- Email: [email protected]
Single-site catalyst boosts PP technology performance
F O C U S
O N
C ATA LY S T S
why the group’s shares were slightly up in trading on 1 Apr 2009, despite the fact that fourth-quarter sales will fall below those in the same period in 2007: the balance sheet is strong and debt is falling at an impressive rate. Work in its environmental technology arm will be increasingly led by legislative changes in the future, rather than the economy. A closer look at the company, however, and the investment case begins to unravel. The weak pound is underpinning the on-guidance performance, and one of Johnson Matthey’s main industries, automotives, is suffering terribly, and without any end in sight. The company’s shares have lost nearly 50% of their value in the past 12 months.
Single-site catalyst boosts PP technology performance
The Independent, 2 Apr 2009 (Website: http://www.independent.co.uk)
High Performance Plastics, Mar 2009, 12 & Chemical Fibers International, Mar 2009, 59 (1), 20
Logos Technologies to make jet fuel from waste biomass Logos Technologies Inc (Logos) announced that it has been awarded a prime contract from the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to produce fully compatible jet fuel from cellulose. With this process, Logos scientists estimate, the cellulose waste streams from agriculture, industries, and cities could supply a significant amount of US transportation fuel needs with a fossilfuel substitute that does not introduce additional atmospheric carbon dioxide, does not adversely affect food prices, and offers superior performance and engine compatibility when compared to current biofuels. Press release from: Logos Technologies Inc, 3811 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203, USA. Tel: +1 703 584 5830. Fax: +1 703 527 8456. Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.logostech.net (7 Apr 2009)
LyondellBasell Industries has introduced a single-site catalyst system engineered to expand the performance capabilities of its Metocene PP production technology platform. The family of catalysts broadens the company’s line of homopolymer, random, and impact copolymer grades by providing performance from low to high melt flow rates, while preserving excellent homogeneity, transparency, and other properties typical of single-catalysis. Meanwhile, Korean firm PolyMirae has obtained a licence to employ LyondellBasell’s PP technology.
Novozymes explores bioethanol from bagasse The European Commission is providing €1.6 M of funding for the development of technology to produce bioethanol from bagasse, a byproduct of sugar cane production. The funding has been awarded to Novozymes and Centro de Tecnologia Canaviera (CTC), its research partner in Brazil. Each tonne of sugar cane produced generates some 0.3 tonnes of bagasse. Novozymes plans to have developed enzymes to achieve bioethanol production from agricultural wastes by 2010. R&D work will be carried out in Brazil with support from research associates in the US and Denmark, and scientists from Lund University, Sweden, and the Federal University of Parana in Brazil. Renewable Energy Focus (Online Version), 18 Mar 2009, (317) (Website: http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com)
Basell pursues R&D in chemical catalysis
Oxford Catalysts Group
LyondellBasell Industries, together with the King Abdullah University for Science & Technology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will conduct research focused on chemically catalyzed production of fuels and basic chemicals pursuant to a memorandum of understanding signed by the two parties.
“The outlook for the group is very positive,” said the full-year results statement from Oxford Catalysts, the Aim-listed clean synthetic fuel company on 30 Mar 2009. The group, which develops several technologies, including making steam without boiling water, said that 2008 losses were GBP 3.4 M, from a GBP 1.8 M loss last year. The company is upbeat, saying that its recent
Chemistry and Industry (London), 9 Mar 2009, (5), 13
4
acquisition of the US group Velocys is a turning point, and that with GBP 16.3 M in cash and a plan to start commercial demonstrations during 2009, Oxford Catalysts might be a sure-fire bet for the future. The Independent, 31 Mar 2009 (Website: http://www.independent.co.uk)
Shell, Codexis expand biofuel pact The current biofuel development deal between Royal Dutch Shell and US firm Codexis has been expanded. Pursuant to the deal, Codexis will collaborate with Shell and Iogen Energy to improve the efficiency of enzymes utilized in Iogen’s cellulosic ethanol production process. Shell has stakes in both Codexis and Iogen. Iogen has a demonstration-scale ethanol plant in Ottawa. Chemical Week, 23 Mar 2009 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Shanghai surprise: breakthrough in biodiesel R&D Shanghai Sunrise Chemical Co Ltd has successfully refined biodiesel using a solid base catalyst and synthesis technology at a pilot refining plant in Jiangxi province, China. The 1000 tonne/y unit was able to process Cornus wilsonniana, Jatropha curcas, and woody plants to make premium quality biodiesel. The company has further plans to develop a 30,000 tonne/y biodiesel plant and glycerol ester processing unit in 2010. Oils and Fats International, Feb 2009, 25 (2), 36
Süd-Chemie 2008: Catalysts Division Süd-Chemie’s Catalysts Division is made up of our two business units, Catalytic Technologies and Energy and Environment. Compared with 2007, divisional revenue rose by €53.7 M or 12.3% to €489.8 M, with both business units growing at almost the same speed. The operating profit (EBIT) generated by the Catalysts Division rose from €71.5 M in 2007 to €77.7 M in 2008 (+8.7%). Key financial data are tabulated. With marketing and administration costs rising at a faster rate than revenue, the division’s EBIT margin fell by 0.5 percentage points compared with 2007, reporting a margin of 15.9% for
MAY 2009
O N
C ATA LY S T S
why the group’s shares were slightly up in trading on 1 Apr 2009, despite the fact that fourth-quarter sales will fall below those in the same period in 2007: the balance sheet is strong and debt is falling at an impressive rate. Work in its environmental technology arm will be increasingly led by legislative changes in the future, rather than the economy. A closer look at the company, however, and the investment case begins to unravel. The weak pound is underpinning the on-guidance performance, and one of Johnson Matthey’s main industries, automotives, is suffering terribly, and without any end in sight. The company’s shares have lost nearly 50% of their value in the past 12 months.
Single-site catalyst boosts PP technology performance
The Independent, 2 Apr 2009 (Website: http://www.independent.co.uk)
High Performance Plastics, Mar 2009, 12 & Chemical Fibers International, Mar 2009, 59 (1), 20
Logos Technologies to make jet fuel from waste biomass Logos Technologies Inc (Logos) announced that it has been awarded a prime contract from the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to produce fully compatible jet fuel from cellulose. With this process, Logos scientists estimate, the cellulose waste streams from agriculture, industries, and cities could supply a significant amount of US transportation fuel needs with a fossilfuel substitute that does not introduce additional atmospheric carbon dioxide, does not adversely affect food prices, and offers superior performance and engine compatibility when compared to current biofuels. Press release from: Logos Technologies Inc, 3811 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203, USA. Tel: +1 703 584 5830. Fax: +1 703 527 8456. Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.logostech.net (7 Apr 2009)
LyondellBasell Industries has introduced a single-site catalyst system engineered to expand the performance capabilities of its Metocene PP production technology platform. The family of catalysts broadens the company’s line of homopolymer, random, and impact copolymer grades by providing performance from low to high melt flow rates, while preserving excellent homogeneity, transparency, and other properties typical of single-catalysis. Meanwhile, Korean firm PolyMirae has obtained a licence to employ LyondellBasell’s PP technology.
Novozymes explores bioethanol from bagasse The European Commission is providing €1.6 M of funding for the development of technology to produce bioethanol from bagasse, a byproduct of sugar cane production. The funding has been awarded to Novozymes and Centro de Tecnologia Canaviera (CTC), its research partner in Brazil. Each tonne of sugar cane produced generates some 0.3 tonnes of bagasse. Novozymes plans to have developed enzymes to achieve bioethanol production from agricultural wastes by 2010. R&D work will be carried out in Brazil with support from research associates in the US and Denmark, and scientists from Lund University, Sweden, and the Federal University of Parana in Brazil. Renewable Energy Focus (Online Version), 18 Mar 2009, (317) (Website: http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com)
Basell pursues R&D in chemical catalysis
Oxford Catalysts Group
LyondellBasell Industries, together with the King Abdullah University for Science & Technology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will conduct research focused on chemically catalyzed production of fuels and basic chemicals pursuant to a memorandum of understanding signed by the two parties.
“The outlook for the group is very positive,” said the full-year results statement from Oxford Catalysts, the Aim-listed clean synthetic fuel company on 30 Mar 2009. The group, which develops several technologies, including making steam without boiling water, said that 2008 losses were GBP 3.4 M, from a GBP 1.8 M loss last year. The company is upbeat, saying that its recent
Chemistry and Industry (London), 9 Mar 2009, (5), 13
4
acquisition of the US group Velocys is a turning point, and that with GBP 16.3 M in cash and a plan to start commercial demonstrations during 2009, Oxford Catalysts might be a sure-fire bet for the future. The Independent, 31 Mar 2009 (Website: http://www.independent.co.uk)
Shell, Codexis expand biofuel pact The current biofuel development deal between Royal Dutch Shell and US firm Codexis has been expanded. Pursuant to the deal, Codexis will collaborate with Shell and Iogen Energy to improve the efficiency of enzymes utilized in Iogen’s cellulosic ethanol production process. Shell has stakes in both Codexis and Iogen. Iogen has a demonstration-scale ethanol plant in Ottawa. Chemical Week, 23 Mar 2009 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Shanghai surprise: breakthrough in biodiesel R&D Shanghai Sunrise Chemical Co Ltd has successfully refined biodiesel using a solid base catalyst and synthesis technology at a pilot refining plant in Jiangxi province, China. The 1000 tonne/y unit was able to process Cornus wilsonniana, Jatropha curcas, and woody plants to make premium quality biodiesel. The company has further plans to develop a 30,000 tonne/y biodiesel plant and glycerol ester processing unit in 2010. Oils and Fats International, Feb 2009, 25 (2), 36
Süd-Chemie 2008: Catalysts Division Süd-Chemie’s Catalysts Division is made up of our two business units, Catalytic Technologies and Energy and Environment. Compared with 2007, divisional revenue rose by €53.7 M or 12.3% to €489.8 M, with both business units growing at almost the same speed. The operating profit (EBIT) generated by the Catalysts Division rose from €71.5 M in 2007 to €77.7 M in 2008 (+8.7%). Key financial data are tabulated. With marketing and administration costs rising at a faster rate than revenue, the division’s EBIT margin fell by 0.5 percentage points compared with 2007, reporting a margin of 15.9% for
MAY 2009