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Phosphorus-based titania catalyst reacts to UV and visible light
F O C U S $150 M in the two projects since 2006. According to Shell Malaysia Gas & Power, the Bintulu plant will be developed as an R&D centre for GTL technology for the group. The two projects are an enhanced Shell gasification process for GTL to increase the efficiency of the process through optimised energy integration and the heavy paraffin synthesis demonstration project, a pilot scale facility that could help enhance the performance of Shell’s proprietary GTL catalyst through more efficient and effective conversion of feed gas. The investment at Bintulu will be mainly to expand product range and maintenance and upgrading works rather than building capacity. The plant has a production capacity of 14,700 bbl/day of liquid products and waxes and employs about 360 persons. The Star, 14 Oct 2008 (Website: http://www.thestar.com.my)
Second generation PP production A Borstar PP unit with 330,000 tonnes of capacity has been inaugurated by Borealis at Burghausen, Germany. The plant is based on the company’s PP 2G (second generation) multimodal technology, which uses an emulsion-based Ziegler Natta catalyst system combined with a more simplified process. The unit boosts Borealis’ Borstar PP capacity to 570,000 tonnes. Plastics and Rubber Asia, Oct 2008, 23 (161), 5
NEW TECHNOLOGY BASF advances novel syngas-toolefins process A syngas-to-olefins technology is being developed by BASF. The company also announced at the 22nd annual Journalists and Scientists Dialogue meeting in Ludwigshafen, Germany, that it is working on concepts to catch carbon dioxide wastes. In the syngas-to-olefins technology, a newly developed heterogeneous catalyst for industrialscale conversion of syngas to hydrocarbons would be applied with
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the help of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. A patent for the catalysts was applied a few months ago. BASF is also in the preliminary phase of development processes to turn carbon dioxide into chemicals.
interested in the process as it is a major producer of natural gas which could provide the required methanol. China, India and Russia are other possible locations due to the potential for methanol production from coal.
Chemical Week, 6 Oct 2008 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 6 Oct 2008, (439), 11 (in French) & Chemical Week, 6 Oct 2008 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
BASF works on new gas-to-olefin process BASF’s researchers at Ludwigshafen, Germany, have developed a new catalyst for the direct production of olefins from gas in response to the high cost of crude oil raw materials for steam crackers. The catalyst, which is the initial step in developing a process technology, is for use in the FischerTropsch synthesis process that converts syngas into hydrocarbons on an industrial scale. The next phase of the project involves a miniplant technology to assist in determining the maximum reaction states and the behaviour of the catalyst in manufacturing conditions. The project forms part of BASF’s ‘Growth Cluster Raw Material Change,’ which received roughly €100 M in 20062008. The new process technology is due for completion in the middle of the next decade. Plastics and Rubber Weekly, 3 Oct 2008, 6 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 13 Oct 2008, (440), 12 (in French)
Total developing methanol-to-olefin production Total has opened a pilot olefin production plant at Feluy, Belgium which uses methanol as raw material. The project involved an investment of €45 M. Total is using methanol-toolefin technology developed by UOP and Norsk Hydro in conjunction with its own Olefin Cracking Process (OCP). This second process cracks any C4-C6 which has not been converted by the first reaction. Total still needs to resolve the problem of potential oxidizing pollutants. These impurities could contaminate catalysts used in the subsequent production of polyethylene or polypropylene. The evaluation process for the pilot phase could take between 1-5 years before a decision could be taken on commercial production. An industrial scale unit would need to be built near a supply of methanol. Qatar is already
New oxidation reactor halves size and cost The new oxidation reactor developed by Mitsubishi Chemical for chemical production that involves an oxidation reaction is claimed to be 50% cheaper and smaller than traditional oxidation reactors. The innovation, demonstrating highly efficient transfer of heat to the catalyst, potentially boosts production volumes by about twofold. Mitsubishi Chemical will soon introduce the new reactor at its own acrylic acid plant in Yokkaichi, Japan, to validate the technology’s performance. Given favourable results, the company plans to start licensing the process to other chemical companies. Japan Chemical Week, 9 Oct 2008, 49 (2485), 1
Phosphorus-based titania catalyst reacts to UV and visible light A research group from the Fukuoka University has developed a phosphorus-based titanium dioxide photocatalyst that absorbs both visible light and ultraviolet light, triggering photocatalytic reactions. The new material has an anatase make-up, allowing for a higher level of photocatalytic activity. Under UV light, the photocatalyst can break down organic substances more rapidly than currently available titanium dioxide photocatalysts. With the objective of bringing a visible light-activated titanium dioxide catalyst to market, the group intends to work on enhancing the surface composition and other characteristics of the photocatalyst. Japan Chemical Week, 9 Oct 2008, 49 (2485), 2
Evonik develops new process for methyl methacrylate Evonik Industries’ chemicals operation has designed the new AVENEER production technique for methyl
DECEMBER 2008
Second generation PP production A Borstar PP unit with 330,000 tonnes of capacity has been inaugurated by Borealis at Burghausen, Germany. The plant is based on the company’s PP 2G (second generation) multimodal technology, which uses an emulsion-based Ziegler Natta catalyst system combined with a more simplified process. The unit boosts Borealis’ Borstar PP capacity to 570,000 tonnes. Plastics and Rubber Asia, Oct 2008, 23 (161), 5
NEW TECHNOLOGY BASF advances novel syngas-toolefins process A syngas-to-olefins technology is being developed by BASF. The company also announced at the 22nd annual Journalists and Scientists Dialogue meeting in Ludwigshafen, Germany, that it is working on concepts to catch carbon dioxide wastes. In the syngas-to-olefins technology, a newly developed heterogeneous catalyst for industrialscale conversion of syngas to hydrocarbons would be applied with
6
O N
C ATA LY S T S
the help of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. A patent for the catalysts was applied a few months ago. BASF is also in the preliminary phase of development processes to turn carbon dioxide into chemicals.
interested in the process as it is a major producer of natural gas which could provide the required methanol. China, India and Russia are other possible locations due to the potential for methanol production from coal.
Chemical Week, 6 Oct 2008 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 6 Oct 2008, (439), 11 (in French) & Chemical Week, 6 Oct 2008 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
BASF works on new gas-to-olefin process BASF’s researchers at Ludwigshafen, Germany, have developed a new catalyst for the direct production of olefins from gas in response to the high cost of crude oil raw materials for steam crackers. The catalyst, which is the initial step in developing a process technology, is for use in the FischerTropsch synthesis process that converts syngas into hydrocarbons on an industrial scale. The next phase of the project involves a miniplant technology to assist in determining the maximum reaction states and the behaviour of the catalyst in manufacturing conditions. The project forms part of BASF’s ‘Growth Cluster Raw Material Change,’ which received roughly €100 M in 20062008. The new process technology is due for completion in the middle of the next decade. Plastics and Rubber Weekly, 3 Oct 2008, 6 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 13 Oct 2008, (440), 12 (in French)
Total developing methanol-to-olefin production Total has opened a pilot olefin production plant at Feluy, Belgium which uses methanol as raw material. The project involved an investment of €45 M. Total is using methanol-toolefin technology developed by UOP and Norsk Hydro in conjunction with its own Olefin Cracking Process (OCP). This second process cracks any C4-C6 which has not been converted by the first reaction. Total still needs to resolve the problem of potential oxidizing pollutants. These impurities could contaminate catalysts used in the subsequent production of polyethylene or polypropylene. The evaluation process for the pilot phase could take between 1-5 years before a decision could be taken on commercial production. An industrial scale unit would need to be built near a supply of methanol. Qatar is already
New oxidation reactor halves size and cost The new oxidation reactor developed by Mitsubishi Chemical for chemical production that involves an oxidation reaction is claimed to be 50% cheaper and smaller than traditional oxidation reactors. The innovation, demonstrating highly efficient transfer of heat to the catalyst, potentially boosts production volumes by about twofold. Mitsubishi Chemical will soon introduce the new reactor at its own acrylic acid plant in Yokkaichi, Japan, to validate the technology’s performance. Given favourable results, the company plans to start licensing the process to other chemical companies. Japan Chemical Week, 9 Oct 2008, 49 (2485), 1
Phosphorus-based titania catalyst reacts to UV and visible light A research group from the Fukuoka University has developed a phosphorus-based titanium dioxide photocatalyst that absorbs both visible light and ultraviolet light, triggering photocatalytic reactions. The new material has an anatase make-up, allowing for a higher level of photocatalytic activity. Under UV light, the photocatalyst can break down organic substances more rapidly than currently available titanium dioxide photocatalysts. With the objective of bringing a visible light-activated titanium dioxide catalyst to market, the group intends to work on enhancing the surface composition and other characteristics of the photocatalyst. Japan Chemical Week, 9 Oct 2008, 49 (2485), 2
Evonik develops new process for methyl methacrylate Evonik Industries’ chemicals operation has designed the new AVENEER production technique for methyl
DECEMBER 2008