup 100 M is likely to start commercial production of enzymes such as protease, acid and alkali xylanases, lipase and, cellulase along with various formulations for the feed, leather tanning, and pulp and paper industries by Feb 2006.
Nanoparticulate gold catalyses oxidations Workers at the University of Wales in Cardiff have shown that nanoparticulate gold, supported on carbon, will catalyse the reaction of dioxygen with alkenes under mild conditions. The partial oxidation products can be varied by changing the solvent. Chemical & Engineering News, 24 Oct 2005, 83 (43), 14 & Nature, 2005, 437, 1132
Chemical Weekly, 30 Aug 2005, 51 (2), 128
UOP designs new hydroprocessing unit for “synthetic crude oil” UOP has been assigned by North West Upgrading Inc to design and license a new hydroprocessing unit to upgrade synthetically derived crude oil. The plant will be situated near Edmonton, Alberta. An integrated distillate Unionfining process and Unicracking process unit will manufacture a synthetic crude oil blend by both hydrotreating 31,750 bbl/day of naphtha and distillate range feedstock, and partially converting hydrocracking 27,200 bbl/day of distillate and vacuum gas oil range feedstock. Hydrocarbon Processing, Oct 2005, 84 (10), 33 & Press release from Headwaters Inc, 11778, S Election Road, Suite 210, Draper, UT 84020, USA. Tel: +1 801 984 9400. Fax: +1 801 984 9410. Website: http://www.hdwtrs.com (4 Oct 2005)
Mitsui Chemicals develops indoor photocatalyst A new high-performance photocatalyst developed by Mitsui Chemicals has been introduced to the market. Sales are due to begin in 2H fiscal 2006. The company’s proprietary technology for inorganic nano-control has been used to modify titanium dioxide with a significantly higher breakdown performance under indoor fluorescent light. Previously, conventional catalysts had not been able to work inside. Even without the presence of light, the new photocatalyst exhibits excellent adsorption and removal of toxic substances and odours. Sales in fiscal 2011 are targeted at Yen 2.5 bn/y. After eight hours, the new catalyst has an 80% breakdown ratio
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