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Soda ash is hot in US
F O C U S biodegradability, having a lower carbon footprint, or offering products based on renewable resources. Regulatory issues, particularly the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) law, are affecting the operations of suppliers and formulators. BASF has unveiled a new surfactant system for the industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaning products market in North America and plans to introduce more proprietary environmentally responsible cleaning additives. Chemical Week, 18 Feb 2008, (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS Trilon M from BASF: a sustainable raw material for automatic dishwash applications BASF has used its eco-efficiency tool to compare the use of aminocarboxylates in household automatic dishwasher tablets (ADW) with that of phosphates in European conditions. The analysis is described. The environmental impact of aminocarboxylates has been shown to be less than that of phosphates. The comparison included liquid and solid waste as well as the consumption of resources in phosphate production. The company has also demonstrated that polymers using aminocarboxylate chelating agents can be used successfully as a substitute for phosphates. By combining different surfactants, cleaning performance can be improved. The combination of builder systems based on MGDA (Trilon M is the trisodium salt of methylglycinediacetic acid) with modified polycarboxylates have shown the best results. HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Dec 2007, 8,10-11
Cost-neutral replacement of surfactants with enzymes: a short-cut to environmental improvement for laundry New detergent enzyme systems that are effective at low temperatures are APRIL 2008
O N
S U R FAC TA N T S
being developed by Novozymes. The company has demonstrated the environmental benefits of replacing surfactants with enzymes in standard laundry detergents. A table gives compositions of conventional detergents and those that are high in enzymes, with 50% of three surfactants being replaced by 0.5 gram of enzymes. The environmental impact of the enzyme-rich detergent was determined using life cycle assessment. This included lower use of electricity and surfactant production. When surfactants are replaced by enzymes, there is an increase in total wash performance measured by total reflectance and the wash can be carried out at a lower water temperature with no decline in performance. The changes in wash performance for specific stains at different temperatures are tabulated. The additions and subtractions to global warming at different temperatures as a result of the replacement of surfactants with enzymes and the significant reductions in carbon dioxide production through reduction in electricity production for lower wash temperatures are detailed. Reducing the amount of detergent also reduces packaging and transport. HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Dec 2007, 3-7
High-performance developmental protease from Genencor is key ingredient for reduced energy laundry detergent formulations Because there is a significant decrease in the ability of conventional detergents to remove stains at lower temperatures, producers have been seeking new formulations to overcome this. Wash temperatures and cycle times in Western Europe, North America, Pacific Asia and Latin America are compared. Both of these are significantly higher in Western Europe than elsewhere. Genencor has developed a high-alkaline cleaning protease product that is designed to be used in heavy-duty powder detergents. Details of the assessment of wash performance, robustness under different wash conditions, the temperature profile and biochemical assay are outlined. The temperature profile of the new
protease products compared with Purafect Detergent shows increased soil removal at all temperatures. Dose efficiency, low temperature performance, performance compared with benchmark protease products at 30 degC and with a short wash cycle length are also illustrated. The storage stability of the new product is also compared with benchmark protease products in European bleach-containing standard detergent IEC-A. Superior cleaning results at short wash cycles and low temperatures have been demonstrated for the new protease product. HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Dec 2007, 24-26,28
Indian soda ash companies build global presence through acquisitions Indian firm Tata Chemicals spent $1.005 bn to acquire General Chemical Soda Ash Partners (GCSAP) from General Chemical Industrial Products in late Jan 2008. GCSAP has soda ash operations in Wyoming, USA. With the purchase, Tata became the world’s second largest soda ash company, having 14% of global capacity. The company’s soda ash capacity increased by 2.5 M tonnes/y to 5.4 M tonnes/y as a result of the acquisition. It also allowed Tata to have a presence in the markets of North America and South America, and export markets in Asia. Other Indian companies are also using acquisitions to increase their global footprint. In late 2007, Indian detergent-producer Nirma purchased US-based Searles Valley Minerals from private equity firm Sun Capital Partners [Focus on Surfactants, Jan 2008]. With the addition of SVM, which has three production locations in California’s Mojave Desert, Nirma is now one of the world’s top-seven soda ash manufacturers. Fellow Indian soda ash producer Gujarat Heavy Chemicals, based in Nodia, is also reviewing opportunities in China and the USA. Chemical Week, 18 Feb 2008, (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Soda ash is hot in US The soda ash industry in the USA has been reinvigorated due to great demand from developing economies 3
FOCUS in Asia and Latin America, where the chemical is used to produce glass and detergents, and for water treatment. FMC Corp will restart all of its idle soda ash capability in its Granger, WY, plants to bring in an additional capacity of 700,000 tonnes/y. The new capacity will boost the total capability at the plant to 1.3 M tonnes/y by 2012. The global market environment now favours US makers due to the reduced competitiveness of the Chinese suppliers caused by increase in local demand and the abolition of a 13% export tax rebate in mid-2007. Also, Chinese synthetic soda ash is more expensive to make than the USA’s natural soda ash. Chinese producers are expected to be even less competitive in the coming years due to hikes in energy prices, environmental demands, credit and lending procedure constraints, and the upward Yuan revaluation. Chemical and Engineering News, 18 Feb 2008, 86 (7), 8 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
APPLICATIONS Household and personal care HAPPI corporate profiles: household and personal products industry The twelfth Corporate Profiles issue features 70 companies, providing a comprehensive look at household and personal product industry suppliers, their facilities, products and areas of expertise. Most, but not all, are US-based. Whether you are looking for active ingredients, stock bottles, fragrance compounds, surfactants, botanical extracts or testing services, this special supplement provides information on each company’s background, products and the markets served, as well as technology, patents, new products, key personnel, specialized services and global capabilities unique to each company. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 2 Corporate Profiles 2008)), 1-146
New eco-solubilizer for oils Sinerga launched a new milder ecosolubilizer for essential oils and 4
ON
S U R FAC TA N T S
fragrances at the In-Cosmetics Show in Amsterdam in Apr 2008. The new product can substitute for nonionic surfactants obtained from polyethylene conventionally used in cosmetic technology. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 71
PATENTS Eco patents natural surfactant process Eco Holdings LLC, based in Miami, FL, USA, has earned Patent No US 7,309,686 B2 for a method for extracting a natural surfactant from seaweed (kelp). The process involves adding the kelp to water to produce a process medium, adding an enzyme solution to the process medium, and extracting the natural surfactant from the seaweed. The kelp extract can be used in the formulation of many cleaning solutions. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
Belle-Aire patents gel/air freshener system Belle-Aire Fragrances Inc of Mundelein, IL, USA, has earned Patent No US 7,311,900 B2 for a formulation having a powder mixture that becomes a gel/air freshener system when water is added. The powder contains a fragrance, amorphous fumed silica, a superabsorbent polymer and a sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate surfactant. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
Ciba patents stabilized compositions Ciba Specialty Chemicals has received Patent No US 7,309,682 B2 for stabilized formulations for body care products, household products, textiles and fabrics. The formulations contain certain dialkylhydroxyamine stabilizers, dialkylhydroxylamine stabilizer salts, nitrone stabilizers or amine oxide stabilizers. Dyed products and articles are effectively stabilized against colour degradation. The products are for example skincare products, hair-care products, liquid and bar soaps, dentifrices,
cosmetics, laundry detergents and fabric softeners, non-detergent based fabric care products, household cleaners and textile-care products. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
SC Johnson patents glass cleaning composition SC Johnson & Son Inc has been granted Patent No US 7,314,852 B1 for a glass cleaning formulation for removing soils and dirt from glass surfaces without leaving a visible streak. The aqueous cleaning composition combines an ethylene glycol ether, an N-alkyl pyrrolidone and a surfactant, which produces a synergistic effect that improves the soil removal performance. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
Foaming composition patented by Galderma Patent No US 7,316,810 B2 has been awarded to Galderma SA of Cham, Switzerland, for a foaming composition for washing and treating hair and/or scalp. The aqueous composition contains at least an active principle selected from corticoids and retinoids, an anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant and a pro-penetrating agent. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
P&G patents perfume polymeric particles The Procter & Gamble Co has received Patent No US 7,316,994 B2 for a process for making an aqueous fabric-softening formulation, with pH from around 2-8, that provides enhanced delivery of perfume raw material by means of perfumecontaining polymeric particles. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
Henkel patents builder-containing detergent composition Henkel has been awarded Patent No US 7,316,995 B2 for laundry detergents or cleaning agents that combine a water-soluble builder block APRIL 2008
ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS Trilon M from BASF: a sustainable raw material for automatic dishwash applications BASF has used its eco-efficiency tool to compare the use of aminocarboxylates in household automatic dishwasher tablets (ADW) with that of phosphates in European conditions. The analysis is described. The environmental impact of aminocarboxylates has been shown to be less than that of phosphates. The comparison included liquid and solid waste as well as the consumption of resources in phosphate production. The company has also demonstrated that polymers using aminocarboxylate chelating agents can be used successfully as a substitute for phosphates. By combining different surfactants, cleaning performance can be improved. The combination of builder systems based on MGDA (Trilon M is the trisodium salt of methylglycinediacetic acid) with modified polycarboxylates have shown the best results. HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Dec 2007, 8,10-11
Cost-neutral replacement of surfactants with enzymes: a short-cut to environmental improvement for laundry New detergent enzyme systems that are effective at low temperatures are APRIL 2008
O N
S U R FAC TA N T S
being developed by Novozymes. The company has demonstrated the environmental benefits of replacing surfactants with enzymes in standard laundry detergents. A table gives compositions of conventional detergents and those that are high in enzymes, with 50% of three surfactants being replaced by 0.5 gram of enzymes. The environmental impact of the enzyme-rich detergent was determined using life cycle assessment. This included lower use of electricity and surfactant production. When surfactants are replaced by enzymes, there is an increase in total wash performance measured by total reflectance and the wash can be carried out at a lower water temperature with no decline in performance. The changes in wash performance for specific stains at different temperatures are tabulated. The additions and subtractions to global warming at different temperatures as a result of the replacement of surfactants with enzymes and the significant reductions in carbon dioxide production through reduction in electricity production for lower wash temperatures are detailed. Reducing the amount of detergent also reduces packaging and transport. HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Dec 2007, 3-7
High-performance developmental protease from Genencor is key ingredient for reduced energy laundry detergent formulations Because there is a significant decrease in the ability of conventional detergents to remove stains at lower temperatures, producers have been seeking new formulations to overcome this. Wash temperatures and cycle times in Western Europe, North America, Pacific Asia and Latin America are compared. Both of these are significantly higher in Western Europe than elsewhere. Genencor has developed a high-alkaline cleaning protease product that is designed to be used in heavy-duty powder detergents. Details of the assessment of wash performance, robustness under different wash conditions, the temperature profile and biochemical assay are outlined. The temperature profile of the new
protease products compared with Purafect Detergent shows increased soil removal at all temperatures. Dose efficiency, low temperature performance, performance compared with benchmark protease products at 30 degC and with a short wash cycle length are also illustrated. The storage stability of the new product is also compared with benchmark protease products in European bleach-containing standard detergent IEC-A. Superior cleaning results at short wash cycles and low temperatures have been demonstrated for the new protease product. HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Dec 2007, 24-26,28
Indian soda ash companies build global presence through acquisitions Indian firm Tata Chemicals spent $1.005 bn to acquire General Chemical Soda Ash Partners (GCSAP) from General Chemical Industrial Products in late Jan 2008. GCSAP has soda ash operations in Wyoming, USA. With the purchase, Tata became the world’s second largest soda ash company, having 14% of global capacity. The company’s soda ash capacity increased by 2.5 M tonnes/y to 5.4 M tonnes/y as a result of the acquisition. It also allowed Tata to have a presence in the markets of North America and South America, and export markets in Asia. Other Indian companies are also using acquisitions to increase their global footprint. In late 2007, Indian detergent-producer Nirma purchased US-based Searles Valley Minerals from private equity firm Sun Capital Partners [Focus on Surfactants, Jan 2008]. With the addition of SVM, which has three production locations in California’s Mojave Desert, Nirma is now one of the world’s top-seven soda ash manufacturers. Fellow Indian soda ash producer Gujarat Heavy Chemicals, based in Nodia, is also reviewing opportunities in China and the USA. Chemical Week, 18 Feb 2008, (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Soda ash is hot in US The soda ash industry in the USA has been reinvigorated due to great demand from developing economies 3
FOCUS in Asia and Latin America, where the chemical is used to produce glass and detergents, and for water treatment. FMC Corp will restart all of its idle soda ash capability in its Granger, WY, plants to bring in an additional capacity of 700,000 tonnes/y. The new capacity will boost the total capability at the plant to 1.3 M tonnes/y by 2012. The global market environment now favours US makers due to the reduced competitiveness of the Chinese suppliers caused by increase in local demand and the abolition of a 13% export tax rebate in mid-2007. Also, Chinese synthetic soda ash is more expensive to make than the USA’s natural soda ash. Chinese producers are expected to be even less competitive in the coming years due to hikes in energy prices, environmental demands, credit and lending procedure constraints, and the upward Yuan revaluation. Chemical and Engineering News, 18 Feb 2008, 86 (7), 8 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
APPLICATIONS Household and personal care HAPPI corporate profiles: household and personal products industry The twelfth Corporate Profiles issue features 70 companies, providing a comprehensive look at household and personal product industry suppliers, their facilities, products and areas of expertise. Most, but not all, are US-based. Whether you are looking for active ingredients, stock bottles, fragrance compounds, surfactants, botanical extracts or testing services, this special supplement provides information on each company’s background, products and the markets served, as well as technology, patents, new products, key personnel, specialized services and global capabilities unique to each company. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 2 Corporate Profiles 2008)), 1-146
New eco-solubilizer for oils Sinerga launched a new milder ecosolubilizer for essential oils and 4
ON
S U R FAC TA N T S
fragrances at the In-Cosmetics Show in Amsterdam in Apr 2008. The new product can substitute for nonionic surfactants obtained from polyethylene conventionally used in cosmetic technology. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 71
PATENTS Eco patents natural surfactant process Eco Holdings LLC, based in Miami, FL, USA, has earned Patent No US 7,309,686 B2 for a method for extracting a natural surfactant from seaweed (kelp). The process involves adding the kelp to water to produce a process medium, adding an enzyme solution to the process medium, and extracting the natural surfactant from the seaweed. The kelp extract can be used in the formulation of many cleaning solutions. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
Belle-Aire patents gel/air freshener system Belle-Aire Fragrances Inc of Mundelein, IL, USA, has earned Patent No US 7,311,900 B2 for a formulation having a powder mixture that becomes a gel/air freshener system when water is added. The powder contains a fragrance, amorphous fumed silica, a superabsorbent polymer and a sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate surfactant. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
Ciba patents stabilized compositions Ciba Specialty Chemicals has received Patent No US 7,309,682 B2 for stabilized formulations for body care products, household products, textiles and fabrics. The formulations contain certain dialkylhydroxyamine stabilizers, dialkylhydroxylamine stabilizer salts, nitrone stabilizers or amine oxide stabilizers. Dyed products and articles are effectively stabilized against colour degradation. The products are for example skincare products, hair-care products, liquid and bar soaps, dentifrices,
cosmetics, laundry detergents and fabric softeners, non-detergent based fabric care products, household cleaners and textile-care products. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
SC Johnson patents glass cleaning composition SC Johnson & Son Inc has been granted Patent No US 7,314,852 B1 for a glass cleaning formulation for removing soils and dirt from glass surfaces without leaving a visible streak. The aqueous cleaning composition combines an ethylene glycol ether, an N-alkyl pyrrolidone and a surfactant, which produces a synergistic effect that improves the soil removal performance. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
Foaming composition patented by Galderma Patent No US 7,316,810 B2 has been awarded to Galderma SA of Cham, Switzerland, for a foaming composition for washing and treating hair and/or scalp. The aqueous composition contains at least an active principle selected from corticoids and retinoids, an anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant and a pro-penetrating agent. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
P&G patents perfume polymeric particles The Procter & Gamble Co has received Patent No US 7,316,994 B2 for a process for making an aqueous fabric-softening formulation, with pH from around 2-8, that provides enhanced delivery of perfume raw material by means of perfumecontaining polymeric particles. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2008, 45 (2 (Part 1 Buyer’s Guide 2008)), 34
Henkel patents builder-containing detergent composition Henkel has been awarded Patent No US 7,316,995 B2 for laundry detergents or cleaning agents that combine a water-soluble builder block APRIL 2008