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WR Grace finally exits bankruptcy
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Abengoa said it will start operations at the ethanol portion of its cellulosic complex in Kansas, US, in the coming weeks. The plant will utilize straw and corn stover sourced from a 50-mile radius. Abengoa has previously inaugurated a biomass-powered 21 MW facility in Kansas and has started commercializing the electricity it generated in 2013. Enzyme prices have declined to 30 cents/gal from $1.50/gal, and total production costs have decreased to approximately $2/gal from $4/gal, according to Abengoa. The company is also currently considering using various feedstocks like municipal solid waste. POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, a jv US-based POET and Dutch company DSM, also intends to start-up its 25 M gal/y ethanol plant in Iowa, US, by end-2Q 2014. Currently, the plant will not immediately produce ethanol at a similar cost as corn-based product. POET-DSM’s plant was designed in a way that exceeds its requirements which was done to avoid possible future modifications. POET-DSM has engineered yeast that consumes both hemicellulose and cellulose to produce ethanol, making sure that small portion of sugar remains unused. Meanwhile, DuPont also plans to begin operations at its 30 M gal/y cellulosic ethanol facility in Iowa by end-2014. Reverdia, a jv established by DSM and RoquetteFrères, is producing 10,000 tonne/y of renewable succinic acid from its facility in Genoa, Italy.
for this facility will be made following a successful market introduction.
Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 24 Feb-2 Mar 2014, 285 (8), (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2014
UOP and Qatar Petroleum to jointly develop natural gas treating technology
Succinity produces first commercial quantities of bio-based succinic acid Succinity GmbH, the jv between Corbion Purac and BASF for the production and commercialization of bio-based succinic acid, has announced the successful start-up of its first commercial production facility. The plant, located at the Corbion Purac site in Montmelo, Spain, has an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes and is producing commercial quantities of bio-based succinic acid for the global market. In addition to this first facility, Succinity plans a second large-scale facility. The final investment decision APRIL 2014
Original Source: Biospace.com, 2014. From BioSpace, 3 Mar 2014 (Website: http://www.biospace.com)
Laboratory for the synthesis and catalysis of new molecules Symrise Scent & Care’s has opened a catalytics laboratory that will utilize heterogeneous catalysis technology for the development and optimization of chemical process in aroma molecules production. Catalyst screening, long-term stability tests and process optimization studies would be conducted through its new catalyst testing units. Original Source: HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Nov-Dec 2013, 8 (6), 7 (Website: http://hpctoday.teknoscienze.com) © Teknoscienze Srl 2013
Polyurethane catalysts Umicore has developed catalysts based on zinc and bismuth to replace tin- and mercury-based catalyst used in the production of polyurethanes. The products are distributed by FINCO srl under the brand name Valikat in Italy. These catalysts satisfy the customer’s demand for sustainable, safe and environmentally friendly solution for both aliphatic and aromatic isocyanates. Original Source: Pitture e Vernici - European Coatings, Jan-Feb 2014, 90 (1), 62 (Website: http://www.pittureevernici.it)
UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, has signed a joint R&D agreement with Qatar Petroleum (QP) to develop new ways to cost effectively treat natural gas for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Under the agreement, the two companies will work together to develop more efficient technologies to remove contaminants from natural gas, so that it can be liquefied for transportation by ship and other means. UOP is a leader in natural gas treating technologies, which are currently used in QP’s LNG and gas processing facilities. QP’s jv companies, Qatargas and RasGas, have a combined LNG production
capacity of 77 M tonne/y, making Qatar the world’s largest producer and exporter of LNG. Original Source: Honeywell, 30 Jan 2014, (Website: http://honeywell.com/) © Honeywell International Inc 2014. Original Source: Honeywell, 2014. Found on PR Newswire, 30 Jan 2014, (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 11 Feb 2014, 172, (Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2014
Versalis and Elevance partners in “green” innovation Elevance Renewable Sciences and Versalis have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop and scale new catalysts. Under their agreement, the design and construction of the first worldscale ethylene metathesis-based production at the Versalis site in Porto Marghera, Italy, that will use renewable oils will be evaluated by both companies. The future production will serve the detergents and cleaners, personal care products, oilfield chemicals and bio-lubricants markets. Original Source: macplas e-news, 12 Feb 2014, (183), (Website: http://www.macplas.it) © Promaplast srl 2014. Original Source: Elevance Renewable Sciences, 2014. Found on SpecialChem Cosmetics and Personal Care Innovation and Solutions, 7 Feb 2014, (Website: http://www.specialchem4cosmetics.com). Original Source: BioSpace.com, 2014. From Biospace, 6 Feb 2014, (Website: http://www.biospace.com). Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 17 Feb 2014, (665), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie) (in French) © ETAI Information 2014
WR Grace finally exits bankruptcy After about 13 years, WR Grace & Co, a speciality chemicals company, has finally exited bankruptcy. In Oct 2013, WR Grace paid $500 M for the polypropylene licensing and catalyst business of Dow Chemical Co. WR Grace reorganized its company through establishing two independent trusts to compensate the asbestos personal injury claimants and property owners. Over $4 bn in cash, stock warrants, and other financial measures were included in the trusts. The company has 6500 employees worldwide and recorded sales of $3.2 bn in 2012. Original Source: Plastics News, 5 Feb 2014, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2014
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Abengoa said it will start operations at the ethanol portion of its cellulosic complex in Kansas, US, in the coming weeks. The plant will utilize straw and corn stover sourced from a 50-mile radius. Abengoa has previously inaugurated a biomass-powered 21 MW facility in Kansas and has started commercializing the electricity it generated in 2013. Enzyme prices have declined to 30 cents/gal from $1.50/gal, and total production costs have decreased to approximately $2/gal from $4/gal, according to Abengoa. The company is also currently considering using various feedstocks like municipal solid waste. POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, a jv US-based POET and Dutch company DSM, also intends to start-up its 25 M gal/y ethanol plant in Iowa, US, by end-2Q 2014. Currently, the plant will not immediately produce ethanol at a similar cost as corn-based product. POET-DSM’s plant was designed in a way that exceeds its requirements which was done to avoid possible future modifications. POET-DSM has engineered yeast that consumes both hemicellulose and cellulose to produce ethanol, making sure that small portion of sugar remains unused. Meanwhile, DuPont also plans to begin operations at its 30 M gal/y cellulosic ethanol facility in Iowa by end-2014. Reverdia, a jv established by DSM and RoquetteFrères, is producing 10,000 tonne/y of renewable succinic acid from its facility in Genoa, Italy.
for this facility will be made following a successful market introduction.
Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 24 Feb-2 Mar 2014, 285 (8), (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2014
UOP and Qatar Petroleum to jointly develop natural gas treating technology
Succinity produces first commercial quantities of bio-based succinic acid Succinity GmbH, the jv between Corbion Purac and BASF for the production and commercialization of bio-based succinic acid, has announced the successful start-up of its first commercial production facility. The plant, located at the Corbion Purac site in Montmelo, Spain, has an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes and is producing commercial quantities of bio-based succinic acid for the global market. In addition to this first facility, Succinity plans a second large-scale facility. The final investment decision APRIL 2014
Original Source: Biospace.com, 2014. From BioSpace, 3 Mar 2014 (Website: http://www.biospace.com)
Laboratory for the synthesis and catalysis of new molecules Symrise Scent & Care’s has opened a catalytics laboratory that will utilize heterogeneous catalysis technology for the development and optimization of chemical process in aroma molecules production. Catalyst screening, long-term stability tests and process optimization studies would be conducted through its new catalyst testing units. Original Source: HPC, Household and Personal Care Today, Nov-Dec 2013, 8 (6), 7 (Website: http://hpctoday.teknoscienze.com) © Teknoscienze Srl 2013
Polyurethane catalysts Umicore has developed catalysts based on zinc and bismuth to replace tin- and mercury-based catalyst used in the production of polyurethanes. The products are distributed by FINCO srl under the brand name Valikat in Italy. These catalysts satisfy the customer’s demand for sustainable, safe and environmentally friendly solution for both aliphatic and aromatic isocyanates. Original Source: Pitture e Vernici - European Coatings, Jan-Feb 2014, 90 (1), 62 (Website: http://www.pittureevernici.it)
UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, has signed a joint R&D agreement with Qatar Petroleum (QP) to develop new ways to cost effectively treat natural gas for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Under the agreement, the two companies will work together to develop more efficient technologies to remove contaminants from natural gas, so that it can be liquefied for transportation by ship and other means. UOP is a leader in natural gas treating technologies, which are currently used in QP’s LNG and gas processing facilities. QP’s jv companies, Qatargas and RasGas, have a combined LNG production
capacity of 77 M tonne/y, making Qatar the world’s largest producer and exporter of LNG. Original Source: Honeywell, 30 Jan 2014, (Website: http://honeywell.com/) © Honeywell International Inc 2014. Original Source: Honeywell, 2014. Found on PR Newswire, 30 Jan 2014, (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 11 Feb 2014, 172, (Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2014
Versalis and Elevance partners in “green” innovation Elevance Renewable Sciences and Versalis have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop and scale new catalysts. Under their agreement, the design and construction of the first worldscale ethylene metathesis-based production at the Versalis site in Porto Marghera, Italy, that will use renewable oils will be evaluated by both companies. The future production will serve the detergents and cleaners, personal care products, oilfield chemicals and bio-lubricants markets. Original Source: macplas e-news, 12 Feb 2014, (183), (Website: http://www.macplas.it) © Promaplast srl 2014. Original Source: Elevance Renewable Sciences, 2014. Found on SpecialChem Cosmetics and Personal Care Innovation and Solutions, 7 Feb 2014, (Website: http://www.specialchem4cosmetics.com). Original Source: BioSpace.com, 2014. From Biospace, 6 Feb 2014, (Website: http://www.biospace.com). Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 17 Feb 2014, (665), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie) (in French) © ETAI Information 2014
WR Grace finally exits bankruptcy After about 13 years, WR Grace & Co, a speciality chemicals company, has finally exited bankruptcy. In Oct 2013, WR Grace paid $500 M for the polypropylene licensing and catalyst business of Dow Chemical Co. WR Grace reorganized its company through establishing two independent trusts to compensate the asbestos personal injury claimants and property owners. Over $4 bn in cash, stock warrants, and other financial measures were included in the trusts. The company has 6500 employees worldwide and recorded sales of $3.2 bn in 2012. Original Source: Plastics News, 5 Feb 2014, (Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2014
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