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Novozymes to expand Nebraska enzymes unit
FOCUS Jacobs signs with BASF in Germany Under a deal, US-based Jacobs will offer project management services on the facility of BASF in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Jacobs has agreed to provide engineering, equipment supply and construction (EPCM) services to the major projects of BASF globally for three years starting in 2016. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 21 May 2017, (0802), (Website: http://www.industrie. com/chimie) © ETAI Information 2017.
Yeast maker opens new tech branch A new division, called AB Biotek, has been launched by AB Mauri. Focused on yeast innovation and fermentation science, the new division will develop speciality yeast solutions for beverage alcohol, biofuels, and human/animal nutrition applications. AB Mauri has a global yeast production operation. Its North American site in St Louis features a yeast and fermentation diagnostics lab. Original Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, May 2017, 23 (5), 20 (Website: http://www. ethanolproducer.com/) © BBI International 2017.
Switching paper for chemicals Stora Enso, owner of the largest pulp and paper mill in Europe, is developing a $39 M demonstration facility in Raceland, LA, US, that will transform cellulosic biomass from sugarcane waste into fivecarbon sugars, including the monosaccharide xylose. The xylose will be converted into xylitol, a sugar usually utilized as a sweetener in chewing gum and toothpaste. The project will have an annual capacity of several thousand tonnes of xylose, and a little lower than that for xylitol. It will be fully operational by end-2017. Recently, Stora Enso finished building a research centre in Stockholm, Sweden, for its fledging biomaterials division. The 4900-cu m wood-clad facility has 1600 cu m lab space around 70 researchers. At present, Stora Enso has nearly 150 R&D workers worldwide. Meanwhile, Denmark-based plastic toy bricks producer Lego intends to use renewable sources-based polymers, instead of oil-based acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene resin, as raw material. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 29 May 2017, 95 (22), 28-29 (Website: http://cen.acs.org/index.html) © American Chemical Society 2017.
Rennovia and Johnson Matthey enter into license agreement Rennovia Inc and Johnson Matthey have clinched a license deal earlier in 2017 to deliver process technology and catalyst to
July 2017
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Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) for the production of bio-based glucaric acid. Original Source: Oils and Fats International, May 2017, 33 (4), 12 (Website: http://www. oilsandfatsinternational.com) © Quartz Business Media Ltd 2017.
NEW PLANTS Oriental Energy Company Ltd starts propylene production at two facilities using Honeywell technology Honeywell announced that Ningbo Fortune Petrochemical Co Ltd and Zhangjiagang Yangzi River Petrochemical Co Ltd (YRPC), both subsidiaries of Oriental Energy Co Ltd, each are producing 600,000 tonnes/y of on-purpose propylene from propane with Honeywell UOP's C3 Oleflex process technology. YRPC, located in Zhangjiagang in China's Jiangsu Province, and Ningbo Fortune, in Ningbo City in Zhejiang Province, are the fourth and fifth Chinese companies to commercialize Honeywell UOP's C3 Oleflex process to make propylene for plastics, packaging and synthetic fibres. Global production capacity of propylene from Oleflex technology now stands at approximately 6.8 M tonnes/y. Honeywell UOP's C3 Oleflex technology uses catalytic dehydrogenation to convert propane to propylene and is proven to have the lowest cash cost of production and the highest return on investment among competing technologies. Its low energy consumption, low emissions, and fully recyclable, platinum-alumina-based catalyst system minimizes its impact on the environment. The independent reaction and regeneration systems allow continuous use of catalysts for steadystate operations, which improves operating flexibility, on-stream factor and reliability. In addition to licensing technology from Honeywell UOP, YRPC and Ningbo Fortune are using catalysts and adsorbents for their Oleflex units that are made at Honeywell's manufacturing site located in Zhangjiagang City. Honeywell UOP also provided the engineering design, equipment, staff training and technical service for both projects. Honeywell UOP also licenses C4 Oleflex technology, which converts isobutane to isobutylene, the primary ingredient for making high-octane fuel and synthetic rubber. Honeywell UOP's Oleflex technology has been selected for 40 out of 47 projects globally since 2011, including propane (C3), isobutane (iC4) and mixed C3/ iC4 service. Original Source: Eurasian Chemical Market, 2 Jun 2017, (Website: http://www.chemmarket. info/en/) © Eurasian chemical market 20052017.
China’s Yantai Wanhua opts for Honeywell UOP’s technology for propane dehydrogenation unit Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes Group has launched its 750,000 tonne/y propane-topropylene unit in China, which incorporates Honeywell UOP's 'C3 Oleflex' catalytic dehydrogenation technology for reduced cash cost and increased return on investment. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 16 May 2017, 178 (Website: http://www. chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2017.
Novozymes to expand Nebraska enzymes unit Novozymes will use $36 M to expand its enzymes plant in Blair, NE, US. The Nebraska facility serves customers in the agriculture, biofuels and animal nutrition sectors. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 29 May 2017, 95 (22), 15 (Website: http://cen.acs.org/index.html) © American Chemical Society 2017.
ICM releases new details about showcase biorefinery ICM Inc intends to construct ICM Element, a 70 M gal/y biorefinery, near its office in Colwich, KS, US. The sorghum and corn ethanol plant will use the company's patent-pending Generation 1.5 Grain Fiber-to-Cellulosic Ethanol Technology and patented gasifier. The facility, which would feature fibre separation and selective milling technologies from ICM, will cost $175 M to construct. Over 50 jobs will be generated by the project. Original Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, Apr 2017, 23 (4), 17 (Website: http://www. ethanolproducer.com/) © BBI International 2017.
Next investment for Chevron Phillips According to Chevron Phillips Chemical, the US is the "preferred location for another world-scale investment'' as shale oil and gas recovery has changed the ethane supply equation. By end 2017, Chevron will start its new 1.5 M tonnes/y ethane cracker in Cedar Bayou, TX, and two downstream PE units with 1 M tonnes/ y combined capacity by summer 2017. The PE unit includes a 500,000 tonne/y metallocene linear low density PE (LLDPE) plant and 500,000 tonnes/y bimodal high density PE (HDPE) plant. According to Energy Information Administration (EIA), US oil production is at 9.34 M barrels/d. The Permian region has produced 30 bn barrels of oil and 14 trillion cu ft of gas since commencing production. Around
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Yeast maker opens new tech branch A new division, called AB Biotek, has been launched by AB Mauri. Focused on yeast innovation and fermentation science, the new division will develop speciality yeast solutions for beverage alcohol, biofuels, and human/animal nutrition applications. AB Mauri has a global yeast production operation. Its North American site in St Louis features a yeast and fermentation diagnostics lab. Original Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, May 2017, 23 (5), 20 (Website: http://www. ethanolproducer.com/) © BBI International 2017.
Switching paper for chemicals Stora Enso, owner of the largest pulp and paper mill in Europe, is developing a $39 M demonstration facility in Raceland, LA, US, that will transform cellulosic biomass from sugarcane waste into fivecarbon sugars, including the monosaccharide xylose. The xylose will be converted into xylitol, a sugar usually utilized as a sweetener in chewing gum and toothpaste. The project will have an annual capacity of several thousand tonnes of xylose, and a little lower than that for xylitol. It will be fully operational by end-2017. Recently, Stora Enso finished building a research centre in Stockholm, Sweden, for its fledging biomaterials division. The 4900-cu m wood-clad facility has 1600 cu m lab space around 70 researchers. At present, Stora Enso has nearly 150 R&D workers worldwide. Meanwhile, Denmark-based plastic toy bricks producer Lego intends to use renewable sources-based polymers, instead of oil-based acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene resin, as raw material. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 29 May 2017, 95 (22), 28-29 (Website: http://cen.acs.org/index.html) © American Chemical Society 2017.
Rennovia and Johnson Matthey enter into license agreement Rennovia Inc and Johnson Matthey have clinched a license deal earlier in 2017 to deliver process technology and catalyst to
July 2017
ON
C ATA LY S T S
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) for the production of bio-based glucaric acid. Original Source: Oils and Fats International, May 2017, 33 (4), 12 (Website: http://www. oilsandfatsinternational.com) © Quartz Business Media Ltd 2017.
NEW PLANTS Oriental Energy Company Ltd starts propylene production at two facilities using Honeywell technology Honeywell announced that Ningbo Fortune Petrochemical Co Ltd and Zhangjiagang Yangzi River Petrochemical Co Ltd (YRPC), both subsidiaries of Oriental Energy Co Ltd, each are producing 600,000 tonnes/y of on-purpose propylene from propane with Honeywell UOP's C3 Oleflex process technology. YRPC, located in Zhangjiagang in China's Jiangsu Province, and Ningbo Fortune, in Ningbo City in Zhejiang Province, are the fourth and fifth Chinese companies to commercialize Honeywell UOP's C3 Oleflex process to make propylene for plastics, packaging and synthetic fibres. Global production capacity of propylene from Oleflex technology now stands at approximately 6.8 M tonnes/y. Honeywell UOP's C3 Oleflex technology uses catalytic dehydrogenation to convert propane to propylene and is proven to have the lowest cash cost of production and the highest return on investment among competing technologies. Its low energy consumption, low emissions, and fully recyclable, platinum-alumina-based catalyst system minimizes its impact on the environment. The independent reaction and regeneration systems allow continuous use of catalysts for steadystate operations, which improves operating flexibility, on-stream factor and reliability. In addition to licensing technology from Honeywell UOP, YRPC and Ningbo Fortune are using catalysts and adsorbents for their Oleflex units that are made at Honeywell's manufacturing site located in Zhangjiagang City. Honeywell UOP also provided the engineering design, equipment, staff training and technical service for both projects. Honeywell UOP also licenses C4 Oleflex technology, which converts isobutane to isobutylene, the primary ingredient for making high-octane fuel and synthetic rubber. Honeywell UOP's Oleflex technology has been selected for 40 out of 47 projects globally since 2011, including propane (C3), isobutane (iC4) and mixed C3/ iC4 service. Original Source: Eurasian Chemical Market, 2 Jun 2017, (Website: http://www.chemmarket. info/en/) © Eurasian chemical market 20052017.
China’s Yantai Wanhua opts for Honeywell UOP’s technology for propane dehydrogenation unit Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes Group has launched its 750,000 tonne/y propane-topropylene unit in China, which incorporates Honeywell UOP's 'C3 Oleflex' catalytic dehydrogenation technology for reduced cash cost and increased return on investment. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 16 May 2017, 178 (Website: http://www. chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2017.
Novozymes to expand Nebraska enzymes unit Novozymes will use $36 M to expand its enzymes plant in Blair, NE, US. The Nebraska facility serves customers in the agriculture, biofuels and animal nutrition sectors. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 29 May 2017, 95 (22), 15 (Website: http://cen.acs.org/index.html) © American Chemical Society 2017.
ICM releases new details about showcase biorefinery ICM Inc intends to construct ICM Element, a 70 M gal/y biorefinery, near its office in Colwich, KS, US. The sorghum and corn ethanol plant will use the company's patent-pending Generation 1.5 Grain Fiber-to-Cellulosic Ethanol Technology and patented gasifier. The facility, which would feature fibre separation and selective milling technologies from ICM, will cost $175 M to construct. Over 50 jobs will be generated by the project. Original Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, Apr 2017, 23 (4), 17 (Website: http://www. ethanolproducer.com/) © BBI International 2017.
Next investment for Chevron Phillips According to Chevron Phillips Chemical, the US is the "preferred location for another world-scale investment'' as shale oil and gas recovery has changed the ethane supply equation. By end 2017, Chevron will start its new 1.5 M tonnes/y ethane cracker in Cedar Bayou, TX, and two downstream PE units with 1 M tonnes/ y combined capacity by summer 2017. The PE unit includes a 500,000 tonne/y metallocene linear low density PE (LLDPE) plant and 500,000 tonnes/y bimodal high density PE (HDPE) plant. According to Energy Information Administration (EIA), US oil production is at 9.34 M barrels/d. The Permian region has produced 30 bn barrels of oil and 14 trillion cu ft of gas since commencing production. Around
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