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Süd-Chemie to build new catalyst plant in Japan
F O C U S absence of oxygen. UOP has formed a jv with Ensyn to offer technology and equipment to convert second generation biomass like residuals from the agricultural and forestry sector as well as woody-based construction and demolition materials into pyrolysis oil for power generation and heating fuel. The jv will also accelerate R&D efforts to commercialize next-generation technology to refine the bio-oil into transport fuels such as green gasoline, green diesel, and green jet fuel. Press release from: Honeywell International Inc, 101 Columbia Road, Morristown, NJ, USA. Tel: +1 973 4552000. Fax: +1 973 455 4807. Website: http://www.honeywell.com (28 Oct 2008) & Chemical Engineering (New York), Oct 2008, 115 (10), 16
Verenium reports financial results for the 3Q 2008 Verenium Corp reported financial results for 3Q and nine month ended Sep 2008 and provided recent company highlights and accomplishments. Total revenues for 3Q 2008 were $16.4 M and for nine months of 2008 were $49.9 M ($10.9 M in 3Q 2007 and $33.3 M in nine months of 2007). The company reported product revenue of $12.4 M for 3Q 2008 and $37 M for nine months of 2008. The increase in product revenue was primarily due to increased sales of Phyzyme XP by Danisco Animal Nutrition, which continues to grow its global market position in the animal feed industry. Net loss was $133.242 M for 3Q 2008 (net loss of $20.493 M in 3Q 2007) and were $172.973 M for nine months of 2008 ($86.011 M in nine months of 2007). R&D expenses were $15.267 M for 3Q 2008 ($14.723 M in 3Q 2007) and were $45.048 M for nine months of 2008 ($37.509 M in nine months of 2007). Verenium Corp is a leader in the development and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol, an environmentally-friendly and renewable transportation fuel, as well as high-performance speciality enzymes for applications within the biofuels, industrial, and health and nutrition markets. Verenium 3Q and nine month of 2008 financials, 10 Nov 2008 (Verenium Corp, 55 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Tel: +1 617 674 5300. Website: http://www.verenium.com)
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Wisconsin awards $600,000 for ethanol research Two Wisconsin-based companies have been awarded a total of $600,000 from the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund to develop technologies related to producing ethanol. C5-6 Technologies Inc in Middleton, Wisconsin, has been awarded $350,000 to develop a group of new enzymes that will help to increase ethanol yields in firstgeneration corn ethanol plants. The funding will help the company to focus on isolating and commercializing a series of thermostable enzymes that can be used in dry milling of corn for ethanol production, according to John Biondi, a spokesman for C5-6. The company is working to improve the current corn dry-mill process by developing enzymes that will recover more starch from ground corn than current enzymes. Biomass R&D Initiative Newsletter, 30 Oct 2008 (Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI), US Dept of Energy. Website: http://www.brdisolutions.com)
NEW PLANTS Süd-Chemie to build new catalyst plant in Japan Süd-Chemie Catalysts Japan intends to build an additional plant for making custom catalysts adjacent to its existing facility in Toyama, Japan. The company expects to complete building construction in Aug 2009, with installation of equipment for precipitation and kneading operations to follow. The new plant is planned to start full-scale operations in mid-2010. The plant would double Süd-Chemie’s capacity for the small-lot production of custom catalysts and improve its production speed. Japan Chemical Week, 30 Oct 2008, 49 (2488), 2
Sinopec building new cracking catalyst plant The Qilu Branch of Sinopec Catalyst Co is building a 50,000 tonne/y unit for cracking catalysts. Startup of the unit in Oct 2009 will increase the catalyst production capacity of the Qilu Branch to over 100,000 tonne/y.
Most of the additional capacity will be used in refinery projects being implemented by the Sinopec Group. Construction of new or expanded refineries is expected to significantly increase Chinese demand for catalysts, the applications of which are becoming more extensive. China Chemical Reporter, 26 Oct 2008, 19 (30), 17
NGK plans major plant for ceramic catalyst carriers NGK Insulators intends to set up a large-scale factory for making ceramic catalyst carriers at its headquarter facility in Nagoya, Japan. The company will spend an estimated Yen 10 bn ($101 M) to build the plant, which will have the capability to produce 8 M units/y of the firm’s Honeyceram ceramic catalyst carriers. Construction work will begin in Sep 2009, with operational startup slated in Jan 2011. The unit will initially have roughly 100 workers. Japan Chemical Week, 13 Nov 2008, 49 (2490), 3
US Sugar, Coskata study world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant US Sugar and Coskata have agreed to examine the prospect of constructing a 100 M gallon/y cellulosic ethanol plant at Clewiston, FL, USA. The plan lays out a facility that is based on Coskata’s conversion process and uses sugar cane material such as cane leaves and excess bagasse as raw materials. Chemical Week, 24 Nov 2008. (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
SKC starts PO production using HPPO technology The world’s first commercial production of propylene oxide (PO) using hydrogen-peroxide propyleneoxide (HPPO) has been successfully launched by SKC at its Ulsan, South Korea, facility. The HPPO technology was licensed from German firms Udhe GmbH and Evonik Industries. The new PO plant, which cost over Won 200 bn, can produce 100,000 tonne/y. It brings SKC’s total PO output to 275,000 tonne/y. SKC also aims to raise its PO output capacity in South Korea to 400,000 tonne/y by
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Verenium reports financial results for the 3Q 2008 Verenium Corp reported financial results for 3Q and nine month ended Sep 2008 and provided recent company highlights and accomplishments. Total revenues for 3Q 2008 were $16.4 M and for nine months of 2008 were $49.9 M ($10.9 M in 3Q 2007 and $33.3 M in nine months of 2007). The company reported product revenue of $12.4 M for 3Q 2008 and $37 M for nine months of 2008. The increase in product revenue was primarily due to increased sales of Phyzyme XP by Danisco Animal Nutrition, which continues to grow its global market position in the animal feed industry. Net loss was $133.242 M for 3Q 2008 (net loss of $20.493 M in 3Q 2007) and were $172.973 M for nine months of 2008 ($86.011 M in nine months of 2007). R&D expenses were $15.267 M for 3Q 2008 ($14.723 M in 3Q 2007) and were $45.048 M for nine months of 2008 ($37.509 M in nine months of 2007). Verenium Corp is a leader in the development and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol, an environmentally-friendly and renewable transportation fuel, as well as high-performance speciality enzymes for applications within the biofuels, industrial, and health and nutrition markets. Verenium 3Q and nine month of 2008 financials, 10 Nov 2008 (Verenium Corp, 55 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Tel: +1 617 674 5300. Website: http://www.verenium.com)
JANUARY 2009
O N
C ATA LY S T S
Wisconsin awards $600,000 for ethanol research Two Wisconsin-based companies have been awarded a total of $600,000 from the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund to develop technologies related to producing ethanol. C5-6 Technologies Inc in Middleton, Wisconsin, has been awarded $350,000 to develop a group of new enzymes that will help to increase ethanol yields in firstgeneration corn ethanol plants. The funding will help the company to focus on isolating and commercializing a series of thermostable enzymes that can be used in dry milling of corn for ethanol production, according to John Biondi, a spokesman for C5-6. The company is working to improve the current corn dry-mill process by developing enzymes that will recover more starch from ground corn than current enzymes. Biomass R&D Initiative Newsletter, 30 Oct 2008 (Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI), US Dept of Energy. Website: http://www.brdisolutions.com)
NEW PLANTS Süd-Chemie to build new catalyst plant in Japan Süd-Chemie Catalysts Japan intends to build an additional plant for making custom catalysts adjacent to its existing facility in Toyama, Japan. The company expects to complete building construction in Aug 2009, with installation of equipment for precipitation and kneading operations to follow. The new plant is planned to start full-scale operations in mid-2010. The plant would double Süd-Chemie’s capacity for the small-lot production of custom catalysts and improve its production speed. Japan Chemical Week, 30 Oct 2008, 49 (2488), 2
Sinopec building new cracking catalyst plant The Qilu Branch of Sinopec Catalyst Co is building a 50,000 tonne/y unit for cracking catalysts. Startup of the unit in Oct 2009 will increase the catalyst production capacity of the Qilu Branch to over 100,000 tonne/y.
Most of the additional capacity will be used in refinery projects being implemented by the Sinopec Group. Construction of new or expanded refineries is expected to significantly increase Chinese demand for catalysts, the applications of which are becoming more extensive. China Chemical Reporter, 26 Oct 2008, 19 (30), 17
NGK plans major plant for ceramic catalyst carriers NGK Insulators intends to set up a large-scale factory for making ceramic catalyst carriers at its headquarter facility in Nagoya, Japan. The company will spend an estimated Yen 10 bn ($101 M) to build the plant, which will have the capability to produce 8 M units/y of the firm’s Honeyceram ceramic catalyst carriers. Construction work will begin in Sep 2009, with operational startup slated in Jan 2011. The unit will initially have roughly 100 workers. Japan Chemical Week, 13 Nov 2008, 49 (2490), 3
US Sugar, Coskata study world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant US Sugar and Coskata have agreed to examine the prospect of constructing a 100 M gallon/y cellulosic ethanol plant at Clewiston, FL, USA. The plan lays out a facility that is based on Coskata’s conversion process and uses sugar cane material such as cane leaves and excess bagasse as raw materials. Chemical Week, 24 Nov 2008. (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
SKC starts PO production using HPPO technology The world’s first commercial production of propylene oxide (PO) using hydrogen-peroxide propyleneoxide (HPPO) has been successfully launched by SKC at its Ulsan, South Korea, facility. The HPPO technology was licensed from German firms Udhe GmbH and Evonik Industries. The new PO plant, which cost over Won 200 bn, can produce 100,000 tonne/y. It brings SKC’s total PO output to 275,000 tonne/y. SKC also aims to raise its PO output capacity in South Korea to 400,000 tonne/y by
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