F O C U S
MARKETS AND BUSINESS World catalysts to 2012 (Study # 2407) Global catalyst demand will expand by 6% annually through 2012. Polymerization catalysts will grow the fastest, based on rapid expansion in polymer capacity in developing regions and a shift toward higher cost/more efficient catalysts. This study analyzes the $12 bn world catalyst industry, with forecasts for 2012 and 2017 by materials, products, markets, and region. This 428-page study also considers environmental factors, industry structure, and market share, profiling 35 industry players. $5900. Freedonia Group, 767 Beta Drive, Cleveland, OH 44143. E-mail:
[email protected]. Tel: +1 440 684 9600. Fax: +1 440 684 0484
Catalysis in biofuels applications A 115-page report summarising recent progress. Covers liquid biofuels made from oils and fats, made by direct liquefaction of biomass, and made by catalytic gasification of biomass. The Catalyst Group, PO Box 680 Spring House, PA 19477. Tel: +1 215 628 4447. Fax: +1 215 628 2267. Website: http://www.catalystgrp.com
FAO highlights region’s biofuel output potential The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported in its ‘State of Food and Agriculture 2008’ publication that Latin America and Africa account for the bulk of the world’s land that can be used to boost the production of raw materials for biofuels. The available land globally would reach 250-800 M hectares. BNAmericas Oil & Gas News, 7 Oct 2008 (Business News Americas Ltda, Website: http://www.bnamericas.com)
UOP joins aviation and academic leaders to accelerate development and availability of sustainable biofuels UOP LLC, announced on 25 Sep 2008 that it has joined a group of air carriers and Boeing to accelerate the development and commercialization
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of sustainable new aviation fuels. With support and advice from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group makes commercial aviation the first global transportation sector to voluntarily drive verifiable sustainability practices into its fuel supply chain. The group’s charter is to enable the commercial use of renewable fuel sources that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while lessening commercial aviation’s exposure to oil price volatility and dependence on fossil fuels. Press release from: Honeywell International Inc, 101 Columbia Road, Morristown, NJ, USA. Tel: +1 973 4552000. Fax: +1 973 455 4807. Website: http://www.honeywell.com (25 Sep 2008)
ACENET to fund 6 transnational research projects in 8 countries ACENET, the Applied Catalysis European Network, launched in 2004, has announced the €4.5 M funding of 6 projects which include the conversion of solid biomass to renewable fuels. Press release from: the ACENET Secretariat, The Hague, The Netherlands. Tel: +1 31 (0)70 344 0835. Fax: +1 (0)70 344 0787. E-mail:
[email protected]
COMPANY NEWS Accelergy develops cleaner fuels and chemicals using coal Accelergy Corp announced the launch of its commercial integrated coal-toliquids (ICTL) fuels programme aimed at producing cleaner fuels and chemical products from abundant coal resources. With an estimated 1 trillion tons of coal reserves worldwide, experts believe coal-to-liquids could be an important alternative fuel source in coming years. Companies such as South Africa’s Sasol already generate more than $10 bn in annual revenues by converting coal into liquid fuels and chemicals. Historically, the principal issues preventing broader global adoption of CTL have been production efficiency and environmental impact. Accelergy applied its proprietary advanced R&D
methods and domain expertise to find solutions to both problems. Press release from: Accelergy Corp, 111 N Market Street, Suite 910, San Jose, CA 95113, USA. Tel: +1 408 886 9580. Fax: +1 408 886 9581. Website: http://www.accelergy.com (14 Oct 2008)
Albemarle reports 3Q 2008 results Albemarle Corp reported 3Q ended Sep 2008 net income of $56.2 M, or 61 cts/share (net income of $59.1 M, or 61 cts/share, for 3Q ended Sep 2007). The company reported net sales in 3Q 2008 totalling $660.5 M ($584 M in 3Q 2007). Net income for nine months ended Sep 2008 was $181.1 M, or $1.95/share (net income of $171.1 M, or $1.76/share, for nine months ended Sep 2007). Net sales for nine months of 2008 were $1.95 bn (+12% over $1.74 bn for nine months of 2007). Polymer Additives delivered record net sales for 3Q 2008 of $261.7 M, a 12% increase versus 3Q 2007. Catalysts generated net sales for 3Q 2008 of $231.6 M, a 7% increase versus 3Q 2007 due primarily to improved pricing and favourable foreign currency exchange rates. Fine Chemicals delivered record net sales for 3Q 2008 of $167.2 M, a 24% increase versus 3Q 2007. R&D expenses were $17.392 M during 3Q 2008 ($15.422 M in 3Q 2007) and $51.785 M during nine months of 2008 ($46.057 M in nine months of 2007). Albemarle Corp 3Q and nine months of 2008 results, 27 Oct 2008 (Albemarle Corp, 330, South Fourth Street, PO Box 1335, Richmond, VA 23210, USA. Tel: +1 804 788 6000. Fax: +1 804 388 7686. Website: http://www.albemarle.com)
Albemarle launches new ActivCat technology Albemarle Corp has created a revolutionary new activator/single-site catalyst programme that delivers twice the typical productivity of conventional products. The proprietary new activator, known as ActivCat, is the direct result of years of scientific studies on the fundamentals of activation and a response to the market demands for improved cost-inuse of single-site catalyst systems. Based on aluminoxane co-catalysts, customer catalyst systems produced and optimised at Albemarle with ActivCat are suited for both polyethylene and polypropylene resin
DECEMBER 2008