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Sasol examines new PO technology
F O C U S
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development. The process is now available for licence from UOP.
Japan in Oct 2003 and is expected to be commercialised in 2005.
Chemical Engineering (New York), Aug 2003, 110 (8), 13
Clean Edge News Tracker, 9 Oct 2003 (Website: www.cleanedge.com)
Methanol-to-Propylene process progressed
Sasol examines new PO technology
Lurgi is collaborating with Borealis to further develop its methanol to propylene (MTP) technology. Lurgi has been operating a MTP pilot plant at Tjeldbergodden in collaboration with Statoil since 2002. Süd-Chemie developed and supplies the catalyst for the process. By-products of the process are gasoline, LPG, and fuel gas. The technology is commercially available from Lurgi. Lurgi also supplies MegaMethanol technology to provide feedstock methanol for MTP units. European Chemical News, 22 Sep 2003, 79 (2069), 35 & Chemical and Engineering News, 22 Sep 2003, 81 (38) (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & Chemical Market Reporter, 22 Sep 2003, (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemisch2Weekblad, 17 Sep 2003 (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/ (in Dutch)
Sasol has acquired a licence from Degussa and Uhde for a process for making propylene oxide. The process developed by the German companies uses a catalyst to transform propylene and hydrogen peroxide into propylene oxide, and is faster than the conventional method (described). The new process leads to a significantly reduced investment, high yields, and only small volumes of by-products, and no co-products. Sasol is currently carrying out a feasibility study for a plant with a capacity of 60,000 tonne/y. If Sasol goes ahead with the project, Degussa will have the option to supply a hydrogen peroxide plant with a capacity of 40,000 tonne/y in close proximity to Sasol’s facility. Chemische Rundschau, 9 Sep 2003, 56 (17), 11 (in German)
Non-fluorinated membrane improves methanol fuel cell performance
Mitsubishi to commercialise new polyester catalysts
Gas Technology Institute (GTI), in a cooperative programme with the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), reports that a new membrane developed by GTI for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells has substantially improved direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) system performance. Independent testing by ARL researchers has verified that GTI’s nonfluorinated membrane outperformed the standard Nafion® 117-membrane during multiple DMFC tests.
Mitsubishi Chemical has developed a new generation of catalysts for the synthesis of polyesters. The new titanium catalysts are more environmentally benign than the existing antimony catalysts. The titanium catalysts have a similar performance to their antimony counterparts. The company is hoping to derive a revenue of Yen 10 bn via technology licences for the manufacture of high performance polyesters using the new catalysts. Mitsubishi also hopes to achieve sales of Yen 3-5 bn from the new catalyst process.
Press release from: Gas Technology Institute, 1700, South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 600181804, USA. Tel: +1 847 768 0500. Website: http://www.gastechnology.org (9 Sep 2003)
Toshiba unveils fuel cell for portable electronics Earlier this year, Toshiba unveiled its small direct methanol fuel cell which uses aqueous methanol. The latest development is a cell which uses pure methanol as the fuel, diluting it with water as required. It is to be demonstrated at an exhibition in
6
Japan Chemical Week, 4 Sep 2003, 44 (2235), 1,3 & Chemical Weekly, 16 Sep 2003, 49 (4), 167
STARPLAST: novel biocompostable materials from starch A joint venture called STARPLAST by its developers, including an industrial consortium, has produced novel biocompostable polymers from starch. The use of organo-metal catalysts was important but the report also
notes that reactive grafting was achieved without the use of any catalyst. One of the most promising products is a reactively extruded and partially grafted copolymer requiring no plasticisation. Packaging containers such as fruit trays, illustrated in a colour photograph, were produced and survived full scale industrial testing. Link Collaborative Research, Autumn 2003, (5), 1 (BBSRC Office, Polaris House, North Star Ave, Swindon SN2 1UH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1793 413272. Fax: +44 (0)1793 413234. Website: http://www.ost.gov.uk/link)
Showa Denko augmenting acetyls business in Japan A new acetic acid catalyst has been developed by Showa Denko. After one year of use, the activity of the catalyst is still 90%. Final tests on the performance of the new material are currently being conducted. A catalyst which will continue to exhibit high activity over two years is also under development. The new catalyst is to be installed by the end of 2003 at the company’s direct oxidation process acetic acid facilities in Oita and its ethyl acetate facilities in Indonesia. Japan Chemical Week, 18 Sep 2003, 44 (2237), 3
ENVIRONMENT Engelhard receives grant for precious metals recovery Engelhard has been awarded a $5 M Department of Energy grant to research technology for recovering and recycling precious metals from fuel-cell systems. Chemical and Engineering News, 1 Sep 2003, 81 (35), 11
Superacid deNOx catalyst takes the heat Hitachi Zosen Corp of Japan has come up with a superacid catalyst that works effectively with hightemperature flue-gas streams to eliminate nitrogen oxides in the presence of ammonia at high efficiency. The catalyst can achieve an 80% reduction efficiency at 450°, compared with traditional catalysts that achieve less than 60%. The superacid demonstrates a high
NOVEMBER 2003
O N
C ATA LY S T S
development. The process is now available for licence from UOP.
Japan in Oct 2003 and is expected to be commercialised in 2005.
Chemical Engineering (New York), Aug 2003, 110 (8), 13
Clean Edge News Tracker, 9 Oct 2003 (Website: www.cleanedge.com)
Methanol-to-Propylene process progressed
Sasol examines new PO technology
Lurgi is collaborating with Borealis to further develop its methanol to propylene (MTP) technology. Lurgi has been operating a MTP pilot plant at Tjeldbergodden in collaboration with Statoil since 2002. Süd-Chemie developed and supplies the catalyst for the process. By-products of the process are gasoline, LPG, and fuel gas. The technology is commercially available from Lurgi. Lurgi also supplies MegaMethanol technology to provide feedstock methanol for MTP units. European Chemical News, 22 Sep 2003, 79 (2069), 35 & Chemical and Engineering News, 22 Sep 2003, 81 (38) (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & Chemical Market Reporter, 22 Sep 2003, (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemisch2Weekblad, 17 Sep 2003 (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/ (in Dutch)
Sasol has acquired a licence from Degussa and Uhde for a process for making propylene oxide. The process developed by the German companies uses a catalyst to transform propylene and hydrogen peroxide into propylene oxide, and is faster than the conventional method (described). The new process leads to a significantly reduced investment, high yields, and only small volumes of by-products, and no co-products. Sasol is currently carrying out a feasibility study for a plant with a capacity of 60,000 tonne/y. If Sasol goes ahead with the project, Degussa will have the option to supply a hydrogen peroxide plant with a capacity of 40,000 tonne/y in close proximity to Sasol’s facility. Chemische Rundschau, 9 Sep 2003, 56 (17), 11 (in German)
Non-fluorinated membrane improves methanol fuel cell performance
Mitsubishi to commercialise new polyester catalysts
Gas Technology Institute (GTI), in a cooperative programme with the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), reports that a new membrane developed by GTI for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells has substantially improved direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) system performance. Independent testing by ARL researchers has verified that GTI’s nonfluorinated membrane outperformed the standard Nafion® 117-membrane during multiple DMFC tests.
Mitsubishi Chemical has developed a new generation of catalysts for the synthesis of polyesters. The new titanium catalysts are more environmentally benign than the existing antimony catalysts. The titanium catalysts have a similar performance to their antimony counterparts. The company is hoping to derive a revenue of Yen 10 bn via technology licences for the manufacture of high performance polyesters using the new catalysts. Mitsubishi also hopes to achieve sales of Yen 3-5 bn from the new catalyst process.
Press release from: Gas Technology Institute, 1700, South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 600181804, USA. Tel: +1 847 768 0500. Website: http://www.gastechnology.org (9 Sep 2003)
Toshiba unveils fuel cell for portable electronics Earlier this year, Toshiba unveiled its small direct methanol fuel cell which uses aqueous methanol. The latest development is a cell which uses pure methanol as the fuel, diluting it with water as required. It is to be demonstrated at an exhibition in
6
Japan Chemical Week, 4 Sep 2003, 44 (2235), 1,3 & Chemical Weekly, 16 Sep 2003, 49 (4), 167
STARPLAST: novel biocompostable materials from starch A joint venture called STARPLAST by its developers, including an industrial consortium, has produced novel biocompostable polymers from starch. The use of organo-metal catalysts was important but the report also
notes that reactive grafting was achieved without the use of any catalyst. One of the most promising products is a reactively extruded and partially grafted copolymer requiring no plasticisation. Packaging containers such as fruit trays, illustrated in a colour photograph, were produced and survived full scale industrial testing. Link Collaborative Research, Autumn 2003, (5), 1 (BBSRC Office, Polaris House, North Star Ave, Swindon SN2 1UH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1793 413272. Fax: +44 (0)1793 413234. Website: http://www.ost.gov.uk/link)
Showa Denko augmenting acetyls business in Japan A new acetic acid catalyst has been developed by Showa Denko. After one year of use, the activity of the catalyst is still 90%. Final tests on the performance of the new material are currently being conducted. A catalyst which will continue to exhibit high activity over two years is also under development. The new catalyst is to be installed by the end of 2003 at the company’s direct oxidation process acetic acid facilities in Oita and its ethyl acetate facilities in Indonesia. Japan Chemical Week, 18 Sep 2003, 44 (2237), 3
ENVIRONMENT Engelhard receives grant for precious metals recovery Engelhard has been awarded a $5 M Department of Energy grant to research technology for recovering and recycling precious metals from fuel-cell systems. Chemical and Engineering News, 1 Sep 2003, 81 (35), 11
Superacid deNOx catalyst takes the heat Hitachi Zosen Corp of Japan has come up with a superacid catalyst that works effectively with hightemperature flue-gas streams to eliminate nitrogen oxides in the presence of ammonia at high efficiency. The catalyst can achieve an 80% reduction efficiency at 450°, compared with traditional catalysts that achieve less than 60%. The superacid demonstrates a high
NOVEMBER 2003