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US market for near-net-shape ceramic products
F O C U S won Department of Energy funding for research into producing ethanol and other chemicals from biomass. The $80 M in funding will be matched by industry partners. DuPont and several partners will get $18.3 M to develop a biorefinery that converts corn into ethanol and chemicals such as 1,3propanediol. Ethanol producer High Plains Corp and enzyme company Novozymes will receive $17 M to develop a similar plant for converting waste such as corn stover into ethanol and high-protein feed. Cargill and Codexis will develop a portfolio of products based on 3-hydroxypropionic acid made by carbohydrate fermentation. Cargill will also work with Shell and enzymes producer Iogen on a pilot-scale biorefinery. Chemical and Engineering News, 4 Nov 2002, 80 (44), 11
Nanomaterials: a big market potential Materials containing nanoparticles are already available in commercial products. Such products promise a multi-billion dollar market to established chemical companies investing in nanomaterials production and to the many start-up companies now entering the field to meet the expected demand. The nanomaterials business comprises three lines: nanoclays, nanoscale oxides and metals, and carbon nanotubes. The nanomaterials market is expected to grow 12.8%/y to $900 M by 2005, with silica accounting for 43.9%, alumina 18.5%, metals 14.9%, and titania 6.2%. The largest applications at present are chemical mechanical planarization, magnetic recording tapes, sunscreens, auto catalyst supports, biolabelling, electroconductive coatings, and optical fibres. The market is dominated by simple metal oxides. Markets are opening up for cerium and zirconium oxides as well as for mixed oxides. Chemical Week, 16 Oct 2002, 164 (41), 17-18,20-21
US market for near-net-shape ceramic products The US market for near-net-shape ceramic products is projected to climb from an estimated $2.4 bn in 2001 to $3.1 bn by 2006. Electrical ceramics products based on near-net-shape
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processes account for 65% of the total, while chemical products such as catalytic supports and filters account for 22%. The remaining 13% share is represented by ceramic products such as engine parts, cutting tools, wear parts, and heat exchangers. A table shows US market value of ceramic products fabricated using near-netshape processes. Industrial Ceramics, May-Aug 2002, 22 (2), 138
Fuel cell market for large-scale use to reach $642 M The current fuel cell market for largescale application in North America is pegged at about $251 M and is forecast to grow by 20.7%/y to reach $642 M by 2007, based on a report from Business Communications Co Inc. The industry, which comprises over 1000 companies worldwide, is counting on new proton exchange membrane fuel cells and solid oxide fuel cells to make fuel cells “the” alternative power source. Transportation applications are expected to account for 44% of fuel cells’ value for large applications by 2007.
COMPANY NEWS Air Products and JM unite to market monolith catalysts Air Products and Chemicals Inc has announced that a Marketing Agreement has been signed with Johnson Matthey to commercialize its proprietary monolith catalyst-based process technology: the Monolith Loop Reactor (MLR). The technology has been developed specifically for the speciality chemicals market. Air Products has developed a unique and economical process solution that brings many of the advantages of fixed bed catalytic processes to the smaller-scale chemical producer. The combination of the attributes and robustness of the MLR technology, along with the catalyst capabilities of JM, provides a unique new technology package for the chemical manufacturer. Press release from Johnson Matthey, 2-4 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, London SW1Y 5BQ, UK. Tel: +44 20 7269 8400. Fax: +44 20 7269 8433. Website: http://www.matthey.com (15 Nov 2002)
Hydrocarbon Processing, Oct 2002, 81 (10), 27
Nanotechnology at BASF: a big future for small particles Austria proposes system for leasing chemicals Proposals for chemical companies to lease certain products, such as catalysts and chlorinated solvents, to customers and making the chemical companies responsible for the recovery of the substances after use, has been announced by the environment ministry in Austria. Subsidies could be offered to companies if they adopt the system. A pilot leasing scheme is to begin shortly. Chemical industry customers could reduce costs by 10-15% as they would avoid the need for a high-level of expertise in safe chemicals handling. If the scheme is introduced in Austria, the 3900 companies which currently consume 153,000 tonne/y chemicals could reduce consumption to around 100,000 tonne/y. The chemicals leasing scheme is to be discussed by the OECD in Paris during Nov 2003. Chemical Week, 20-27 Nov 2002, 164 (46), 18
BASF is using nanotechnology to improve its existing range of products and services for customers, to create new products, and to develop existing ones. It is conducting research into the characterization and production of new nanomaterials. These materials are usually integrated into new products to improve their performance profile or create completely new properties. The technology is nothing new to BASF – it has been making products based on nanoparticles and nanostructures for decades. Pigments are among the best-known examples. Aqueous polymer dispersions also contain nanometre-sized particles. Press release from BASF AG, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 621 600. Fax: +49 621 6020129. Website: http://www.basf-ag.de (31 Oct 2002)
Catalytica 3Q 2002: Financial highlights For 3Q 2002 (ends 30 Sep 2002) Catalytica Energy Systems Inc has
JANUARY 2003
Nanomaterials: a big market potential Materials containing nanoparticles are already available in commercial products. Such products promise a multi-billion dollar market to established chemical companies investing in nanomaterials production and to the many start-up companies now entering the field to meet the expected demand. The nanomaterials business comprises three lines: nanoclays, nanoscale oxides and metals, and carbon nanotubes. The nanomaterials market is expected to grow 12.8%/y to $900 M by 2005, with silica accounting for 43.9%, alumina 18.5%, metals 14.9%, and titania 6.2%. The largest applications at present are chemical mechanical planarization, magnetic recording tapes, sunscreens, auto catalyst supports, biolabelling, electroconductive coatings, and optical fibres. The market is dominated by simple metal oxides. Markets are opening up for cerium and zirconium oxides as well as for mixed oxides. Chemical Week, 16 Oct 2002, 164 (41), 17-18,20-21
US market for near-net-shape ceramic products The US market for near-net-shape ceramic products is projected to climb from an estimated $2.4 bn in 2001 to $3.1 bn by 2006. Electrical ceramics products based on near-net-shape
2
O N
C ATA LY S T S
processes account for 65% of the total, while chemical products such as catalytic supports and filters account for 22%. The remaining 13% share is represented by ceramic products such as engine parts, cutting tools, wear parts, and heat exchangers. A table shows US market value of ceramic products fabricated using near-netshape processes. Industrial Ceramics, May-Aug 2002, 22 (2), 138
Fuel cell market for large-scale use to reach $642 M The current fuel cell market for largescale application in North America is pegged at about $251 M and is forecast to grow by 20.7%/y to reach $642 M by 2007, based on a report from Business Communications Co Inc. The industry, which comprises over 1000 companies worldwide, is counting on new proton exchange membrane fuel cells and solid oxide fuel cells to make fuel cells “the” alternative power source. Transportation applications are expected to account for 44% of fuel cells’ value for large applications by 2007.
COMPANY NEWS Air Products and JM unite to market monolith catalysts Air Products and Chemicals Inc has announced that a Marketing Agreement has been signed with Johnson Matthey to commercialize its proprietary monolith catalyst-based process technology: the Monolith Loop Reactor (MLR). The technology has been developed specifically for the speciality chemicals market. Air Products has developed a unique and economical process solution that brings many of the advantages of fixed bed catalytic processes to the smaller-scale chemical producer. The combination of the attributes and robustness of the MLR technology, along with the catalyst capabilities of JM, provides a unique new technology package for the chemical manufacturer. Press release from Johnson Matthey, 2-4 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, London SW1Y 5BQ, UK. Tel: +44 20 7269 8400. Fax: +44 20 7269 8433. Website: http://www.matthey.com (15 Nov 2002)
Hydrocarbon Processing, Oct 2002, 81 (10), 27
Nanotechnology at BASF: a big future for small particles Austria proposes system for leasing chemicals Proposals for chemical companies to lease certain products, such as catalysts and chlorinated solvents, to customers and making the chemical companies responsible for the recovery of the substances after use, has been announced by the environment ministry in Austria. Subsidies could be offered to companies if they adopt the system. A pilot leasing scheme is to begin shortly. Chemical industry customers could reduce costs by 10-15% as they would avoid the need for a high-level of expertise in safe chemicals handling. If the scheme is introduced in Austria, the 3900 companies which currently consume 153,000 tonne/y chemicals could reduce consumption to around 100,000 tonne/y. The chemicals leasing scheme is to be discussed by the OECD in Paris during Nov 2003. Chemical Week, 20-27 Nov 2002, 164 (46), 18
BASF is using nanotechnology to improve its existing range of products and services for customers, to create new products, and to develop existing ones. It is conducting research into the characterization and production of new nanomaterials. These materials are usually integrated into new products to improve their performance profile or create completely new properties. The technology is nothing new to BASF – it has been making products based on nanoparticles and nanostructures for decades. Pigments are among the best-known examples. Aqueous polymer dispersions also contain nanometre-sized particles. Press release from BASF AG, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 621 600. Fax: +49 621 6020129. Website: http://www.basf-ag.de (31 Oct 2002)
Catalytica 3Q 2002: Financial highlights For 3Q 2002 (ends 30 Sep 2002) Catalytica Energy Systems Inc has
JANUARY 2003