Solazyme and Mitsui collaborate todevelop triglyceride oils foroleochemical industry

Solazyme Inc, a renewable oil andbioproducts company, and Mitsui &Co Ltd announced that they haveentered into a $20 M multi-yearagreement to jointly develop a suite oftriglyceride oils for use primarily in theoleochemical industry. Theagreement includes furtherdevelopment of Solazyme’s highmyristic algal oil, a valuable rawmaterial in the oleochemical industry,as well as additional oils thatSolazyme is developing for theoleochemical and industrial sectors.Product development is expected tospan a multi-year period, with periodicproduct introductions throughout theterm of the joint development alliance.End-use applications may includerenewable, high-performance polymeradditives for plastic applications,aviation lubricants, and toiletry andhousehold products. According to aMitsui official, Mitsui is strengtheningits position in the oleochemicalsindustry through development andcommercialization of novel productsas a potential source of newsustainable materials to oleochemicalcompanies including Mitsui’ssubsidiary, Palm-Oleo Sdn Bhd.

Original Source: Solazyme, 2013. Found onSpecialChem Cosmetics and Personal Care Innovationand Solutions, 8 Feb 2013, (Website:http://www.specialchem4cosmetics.com)

Good growth prospects forecast forglobal natural fatty acids market

Analysts opine that the global naturalfatty acid market will reach $13 bn in2017 from $7 bn in 2011. It is growingat a five-year compound annualgrowth rate (CAGR) of 13.6%. Themain application areas are personalcare, soap, household, I&I,polymerization and vulcanization(PCSHIIPV), and other applications.In 2017, these derivative applicationsare likely to have a value of $6.5 bn,with a CAGR of 15%, according to areport from BCC. PCSHIIPV usesaccounted for $2.9 bn in 2012 andare predicted to reach $5.2 bn in2017 with a CAGR of 12.7%, andother applications were $759 M in2012 and are likely to be $1.3 bn in2017 (11.2% CAGR). According tothe report, the margins and prices in

the natural fatty acid market vary bygrade, region and acid cut. In thefuture, it is predicted that consumptionof all types of vegetable-basedmaterial, such as palm and coconutoils etc, will increase up to 70%.

Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 22 Jan 2013, 187(Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com/) © SevakPublications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2013

Alkoxylates/other

Petronas ropes in Germany’s Evonikfor speciality chemicals plant

Evonik Industries is replacing BASFas the partner of Petronas in buildinga refinery and petrochemical complexin Pengerang, Johor, Malaysia [seealso Focus on Surfactants, Mar 2013].Evonik and Petronas have signed aletter of intent to jointly build andoperate a 250,000 tonne/y hydrogenperoxide unit, a 220,000 tonne/yisononyl alcohol plant and a 110,000tonne/y n-butene plant. The hydrogenperoxide will be used on site toproduce propylene oxide by thelicensed, eco-friendly HPPO processEvonik jointly developed withThyssenKrupp Uhde. These projectsare expected to be operational in2016. The size of the investmentrequired has not been disclosed.

Original Source: The Star, 23 Jan 2013, (Website:http://www.thestar.com.my/) © Star Publications (M)Bhd 2013. Original Source: Chemical and EngineeringNews, 28 Jan 2013, 91 (4), 9 (Website:http://www.cen-online.org) © American ChemicalSociety 2013. Original Source: Evonik Industries AG,Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11 45128, Essen, Germany.Website: http://www.evonik.com (23 Jan 2013) © Evonik Industries 2013

Calysta’s SBIR-sponsored researchaims to develop newer modified lipidsfor cosmetics and more

Calysta Energy announced it has beenawarded a Small Business InnovationResearch (SBIR) Phase 1 grant fromthe USA’s National ScienceFoundation. The grant supportsdevelopment of a production platformfor a new class of modified lipids withapplications in a range of industrialproducts. Calysta’s advanced syntheticbiology capabilities enable the rapiddevelopment of biological routes tohigh-value industrial chemicals.Calysta’s SBIR-sponsored researchwill focus on development of chemicalcomponents for a new class ofbiodegradable materials with improved

properties and favourable economics.The same components can alsoserve as building blocks for a varietyof speciality chemicals includingdetergents and surfactants, withflexible properties that surpasspetroleum-based alternatives, thecompany says.

Original Source: Calysta Energy, 2013. Found onSpecialChem Cosmetics and Personal Care Innovationand Solutions, 21 Jan 2013, (Website:http://www.specialchem4cosmetics.com)

SURFACTANTSNew sulfonation plant for KLK

Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK),Malaysia, and Desmet Ballestra SpAhave disclosed a deal involving theconstruction of a second sulfonationfacility for the production of drysulfonated methyl ester (SME; morecommonly referred to as methyl estersulfonate), a green surfactant, byKLK. De Smet’s technology, whichhas been enhanced jointly with KLK,is used at the 100,000 tonne/y facility.The new plant is slated for start-up byend-2013. KLK’s first SME facility,which has a capacity of 50,000tonnes/y, has been in operation fortwo years [see also Focus onSurfactants, Nov 2011 & Jun 2012].

Original Source: Oils and Fats International, Jan 2013,29 (1), 13 (Website:http://www.oilsandfatsinternational.com/) © QuartzBusiness Media Ltd 2013

GreenCentre signs licence agreementwith RAN Chemicals for geminisurfactant technology

GreenCentre (Kingston, Ontario,Canada) signed an exclusive licencewith RAN Chemicals in Nov 2012 tocommercialize gemini surfactants.Based in India, RAN Chemicals, asister concern of RSA Industries,manufactures speciality products forthe textile, paper and powder paintindustry and other industrialapplications. RAN will formulate andmanufacture the surfactants forseveral different market applicationsand sell them to other industries foruse in a wide range of consumerproducts. Testing showed that, evenat significantly lower amounts, thesesurfactants perform as well asexisting surfactants at larger loadings,as well as having a wide range of

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