uop forms renewable energy and chemicals unit

with land filling spent catalyst. Thework will be performed in 2007 fordelivery in 2008. This purchase ordermarks the third layer of SCR catalystthat SCR-Tech has been engaged toregenerate for this particular facility.

Press release from: Catalytica Energy Systems Inc,Charlotte, NC, USA. Website:http://www.CatalyticaEnergy.com (28 Nov 2006)

Syngenta and Diversa agree on newR&D partnership to discover enzymesfor biofuels

Syngenta and Diversa Corp announceda new 10 year R&D partnershipfocused on the discovery anddevelopment of a range of novelenzymes to convert pre-treatedcellulosic biomass economically tomixed sugars - a critical step in theprocess of biofuel production. Thenew agreement allows Diversa toindependently develop andcommercialise fermentation-basedenzyme combinations from itsproprietary platform. Syngenta willhave exclusive access to enzymesfrom Diversa’s platform to express inplants for enhanced cost-effectiveproduction. Under the terms of thenew agreement, which replaces thecompanies’ prior agreement,Syngenta will pay Diversa $16 M ofguaranteed research funding in thefirst two years. Diversa is eligible toreceive certain milestone and royaltypayments aligned to productdevelopment success. Syngenta is aworld leading agribusiness committedto sustainable agriculture throughinnovative research and technology.

Press release from: Diversa Corp, 4955 DirectorsPlace, San Diego, CA 92121-1609, USA. Tel: +1 858526 5000. Fax: +1 858 526 5551. E-mail:information@diversa.com. Website:http://www.diversa.com (8 Jan 2007)

UOP forms Renewable Energy andChemicals unit

UOP has established RenewableEnergy and Chemicals, a newbusiness unit that will concentrate onnew technology for processingrenewable energy sources in existingand new petroleum refineries. UOP,which is a unit of Des Plaines, IL,USA-based Honeywell, is engaged inprocess technology, catalyst, andconsulting business.

Chemistry and Industry (London), 20 Nov 2006, (22),14

NEW PLANTSFischer-Tropsch honoured again

Engineers in Freiburg, Germany, havecome up with a process that usesbiomass to make synthetic fuel andachieve 4000 litres of diesel-equivalent per hectare. Thisrepresents strong competition fortraditional eco-fuels such as ethanol,vegetable oil, and biodiesel.“Biomass-to-liquid” has so far beenregarded as a technology of thefuture. This will soon change,because at Choren Industries inFreiburg the first commercial plant formaking fuels from biomass is beingerected. A series of processesconverts the biomass into synthesisgas. To convert this into fuel, thepeople at Freiburg have turned to theFischer-Tropsch process. The newplant will come onstream in autumn2007 with capacity of 15,000 tonne/y.Choren is already planning for thenext generation. Five standard plantswill each supply 200,000 tonne/y. Thefirst plant will go onstream in 2009.

Chemische Rundschau, 21 Nov 2006, (11), 21-22 (inGerman)

Progress on hydrogen peroxide basedprocess to make PO

Construction has started in Sep 2006on the jv hydrogen peroxide, propyleneoxide (HPPO) manufacturing facilitybetween BASF AG and DowChemical Co. The HPPO plant issituated on BASF AG’s site inAntwerp, Belgium, and has a capacityof 300,000 tonne/y. It is scheduled tobe commissioned in early 2008, whichis around the same time that a100,000 tonne/y propylene oxide plantin South Korea from Degussa AG andUhde Gmbh is slated for startup. Asecond new facility at the Antwerpsite, with a capacity of 230,000tonne/y, will supply the hydrogenperoxide feedstock for the BASF/DowHPPO plant.

Chemical Engineering (New York), Nov 2006, 113(12), 19

New ethylene recovery unit starts up inChina

The Sinopec Maoming PetrochemicalCo cracker in Maoming, Guangdong,

China, is the first grassroots plant touse an ethylene recovery technologyto produce on-specification, polymer-grade ethylene. The plant, which wascommissioned in Sep 2006, was co-developed by ABB Lummus Global ofBloomfield, NJ, USA, and the ChinaPetroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec).The plant also uses the crackingheater technology from ABB LummusGlobal/Sinopec. The ethylene recoverytechnology offers features thatminimize the number of maincompressor and turbine casings andremove further ISBL (inside batterylimit) equipment piece-count, whilesimultaneously cutting energy costs.The plant has an ethylene capacity of640,000 tonne/y.

Chemical Engineering (New York), Nov 2006, 113(12), 16

Uhde awarded dehydro-PP contract inEgypt

Uhde has been engaged by EgyptianPropylene and Polypropylene Co(EPPC) to supply its planned propanedehydrogenation and polypropylene(PP) complex near Port Said, Egypt.The plant will use Uhde’s propanedehydro technology and Basell’sSpheripol PP technology. EPPC willneed to invest roughly $680 M for theplant, which will have the capacity toproduce 350,000 tonne/y of propyleneand 350,000 tonne/y of PP.

Chemical Week, 6 Dec 2006 (Website:http://www.chemweek.com)

Toho Titanium plans pilot plant fortitanium dioxide photocatalyst

Toho Titanium intends to construct apilot plant in Mar 2007 for themanufacture of visible-light-responsive photocatalyst at its facilityin Chigasaki. The photocatalyst, to bemarketed under the brand name ClearCat, has titanium dioxide doped withsulfur. It can decompose organicsubstances such as acetaldehydebetter than traditional ultraviolet-responsive counterparts. Clear Catwill be evaluated by potential clientsand will initially be in powder form asslurry and solution formulations arebeing developed. A titanium dioxidephotocatalyst may also be developedusing titanium tetrachloride.

Japan Chemical Week, 16 Nov 2006, 47 (2392), 2

FEBRUARY 2007 5

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