- Email: [email protected]
Novozymes breaks ground for new plant in Nebraska
F O C U S 2008. At 31 Dec 2008, the Catalysts Division employed 2271 people worldwide. This represented an increase in its workforce of 443, of which 323 resulted solely from the majority interest acquired in Alvigo as, Tallinn, Estonia, a manufacturer of synthesis gas catalysts which has meanwhile been renamed to SüdChemie Alvigo Catalysts Ukraina. Süd-Chemie AG Annual Report 2008, 31 Mar 2009, 79-86 (Süd-Chemie AG, Lenbachplatz 6, 80333 Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 5110 0. Fax: +49 89 5110 375. Website: http://www.sud-chemie.com)
Verdezyne lands contract with Novozymes Verdezyne Inc, a privately-held synthetic biology company developing processes for the industrial chemicals and fuel markets, announced it has signed an agreement with Novozymes, a biotech-based world leader in enzymes and microorganisms. Under the arrangement, Verdezyne will optimize selected genes that encode industrial enzymes. These enzymes will then be manufactured in microbial systems. Verdezyne employs its biological expertise and proprietary advanced computational algorithms to design and synthesize novel gene libraries for engineering proteins, metabolic pathways, and microorganisms as well as to manufacture platform chemicals and biofuels. Novozymes is the world leader in bioinnovation. Novozymes’ natural solutions enhance and promote everything from removing trans-fats in food, to advancing biofuels to power the world tomorrow. Press release from: Schwartz Communications, Prospect Place, 230 Third Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451, USA. Tel: +1 781 684 0770. Fax: +1 781 684 6500. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://schwartz-pr.com (13 Apr 2009)
Verenium and Alfa Laval announce collaboration on Purifine PLC Enzyme Verenium Corp has signed an agreement with Alfa Laval, a leading global provider of heat transfer, separation,and fluid handling technologies, to jointly market enzymatic degumming of vegetable oils using Verenium’s Purifine PLC enzyme and Alfa Laval’s engineering services and equipment. Purifine enzymatic degumming is a novel
MAY 2009
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process that significantly increases yields in edible oil production and can have additional benefits in refining the Purifine-degummed oil. Use of Purifine enzymatic degumming also enhances yields of biodiesel from crude oil. Under the terms of the agreement, Alfa Laval will be able to market Purifine enzymatic degumming packaged with their process engineering equipment and services to customers processing vegetable oils for edible and biodiesel use. Press release from: Verenium Corporation, 55 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Tel: +1 617 674 5300. Website: http://www.verenium.com) (24 Mar 2009) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 30 Mar 2009, (460), 14 (in French)
WR Grace: Form 10K 2008: consolidated statements of operations For its fiscal 2008 (period ends 31 Dec 2008), WR Grace & Co has reported net sales of $3317.0 M ($3115.2 M for its fiscal 2007), of which: Grace Davison accounted for $2168.6 M ($2009.2 M), and of which: refining technologies accounted for $1099.1 M ($971.1 M), materials technologies $694.8 M ($663.5 M), speciality technologies $374.7 M ($374.6 M), North America $645.9 M ($578.4 M), Europe, the Middle East & Africa $913.4 M ($915.6 M), Asia Pacific $434.7 M ($362.7 M), and Latin America $174.6 M ($152.5 M); R&D expenditure of $82.7 M ($79.5 M), operating income of $141.2 M ($112.2 M), net income of $121.5 M ($88.8 M), and basic EPS of $1.69 ($1.27). WR Grace Form 10K 2008, 2 Mar 2009, (WR Grace & Co, 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. Website: http://www.grace.com)
Krasnogorsk (30 km from central Moscow). He also discussed a number of new technologies to help automakers meet Russia’s stricter emissions regulations and improve overall air quality, and commented that the opening of Krasnogorsk is part of BASF’s global strategy to serve the world’s growing markets for emissions-control technology. Press release from: BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 (0) 621 600. Website: http://www.basf.com) (8 Mar 2009) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 23 Mar 2009, (459), 7 (in French) & RCCnews, 20 Mar 2009 (Website: http://www.rccnews.ru/eng)
Tosoh completes new specialty chemicals plants at Yokkaichi Tosoh Corp has finished constructing two new manufacturing facilities, one for zirconia powder and one for highsilica zeolites, at its Yokkaichi complex in Japan. The estimated Yen 8 bn project is part of the company’s speciality chemicals expansion initiative. The 550 tonne/y zirconia powder unit and 1100 tonne/y highsilica zeolites plant have boosted Tosoh’s aggregate output capacity by 50% for zirconia and 100% for highsilica zeolites. This capacity expansion will allow the firm to meet rising demand for both products. Demand for zirconia powder has been increasing in fields such as dental materials and wristwatch components. Applications for high-silica zeolites are growing in environmental protection areas such as auto-exhaust purification catalysts (see PATENTS, Ed) and volatile organic compounds adsorbents. Japan Chemical Week, 19 Mar 2009, 50 (2507), 7
Novozymes breaks ground for new plant in Nebraska
NEW PLANTS BASF Catalysts announces opening of new emission control catalyst plant in Russia At the recent Russian Automotive Industry Forum industry forum in Moscow, Dr Mikhail Rodkin, Director of Environmental Catalysis Research at BASF Catalysts, announced the official opening of the group’s new mobile emissions catalyst plant in
Novozymes is investing $160-200 M in a new plant in Blair, NE, to meet demand for enzymes for the production of first and second generation bioethanol. The new plant will be fully operational in approximately 2 years and will bring 100 new green jobs to the area. The new plant will be located on a 30 acre property at the Biorefinery Campus in Blair, about 25 miles north of Omaha. Novozymes is on track to deliver the first commercially viable enzymes for
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the production of second generation ethanol by 2010.
exothermic oxidative dehydrogenation process will be much greener.
Second-generation biofuels are closer than you think
Press release from: Novozymes A/S, Krogshojvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark. Tel: +45 4446 0000. Fax: +45 4446 9999. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.novozymes.com (24 Mar 2009) & ICIS Chemical Business, 30 Mar 2009, 10 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 30 Mar 2009, (460), 8 (in French) & NP Investor, 24 Mar 2009 (Website: http://www.npinvestor.dk/) (in Danish)
Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 23 Mar 2009, (459), 4 (in French)
Novozymes has created a new product family that can hydrolyze cellulosic feedstock, the raw material of second-generation biofuel production. Studies indicate that with cellulosic ethanol as a major contributor, 25% of the global consumption of gasoline can be replaced by 2030. Novozymes’ new product family is made up of a cellulase preparation specifically designed to have increased levels of beta-glucosidase activity and a unique performance booster for complete cellulose hydrolysis as well as a hemicellulase for liberation of hemicellulose, enabling higher ethanol yields. Novozymes has promised the biofuel industry that enzymatic solutions for secondgeneration bioethanol will be ready by 2010.
BASF and Dow open HPPO plant BASF and Dow Chemical have brought online their hydrogen peroxide-to-propylene oxide (HPPO) jv plant at Antwerp, Belgium. The 50:50 jv unit, which features a jointlydeveloped novel HPPO technology, has the capacity to produce 300,000 tonne/y of propylene oxide. Chemical Week, 23 Mar 2009 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Chemical and Engineering News, 16 Mar 2009, 87 (11), 21
NEW TECHNOLOGY The first lead-free replacement for Lindlar catalysts BASF Catalysts has developed two lead-free, palladium-based catalysts using its proprietary NanoSelect technology that supports commercialscale production of heterogeneous catalysts containing unimodal nanosized metal crystallites. Unlike Lindlar catalysts, which are widely used at present in selective hydrogenation reactions, NanoSelect catalysts LF 100 and LF 200 contain no lead impurities, allowing their use in alkyne to alkene hydrogenation reactions for products that have zero tolerance for lead impurities such as APIs. In addition, they only contain one-tenth of the palladium level found in Lindlar catalysts, resulting in cost savings. Speciality Chemicals, Mar 2009, 29 (2), 16-17
Argonne focuses efforts on new platinum-based catalyst Argonne National Laboratory in the US (part of the Department of Energy) has identified new platinum-based catalysts for the dehydrogenation of propane to propylene. The current endothermic industrial process is expensive and not very environmentally-friendly. A new
6
Successful Arkema & hte research project in converting glycerol to acrolein and acrylic acid On 12 Mar 2009, Arkema and hte AG, the high throughput experimentation company, have announced the successful conclusion of a research collaboration on catalysis for glycerol to acrolein and acrylic acid conversion. The objective of the project initiated by Arkema consisted of providing performance screening for a variety of new suitable catalysts for conversion reactions of glycerol, a biodiesel by-product derived from biomass, to acrolein and acrylic acid. Arkema, which has already registered a number of patents in this field, opted for the services of hte’s laboratories in Heidelberg which use a proprietary parallel testing technology to accelerate this process of exploration and evaluation, thus moving interesting catalysts more quickly from experimentation to potential commercialisation. Press release from: Arkema, 420, rue d’Estienne d’Orves, F-92705 Colombes, France. Tel: +33 1 4900 8080. Fax: +33 1 4900 8396. Website: http://www.arkema.com (12 Mar 2009) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 23 Mar 2009, (459), 9 (in French)
Green polymers DSM and the French starch and starchderivatives company ROQUETTE confirmed during the international Life Sciences Forum, BioVision, that its biobased succinic acid demonstration plant in Lestrem (France) will be operational by the end of 2009. The pilot scale production has proven that this biological route for producing succinic acid can be commercially viable. The first tests for customers are already underway with this ‘green’ succinic acid. For the first time succinic acid, a chemical building block used in the manufacture of polymers, resins, food, and pharmaceuticals among other products, will be produced using biological means. Meuse-Rhine Journal, 15 Mar 2009, (202) (Wadsworth & Wadsworth Assoc, PO Box 42, NL6245 ZG, Eijsden, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 43 4093719. Fax: +31 43 4098899. Website: http://www.meuse-rhine-journal.com)
BioTimes (Novozymes’ Enzyme e-zine), Mar 2009, 4-5 (Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark. Tel: +45 8824 9999. Fax: +45 8824 9998. Website: http://wwww.novozymes.com/biotimes)
Efficient method for lignin removal unveiled The new pre-treatment process for cellulosic ethanol production developed by Nippon Oil can efficiently remove lignin from biomass at low temperatures with the use of a speciality gas (undisclosed – Ed). In addition, the new method is said to result in lesser environmental effects compared with existing pre-treatment processes, including thermal treatment and the utilization of sulfuric acid. Lignin needs to be removed from biomass material before it can be processed further for ethanol production. Meanwhile, Nippon Oil has partnered with seven other firms to develop by 2015 a 200,000 klitre/y bioethanol production technology at a cost of Yen 40/litre (42 cents/litre). Japan Chemical Week, 12 Mar 2009, 50 (2506), 5
European project for biofuels from cellulose The Optfuel consortium led by Volkswagen and joined by IFP and 10 industrial companies and public bodies aims to develop second generation biofuels using the biomass
MAY 2009
Verdezyne lands contract with Novozymes Verdezyne Inc, a privately-held synthetic biology company developing processes for the industrial chemicals and fuel markets, announced it has signed an agreement with Novozymes, a biotech-based world leader in enzymes and microorganisms. Under the arrangement, Verdezyne will optimize selected genes that encode industrial enzymes. These enzymes will then be manufactured in microbial systems. Verdezyne employs its biological expertise and proprietary advanced computational algorithms to design and synthesize novel gene libraries for engineering proteins, metabolic pathways, and microorganisms as well as to manufacture platform chemicals and biofuels. Novozymes is the world leader in bioinnovation. Novozymes’ natural solutions enhance and promote everything from removing trans-fats in food, to advancing biofuels to power the world tomorrow. Press release from: Schwartz Communications, Prospect Place, 230 Third Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451, USA. Tel: +1 781 684 0770. Fax: +1 781 684 6500. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://schwartz-pr.com (13 Apr 2009)
Verenium and Alfa Laval announce collaboration on Purifine PLC Enzyme Verenium Corp has signed an agreement with Alfa Laval, a leading global provider of heat transfer, separation,and fluid handling technologies, to jointly market enzymatic degumming of vegetable oils using Verenium’s Purifine PLC enzyme and Alfa Laval’s engineering services and equipment. Purifine enzymatic degumming is a novel
MAY 2009
O N
C ATA LY S T S
process that significantly increases yields in edible oil production and can have additional benefits in refining the Purifine-degummed oil. Use of Purifine enzymatic degumming also enhances yields of biodiesel from crude oil. Under the terms of the agreement, Alfa Laval will be able to market Purifine enzymatic degumming packaged with their process engineering equipment and services to customers processing vegetable oils for edible and biodiesel use. Press release from: Verenium Corporation, 55 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Tel: +1 617 674 5300. Website: http://www.verenium.com) (24 Mar 2009) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 30 Mar 2009, (460), 14 (in French)
WR Grace: Form 10K 2008: consolidated statements of operations For its fiscal 2008 (period ends 31 Dec 2008), WR Grace & Co has reported net sales of $3317.0 M ($3115.2 M for its fiscal 2007), of which: Grace Davison accounted for $2168.6 M ($2009.2 M), and of which: refining technologies accounted for $1099.1 M ($971.1 M), materials technologies $694.8 M ($663.5 M), speciality technologies $374.7 M ($374.6 M), North America $645.9 M ($578.4 M), Europe, the Middle East & Africa $913.4 M ($915.6 M), Asia Pacific $434.7 M ($362.7 M), and Latin America $174.6 M ($152.5 M); R&D expenditure of $82.7 M ($79.5 M), operating income of $141.2 M ($112.2 M), net income of $121.5 M ($88.8 M), and basic EPS of $1.69 ($1.27). WR Grace Form 10K 2008, 2 Mar 2009, (WR Grace & Co, 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. Website: http://www.grace.com)
Krasnogorsk (30 km from central Moscow). He also discussed a number of new technologies to help automakers meet Russia’s stricter emissions regulations and improve overall air quality, and commented that the opening of Krasnogorsk is part of BASF’s global strategy to serve the world’s growing markets for emissions-control technology. Press release from: BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 (0) 621 600. Website: http://www.basf.com) (8 Mar 2009) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 23 Mar 2009, (459), 7 (in French) & RCCnews, 20 Mar 2009 (Website: http://www.rccnews.ru/eng)
Tosoh completes new specialty chemicals plants at Yokkaichi Tosoh Corp has finished constructing two new manufacturing facilities, one for zirconia powder and one for highsilica zeolites, at its Yokkaichi complex in Japan. The estimated Yen 8 bn project is part of the company’s speciality chemicals expansion initiative. The 550 tonne/y zirconia powder unit and 1100 tonne/y highsilica zeolites plant have boosted Tosoh’s aggregate output capacity by 50% for zirconia and 100% for highsilica zeolites. This capacity expansion will allow the firm to meet rising demand for both products. Demand for zirconia powder has been increasing in fields such as dental materials and wristwatch components. Applications for high-silica zeolites are growing in environmental protection areas such as auto-exhaust purification catalysts (see PATENTS, Ed) and volatile organic compounds adsorbents. Japan Chemical Week, 19 Mar 2009, 50 (2507), 7
Novozymes breaks ground for new plant in Nebraska
NEW PLANTS BASF Catalysts announces opening of new emission control catalyst plant in Russia At the recent Russian Automotive Industry Forum industry forum in Moscow, Dr Mikhail Rodkin, Director of Environmental Catalysis Research at BASF Catalysts, announced the official opening of the group’s new mobile emissions catalyst plant in
Novozymes is investing $160-200 M in a new plant in Blair, NE, to meet demand for enzymes for the production of first and second generation bioethanol. The new plant will be fully operational in approximately 2 years and will bring 100 new green jobs to the area. The new plant will be located on a 30 acre property at the Biorefinery Campus in Blair, about 25 miles north of Omaha. Novozymes is on track to deliver the first commercially viable enzymes for
5
F O C U S
O N
C ATA LY S T S
the production of second generation ethanol by 2010.
exothermic oxidative dehydrogenation process will be much greener.
Second-generation biofuels are closer than you think
Press release from: Novozymes A/S, Krogshojvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark. Tel: +45 4446 0000. Fax: +45 4446 9999. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.novozymes.com (24 Mar 2009) & ICIS Chemical Business, 30 Mar 2009, 10 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 30 Mar 2009, (460), 8 (in French) & NP Investor, 24 Mar 2009 (Website: http://www.npinvestor.dk/) (in Danish)
Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 23 Mar 2009, (459), 4 (in French)
Novozymes has created a new product family that can hydrolyze cellulosic feedstock, the raw material of second-generation biofuel production. Studies indicate that with cellulosic ethanol as a major contributor, 25% of the global consumption of gasoline can be replaced by 2030. Novozymes’ new product family is made up of a cellulase preparation specifically designed to have increased levels of beta-glucosidase activity and a unique performance booster for complete cellulose hydrolysis as well as a hemicellulase for liberation of hemicellulose, enabling higher ethanol yields. Novozymes has promised the biofuel industry that enzymatic solutions for secondgeneration bioethanol will be ready by 2010.
BASF and Dow open HPPO plant BASF and Dow Chemical have brought online their hydrogen peroxide-to-propylene oxide (HPPO) jv plant at Antwerp, Belgium. The 50:50 jv unit, which features a jointlydeveloped novel HPPO technology, has the capacity to produce 300,000 tonne/y of propylene oxide. Chemical Week, 23 Mar 2009 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Chemical and Engineering News, 16 Mar 2009, 87 (11), 21
NEW TECHNOLOGY The first lead-free replacement for Lindlar catalysts BASF Catalysts has developed two lead-free, palladium-based catalysts using its proprietary NanoSelect technology that supports commercialscale production of heterogeneous catalysts containing unimodal nanosized metal crystallites. Unlike Lindlar catalysts, which are widely used at present in selective hydrogenation reactions, NanoSelect catalysts LF 100 and LF 200 contain no lead impurities, allowing their use in alkyne to alkene hydrogenation reactions for products that have zero tolerance for lead impurities such as APIs. In addition, they only contain one-tenth of the palladium level found in Lindlar catalysts, resulting in cost savings. Speciality Chemicals, Mar 2009, 29 (2), 16-17
Argonne focuses efforts on new platinum-based catalyst Argonne National Laboratory in the US (part of the Department of Energy) has identified new platinum-based catalysts for the dehydrogenation of propane to propylene. The current endothermic industrial process is expensive and not very environmentally-friendly. A new
6
Successful Arkema & hte research project in converting glycerol to acrolein and acrylic acid On 12 Mar 2009, Arkema and hte AG, the high throughput experimentation company, have announced the successful conclusion of a research collaboration on catalysis for glycerol to acrolein and acrylic acid conversion. The objective of the project initiated by Arkema consisted of providing performance screening for a variety of new suitable catalysts for conversion reactions of glycerol, a biodiesel by-product derived from biomass, to acrolein and acrylic acid. Arkema, which has already registered a number of patents in this field, opted for the services of hte’s laboratories in Heidelberg which use a proprietary parallel testing technology to accelerate this process of exploration and evaluation, thus moving interesting catalysts more quickly from experimentation to potential commercialisation. Press release from: Arkema, 420, rue d’Estienne d’Orves, F-92705 Colombes, France. Tel: +33 1 4900 8080. Fax: +33 1 4900 8396. Website: http://www.arkema.com (12 Mar 2009) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 23 Mar 2009, (459), 9 (in French)
Green polymers DSM and the French starch and starchderivatives company ROQUETTE confirmed during the international Life Sciences Forum, BioVision, that its biobased succinic acid demonstration plant in Lestrem (France) will be operational by the end of 2009. The pilot scale production has proven that this biological route for producing succinic acid can be commercially viable. The first tests for customers are already underway with this ‘green’ succinic acid. For the first time succinic acid, a chemical building block used in the manufacture of polymers, resins, food, and pharmaceuticals among other products, will be produced using biological means. Meuse-Rhine Journal, 15 Mar 2009, (202) (Wadsworth & Wadsworth Assoc, PO Box 42, NL6245 ZG, Eijsden, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 43 4093719. Fax: +31 43 4098899. Website: http://www.meuse-rhine-journal.com)
BioTimes (Novozymes’ Enzyme e-zine), Mar 2009, 4-5 (Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark. Tel: +45 8824 9999. Fax: +45 8824 9998. Website: http://wwww.novozymes.com/biotimes)
Efficient method for lignin removal unveiled The new pre-treatment process for cellulosic ethanol production developed by Nippon Oil can efficiently remove lignin from biomass at low temperatures with the use of a speciality gas (undisclosed – Ed). In addition, the new method is said to result in lesser environmental effects compared with existing pre-treatment processes, including thermal treatment and the utilization of sulfuric acid. Lignin needs to be removed from biomass material before it can be processed further for ethanol production. Meanwhile, Nippon Oil has partnered with seven other firms to develop by 2015 a 200,000 klitre/y bioethanol production technology at a cost of Yen 40/litre (42 cents/litre). Japan Chemical Week, 12 Mar 2009, 50 (2506), 5
European project for biofuels from cellulose The Optfuel consortium led by Volkswagen and joined by IFP and 10 industrial companies and public bodies aims to develop second generation biofuels using the biomass
MAY 2009