- Email: [email protected]
New technique puts catalysts on the right track
F O C U S calculated. MoP displayed TOFs of 0.024 and 0.19 at overpotentials of 100 mV and 150 mV, respectively. MoP/S exhibited TOFs of 0.12 and 0.75 at overpotentials of 100 mV and 150 mV. Original Source: Chemical Engineering Progress, Dec 2014, 4-5 (Website: http://www.aiche.org/cep) © American Institute of Chemical Engineers 2014
New technique puts catalysts on the right track Chemists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry have developed a novel technique that produces a reactive catalyst at exactly the target site on a molecule to be modified. This addresses the problem of metal-containing catalysts that divert away from their desired site, which are used for functionalizing heterocycles commonly used in pharmaceuticals. This problem has hitherto restricted the diversity of drugs that can be manufactured through heterocycle functionalization. To prevent the catalysts from drawing away from the target C-H bond to the non-carbon atoms during C-H functionalization, the team used a carboxylic-derived directing agent called N-methoxyamide. The directing agent works with the palladium catalyst to cleave the targeted C-H bond, localize it near the coordinated palladium and avoid any interaction with other atoms in the heterocycle compound. To evaluate the technique’s effectiveness, the team tested it on a range of common heterocycle molecules, including furans, benzothiophenes, and benzofurans. Results have shown that the transformations occurred precisely at the desired C-H bond target. Currently, the researchers are customizing the technique to fit specific applications including drug delivery systems. Original Source: Chemical Engineering Progress, Dec 2014, 6,8 (Website: http://www.aiche.org/cep) © American Institute of Chemical Engineers 2014
SA government, HySA launch prototype fuel cell generator solution The South African Department of Science & Technology (DST) has FEBRUARY 2015
O N
C ATA LY S T S
introduced a 2.5 kW prototype hydrogen fuel cell generator jointly developed by Hot Platinum Pty Ltd and the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) HySA Systems Integration and Technology Validation Centre of Competence. The unit is undergoing trial at the Cape Flats Nature Reserve on the UWC Bellville campus, where off-grid electricity powered the place entirely. A bank of hydrogen cylinders is integrated in the PEM fuel cell, which is equipped with platinum catalyst sourced in the North West province. Original Source: Fuel Cells Bulletin, Dec 2014, 5-6 (Website: http://www.elsevierscitech.com/nl/fcb/ home.asp) © Elsevier Ltd 2014
CFDRC publishes results on JP-8 fuel cell and secures additional funding for research CFD Research Corporation scientists have demonstrated the first roomtemperature fuel cell that can directly produce electrical power from diesel fuel via an enzyme-catalysed process. Building upon CFDRC’s Bio-Battery platform the team incorporated enzymes produced by University of Utah partners to oxidize JP-8 and generate electrical current. The work has recently been published in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Catalysis. CFDRC received initial funding from Northrop Grumman Corporation and has secured additional funding from the Air Force’s Commercialization Readiness Program to further mature and transition the technology for DoD applications. There have been previous attempts to use diesel like fuels to generate electricity, usually with solidoxide fuel cell technology. Those systems operate at very high temperatures and require reforming of the fuel (also at high temperatures) to remove the sulfur which can destroy the catalyst materials. Those high temperatures mean low efficiency as much of the energy is released as waste heat. So a novel approach was needed, and the CFDRC and Utah researchers turned to an enzymatic fuel cell which uses enzymes as catalysts. Enzymes are proteins that
can act as catalysts by speeding up chemical reactions. These fuel cells can operate at room temperature and can tolerate sulfur. Original Source: CFD Research Corporation, 2014. Found on Marketwired, 8 Dec 2014 (Website: http://marketwired.com)
Belgian researchers turn sawdust into valuable building block for gasoline, chemicals Researchers from the Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis of the University of Leuven in Belgium have developed a new chemical process that converts cellulose in sawdust into hydrocarbon chains, which can be used as additives in gasoline or as a component in plastics. The study can potentially generate a petrochemical product from biomass. The product is an intermediate solution that can be utilized as a green additive to substitute for the conventional refined gasoline. Moreover, it can be used to manufacture propylene, ethylene and benzene, which are feedstocks for plastic, rubber, nylon and others. This can be especially useful in Europe where crude oil and shale gas are limited. Original Source: Plastics Today News, 4 Dec 2014 (Website: http://www.plasticstoday.com) © UBM Canon 2014. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 9 Dec 2014, 167-168 (Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2014
WR Grace and Milliken combine catalyst and additive technologies Milliken & Co and WR Grace & Co have collaborated to produce resins that offer enhanced clarity, processability, and mechanical performance. The resins are made of Millad NX 8000 clarifier from Milliken combined with CONSISTA C601 catalyst from WR Grace. The produced polymers feature higher melt flow to lower-temperature processing which makes the materials compliant with the requirements set by their customers. Original Source: Plastics Today News, 9 Dec 2014 (Website: http://www.plasticstoday.com) © UBM Canon 2014
5
New technique puts catalysts on the right track Chemists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry have developed a novel technique that produces a reactive catalyst at exactly the target site on a molecule to be modified. This addresses the problem of metal-containing catalysts that divert away from their desired site, which are used for functionalizing heterocycles commonly used in pharmaceuticals. This problem has hitherto restricted the diversity of drugs that can be manufactured through heterocycle functionalization. To prevent the catalysts from drawing away from the target C-H bond to the non-carbon atoms during C-H functionalization, the team used a carboxylic-derived directing agent called N-methoxyamide. The directing agent works with the palladium catalyst to cleave the targeted C-H bond, localize it near the coordinated palladium and avoid any interaction with other atoms in the heterocycle compound. To evaluate the technique’s effectiveness, the team tested it on a range of common heterocycle molecules, including furans, benzothiophenes, and benzofurans. Results have shown that the transformations occurred precisely at the desired C-H bond target. Currently, the researchers are customizing the technique to fit specific applications including drug delivery systems. Original Source: Chemical Engineering Progress, Dec 2014, 6,8 (Website: http://www.aiche.org/cep) © American Institute of Chemical Engineers 2014
SA government, HySA launch prototype fuel cell generator solution The South African Department of Science & Technology (DST) has FEBRUARY 2015
O N
C ATA LY S T S
introduced a 2.5 kW prototype hydrogen fuel cell generator jointly developed by Hot Platinum Pty Ltd and the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) HySA Systems Integration and Technology Validation Centre of Competence. The unit is undergoing trial at the Cape Flats Nature Reserve on the UWC Bellville campus, where off-grid electricity powered the place entirely. A bank of hydrogen cylinders is integrated in the PEM fuel cell, which is equipped with platinum catalyst sourced in the North West province. Original Source: Fuel Cells Bulletin, Dec 2014, 5-6 (Website: http://www.elsevierscitech.com/nl/fcb/ home.asp) © Elsevier Ltd 2014
CFDRC publishes results on JP-8 fuel cell and secures additional funding for research CFD Research Corporation scientists have demonstrated the first roomtemperature fuel cell that can directly produce electrical power from diesel fuel via an enzyme-catalysed process. Building upon CFDRC’s Bio-Battery platform the team incorporated enzymes produced by University of Utah partners to oxidize JP-8 and generate electrical current. The work has recently been published in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Catalysis. CFDRC received initial funding from Northrop Grumman Corporation and has secured additional funding from the Air Force’s Commercialization Readiness Program to further mature and transition the technology for DoD applications. There have been previous attempts to use diesel like fuels to generate electricity, usually with solidoxide fuel cell technology. Those systems operate at very high temperatures and require reforming of the fuel (also at high temperatures) to remove the sulfur which can destroy the catalyst materials. Those high temperatures mean low efficiency as much of the energy is released as waste heat. So a novel approach was needed, and the CFDRC and Utah researchers turned to an enzymatic fuel cell which uses enzymes as catalysts. Enzymes are proteins that
can act as catalysts by speeding up chemical reactions. These fuel cells can operate at room temperature and can tolerate sulfur. Original Source: CFD Research Corporation, 2014. Found on Marketwired, 8 Dec 2014 (Website: http://marketwired.com)
Belgian researchers turn sawdust into valuable building block for gasoline, chemicals Researchers from the Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis of the University of Leuven in Belgium have developed a new chemical process that converts cellulose in sawdust into hydrocarbon chains, which can be used as additives in gasoline or as a component in plastics. The study can potentially generate a petrochemical product from biomass. The product is an intermediate solution that can be utilized as a green additive to substitute for the conventional refined gasoline. Moreover, it can be used to manufacture propylene, ethylene and benzene, which are feedstocks for plastic, rubber, nylon and others. This can be especially useful in Europe where crude oil and shale gas are limited. Original Source: Plastics Today News, 4 Dec 2014 (Website: http://www.plasticstoday.com) © UBM Canon 2014. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 9 Dec 2014, 167-168 (Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2014
WR Grace and Milliken combine catalyst and additive technologies Milliken & Co and WR Grace & Co have collaborated to produce resins that offer enhanced clarity, processability, and mechanical performance. The resins are made of Millad NX 8000 clarifier from Milliken combined with CONSISTA C601 catalyst from WR Grace. The produced polymers feature higher melt flow to lower-temperature processing which makes the materials compliant with the requirements set by their customers. Original Source: Plastics Today News, 9 Dec 2014 (Website: http://www.plasticstoday.com) © UBM Canon 2014
5