novel distribution of higher alpha-olefins. An existing process formaking higher alpha-olefins is theShell Higher Olefins Process, whichinvolves the oligomerization of ethyleneusing a homogeneous nickel-basedcatalyst. However, a subsequentdistillation step is required to separatethe wide distribution of alpha-olefinsgenerated by the process. In theresearch study, two unique sets ofoligomers, all 68 and higher, weregenerated. The researchers said thatproduction distribution may becontrolled further by modifying ligandsand altering process conditions.

Chemical Week, 21 Jun 2006, (Website:http://www.chemweek.com)

BP and DuPont plan ‘biobutanol’

BP and DuPont are to jointly develop,produce, and market a new generationof biofuels. They aim to market theirfirst product, 1-butanol (they call itbiobutanol) in the UK in 2007 as agasoline component. BP and DuPontare working with British Sugar toconvert the UK’s first ethanolfermentation plant to the production of9 M gal/y butanol. DuPont’s CEO saysfermentation-derived butanol can becompetitive without subsidies when oilprices are $30-40 per barrel. Accordingto DuPont, 1-butanol has a number ofadvantages over ethanol, including lowvapour pressure and tolerance to watercontamination in gasoline. Butanol canalso be added to gasoline at higherconcentrations than ethanol withouthaving to refit vehicles. And butanoloffers better fuel economy thangasoline-ethanol blends. Severalagricultural materials can be used toproduce butanol, thus corn grain,wheat, sugar beets, sugarcane, orsorghum. DuPont is developing agenetically engineered microbe thatshould significantly increase theconversion of agricultural feedstock intofuel. It is hoped the “Gen 2” biocatalystwill be ready by 2010. Chevron is alsoupping its commitment to alternativefuels. It is to cooperate with GeorgiaTech, investing up to $12 M over fiveyears on R&D to convert cellulosicbiofuels and hydrogen into viabletransportation fuels.

Chemical and Engineering News, 26 Jun 2006, 84(26), 9 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & ICISChemical Business, 26 Jun 2006, 1 (25), 32 & NetPosten, 22 Jun 2006 (Website:http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)

Genencor launches improved acidfungal protease for use in the ethanolindustry

Genencor International (Genencor)announced the availability of a newacid fungal protease enzyme productfor use in the ethanol industry. Thenew product, called Fermgen, will beintroduced at the Fuel EthanolWorkshop in Milwaukee, WI. Thenew enzyme offers a number ofbenefits.

Press release from: Genencor International Inc, 200,Meridian Centre Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14618-3916, USA. Tel: +1 585 256 5200. Fax: +1 585 2566952. Website: http://www.genencor.com (19 Jun2006) & Net Posten, 20 Jun 2006, (Website:http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)

ENVIRONMENTCo-operation between Yara and JM

Johnson Matthey plc will market YaraInternational’s nitrous oxide abatementcatalyst worldwide under an exclusivecooperation and marketing agreement.The catalyst, which will be offered toClean Development Mechanism andJoint Implementation countries asstipulated in the Kyoto protocol, hasbeen installed at Yara’s nitric acidplants in France. Yara intends to installthe catalyst in its nitric acid plantsaround the world.

Nitrogen + Syngas, May/Jun 2006, (281), 6

Uhde secures Egypt contract

Uhde, based in Germany, has enteredinto a contract agreement to designand build a turnkey gas tail treatmentplant for Abu Qir Fertilizer Co inEgypt. The contract, commissioned byAustrian company CarbonProjektentwicklung, includes thelicensing, engineering, constructionand commissioning of the plant in Sep2006. Using Uhde’s EnviNOxtechnology, the gas treatment plantwill be installed in one of the biggestnitric acid plants based in Abu Qir,Egypt. The Abu Qir No 2 nitric acidunit yields 1830 tonne/day and waspreviously installed with DeNoxtechnology. EnviNOx is designed toneutralize nitrous oxide and otherenvironmental pollutants.

Nitrogen + Syngas, May/Jun 2006, (281), 8

PATENTSDesulfurization of hydrocarbons bypartial oxidation

Hydrocarbon gases are mixed withsub-stoichiometric quantities of air oroxygen and passed over an oxidationcatalyst. The sulfur compounds arepreferentially oxidised and theresulting SOx is adsorbed on an alkalimetal supported on alumina.

US 7,074,375, Engelhard Corp, Iselin, NJ, USA, 11 Jul2006

Plasma-assisted reactor for treatingengine exhaust gases

An electric discharge is created in theexhaust which is then passed througha permeable ceramic bed made froma perovskite or a vanadate. Thecarbonaceous combustion productsare oxidised and the oxides ofnitrogen are reduced to nitrogen.

US 7,074,370, Accentus PLC (formerly Harwell),Didcot, UK, 11 Jul 2006

Bound zeolite particles

Pre-formed zeolites are commonlymade into durable particles by addinga binding agent and then calcining. Asimpler process is to make use of theexcess of silica in the mother liquorfrom the zeolite synthesis (or to addmore ethyl silicate to the mixedreaction products). The product iswashed by centrifugation, dried, andcalcined.

US 7,074,383, Enichem SpA, San Donato, Italy, 11 Jul2006

Multi-component zeolite alkylationcatalyst

An improved catalyst for alkylatingaromatic hydrocarbons is made bycombining a known alkylation catalystwith a mixed metal oxide such aszirconium lanthanate.

US 7,074,739, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc,Houston, TX, USA, 11 Jul 2006

Alkane to alkene conversion

An oxidative dehydrogenation processusing two stages which provideimproved conversion and selectivity.The first stage, using sub-

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