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Tokyo Chemical releases efficient, stable palladium catalyst
FOCUS 80 patents are pending relating to the process. Researchers have been able to make the ethanol yield as much as 60 gallon/litre concentration during fermentation. In addition, the process consumes less enzymes. The technology can be adapted to local feedstocks such as bagasse, straw, or bran. Although the CBP technology is still in the infancy stage, the company is hoping to have a commercial plant in operation by 2014. Pulp and Paper International, Dec 2010, 52 (12), 2829
Bidders for Süd-Chemie One Equity Partners (OEP) has reportedly received a number of offers for its 50.41% controlling share in German firm Süd-Chemie. Clariant, Honeywell, Mitsubishi Chemical, and Umicore were identified to be among the potential bidders. A sale agreement is likely to be closed in 1Q 2011, according to sources. Around 75% of Süd-Chemie is owned by individual shareholders and the remainder is publicly traded. SüdChemie is estimated to be worth around €1.5 bn ($2 bn). The company is expected to increase its sales by around 10% to about €1.2 bn in fullyear 2010. Chemical Week, 31 Jan 2011 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Süd-Chemie and Yara conclude 5-year agreement on fertilizer catalysts Süd-Chemie AG and Yara International ASA, of Norway, have concluded a major 5-year framework agreement on catalysts for fertilizer production. Moreover, this long-term supply agreement will cover more than 50% of the requirements of Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco), a jv in which Yara owns 25%. Under the agreement, Süd-Chemie will develop, produce, and deliver all front-end catalysts involved in the production of ammonia as well as applied technical support. Süd-Chemie expects to generate significant revenue of more than $40 M from the agreement during the next five years. Press release from: Süd-Chemie AG, Lenbachplatz 6, 80333 Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 5110 0. Fax: +49 89 5110 375. Website: http://www.sud-chemie.com (10 Jan 2011)
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Toda’s new fuel-cell reforming catalyst has no precious metals The new, low-cost reforming catalyst developed by Toda Kogyo does not contain precious metals but is still highly resistant to coking and sulfur poisoning. The material is being targeted at the user segment of residential fuel-cell cogeneration systems. It was developed using the company’s expertise in iron oxide manufacture. The new catalyst contains a porous carrier deposited with nickel nanoparticles. Japan launched in 2009 Ene Farm, a programme to support the full-scale commercialization of ecofriendly residential fuel-cell cogeneration systems. Japan Chemical Web, 24 Jan 2011 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp)
Tokyo Chemical releases efficient, stable palladium catalyst Tokyo Chemical Industry has initiated full-fledged marketing of its new SingaCycle-E1 palladium-complex catalyst, which the company codeveloped with a Singapore-based public research group. The new catalyst contains N-heterocyclic carbine ligand and 2-(N,N-dimethyl amino-methyl) phenyl ligand for catalytic activation to stably and efficiently speed up the Mizoroki-Heck reaction, which is employed in synthesizing active pharmaceutical ingredients. SingaCycle-E1 offers higher activity and yields compared with catalysts applied for such reaction. The product is aimed at applications in organic-synthesis reactions in the areas of electronic materials and pharmaceuticals. Japan Chemical Web, 17 Jan 2011 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp)
Verenium, Desmet Ballestra partnership Verenium Corp has joined forces with Desmet Ballestra, an oils, fats and biodiesel technology company, to broaden the application and geographic scope of its vegetable oilspecific enzyme Purifine PLC. Verenium signed with Desmet Ballestra to commercialize the Purifine enzymatic degumming process while offering the enzyme in a package incorporating Desmet Ballestra’s processing equipment and
engineering services. Earlier, Verenium forged a partnership with Alfa Laval to co-market the enzyme. Biodiesel Magazine, Jan 2011, 20 (Website: http://www.biodieselmagazine.com)
NEW PLANTS Albemarle, Petrobras to build HPC plant in Brazil Albemarle Corp, Baton Rouge, and Petroleo Brazileiro SA (Petrobras) have inked a memorandum of understanding to build a global-scale production plant for hydroprocessing catalysts (HPCs) in Santa Cruz, Brazil, to meet rising demand for HPCs in South America. The plant, to be located at the site of Albemarle and Petrobras’ jv, Fabrica Carioca de Catalisadores SA, will support existing production of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts there. Albemarle and Petrobras are also jointly working to develop advanced HPCs. Separately, Albemarle has broken ground on a manufacturing plant for finished catalysts, activators such as methylaluminoxane, and metallocene components, as well as high purity metal organics, in Yeosu, South Korea. The plant will start intermediate commercial production in mid-2011, and enter full production in 2012. Oil and Gas Journal, 17 Jan 2011, 109 (3) (Website: http://www.ogjonline.com)
Comar settles in Baselland infrastructure park Comar Chemicals is to erect a second plant for organometallic catalysts and nanochems in the the new “Infrapark Baselland” in Muttenz, Switzerland, in 2011. The plant will supply customers both inside and outside Europe. Chemie Technik (Heidelberg), 4 Feb 2011 (Website: http://www.chemietechnik.de)
Novozymes expanded Tianjin plant In a RMB Yuan 380 M project, Novozymes has raised the capacity of the enzyme granulation unit of its new plant in Tianjin, China. The plant was started up on 13 Dec 2010 and manufactures enzymes for various sectors, including biorefining, brewing, food, and detergents. At the start of
MARCH 2011
Bidders for Süd-Chemie One Equity Partners (OEP) has reportedly received a number of offers for its 50.41% controlling share in German firm Süd-Chemie. Clariant, Honeywell, Mitsubishi Chemical, and Umicore were identified to be among the potential bidders. A sale agreement is likely to be closed in 1Q 2011, according to sources. Around 75% of Süd-Chemie is owned by individual shareholders and the remainder is publicly traded. SüdChemie is estimated to be worth around €1.5 bn ($2 bn). The company is expected to increase its sales by around 10% to about €1.2 bn in fullyear 2010. Chemical Week, 31 Jan 2011 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Süd-Chemie and Yara conclude 5-year agreement on fertilizer catalysts Süd-Chemie AG and Yara International ASA, of Norway, have concluded a major 5-year framework agreement on catalysts for fertilizer production. Moreover, this long-term supply agreement will cover more than 50% of the requirements of Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco), a jv in which Yara owns 25%. Under the agreement, Süd-Chemie will develop, produce, and deliver all front-end catalysts involved in the production of ammonia as well as applied technical support. Süd-Chemie expects to generate significant revenue of more than $40 M from the agreement during the next five years. Press release from: Süd-Chemie AG, Lenbachplatz 6, 80333 Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 5110 0. Fax: +49 89 5110 375. Website: http://www.sud-chemie.com (10 Jan 2011)
6
ON
C ATA LY S T S
Toda’s new fuel-cell reforming catalyst has no precious metals The new, low-cost reforming catalyst developed by Toda Kogyo does not contain precious metals but is still highly resistant to coking and sulfur poisoning. The material is being targeted at the user segment of residential fuel-cell cogeneration systems. It was developed using the company’s expertise in iron oxide manufacture. The new catalyst contains a porous carrier deposited with nickel nanoparticles. Japan launched in 2009 Ene Farm, a programme to support the full-scale commercialization of ecofriendly residential fuel-cell cogeneration systems. Japan Chemical Web, 24 Jan 2011 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp)
Tokyo Chemical releases efficient, stable palladium catalyst Tokyo Chemical Industry has initiated full-fledged marketing of its new SingaCycle-E1 palladium-complex catalyst, which the company codeveloped with a Singapore-based public research group. The new catalyst contains N-heterocyclic carbine ligand and 2-(N,N-dimethyl amino-methyl) phenyl ligand for catalytic activation to stably and efficiently speed up the Mizoroki-Heck reaction, which is employed in synthesizing active pharmaceutical ingredients. SingaCycle-E1 offers higher activity and yields compared with catalysts applied for such reaction. The product is aimed at applications in organic-synthesis reactions in the areas of electronic materials and pharmaceuticals. Japan Chemical Web, 17 Jan 2011 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp)
Verenium, Desmet Ballestra partnership Verenium Corp has joined forces with Desmet Ballestra, an oils, fats and biodiesel technology company, to broaden the application and geographic scope of its vegetable oilspecific enzyme Purifine PLC. Verenium signed with Desmet Ballestra to commercialize the Purifine enzymatic degumming process while offering the enzyme in a package incorporating Desmet Ballestra’s processing equipment and
engineering services. Earlier, Verenium forged a partnership with Alfa Laval to co-market the enzyme. Biodiesel Magazine, Jan 2011, 20 (Website: http://www.biodieselmagazine.com)
NEW PLANTS Albemarle, Petrobras to build HPC plant in Brazil Albemarle Corp, Baton Rouge, and Petroleo Brazileiro SA (Petrobras) have inked a memorandum of understanding to build a global-scale production plant for hydroprocessing catalysts (HPCs) in Santa Cruz, Brazil, to meet rising demand for HPCs in South America. The plant, to be located at the site of Albemarle and Petrobras’ jv, Fabrica Carioca de Catalisadores SA, will support existing production of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts there. Albemarle and Petrobras are also jointly working to develop advanced HPCs. Separately, Albemarle has broken ground on a manufacturing plant for finished catalysts, activators such as methylaluminoxane, and metallocene components, as well as high purity metal organics, in Yeosu, South Korea. The plant will start intermediate commercial production in mid-2011, and enter full production in 2012. Oil and Gas Journal, 17 Jan 2011, 109 (3) (Website: http://www.ogjonline.com)
Comar settles in Baselland infrastructure park Comar Chemicals is to erect a second plant for organometallic catalysts and nanochems in the the new “Infrapark Baselland” in Muttenz, Switzerland, in 2011. The plant will supply customers both inside and outside Europe. Chemie Technik (Heidelberg), 4 Feb 2011 (Website: http://www.chemietechnik.de)
Novozymes expanded Tianjin plant In a RMB Yuan 380 M project, Novozymes has raised the capacity of the enzyme granulation unit of its new plant in Tianjin, China. The plant was started up on 13 Dec 2010 and manufactures enzymes for various sectors, including biorefining, brewing, food, and detergents. At the start of
MARCH 2011