biofuels 17
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biofuels 17TRANSCRIPT
the production of second generationethanol by 2010.
Press release from: Novozymes A/S, Krogshojvej 36,2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark. Tel: +45 4446 0000. Fax:+45 4446 9999. E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.novozymes.com (24 Mar 2009)& ICIS Chemical Business, 30 Mar 2009, 10 & ChimiePharma Hebdo, 30 Mar 2009, (460), 8 (in French) &NP Investor, 24 Mar 2009 (Website:http://www.npinvestor.dk/) (in Danish)
BASF and Dow open HPPO plant
BASF and Dow Chemical havebrought online their hydrogenperoxide-to-propylene oxide (HPPO)jv plant at Antwerp, Belgium. The50:50 jv unit, which features a jointly-developed novel HPPO technology,has the capacity to produce 300,000tonne/y of propylene oxide.
Chemical Week, 23 Mar 2009 (Website:http://www.chemweek.com) & Chemical andEngineering News, 16 Mar 2009, 87 (11), 21
NEWTECHNOLOGY
The first lead-free replacement forLindlar catalysts
BASF Catalysts has developed twolead-free, palladium-based catalystsusing its proprietary NanoSelecttechnology that supports commercial-scale production of heterogeneouscatalysts containing unimodal nano-sized metal crystallites. Unlike Lindlarcatalysts, which are widely used atpresent in selective hydrogenationreactions, NanoSelect catalysts LF100 and LF 200 contain no leadimpurities, allowing their use in alkyneto alkene hydrogenation reactions forproducts that have zero tolerance forlead impurities such as APIs. Inaddition, they only contain one-tenthof the palladium level found in Lindlarcatalysts, resulting in cost savings.
Speciality Chemicals, Mar 2009, 29 (2), 16-17
Argonne focuses efforts on newplatinum-based catalyst
Argonne National Laboratory in the US(part of the Department of Energy) hasidentified new platinum-based catalystsfor the dehydrogenation of propane topropylene. The current endothermicindustrial process is expensive and notvery environmentally-friendly. A new
exothermic oxidative dehydrogenationprocess will be much greener.
Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 23 Mar 2009, (459), 4 (inFrench)
Successful Arkema & hte researchproject in converting glycerol toacrolein and acrylic acid
On 12 Mar 2009, Arkema and hte AG,the high throughput experimentationcompany, have announced thesuccessful conclusion of a researchcollaboration on catalysis for glycerolto acrolein and acrylic acidconversion. The objective of theproject initiated by Arkema consistedof providing performance screeningfor a variety of new suitable catalystsfor conversion reactions of glycerol, abiodiesel by-product derived frombiomass, to acrolein and acrylic acid.Arkema, which has already registereda number of patents in this field, optedfor the services of hte’s laboratories inHeidelberg which use a proprietaryparallel testing technology toaccelerate this process of explorationand evaluation, thus movinginteresting catalysts more quickly fromexperimentation to potentialcommercialisation.
Press release from: Arkema, 420, rue d’Estienned’Orves, F-92705 Colombes, France. Tel: +33 1 49008080. Fax: +33 1 4900 8396. Website:http://www.arkema.com (12 Mar 2009) & ChimiePharma Hebdo, 23 Mar 2009, (459), 9 (in French)
Green polymers
DSM and the French starch and starch-derivatives company ROQUETTEconfirmed during the international LifeSciences Forum, BioVision, that its bio-based succinic acid demonstrationplant in Lestrem (France) will beoperational by the end of 2009. Thepilot scale production has proven thatthis biological route for producingsuccinic acid can be commerciallyviable. The first tests for customers arealready underway with this ‘green’succinic acid. For the first time succinicacid, a chemical building block used inthe manufacture of polymers, resins,food, and pharmaceuticals amongother products, will be produced usingbiological means.
Meuse-Rhine Journal, 15 Mar 2009, (202)(Wadsworth & Wadsworth Assoc, PO Box 42, NL-6245 ZG, Eijsden, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 434093719. Fax: +31 43 4098899. Website:http://www.meuse-rhine-journal.com)
Second-generation biofuels are closerthan you think
Novozymes has created a newproduct family that can hydrolyzecellulosic feedstock, the raw materialof second-generation biofuelproduction. Studies indicate that withcellulosic ethanol as a majorcontributor, 25% of the globalconsumption of gasoline can bereplaced by 2030. Novozymes’ newproduct family is made up of acellulase preparation specificallydesigned to have increased levels ofbeta-glucosidase activity and a uniqueperformance booster for completecellulose hydrolysis as well as ahemicellulase for liberation ofhemicellulose, enabling higherethanol yields. Novozymes haspromised the biofuel industry thatenzymatic solutions for second-generation bioethanol will be ready by2010.
BioTimes (Novozymes’ Enzyme e-zine), Mar 2009, 4-5(Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd,Denmark. Tel: +45 8824 9999. Fax: +45 8824 9998.Website: http://wwww.novozymes.com/biotimes)
Efficient method for lignin removalunveiled
The new pre-treatment process forcellulosic ethanol productiondeveloped by Nippon Oil canefficiently remove lignin from biomassat low temperatures with the use of aspeciality gas (undisclosed – Ed). Inaddition, the new method is said toresult in lesser environmental effectscompared with existing pre-treatmentprocesses, including thermaltreatment and the utilization of sulfuricacid. Lignin needs to be removedfrom biomass material before it canbe processed further for ethanolproduction. Meanwhile, Nippon Oilhas partnered with seven other firmsto develop by 2015 a 200,000 klitre/ybioethanol production technology at acost of Yen 40/litre (42 cents/litre).
Japan Chemical Week, 12 Mar 2009, 50 (2506), 5
European project for biofuels fromcellulose
The Optfuel consortium led byVolkswagen and joined by IFP and 10industrial companies and publicbodies aims to develop secondgeneration biofuels using the biomass
6 MAY 2009
F O C U S O N C A T A L Y S T S