Perfluoroalkyl sulfonates and long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylatechemical substances; proposedsignificant new use rule

The US Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA), under the ToxicSubstances Control Act (TSCA), isproposing to amend a significant newuse rule (SNUR) for perfluoroalkylsulfonate (PFAS) chemicalsubstances. The agency proposes toadd PFAS chemical substances thathave completed the TSCA newchemical review process but have notyet commenced production or import,and to designate for all listed PFASchemical substances processing as asignificant new use. The EPA is alsoproposing a SNUR for long-chainperfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC)chemical substances that woulddesignate manufacturing, importing orprocessing for use as part of carpetsor for treating carpet (eg for use in thecarpet aftercare market) as asignificant new use. For this SNUR,the EPA is also proposing to make thearticle exemption inapplicable to theimport of LCPFAC chemicalsubstances as part of carpets.Persons subject to these SNURswould be required to notify the EPA atleast 90 days before commencing anysignificant new use. The requirednotifications would provide the EPAwith the opportunity to evaluate theintended use and, if necessary, toprohibit or limit that activity before itoccurs. Comments must be receivedon or before 15 Oct 2012.

Original Source: Federal Register, 15 Aug 2012, 77(158), 48924-48934 (Website:http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys)

ASSOCIATEDPRODUCTS

Builders

Uses of phosphates: industrial demand

Out of overall phosphate demand, aquota of 15-16% corresponding to 6.4M tonnes of phosphorus pentoxide(P2O5) is used for products other thanfertilizers. Increase in demand of 0.5M tonnes with annual growth of 9% ispredicted for the period 2010 to 2015for non-fertilizer applications. Sectors

contributing to this demand aredetergents, food additives, feeds,plant protection products, toothpaste,extinguishers and flame retardants,matches, fireworks, semiconductors,batteries, ceramics. About 50% ofnon-fertilizer demand is for animalfeed and additives. Detergentsaccount for another 20-25% of thetotal.

Original Source: Terra e Vita, 23 Jun 2012, 53 (25(Fertilizzare Oggi Supplement)), 8 (Website:http://www.edagricole.it/) (in Italian) © Il Sole 24 OreBusiness Media Srl 2012

Phosphorus stewardship

The CRU ‘Phosphates 2012’conference held in El Jadida,Morocco on 19-22 Mar 2012 wasattended by about 500 delegates fromthe phosphate industry, engineeringand expertise, science and media.OCP, the Moroccan nationalphosphate mining, fertilizer andchemical organization, hosted theconference, where it presented theorganization’s efforts to increase thesustainability of phosphate miningand production and improve theefficiency of phosphate use. OCPMorocco currently accounts for 14%of global capacity. The organizationintends to expand capacity in thecoming years as global phosphateconsumption is likely to continue togrow. The falling prices are expectedto continue in 2012, but a slightincrease is anticipated in 2013.Industrial, food and detergentapplications presently account for 6%of world phosphate use.

Original Source: Scope Newsletter (CEFIC), May2012, (86), 2-4 (Website: http://www.ceep-phosphates.org/) © Cefic 2012

Other

Ninja polymers: self-assemblingbactericidal polymers

IBM Research, Almaden, CA, hascreated a polymer (based onsemiconductor technology) capable ofkilling bacteria without the use ofantibiotics. While looking into ways ofetching silicon wafers, researchersfound materials that link together toform polymers that can generate anelectrostatic charge. In water or in thebloodstream the components of thesepolymers self-assemble to form bio-

compatible structures (ninjas) that areelectrostatically attracted to infectedcells without affecting healthy ones.The ninjas destroy the bacteria andthen biodegrade. In addition tomedical applications, the IBMresearchers hope to find otherapplications in detergents andpossibly toothpaste, mouth-washesand food packaging that currently usebiocides harmful to the environment.

Original Source: macplas e-news, 18 Jul 2012, (113),(Website: http://www.macplas.it/) © Promaplast srl2012

Alban Muller creates naturalalternative to salicylic acid

Alban Muller has developed two newingredients derived from wintergreenextract. One, Amipreserve, is anatural preservative suitable foremulsions and foaming gels. It isclaimed to have proven efficacy onbacteria and yeasts and imparts asafe antimicrobial substitute tosynthetic preservatives.

Original Source: SPC, Soap, Perfumery andCosmetics, Jul 2012, 85 (7), 71 (Website:http://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/) © HPCi MediaLtd 2012

Structure Style polymer

The naturally derived Structure Stylepolymer from AkzoNobel SurfaceChemistry’s Global Personal Carebusiness is said to provide formulatorswith multiple styling benefits, as well aspotential for significant savings informulation costs. This starch-basedpolymer has film-forming and rheology-modification capabilities to deliver long-lasting hold and excellent thickening instyling formulations. It is intended tomeet consumers’ requirement forstyling products with high performanceand improved sustainability.

Original Source: HPC, Household and Personal CareToday, Jun 2012, (2), 7 (Website: http://hpc-today.teknoscienze.com/) © Teknoscienze Srl 2012

APPLICATIONSLaundry products

A new generation of detergents inNorway

OMO Power Dose is the first laundrydetergent in capsule format on the

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Norwegian market. Not since the1990s has Lilleborg introduced abigger laundry innovation. Theproduct was launched at the start of2012, and so far has been extremelywell received on the market, thecompany reports. ‘OMO Power Dosecomes pre-dosed in practicalcapsules that you put directly into thewasher drum. The capsule is made ofhydrofilm that automatically dissolvesin the washing water,’ says productmanager Oyvind Klev. He explainsthat the new format offers numerousadvantages: you do not need to doseor unwrap the detergent, there is nomess, no residue in the dosing drawerand no problems caused by the tabletfailing to dissolve. OMO Power Doseis based on new technology. The new,highly concentrated capsules contain35 ml of detergent per wash load,while the recommended dosage forordinary liquid OMO is 60 ml.Simplicity and efficiency are the trend.

‘There is a growing trend towardsconvenience solutions that makehousehold tasks like laundry,cleaning and cooking an easy andefficient process. We are seeing arise in the number of smallhouseholds. According to StatisticsNorway, 40% of Norwegianhouseholds now consist of three orfewer persons. The fewer thehousehold members, the greater thedemand for convenience products.We also see that consumers’ abilityto pay is substantial, as is theirwillingness to pay for convenience,’explains Klev. The productunderwent thorough testing prior toits launch. A total of 700 Norwegianconsumers have tried the capsulesout at home for two weeks, and theirconclusion is clear: they want thisproduct. ‘A clear majority considerPower Dose to be as good as orbetter than the detergent theynormally use. Norwegian consumerslove this product; besides the factthat it is easy to use and simple todose, many people point out that it’shandy to bring along to thecommunity laundry room or on a trip,’says Klev. ‘We expect the capsulesto replace tablets, which will nolonger be part of our product range.But we also expect that users will beswitching to capsules from both thepowder and liquid detergentsegments. We are confident that

OMO Power Dose will create growthin this category,’ he concludes.

Lilleborg acquired ownership andproduction of several well-knownLever Brothers (now Unilever) brandsback in the 1930s as part of acooperation agreement.

Original Source: Orkla asa, PO Box 423 Skoyen, 0213Oslo, Norway, tel: +47 2254 4000, fax: +47 22544490, website: http://www.orkla.com (19 Jul 2012) © Orkla ASA 2012

Other

BASF starts production of concreteadmixtures in Russia

BASF has opened its first productionplant for concrete admixtures inRussia, located at its existing site inthe Podolsk District of the MoscowRegion. With this new productionfacility BASF will serve its customersin the Russian construction industrywith a wide range of concreteadmixtures based on state-of-the-arttechnologies. The Russian buildingsector is expected to grow 7%/y in thenext three years, and companies areincreasingly demanding high-performance concrete, so demand forBASF’s concrete admixtures is rising.The size of the Russian market forconcrete admixtures is about €140M/y. BASF will produce a portfolio of30 different admixture types atPodolsk, including latest generationproducts based on polycarboxylicether (PCE) surfactant technology.Among them are Gleniumsuperplasticizers, which improve theflowability of fresh concrete as well asthe strength and durability of the finalconcrete structures, and RheoMatrixadmixtures, which give concrete self-compacting properties.

To date, BASF has been importingconcrete admixtures from its otherproduction sites for sale in Russia.Local production will help thecompany to meet the specialrequirements of the Russianconstruction market even better.BASF experts will be able to provideadmixture formulations adjusted tothe quality of domestic cement typesand other raw materials as well asweather conditions. The admixtureswill also be formulated specifically foroptimum performance in their ownmarket segments. A BASF trainingand information centre has been

constructed on the site to holdinformation workshops for customersand partners of the company.

Original Source: BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen,Germany, tel: +49 (0) 621 600, website:http://www.basf.com (7 Aug 2012) © BASF 2012.Original Source: Chemie Aktuell, 10 Aug 2012,(Website: http://www.maerkte-weltweit.de) (inGerman) © MBM Martin Brueckner Medien GmbH2012

Wavefront and VeruTEK enter intoagreement to introduce combinedtechnologies for improved oilperformance and profitability

Fluid injection technology firmWavefront Technology Solutions Inchas executed a Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MOU) with VeruTEKTechnologies Inc, a US-basedmanufacturer of high-performance,plant-based chemical solutions for theoil and gas and environmentalsectors. Wavefront and VeruTEKclaim to have already demonstratedtechnological leadership in energyand environmental remediation byproviding fluid delivery and chemicalsolutions that substantially improvepermeability, fluid penetration depthand fluid recovery from the reservoir.They are now teaming to apply thesetechnology platforms to enhanced oilrecovery (EOR) and well stimulationapproaches in heavy oil (cold andthermal applications), conventionaland tight reservoirs. The use ofVeruTEK GasGen environmentallyfriendly fluids, delivered by Wavefrontfluid pulsing, provides tremendousopportunity for improved production inmany formations, the companies say.The gas generation capability ofVeruTEK chemistry is applicable to abroad range of brine concentrationsdue to the nonionic nature of thesurfactant component and neutralrange pH. The unique combination ofin situ gas generation coupled withchemical treatment increasesproduction through severalmechanisms, including addressingclays, blockages and increasingpermeability. Under the terms of theMOU, VeruTEK may introducePowerwave and Primawave as ahighly differentiated alternative forinjection and will provide assistanceto Wavefront’s efforts to secure clientswho use VeruTEK products andservices. Wavefront may identify and

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