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New silver oxidation catalyst approved
F O C U S Koha, Toyoda Gosei use purple LEDs for photocatalyst system A new photocatalytic material developed by Koha Co, made from titanium dioxide attached to a silica gel, is to be used in conjunction with purple LEDs developed by Toyoda Gosei Co in a new photocatalyst system for deodorizing and sterilizing. The new system is being seen as a low-power, long-life alternative to the black-light photocatalyst systems being used in air- and waterpurification systems. These conventional systems have drawbacks such as the generation of radio frequency noise and cannot be used in low-temperature settings. Nikkei Net, 12 Mar 2003 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
New silver oxidation catalyst approved Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Co Ltd has developed a new silver catalyst (YS-8500) at its Research Institute in China. It has been approved by Sinopec. The new catalyst has a 2% improvement in selectivity compared to the previous YS-7 catalyst and has applications in the production of ethylene glycol and ethylene oxide. China Chemical Reporter, 26 Mar 2003, 14 (9), 12
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C ATA LY S T S
which converts racemic 2-arylpropionamides to the corresponding (S)-acids. European Chemical News, 17 Mar 2003, 78 (2044), 24
Energy Visions achieves fuel cell project milestone Energy Visions Inc announced that the company’s Fuel Cell Division has reached a planned milestone in its Flowing Electrolyte Direct Methanol Fuel Cell project. Energy Visions had previously announced that it intended to continue in the R&D phase to capitalise on recent improvements in its electrode designs. Since Sep 2002, the company has investigated electrode structure, catalysts and cell design and has identified specific improvements that will lead to power densities of up to four times that previously achieved. Energy Visions intends to continue its research into electrode and cell design and to incorporate these new features in its fuel cell/Nickel Zinc battery hybrid power source. A patent application relating to a novel flowing electrolyte design has been filed. Press release from: Energy Visions Inc, Bldg M-16, 1500 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada. Tel: +1 613 990 9373. Fax: +1 613 990 9464. Website: http://www.energyvi.com (27 Mar 2003)
Toyobo develops PET catalyst Toyobo says it has developed an aluminium-based PET catalyst that overcomes the problems of current catalysts. The bulk of PET production uses antimony catalysts but these are under regulatory pressure. The new catalyst is cheaper than germanium and titanium catalysts and does not discolour the PET. Chemical Week, 5 Mar 2003, 165 (9), 21
Chiral synthesis: Jülich Fine Chemicals A new process for extracting whole cells from microbial strains has been developed by Jülich Fine Chemicals, Germany. The cells are used as biocatalysts in the preparation of chiral diols of enantiomeric and diastereomeric diones. Rhodococcus erythropolis has been used to produce an (S)-selective amidase
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Chiral Quest receives US patent for ferrocene amide phosphine Chiral Quest Inc announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent (No 6,534,657) covering a series of chiral phosphine ligands and catalysts with ferrocene backbones to The Penn State Research Foundation, a non-profit corporation. Professor Xumu Zhang, Chiral Quest’s Chief Technology Officer is the inventor. Chiral Quest Inc is the exclusive licensee of the patent. Ferrocene phosphines are the fifth family of ligands to be added to Chiral Quest’s patent portfolio. Chiral Quest is a life sciences chemistry company that provides chiral products and services to the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. Press release from: Chiral Quest, 149, West Fairmount Avenue, State College, PA 16801, USA. Tel: +1 814 234 2348. Fax: +1 814 234 2494. Website: http://www.chiralquest.com (3 Apr 2003)
Ajinomoto, Tokyo University unveil major microbe research results Ajinomoto Co has been working with Tokyo University on projects using socalled microbe factories, which create new substances having potential industrial applications by manipulating the genes of microorganisms. Ajinomoto has developed a method to produce an enzyme which improves the texture of food by affecting the proteins contained in the food. The firm hopes to mass-produce the enzyme using its expertise in aminoacid fermentation. Ajinomoto has also combined the gene of the enzyme with a fermentative microorganism, and hopes to use the microorganism to produce other proteins for the creation of new drug ingredients. Nikkei Net, 28 Mar 2003 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
ENVIRONMENT NOx catalyst for hotter gases Hitachi Zosen has developed an NOx reduction catalyst which works at higher temperatures (450-600°C) than the usual ones (<420°C), so the combustion gases will not need to be cooled before treatment. Demonstration units are being built in Kawasaki City, Japan, and are due to be brought into operation in Apr 2003. Denox catalysts are to be manufactured in Scottsboro, AL, by H&N Catalyst Manufacturing which is to be established in the US in 2003 as a jv between Hitachi Zosen and Nichas Corp. European Chemical News, 24 Mar 2003, 78 (2045), 30
Clean Diesel to license NOx reduction technology for diesel vehicles in North America Clean Diesel Technologies Inc and Combustion Component Associates Inc (CCA) have signed a letter of intent for the manufacture and sale of Clean Diesel’s Aris Urea Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) NOx reduction system for retrofit to diesel vehicles in the US and Canada. The SCR NOx system is capable of 7090% NOx reduction from diesel engines. Subject to a definitive
MAY 2003
New silver oxidation catalyst approved Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Co Ltd has developed a new silver catalyst (YS-8500) at its Research Institute in China. It has been approved by Sinopec. The new catalyst has a 2% improvement in selectivity compared to the previous YS-7 catalyst and has applications in the production of ethylene glycol and ethylene oxide. China Chemical Reporter, 26 Mar 2003, 14 (9), 12
O N
C ATA LY S T S
which converts racemic 2-arylpropionamides to the corresponding (S)-acids. European Chemical News, 17 Mar 2003, 78 (2044), 24
Energy Visions achieves fuel cell project milestone Energy Visions Inc announced that the company’s Fuel Cell Division has reached a planned milestone in its Flowing Electrolyte Direct Methanol Fuel Cell project. Energy Visions had previously announced that it intended to continue in the R&D phase to capitalise on recent improvements in its electrode designs. Since Sep 2002, the company has investigated electrode structure, catalysts and cell design and has identified specific improvements that will lead to power densities of up to four times that previously achieved. Energy Visions intends to continue its research into electrode and cell design and to incorporate these new features in its fuel cell/Nickel Zinc battery hybrid power source. A patent application relating to a novel flowing electrolyte design has been filed. Press release from: Energy Visions Inc, Bldg M-16, 1500 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada. Tel: +1 613 990 9373. Fax: +1 613 990 9464. Website: http://www.energyvi.com (27 Mar 2003)
Toyobo develops PET catalyst Toyobo says it has developed an aluminium-based PET catalyst that overcomes the problems of current catalysts. The bulk of PET production uses antimony catalysts but these are under regulatory pressure. The new catalyst is cheaper than germanium and titanium catalysts and does not discolour the PET. Chemical Week, 5 Mar 2003, 165 (9), 21
Chiral synthesis: Jülich Fine Chemicals A new process for extracting whole cells from microbial strains has been developed by Jülich Fine Chemicals, Germany. The cells are used as biocatalysts in the preparation of chiral diols of enantiomeric and diastereomeric diones. Rhodococcus erythropolis has been used to produce an (S)-selective amidase
6
Chiral Quest receives US patent for ferrocene amide phosphine Chiral Quest Inc announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent (No 6,534,657) covering a series of chiral phosphine ligands and catalysts with ferrocene backbones to The Penn State Research Foundation, a non-profit corporation. Professor Xumu Zhang, Chiral Quest’s Chief Technology Officer is the inventor. Chiral Quest Inc is the exclusive licensee of the patent. Ferrocene phosphines are the fifth family of ligands to be added to Chiral Quest’s patent portfolio. Chiral Quest is a life sciences chemistry company that provides chiral products and services to the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. Press release from: Chiral Quest, 149, West Fairmount Avenue, State College, PA 16801, USA. Tel: +1 814 234 2348. Fax: +1 814 234 2494. Website: http://www.chiralquest.com (3 Apr 2003)
Ajinomoto, Tokyo University unveil major microbe research results Ajinomoto Co has been working with Tokyo University on projects using socalled microbe factories, which create new substances having potential industrial applications by manipulating the genes of microorganisms. Ajinomoto has developed a method to produce an enzyme which improves the texture of food by affecting the proteins contained in the food. The firm hopes to mass-produce the enzyme using its expertise in aminoacid fermentation. Ajinomoto has also combined the gene of the enzyme with a fermentative microorganism, and hopes to use the microorganism to produce other proteins for the creation of new drug ingredients. Nikkei Net, 28 Mar 2003 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
ENVIRONMENT NOx catalyst for hotter gases Hitachi Zosen has developed an NOx reduction catalyst which works at higher temperatures (450-600°C) than the usual ones (<420°C), so the combustion gases will not need to be cooled before treatment. Demonstration units are being built in Kawasaki City, Japan, and are due to be brought into operation in Apr 2003. Denox catalysts are to be manufactured in Scottsboro, AL, by H&N Catalyst Manufacturing which is to be established in the US in 2003 as a jv between Hitachi Zosen and Nichas Corp. European Chemical News, 24 Mar 2003, 78 (2045), 30
Clean Diesel to license NOx reduction technology for diesel vehicles in North America Clean Diesel Technologies Inc and Combustion Component Associates Inc (CCA) have signed a letter of intent for the manufacture and sale of Clean Diesel’s Aris Urea Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) NOx reduction system for retrofit to diesel vehicles in the US and Canada. The SCR NOx system is capable of 7090% NOx reduction from diesel engines. Subject to a definitive
MAY 2003