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Surface and nanomolecular catalysis
F O C U S refineries. This could cost industry $55 M/y. The changes in the rules would update current EPA restrictions on emissions from refinery modifications. Refiners would have to add state-ofthe-art emissions control equipment on new or updated facilities. Refiners would also have to change certain work practices. The environmental benefits are put at $950 M/y. Over a five-year period, the changes would cut the combined emissions of particulates, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by almost 56,000 tonne/y. Fluid catalytic crackers, fluid coking units, delayed coking units, process heaters and other fuel gas combustion devices or sulfur recovery plants would be affected. ICIS Chemical Business Americas, 7 May 2007 (Website: http://www.icbamericas.com)
BASF 1Q 2007: news from our Innovation Centres For its 1Q 2007 BASF AG has reported on two projects from its Innovation Centres. Environmental technology for diesel motors: exhaust specialist from BASF Catalysts are developing diesel oxidation catalysts and catalysed soot filters. Innovative solutions are also able to neutralise nitrogen oxides in exhaust fumes. BASF 1Q Results 2007, 26 Apr 2007, ifc (BASF AG, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 21600. Fax: +49 21 042525. Website: http://www.basf.de)
A second plant for an oil-recycling process Puralube GmbH plans to build an 80,000 tonne/y used oil facility in Elsteraue, Germany, to use a new process in oil recycling. UOP developed the HyLube process that converts used lubricating oils into API Group II-quality lube base oils. About 50-70% of raw used oil is vaporized by a hot hydrogen stream, then converted at 300-350°C and 8701200 psig. This will be the second plant to use HyLube when it goes onstream by the end of 2008. Chemical Engineering (New York), May 2007, 114 (5), 22
Nanoparticulate catalysts for cleaner fuel – size and shape matters In Germany, researchers at the Technical University of Dresden and
JULY 2007
O N
C ATA LY S T S
the Forschungszentrum DresdenRossendorf have proved that molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles can catalyse the desulfurization of fuels. With the help of the Weizmann Institute at Rehovot, Israel, it was found that large, bipyramidal particles have the same desulfurization potential as nanoplatelets. The chemical and physical properties of molybdenum disulfide catalysts are determined by their three-dimensional structure. NanoNow, May 2007, 1 (2), 8
World Waste Technology files process patent A patent for an energy self sufficient procedure to treat solid municipal waste thereby converting it into mixed alcohols using synthetic gas and catalyst has been filed by World Waste Technology. The process will separate the mixed alcohols from hydrocarbons and other liquids, in addition to producing renewable electricity from producer gas. Chemical Engineering World, 31 Mar 2007, 42 (3), 16
PATENTS
Epoxidation catalysts The catalysts for making propylene oxide are fundamentally silver on alumina, but the availability (measured by the rate of solubilization in water) of residual alkali metals needs to be controlled. US 7,232,918, Shell Oil Co, Houston TX, USA, 19 Jun 2007
Economical SAPO synthesis The organic template (usually a quaternary ammonium salt) used in making such zeotypes is often the most costly ingredient. The quantity of template used can be reduced if the base used for neutralisation is a polymeric imine. US 7,232,787, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc, Houston TX, USA, 19 Jun 2007
MTO process having staged injection In the methanol-to-olefins process, selectivity is improved if the methanol is injected stepwise into the fluid bed reactor, through several injection points along the reactor. US 7,232,936, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc, Houston, TX, USA, 19 Jun 2007
Desulfurization with octane enhancement Catalytic desulfurization processes tend to saturate olefins and aromatics, thereby reducing octane number. The new process combines adsorption (on zinc oxide) with catalysis (by a zeolite), without octane loss. US 7,232,516, ConocoPhillips Co, Houston, TX, USA, 19 Jun 2007
Propylene oxide catalyst The catalyst is zeotype TS-1 containing a noble metal, made by spray-drying. US 7,232,783, Lyondell Chemical Technology, Greenville, DE, USA, 19 Jun 2007
BOOKSHELF Enzyme technology A “snapshot of current practice and research which will assist both the researcher and the industrial technologist meet their respective goals”. A large book by 75 contributors from many countries. Perhaps its most useful feature is the compilation of monographs describing 15 individual industrial enzymes. The general standard of English is poor. A Pandey, C Webb, CR Soccol, and C Larroche (Eds), 2006, Springer and Asiatech Publishers, New Delhi, India, ISBN 0-387-29294-2, 742 pp, $145
Mixed metal oxides for acrolein or methacrolein The catalysts are essentially the well known bismuth molybdate containing other metal oxides (notably cesium and iron), but the ranges of the ratios of the metals are specified. US 7,232,788, Saudi Basic Industries Corp, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 19 Jun 2007
Surface and nanomolecular catalysis Details the implications of new properties observed in nanoscale materials that are not observed in conventional catalysts. R Richards (Ed), 2006, CRC Press/Taylor and Francis, Boca Raton, USA, ISBN 1-57444-481-6, $169.95
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BASF 1Q 2007: news from our Innovation Centres For its 1Q 2007 BASF AG has reported on two projects from its Innovation Centres. Environmental technology for diesel motors: exhaust specialist from BASF Catalysts are developing diesel oxidation catalysts and catalysed soot filters. Innovative solutions are also able to neutralise nitrogen oxides in exhaust fumes. BASF 1Q Results 2007, 26 Apr 2007, ifc (BASF AG, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 21600. Fax: +49 21 042525. Website: http://www.basf.de)
A second plant for an oil-recycling process Puralube GmbH plans to build an 80,000 tonne/y used oil facility in Elsteraue, Germany, to use a new process in oil recycling. UOP developed the HyLube process that converts used lubricating oils into API Group II-quality lube base oils. About 50-70% of raw used oil is vaporized by a hot hydrogen stream, then converted at 300-350°C and 8701200 psig. This will be the second plant to use HyLube when it goes onstream by the end of 2008. Chemical Engineering (New York), May 2007, 114 (5), 22
Nanoparticulate catalysts for cleaner fuel – size and shape matters In Germany, researchers at the Technical University of Dresden and
JULY 2007
O N
C ATA LY S T S
the Forschungszentrum DresdenRossendorf have proved that molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles can catalyse the desulfurization of fuels. With the help of the Weizmann Institute at Rehovot, Israel, it was found that large, bipyramidal particles have the same desulfurization potential as nanoplatelets. The chemical and physical properties of molybdenum disulfide catalysts are determined by their three-dimensional structure. NanoNow, May 2007, 1 (2), 8
World Waste Technology files process patent A patent for an energy self sufficient procedure to treat solid municipal waste thereby converting it into mixed alcohols using synthetic gas and catalyst has been filed by World Waste Technology. The process will separate the mixed alcohols from hydrocarbons and other liquids, in addition to producing renewable electricity from producer gas. Chemical Engineering World, 31 Mar 2007, 42 (3), 16
PATENTS
Epoxidation catalysts The catalysts for making propylene oxide are fundamentally silver on alumina, but the availability (measured by the rate of solubilization in water) of residual alkali metals needs to be controlled. US 7,232,918, Shell Oil Co, Houston TX, USA, 19 Jun 2007
Economical SAPO synthesis The organic template (usually a quaternary ammonium salt) used in making such zeotypes is often the most costly ingredient. The quantity of template used can be reduced if the base used for neutralisation is a polymeric imine. US 7,232,787, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc, Houston TX, USA, 19 Jun 2007
MTO process having staged injection In the methanol-to-olefins process, selectivity is improved if the methanol is injected stepwise into the fluid bed reactor, through several injection points along the reactor. US 7,232,936, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc, Houston, TX, USA, 19 Jun 2007
Desulfurization with octane enhancement Catalytic desulfurization processes tend to saturate olefins and aromatics, thereby reducing octane number. The new process combines adsorption (on zinc oxide) with catalysis (by a zeolite), without octane loss. US 7,232,516, ConocoPhillips Co, Houston, TX, USA, 19 Jun 2007
Propylene oxide catalyst The catalyst is zeotype TS-1 containing a noble metal, made by spray-drying. US 7,232,783, Lyondell Chemical Technology, Greenville, DE, USA, 19 Jun 2007
BOOKSHELF Enzyme technology A “snapshot of current practice and research which will assist both the researcher and the industrial technologist meet their respective goals”. A large book by 75 contributors from many countries. Perhaps its most useful feature is the compilation of monographs describing 15 individual industrial enzymes. The general standard of English is poor. A Pandey, C Webb, CR Soccol, and C Larroche (Eds), 2006, Springer and Asiatech Publishers, New Delhi, India, ISBN 0-387-29294-2, 742 pp, $145
Mixed metal oxides for acrolein or methacrolein The catalysts are essentially the well known bismuth molybdate containing other metal oxides (notably cesium and iron), but the ranges of the ratios of the metals are specified. US 7,232,788, Saudi Basic Industries Corp, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 19 Jun 2007
Surface and nanomolecular catalysis Details the implications of new properties observed in nanoscale materials that are not observed in conventional catalysts. R Richards (Ed), 2006, CRC Press/Taylor and Francis, Boca Raton, USA, ISBN 1-57444-481-6, $169.95
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