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Photocatalytic material
F O C U S DMFCs for PCs in 2004 and for handheld devices in 2005. Press release from: Toshiba America Electronic Components, Irvine, CA, USA. Website: http:// www.toshiba.com/taec/press/dmfc_04_222.shtml (24 Jun 2004) & New Scientist, UK Edition, 2 Jul 2004, 182 (2454), 22 & Chemisch2Weekblad, 25 Jun 2004, (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/welcome.html) (in Dutch)
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making diesel fuel with less than 10 ppm sulfur. The method uses a separation step to eliminate hydrogen sulfide and ammonia along with two distinct hydrotreating catalysts. The process runs at 332°C, <50 bars hydrogen partial pressure, with a 1.5 liquid hourly space velocity. Chemical Engineering (New York), May 2004, 111 (5), 21
ENVIRONMENT Shell Canada awards contract to Fluor Shell Canada Ltd has awarded a design and procurement contract for diesel hydrotreater plants at two of its refineries, at Scotford, AB, and Montreal East, PQ, to Fluor. The contract is valued at $300 M. Capacity at Scotford is 97,900 bbl/day and Montreal East is 129,900 bbl/day. The plants will be operational by 2006, in time to meet new Canadian regulations on diesel fuel which requires diesel fuels to have a low sulfur content. Oil and Gas Journal, 10 May 2004, 102 (18), 9
Biofriendly’s Green Plus fuel catalyst tested in China Biofriendly Corp announced the completion of certified tests by the Beijing Automobile Research Institute. The tests, which were conducted on a 4-cylinder passenger automobile, showed significant reductions in harmful emissions as well as a substantial improvement in fuel economy when using Biofriendly’s Green Plus liquid fuel combustion catalyst. Biofriendly has introduced Green Plus, a liquid fuel combustion catalyst, the world’s most effective solution for significantly improving fuel economy and reducing harmful emissions. Press release from: Biofriendly Corp, 158, Sawpit Lane, Bradbury, CA 91010, USA. Tel: +1 626 303 6000. Fax: +1 626 358 8010. Website: http://www.biofriendly.com (10 Jun 2004)
H2S-separation step enables production of ultralow-sulfur diesel fuel Japan Petroleum Energy Center, in conjunction with New Energy & Industrial Technology Development Organisation, is formulating a new ultra-deep desulfurization method for
AUGUST 2004
Catalytica Energy Systems receives award to develop a NOx emissions reduction system for stationary diesel engines On 10 Jun 2004, Catalytica Energy Systems Inc announced that it has been awarded a $480,000 contract by the Electricity Innovation Institute (E2I), an affiliate of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), for the development of a greater than 90% NOx reduction system for stationary diesel engines. This award will help Catalytica Energy Systems to fund the first phase of a three-phase development and demonstration programme, scheduled to commence in Jun 2004, which will focus on the design and performance of the company’s diesel fuel processing technology in combination with an NOx adsorber catalyst for both new stationary diesel engines and retrofit applications, including older engines with limited control capability. Press release from: Catalytica Energy Systems Inc, Mountain View, CA, USA. Website: http://www.CatalyticaEnergy.com (10 Jun 2004)
Catalyst for recycling plastics Greenward Environmental Technology of Scotland has come up with a recycling process that is claimed to solve problems associated with recycling mixtures of different plastics. The company is offering a process based on a catalyst that is used in the presence of the halon gases. The catalyst, which is an alloy of palladium and zinc, helps convert waste plastics into oil and wax, which have applications in the petrochemicals industry as a feedstock for diesel or fuel engines. The recycling process is claimed to reduce toxic emissions from plastics that are difficult to recycle, such as PVC. High Performance Plastics, Jun 2004, 17
PATENTS Photocatalytic material A material having a photocatalytic surface is made from a titanium metal or titanium alloy substrate by electrolytically anodizing it and then further oxidising the surface by heating it in air to 350-650°C. The surface is composed of anatase which is very adherent, unlike most other titania-coated materials. US 6,344,127, 5 Feb 2002, Y Itoh, Kyoto, Japan
Oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons in emulsions Aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylenes and methyl naphthalenes are commonly oxidised to aromatic acids using molecular oxygen, a mixed catalyst system containing Mn(II), Co(II), and Br–, and acetic acid as the solvent. Instead, the reaction can be conducted in an aqueous emulsion at pH<3 if a surfactant plus a cosurfactant are used to emulsify the hydrocarbon. US 6,759,550, 6 Jul 2004, Dow Chemical Co, Midland, MI, USA
Supported hydroformylation catalysts Hydroformylation catalysts, typically phosphine complexes of Pt or Pd, are usually used in solution. They may be converted to heterogeneous catalysts if they are deposited on porous supports containing copper. Such catalysts can be used for converting olefins to alcohols in a single stage process. US 6,762,332, 13 Jul 2004, Shell Oil Co, Houston, TX, USA
Destruction of dioxins in industrial exhaust gases The oxidant is nitrogen dioxide (>1 ppm), either present naturally or added, and the catalyst is a mixed oxide containing Ti + Mo + V. The preferred reaction temperature is 120–200°C. US 6,759,565, 6 Jul 2004, Babcock-Hitachi KK, Tokyo, Japan
Lanthanide silicate zeotypes A novel family of porous lanthanide silicates is described, characterised
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making diesel fuel with less than 10 ppm sulfur. The method uses a separation step to eliminate hydrogen sulfide and ammonia along with two distinct hydrotreating catalysts. The process runs at 332°C, <50 bars hydrogen partial pressure, with a 1.5 liquid hourly space velocity. Chemical Engineering (New York), May 2004, 111 (5), 21
ENVIRONMENT Shell Canada awards contract to Fluor Shell Canada Ltd has awarded a design and procurement contract for diesel hydrotreater plants at two of its refineries, at Scotford, AB, and Montreal East, PQ, to Fluor. The contract is valued at $300 M. Capacity at Scotford is 97,900 bbl/day and Montreal East is 129,900 bbl/day. The plants will be operational by 2006, in time to meet new Canadian regulations on diesel fuel which requires diesel fuels to have a low sulfur content. Oil and Gas Journal, 10 May 2004, 102 (18), 9
Biofriendly’s Green Plus fuel catalyst tested in China Biofriendly Corp announced the completion of certified tests by the Beijing Automobile Research Institute. The tests, which were conducted on a 4-cylinder passenger automobile, showed significant reductions in harmful emissions as well as a substantial improvement in fuel economy when using Biofriendly’s Green Plus liquid fuel combustion catalyst. Biofriendly has introduced Green Plus, a liquid fuel combustion catalyst, the world’s most effective solution for significantly improving fuel economy and reducing harmful emissions. Press release from: Biofriendly Corp, 158, Sawpit Lane, Bradbury, CA 91010, USA. Tel: +1 626 303 6000. Fax: +1 626 358 8010. Website: http://www.biofriendly.com (10 Jun 2004)
H2S-separation step enables production of ultralow-sulfur diesel fuel Japan Petroleum Energy Center, in conjunction with New Energy & Industrial Technology Development Organisation, is formulating a new ultra-deep desulfurization method for
AUGUST 2004
Catalytica Energy Systems receives award to develop a NOx emissions reduction system for stationary diesel engines On 10 Jun 2004, Catalytica Energy Systems Inc announced that it has been awarded a $480,000 contract by the Electricity Innovation Institute (E2I), an affiliate of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), for the development of a greater than 90% NOx reduction system for stationary diesel engines. This award will help Catalytica Energy Systems to fund the first phase of a three-phase development and demonstration programme, scheduled to commence in Jun 2004, which will focus on the design and performance of the company’s diesel fuel processing technology in combination with an NOx adsorber catalyst for both new stationary diesel engines and retrofit applications, including older engines with limited control capability. Press release from: Catalytica Energy Systems Inc, Mountain View, CA, USA. Website: http://www.CatalyticaEnergy.com (10 Jun 2004)
Catalyst for recycling plastics Greenward Environmental Technology of Scotland has come up with a recycling process that is claimed to solve problems associated with recycling mixtures of different plastics. The company is offering a process based on a catalyst that is used in the presence of the halon gases. The catalyst, which is an alloy of palladium and zinc, helps convert waste plastics into oil and wax, which have applications in the petrochemicals industry as a feedstock for diesel or fuel engines. The recycling process is claimed to reduce toxic emissions from plastics that are difficult to recycle, such as PVC. High Performance Plastics, Jun 2004, 17
PATENTS Photocatalytic material A material having a photocatalytic surface is made from a titanium metal or titanium alloy substrate by electrolytically anodizing it and then further oxidising the surface by heating it in air to 350-650°C. The surface is composed of anatase which is very adherent, unlike most other titania-coated materials. US 6,344,127, 5 Feb 2002, Y Itoh, Kyoto, Japan
Oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons in emulsions Aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylenes and methyl naphthalenes are commonly oxidised to aromatic acids using molecular oxygen, a mixed catalyst system containing Mn(II), Co(II), and Br–, and acetic acid as the solvent. Instead, the reaction can be conducted in an aqueous emulsion at pH<3 if a surfactant plus a cosurfactant are used to emulsify the hydrocarbon. US 6,759,550, 6 Jul 2004, Dow Chemical Co, Midland, MI, USA
Supported hydroformylation catalysts Hydroformylation catalysts, typically phosphine complexes of Pt or Pd, are usually used in solution. They may be converted to heterogeneous catalysts if they are deposited on porous supports containing copper. Such catalysts can be used for converting olefins to alcohols in a single stage process. US 6,762,332, 13 Jul 2004, Shell Oil Co, Houston, TX, USA
Destruction of dioxins in industrial exhaust gases The oxidant is nitrogen dioxide (>1 ppm), either present naturally or added, and the catalyst is a mixed oxide containing Ti + Mo + V. The preferred reaction temperature is 120–200°C. US 6,759,565, 6 Jul 2004, Babcock-Hitachi KK, Tokyo, Japan
Lanthanide silicate zeotypes A novel family of porous lanthanide silicates is described, characterised
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