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Shaw to provide Deep Catalytic Cracking technology for Punjab refinery
F O C U S The company used to be the USA part of Evonik’s industrial chemical sector. It produces catalysts used in the manufacture and processing of adhesives and sealants, elastomers, and coatings. At the end of 2006, Reaxis was bought by several seniorlevel managers in a management buyout. Chemical Week, 17 Mar 2008 & Chemical and Engineering News, 17 Mar 2008, 86 (11), 24 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
Sekab defends technology for making ethanol from cellulose Sekab’s plans for new plants that will produce ethanol from wood raw material have been postponed because the technology is not regarded as mature enough for a production plant. The idea was to use forestry residues, branches, and tree tops as raw material at an ethanol plant at Vilhelmina but the project has now been mothballed. The production of ethanol from woody materials using enzymic hydrolysis is thought to have greater potential than weak acid hydrolysis in terms of yield and energy efficiency and the technique is being tested at Sekab’s pilot plant in Ornskoldsvik, where wood chips are being converted to ethanol. The results have been good but the high cost of the enzymes is delaying any scaling up of the process. Nevertheless, it is thought the price of enzymes will fall once the market for enzymes grows. It is estimated that such an ethanol plant would be profitable if it received 30% investment support. Kemivarlden Biotech med Kemisk Tidskrift, Mar 2008, (3), 23 (in Swedish)
Shaw to provide Deep Catalytic Cracking technology for Punjab refinery Guru Gobind Singh Refineries Ltd (GGSRL), a joint venture of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Mittal Energy Investment Pvt Ltd, has awarded a contract to Shaw Group Inc’s Energy and Chemicals Group for providing technology, engineering and procurement services for building a Deep Catalytic Cracking (DCC) unit at Punjab. The DCC technology will enable cost effective production of polymer grade propylene from the refining process.
MAY 2008
O N
C ATA LY S T S
The DCC technology was developed by SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing. It is used for the production of light olefins, especially propylene and isobutylene, from various hydrocarbon feedstocks. Light olefins produced from this technology are the value-added products of this refining process. Shaw has got a licence from RIPP for eleven DCC units globally and it provides exclusive licence for DCC technology outside China. Shaw gets a revenue of $6 bn/y. Chemical Weekly, 11 Mar 2008, 53 (30), 136
Shell and Virent cooperate in developing biofuels Shell and Virent Energy Systems, US, are to collaborate for a 5-year period in the development of petrol and petrol components based on biological raw materials. Both companies are carrying out R&D on the direct replacement of ethanol with plant sugars in petrol and petrol components. The sugars can be obtained from natural residues that are not intended for food production, such a maize haulm, straw, and sugar cane pulp. Shell says the collaboration can lead to new biofuels that can be used at high mixture levels in standard petrol engines. It hopes that new engines and special filling stations will be necessary for the new biofuels. Virent uses catalysts to convert plant sugars to hydrocarbons such as those produced in refineries. Both companies have been carrying out work on a small scale since Apr 2007. According to Shell it will be possible within around 2 years to produce several thousand litres of the new biofuel in a demonstration plant. Het Financieele Dagblad, 26 Mar 2008 (Website: http://www.fd.nl/) (in Dutch) & Press release from: Virent Energy Systems, Inc, 3571 Anderson Street, Madison , WI 53704, USA. Tel: +1 608 663 0228. Fax: +1 608 663 1630. Website: http:// www.viren.com (26 Mar 2008)
SiGNa Chemistry receives patent from ExxonMobil SiGNa Chemistry has obtained from ExxonMobil Chemical an exclusive licence to patents that can ease the manufacture of a suite of alkali metal catalysts for olefin isomerization. The catalysts are said to enhance the
efficiency and safety of producing rubber and polymers. SiGNa develops stabilized reactive metals. Chemical and Engineering News, 17 Mar 2008, 86 (11), 24 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
Süd-Chemie focusing development on coal and gas Süd-Chemie Zeolites GmbH is expanding production of speciality zeolites in Bitterfeld, Germany. Investment will be in the double-digit millions range. From 2009, the company will supply new zeolites for the production of propylene (and thus PP) from methanol, that is from coal and natural gas. Specifically, the zeolites will be used to produce methanol from China’s rich reserves of coal, as well as in the production of high-octane petrol, and diesel, and in the purification of exhaust gases Chemische Rundschau, 17 Mar 2008, (3), 12 (in German)
NEW PLANTS BASF automotive catalyst expansion BASF will raise the automotive catalyst capacity of its Thai subsidiary, BASF Chemcat. The Thai government is adopting Europe’s Euro 4 emissions standards beginning 2009. Chemical and Engineering News, 10 Mar 2008, 86 (10), 30 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
BASF expands automotive catalysts capacity for Brazil An automotive catalyst production plant in Indaiatuba, Brazil, is being expanded by BASF Catalyst to meet emission regulations and growing demand. The plant’s capacity is expected to considerably increase by the end of 1Q 2008. Strong customer demand has also prompted the company to expand its automotive catalyst plants in Chennai, India, and Shanghai, China, through 2010. Chemical Engineering Progress, Mar 2008, 104 (3), 25
Grace expanding production of aluminas WR Grace is to expand its production of speciality aluminas at its plant in Lake Charles, LA. The aluminas are used as supports for fluid cracking
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Sekab defends technology for making ethanol from cellulose Sekab’s plans for new plants that will produce ethanol from wood raw material have been postponed because the technology is not regarded as mature enough for a production plant. The idea was to use forestry residues, branches, and tree tops as raw material at an ethanol plant at Vilhelmina but the project has now been mothballed. The production of ethanol from woody materials using enzymic hydrolysis is thought to have greater potential than weak acid hydrolysis in terms of yield and energy efficiency and the technique is being tested at Sekab’s pilot plant in Ornskoldsvik, where wood chips are being converted to ethanol. The results have been good but the high cost of the enzymes is delaying any scaling up of the process. Nevertheless, it is thought the price of enzymes will fall once the market for enzymes grows. It is estimated that such an ethanol plant would be profitable if it received 30% investment support. Kemivarlden Biotech med Kemisk Tidskrift, Mar 2008, (3), 23 (in Swedish)
Shaw to provide Deep Catalytic Cracking technology for Punjab refinery Guru Gobind Singh Refineries Ltd (GGSRL), a joint venture of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Mittal Energy Investment Pvt Ltd, has awarded a contract to Shaw Group Inc’s Energy and Chemicals Group for providing technology, engineering and procurement services for building a Deep Catalytic Cracking (DCC) unit at Punjab. The DCC technology will enable cost effective production of polymer grade propylene from the refining process.
MAY 2008
O N
C ATA LY S T S
The DCC technology was developed by SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing. It is used for the production of light olefins, especially propylene and isobutylene, from various hydrocarbon feedstocks. Light olefins produced from this technology are the value-added products of this refining process. Shaw has got a licence from RIPP for eleven DCC units globally and it provides exclusive licence for DCC technology outside China. Shaw gets a revenue of $6 bn/y. Chemical Weekly, 11 Mar 2008, 53 (30), 136
Shell and Virent cooperate in developing biofuels Shell and Virent Energy Systems, US, are to collaborate for a 5-year period in the development of petrol and petrol components based on biological raw materials. Both companies are carrying out R&D on the direct replacement of ethanol with plant sugars in petrol and petrol components. The sugars can be obtained from natural residues that are not intended for food production, such a maize haulm, straw, and sugar cane pulp. Shell says the collaboration can lead to new biofuels that can be used at high mixture levels in standard petrol engines. It hopes that new engines and special filling stations will be necessary for the new biofuels. Virent uses catalysts to convert plant sugars to hydrocarbons such as those produced in refineries. Both companies have been carrying out work on a small scale since Apr 2007. According to Shell it will be possible within around 2 years to produce several thousand litres of the new biofuel in a demonstration plant. Het Financieele Dagblad, 26 Mar 2008 (Website: http://www.fd.nl/) (in Dutch) & Press release from: Virent Energy Systems, Inc, 3571 Anderson Street, Madison , WI 53704, USA. Tel: +1 608 663 0228. Fax: +1 608 663 1630. Website: http:// www.viren.com (26 Mar 2008)
SiGNa Chemistry receives patent from ExxonMobil SiGNa Chemistry has obtained from ExxonMobil Chemical an exclusive licence to patents that can ease the manufacture of a suite of alkali metal catalysts for olefin isomerization. The catalysts are said to enhance the
efficiency and safety of producing rubber and polymers. SiGNa develops stabilized reactive metals. Chemical and Engineering News, 17 Mar 2008, 86 (11), 24 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
Süd-Chemie focusing development on coal and gas Süd-Chemie Zeolites GmbH is expanding production of speciality zeolites in Bitterfeld, Germany. Investment will be in the double-digit millions range. From 2009, the company will supply new zeolites for the production of propylene (and thus PP) from methanol, that is from coal and natural gas. Specifically, the zeolites will be used to produce methanol from China’s rich reserves of coal, as well as in the production of high-octane petrol, and diesel, and in the purification of exhaust gases Chemische Rundschau, 17 Mar 2008, (3), 12 (in German)
NEW PLANTS BASF automotive catalyst expansion BASF will raise the automotive catalyst capacity of its Thai subsidiary, BASF Chemcat. The Thai government is adopting Europe’s Euro 4 emissions standards beginning 2009. Chemical and Engineering News, 10 Mar 2008, 86 (10), 30 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
BASF expands automotive catalysts capacity for Brazil An automotive catalyst production plant in Indaiatuba, Brazil, is being expanded by BASF Catalyst to meet emission regulations and growing demand. The plant’s capacity is expected to considerably increase by the end of 1Q 2008. Strong customer demand has also prompted the company to expand its automotive catalyst plants in Chennai, India, and Shanghai, China, through 2010. Chemical Engineering Progress, Mar 2008, 104 (3), 25
Grace expanding production of aluminas WR Grace is to expand its production of speciality aluminas at its plant in Lake Charles, LA. The aluminas are used as supports for fluid cracking
5