CNPC and UOP team up on biofuels

Honeywells subsidiary UOP andChina National Petroleum Corp havedecided to collaborate on biofuelsprojects in China. Under theagreement the two companies willcollaborate on a range of biofuelstechnologies, and biodiesel and greenjet fuel projects in China. Locallyavailable Chinese feedstock will belargely used in these projects. CNPCis also evaluating a demonstrationscale unit for producing biodiesel byutilising UOPs technology, either atan existing facility or at a new facility.It is understood that China hasmandated a 15% blending of biofuelswith transportation fuels by 2020.Owing to concern about the impact offirst generation biofuels on food crops,the Chinese biofuel blending targetlooks far-fetched. UOP producesrenewable jet fuel from non-foodfeedstocks such as camelina oil,animal fats, and algae.Biofuels International, Nov 2009, 3 (9), 17

Cytec promoting speciality phosphines

Cytec Industries Inc will promote itsrange of speciality phosphineproducts at the upcoming Informex inSan Francisco. Cytec is a globalleader with over 75 years ofexperience in the scale-up andmanufacture of speciality phosphinesand phosphorus derivatives underthe CYTOP and CYPHOS brands.Cytec offers phosphines for manyspeciality chemical applicationsincluding bisphosphonates,organophosphine catalyst ligandsand ligand precursors,phosphonates, phosphine andphosphonic acids, alkylphosphinereducing agents and chloro-organophosphorus activatingreagents. In addition, Cytecspecializes in arrangements todevelop and manufacture proprietarytechnology for speciality chemicalcompanies worldwide. CytecIndustries Inc is a global specialitychemicals and materials companyfocused on developing,manufacturing and selling value-added products.Press release from: Cytec Industries Inc, 5 GarretMountain Plaza, West Paterson, NJ 07424, USA. Tel:+1 973 357 3249 or +1 973 357 3319. E-mail:info@gm.cytec.com. Website: http://www.cytec.com(4 Feb 2010)

Danisco once again a potentialtakeover candidate

A number of banks have labelledDanisco as a clear takeover candidatein view of the fact that it has sold offproblematic businesses, markedlyreduced its debts, improved operatingearnings, and removed voting rightsrestrictions, as well as having anattractive technology platform. It isthought that major chemicalcompanies perceive enzymes as apotential threat to their business andthe easiest way to eliminate this threatis to buy up enzyme operations.Private equity funds have showninterest in Danisco in the past, but thistime it is higher grade industrialplayers who are taking notice.Dagbladet Borsen, 22 Feb 2010 (Website:http://www.borsen.dk) (in Danish)

Evoniks new metathesis catalysts

The catalysts business line of EvonikIndustries has expanded its portfolio ofmetathesis catalysts. It is offering itscustomers three new, efficienthomogeneous catalysts that cover abroad spectrum of reactions in cross-metathesis, ring-closing metathesis,and ring-opening metathesis throughcatMETium RF2, catMETium RF3, andcatMETium RF4. The primary areas ofapplication for the new catalysts arepolymer chemistry and thepharmaceutical and agriculturalindustries. Evonik markets the newcatalysts based on a business modelthat requires no licensing agreementsand ensures transparency. The totalkilogram price for the catalysts alreadyincludes the licensing fees for the useof the intellectual property rights.Press release from: Evonik Industries AG,Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11 45128, Essen, Germany.Website: http://www.evonik.com (16 Feb 2010)

Genencor introduces another biomassconversion enzyme

Genencor introduced Accellerase Duetat the Renewable Fuels Associations15th Annual National EthanolConference in Orlando, FL. Thisproduct is the latest generation in thecompanys line of enzymes used toconvert biomass into sugars, a criticalstep in the production of cellulosicethanol and other advanced biofuelsand biochemicals from non-food

feedstocks. With improved overallhemicellulase activity, Accellerase Duetbuilds on the advances in beta-glucosidase and cellulase activitypreviously made by Accellerase 1500.These additional improvements allowAccellerase Duet to achieve highersugar and biofuel yields, often at 3-foldlower dosing, and to be feedstock- andpretreatment-flexible. Press releases from: Genencor International Inc, 200,Meridian Centre Boulevard, Rochester, NY 146183916, USA. Tel: +1 585 256 5200. Fax: +1 585 2566952. Website: http://www.genencor.com, & DaniscoA/S, Langebrogade 1, PO Box 17, DK-1001Copenhagen K, Denmark. Tel: +45 3266 2000. Fax:+45 3266 2175. Website: http://www.danisco.com (15 Feb 2010) & NP Investor, 15 Feb 2010 (Website:http://www.npinvestor.dk/) (in Danish)

Genencor wins big loan to market bio-isoprene

Danisco has received a loan of 40 Mfrom the Nordic Investment Bank tofund two R&D projects at its Genencorenzymes division. The fund will beused towards the production ofmarketable bio-isoprene for use inrubber application and cellulosic-basedbioethanol. Genencor recently inked adeal to develop bio-isoprene forpotential use as an ingredient in thesynthetic rubber production programmeof Goodyear.European Rubber Journal, Jan/Feb 2010, 192 (1), 11

HC Starck sells catalysts business toEvonik

HC Starck sold its Amperkat businessto Evonik Degussa GmbH on 26 Feb2010. Evonik will acquire know-howand technology for the production anduse of catalysts. Amperkat stands foractivated metal catalysts. Starck hasproduced these at Laufenberg andthis facility will be used for a transitionperiod, before Evonik movesproduction to its site at Hanau. Starckhad announced it was selling thebusiness some time ago, as thecatalysts no longer form a part of thecompanys core business.Chemie Technik (Heidelberg), 2 Mar 2010 (Website:http://www.chemietechnik.de) (in German)

New methanol synthesis catalyst fromTopsoe

Haldor Topsoe has launched a newmethanol synthesis catalyst systemcalled MK-151 FENCE. It is the third

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generation of methanol synthesiscatalyst from Topsoe, following MK-101 and MK-121. Using MK-121 asthe standard catalyst in trials, MK-151demonstrated good activity, increasedoperational flexibility, excellentmechanical strength, improvedselectivity, and superior stability. MK-151 is based on the companysFENCE technology, which follows theidea of improving sintering barriers bygrowing their size and number. Theadvantages of replacing MK-121 withMK-151 shown in a comparativetesting over four years include higheraccumulated methanol production,extended lifetime, productionimprovement because of the removalof catalyst change-out, and lowerenergy use in the distillation section.Nitrogen + Syngas, Jan/Feb 2010, (303), 46-50

Novozymes 2009: sales of technicaland detergent enzymes

Novozymes sales of detergentenzymes totalled DKR 672 M in 2009(2008: DKR 2498 M). The satisfactorysales development was primarily drivenby increased penetration of enzymes inmid- and low-tier detergents. Saleswere, however, impacted negatively byconsumers trading down to detergentswith fewer or no enzymes. In 2009,sales of technical enzymes increasedto DKR 2600 M (2008: DKR 2479 M).Enzyme sales to the biofuel and starchindustries contributed to the growth,whereas sales to the textile industryexperienced a decline compared to2008. The negative development intextile enzyme sales seems to havecome to a halt, with a positive salesgrowth development in the latter part ofthe year. The development in enzymesales to the starch industry was drivenby a robust demand for syrups.Enzyme sales to the biofuel industry in2009 were up by 7% in DKR. Thedevelopment over the year wasuneven, but enzyme sales improvedthroughout 2009 as the US biofuelindustry recovered and more capacitybecame operational. However, the yearas a whole was challenging for the USbiofuel industry, and Novozymesenzyme sales in 2009 weredisproportionately impacted by somespecific customers lower biofueloutputs compared to 2008. However,Novozymes maintained a market shareof more than 60% throughout 2009 and

is almost back at the 2008 level.Enzyme sales to the European biofuelindustry showed good growthdevelopment, although the industry isstill small in comparison to the USindustry. Key sales data are tabulated,including quarterly sales for 2008 and2009, and graphically illustrated.Novozymes Group Financial Statement 2009, 21 Jan2010, 4,23 (Novozymes A/S, Krogshojvej 36, 2880Bagsvaerd, Denmark. Tel: +45 4446 0000. Fax: +454446 9999. E-mail: info@novozymes.com. Website:http://www.novozymes.com)

Novozymes deals

Novozymes has entered into twotechnology development allianceswith Brazilian firms. The companyspartnership with waste managementtechnology firm Cetrel SA will focuson the use of enzymes to convertbagasse into biogas. The second,with petrochemicals major Braskem,will involve the use of Novozymesfermentation platform to establish acommercial-scale sugarcane-to-polypropylene production process.Oils and Fats International, Feb 2010, 26 (2), 3

Novozymes unveils ethanol from waste

Novozymes, a biotech firm based inDenmark, has introduced enzymes thatmake biofuel production fromagricultural waste commerciallyfeasible. The enzymes will enable theproduction of ethanol for under$2/gallon for the first commercial-scaleplants that are slated to begin operationin 2011.ICIS Chemical Business, 22 Feb 2010 (Website:http://icischemicalbusiness.com)

Government waste fuels truck

Novozymes showed cars with ethanolfuel made of government wastepapers at the Washington Auto Showin Washington DC, USA. The fuel wasdeveloped by Fiberight. Novozymesprovided a specialized cocktail ofenzymes to degrade the paper intosugars before being fermented intoethanol.Chemical and Engineering News, 1 Feb 2010, 88 (5), 18

Oxford and PTT alliance

Oxford Catalysts has inked a letter ofintent with Thai energy firm PTT to

help set up a small-scale gas-to-liquidfuel production technology. Oxford willreceive $5 M from PTT to advanceOxfords methane-steam reformingtechnology.Chemical and Engineering News, 8 Feb 2010, 88 (6), 29

Sachtleben has new biodiesel catalyst

A catalyst that transforms industrialproducts and algae into biodiesel hasbeen developed by Sachtleben, a jvbetween Rockwood and Kemira. Thecatalyst provides a solution to theissue of using food crops to produceenergy. The catalyst can also be usedto produce high-quality diesel fuelfrom inferior fats, paper-industrywastes and algae.Chemical Week, 1 Mar 2010 (Website:http://www.chemweek.com) & Press release from:Rockwood Holdings Inc, 100 Overlook Centre,Princeton, NJ 08540, USA. Tel: +1 609 514 0300. Fax:+1 609 514 8720. Website: http://www.rocksp.com(16 Feb 2010)

Shell exits stake in Choren

Shell has divested its interest inChoren, a biomass-to-liquids (BTL)company, to the other shareholders.Despite the sale, Shell will continue tosupply technical know-how in next-generation biofuels. The shareholders,for their part, have committed toincreasing the budget for Chorensfuture projects. In 2005, Shell andChoren began developing BTL fuelswith primarily wood products andwood-based waste serving as rawmaterials. Choren will continue withplans to bring online its first 15,000tonne/y BTL facility in Freiberg insouth Germany by 2011.Nitrogen + Syngas, Jan/Feb 2010, (303), 12

Shell and Cosan team up on ethanol:generation game

On 1 Feb 2010, Royal Dutch Shelland Cosan, one of the largestBrazilian ethanol producers,announced that they were forming a$12 bn jv. The decision by Shell toinvest in first-generation ethanolproduction based on sugarcanemarks a reversal of trends in whichlarge oil firms carried out researchinto alternative feedstocks forbiofuels. Investment by Shell of $1.6bn during 2010-2011 will enableethanol production by the jv to be

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