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Sustainability will be expensive
FOCUS ON C A T A L Y S T S A MONTHLY REPORT FROM ALAN E COMYNS
AN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER MONITORING TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND USE OF CATALYSTS ISSN 1351–4180
SEPTEMBER 2006
SUSTAINABILITY WILL BE EXPENSIVE
In this issue
MARKETS AND BUSINESS
2
Biofuels taking off
COMPANY NEWS
2-4
Dow’s Meteor licensed to China Novozymes has good prospects
NEW PLANTS
4-5
GTL startup in Qatar ParamaX chosen for China
NEW TECHNOLOGY
5-7
Mitsui-Dow to collaborate on OBCs
ENVIRONMENT
7
Xonon Cool Combustion sold to Kawasaki
PATENTS
7-8
BOOKSHELF
8
EVENTS
8
The majority of the established heavy chemicals processes were developed in the days when energy was cheap and there was little concern for the environment. Also, because the world’s population was much smaller then, Man’s activities had less effect on the environment anyway. If the chemical industry were to be reinvented today it would be very different. It would use less energy and produce less waste. High temperature processes would be used as a last resort. Pyrometallurgy would be replaced by hydrometallurgy. Petrochemicals would not be made by cracking but by catalysis at almost ambient temperatures. Heavy inorganics such as ammonia would likewise be made by low-temperature catalytic routes. High temperatures would be used to make ceramics, and cement, but the starting materials would be designed to be converted more easily. Without cheap ammonia, farming would have been very different. Without cheap steel and cement, civil engineering and architecture would have been radically different. Today’s chemical industry is a mature industry, not because all possible processes have been explored, but because the economics of established industries favour the status quo. Radically new processes will rarely be developed by existing producers because they would be unwilling to write off their existing assets. Only new, entrepreneurial
companies can be expected to develop radically new processes. The factors which led to the industrial revolution in the UK have recently been analysed by Charles Foster*. He points out that the outstanding innovations in the textile and engineering industries made in the North West of England in the 18th century were made, not because these people were cleverer than others, but because of the availability of capital made possible by the business culture in that area at that time. The entrepreneurs were rich, but not so rich that they did not need to work – unlike the aristocracy. If the chemical industry is to reinvent itself in a sustainable, environmentally acceptable form, and thus regain the respect of society, it will probably need to find wealthy sponsors in the mould of 18th century entrepreneurs. Neither governments, international agencies, nor existing companies are likely to adopt this role. Today’s philanthropists are investing in art and medical research. If one or two of them could be persuaded to invest in sustainable technology we just might Save the Planet. Alan E. Comyns
* Capital and Innovation: how Britain became the first industrial nation. CF Foster, Arley Hall Press, Northwich, 2004
CATALYSTS CATALYSTS CATALYSTS CATALYSTS CATALYSTS CATALYSTS
AN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER MONITORING TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND USE OF CATALYSTS ISSN 1351–4180
SEPTEMBER 2006
SUSTAINABILITY WILL BE EXPENSIVE
In this issue
MARKETS AND BUSINESS
2
Biofuels taking off
COMPANY NEWS
2-4
Dow’s Meteor licensed to China Novozymes has good prospects
NEW PLANTS
4-5
GTL startup in Qatar ParamaX chosen for China
NEW TECHNOLOGY
5-7
Mitsui-Dow to collaborate on OBCs
ENVIRONMENT
7
Xonon Cool Combustion sold to Kawasaki
PATENTS
7-8
BOOKSHELF
8
EVENTS
8
The majority of the established heavy chemicals processes were developed in the days when energy was cheap and there was little concern for the environment. Also, because the world’s population was much smaller then, Man’s activities had less effect on the environment anyway. If the chemical industry were to be reinvented today it would be very different. It would use less energy and produce less waste. High temperature processes would be used as a last resort. Pyrometallurgy would be replaced by hydrometallurgy. Petrochemicals would not be made by cracking but by catalysis at almost ambient temperatures. Heavy inorganics such as ammonia would likewise be made by low-temperature catalytic routes. High temperatures would be used to make ceramics, and cement, but the starting materials would be designed to be converted more easily. Without cheap ammonia, farming would have been very different. Without cheap steel and cement, civil engineering and architecture would have been radically different. Today’s chemical industry is a mature industry, not because all possible processes have been explored, but because the economics of established industries favour the status quo. Radically new processes will rarely be developed by existing producers because they would be unwilling to write off their existing assets. Only new, entrepreneurial
companies can be expected to develop radically new processes. The factors which led to the industrial revolution in the UK have recently been analysed by Charles Foster*. He points out that the outstanding innovations in the textile and engineering industries made in the North West of England in the 18th century were made, not because these people were cleverer than others, but because of the availability of capital made possible by the business culture in that area at that time. The entrepreneurs were rich, but not so rich that they did not need to work – unlike the aristocracy. If the chemical industry is to reinvent itself in a sustainable, environmentally acceptable form, and thus regain the respect of society, it will probably need to find wealthy sponsors in the mould of 18th century entrepreneurs. Neither governments, international agencies, nor existing companies are likely to adopt this role. Today’s philanthropists are investing in art and medical research. If one or two of them could be persuaded to invest in sustainable technology we just might Save the Planet. Alan E. Comyns
* Capital and Innovation: how Britain became the first industrial nation. CF Foster, Arley Hall Press, Northwich, 2004
CATALYSTS CATALYSTS CATALYSTS CATALYSTS CATALYSTS CATALYSTS