developed EnCat, a polyureaencapsulation technology forcatalysts. It is also producing theQuadrapure range of scavengers forremoving metals.

Chemical Market Reporter, 3 Oct 2005 (Website:http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)

COMPANYNEWS

Albemarle, hte, sign collaborationagreement

Albemarle Corp, and hteAktiengesellschaft (hte) have enteredinto a multi-year collaborationagreement. Under the terms of thisagreement, hte will provide Albemarlewith high throughput experimentationsolutions to enhance innovation in thefield of refinery catalysis, including thesupply of hardware and softwaretechnologies and research services.This collaboration agreement extendsthe work that Albemarle and hte haveundertaken together in the past twoyears to apply hte’s proprietarytechnologies and methods totechnically challenging researchtopics in refinery catalysis.

Press release from: Albemarle Corp, 330 South FourthStreet, PO Box 1335, Richmond, VA 23210, USA. Tel:+1 804 788 6000. Fax: +1 804 388 7686. Website:http://www.albemarle.com (17 Oct 2005) & ChemicalMarket Reporter, 24 Oct 2005 (Website:http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemicaland Engineering News, 24 Oct 2005, 83 (43), 6-8(Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & ChimiePharma Hebdo, 24 Oct 2005, (315), 11 (in French)

BASF expanding catalyst business inAsia

By the end of 2005, BASF will delivera refinery catalyst for off-gascollection from fluid catalytic crackingequipment to a customer in Japan. Ithas already supplied a similar order inChina. Asian customers have rapidlyemployed new styrene catalysts, S-36and S-38, commercialised by BASF atthe end of 2004. Orders are alsobeing received for the company’snitrogen oxides decompositioncatalysts. Catalysts are beingdeveloped for fuel cells in bothautomotive and industrial applications.

Japan Chemical Week, 15 Sep 2005, 46 (2334), 12

Bayer Antwerp and Shell Internationalreach licensing agreement

Bayer Antwerp NV and ShellInternational Research MaatschappijBV’s licensing agreement will enableShell to employ Double Metal Cyanide(DMC) technology to generatepolyether polyols utilising Shell’sprocess design under Bayer’s Impactpatents. The technology involves amethod for using DMCs as catalystsfor polyoxyalkylation. The agreementalso covers a continuous processgenerating long chain polyetherpolyols, which are used as baseproducts for flexible polyurethaneslabstock foams. The value of thelicensing agreement was not revealed.

Hydrocarbon Processing, Sep 2005, 84 (9), 31

CCI developing series of catalysts formaking sulfur-free fuels

Catalyst and Chemicals Industries isJapan’s largest producer of oil refiningand petrochemical catalysts. It isfocusing on high value-addedproducts such as ultra deepdesulphurization catalysts. New fluidcracking catalysts are also beingdeveloped in anticipation of increaseddemand because of greater propyleneproduction. In 2006, the company willbegin recycling molybdenum,tungsten, and other raw materials forwhich prices are rising. By 2010,sales by Catalyst and ChemicalsIndustries are to be doubled underScenario 2010, the medium-termbusiness plan of its parent company,JGC Corp. Sales of catalysts aretargeted to double to Yen 20 bn/y.Currently, 40% of sales are exportsand production facilities are to beestablished overseas in South EastAsia and China, where new oilrefineries are being built.

Japan Chemical Week, 15 Sep 2005, 46 (2334), 7

Degussa sends out warnings

Degussa has warned that it is taking acharge of €830 M on its peroxygenchemicals; exclusive synthesis andcatalysts; and building blocksbusiness units. Overcapacity and stiffcompetition in the fine chemicalssector has led the company toincrease its reorganisation activities,resulting in an extra €20 M of non-operating costs. For 2004 and 2005,

fine chemicals restructuring costs areexpected to total €100 M. For 2005,Degussa is expecting to report netlosses of €450 M, compared to a netprofit of €298 M for 2004.

European Chemical News, 10 Oct 2005, 83 (2166), 6& Chemical Week, 12 Oct 2005, 167 (34) (Website:http://www.chemweek.com)

Dow announces the sale of its 50%interest in UOP

The Dow Chemical Co announcedthat its wholly-owned subsidiary,Union Carbide Corp, has agreed tothe sale of its indirect 50% interest inUOP LLC to Honeywell. Honeywellcurrently owns the remaining 50%interest in UOP. The sale price is$825 M plus or minus 50% of the netcash in the venture at closing. Thetransaction, which is subject toregulatory review, is expected to closein 4Q 2005. Despite the success ofthe jv with Honeywell, UOP is notconsidered strategic to DowChemical’s future growth agenda.UOP has been a jv between UCC andHoneywell since Aug 1988.

Press release from: The Dow Chemical Co, 2030, DowCenter, Midland, MI 48674, USA. Tel: +1 989 636 1463.Fax: +1 989 636 1830. Website: http://www.dow.com (3 Oct 2005) & Chemical and Engineering News, 10 Oct2005, 83 (41), 10 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)& Chemical Market Reporter, 10-16 Oct 2005 (Website:http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & ChemicalWeek, 12 Oct 2005, 167 (34) (Website:http://www.chemweek.com) & Handelsblatt Wirtschafts-und Finanzzeitung, 4 Oct 2005, 40 (191), 16 (in German)

Haldor Topsoe A/S: promoting medium-temperature CO shift catalysts

The catalyst operations of HaldorTopsoe A/S are being expandedglobally. Strong growth in Korea hasmeant that sales and marketing therehave been transferred to head officefrom the Tokyo Branch Office ofHaldor Topsoe International. Thecompany is promoting its catalysts forproduction of synthesis gas andmedium-temperature CO shiftcatalysts, together with new low-temperature CO shift catalysts it hasdeveloped which significantly reducemethanol as a by-product. Demandfor TK-576, a new catalyst for ultradeep desulfurisation of gas oil, isincreasing in the west and gainingground in Japan. There is steadygrowth in demand for sulfuric acidcatalysts based on cesium.

Japan Chemical Week, 15 Sep 2005, 46 (2334), 8

DECEMBER 2005 3

F O C U S O N C A T A L Y S T S