2013, Oorja partnered with HySACatalysis to commercialize directmethanol fuel cells in the SouthAfrican market. Oorja afterwardsobtained additional orders for itsOorjaPac Model III fuel cell fromHySA Catalysis and shipments ofDMFC units have started at variousHySA Catalysis partners in Limpopoand Western Cape provinces.

Original Source: Fuel Cells Bulletin, Jun 2013, 6(Website: http://www.elsevierscitech.com/nl/fcb/home.as) © Elsevier Ltd 2013

Petrochina invests in JM and Dowtechnology

PetroChina’s subsidiary, PetroChinaGuangdong Petrochemical intends toprovide its factory in China withJohnson Matthey technologies andDow Chemical’s LP Oxo 10technology for liquid phasehydrogenation that convertspropylene into alcohols, therebyproducing 85,000 tonne/y of 2-ethylhexanol, 235,000 tonne/y butanoland 33,000 tonne/y iso-butyraldehyde.

Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, Aug2013, 48 (8), 18 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com/)© Jasubhai Group 2013

SAFC partners with CatScI Ltd to offercomprehensive catalysis services

Sigma-Aldrich Corp announced thatSAFC Commercial, its custommanufacturing services business unit,has entered into a servicesagreement with CatScI Ltd, a UK-based catalysis company focused onmaximizing yield, optimizing quality,reducing waste, and minimizingchemical development costs throughreaction understanding. SAFCcustomers will immediately benefitfrom the relationship through rapidaccess to new reactions,homogeneous and heterogeneouscatalysis, biocatalysts, solventselection and process development,in addition to metal removal, recovery,and recycling services.

Original Source: Sigma-Aldrich Corp, 3050, SpruceStreet, St Louis, MO 63103, USA, 5 Nov 2013,(Sigma-Aldrich website: http://www.sigma-aldrich.com) © Sigma-Aldrich Co LLC 2013. OriginalSource: PBR Pharmaceutical Business Review, 6 Nov2013, (Website: http://www.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/) © PBR 2013

Symrise opens green chemistrylaboratory to produce aromamolecules via catalysis

To broaden its capacities in greenchemistry, Symrise Scent & Care isopening a laboratory for the synthesisand catalysis of new molecules. In thelaboratory, catalyst experts willdevelop chemical processes andoptimize existing processes for aromamolecules. The laboratory’s keytechnology will be the application ofheterogeneous catalysis to the designof continuously running processes.For this purpose, the laboratory will beequipped with specially manufacturedcatalyst testing units, enablingcatalyst screening, long-term stabilitytests and process-optimizationstudies. The project is supported by aEuropean funding for regionaldevelopment realized by the N-BankNiedersachsen.

Original Source: Symrise, 2013. Found on website:SpecialChem Cosmetics and Personal Care Innovationand Solutions, 8 Nov 2013, (Website:http://www.specialchem4cosmetics.com)

UOP technology selected for Japan’spetrochemical plant

UOP’s Tatoray process technologyhas been selected by Taiyo Oil Co Ltd(Taiyo) to improve the operationalprocess and for the supply ofcatalysts. The new technology, onceimplemented at Taiyo’s Shikokuoperational facility at Ehime, Japan,will increase the production ofpetrochemicals by over 70%. The newplant is likely to produce 300,000tonne/y of mixed xylenes and highpurity benzene. The new facility isslated for 2014 start up.

Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, Aug2013, 48 (8), 16 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com/)© Jasubhai Group 2013

NEW PLANTSSouth Asia’s first Cellulosic ethanoldemo plant gets underway

Praj Industries claims to be the firstcompany in South Asia to build a 100 tonne (dry)/day varied biomasssecond generation ethanol plant as aresult of 6 years R&D efforts. Theproject entails an expenditure of aboutRup 145-150 crore. VAAIL, the

present ethanol producer inMaharashtra, India, is collaborating inthe project. (1 crore=10 M, 1lakh=100,000).

Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, Aug2013, 48 (8), 6 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com/)© Jasubhai Group 2013

Showa Denko to construct ethylacetate plant

Showa Denko, Japan, intends to setup an ethyl acetate unit having acapacity of 100,000 tonne/y at its Oitafacility, utilising its proprietary processtechnology involving heteropolyacidcatalyst, presently being used in itsproduction site in Indonesia.

Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, Aug2013, 48 (8), 14 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com/)© Jasubhai Group 2013

Chemtura to complete $40 Mexpansion

Chemtura Corp’s ChemturaOrganometallics expects to completethe final phase of a $40 M expansionin Bergkamen, Germany, by end-2013. Its Axion-brand, single-sitepolymerisation catalysts and relatedprecursors will be produced inBergkamen. The materials are used inthe production of elastomers andpolyolefins.

Original Source: Plastics News, 21 Oct 2013,(Website: http://www.plasticsnews.com) © CrainCommunications Inc 2013

Evonik opens new plant for catalystsused in biodiesel production inArgentina

A new manufacturing plant ofGermany-based Evonik Industries hasbegun its operation in Argentina,which will supply mainly the Brazilianand Argentine markets. The plant willmanufacture ready-to-use alkoxidecatalysts for biodiesel production withcapacity of 60,000 tonne/y. The newplant is located on the site of Terminal6 SA, which is a major biodiesel facility.

Original Source: CTBR Clean Technology BusinessReview, 23 Oct 2013, (Website:http://www.cleantechnology-business-review.com/) © CTBR 2013

The world’s largest biorefinery forethanol is Italian

Beta Renewables, a jv betweenBiochemtex, Texas Pacific Group(TPG), and Novozymes, opened the

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world’s largest biorefinery for ethanolfrom non-food biomass sources on 9Oct 2013 in Crescentino, Italy. Thebiorefinery will produce 75 M L/y ofsecond generation bioethanol when itreaches its full capacity. The €150 Mfacility will directly employ about 100people and produce over 200 indirectjob opportunities. The facility usesBiochemtex’s innovative PROESA(PROduzione di Etanolo da biomasSA– Production of ethanol from biomass)technology that is combined withNovozymes’ Cellic enzymes to obtainfuel, alcohol and other chemicalproducts with low greenhouses gasemissions (about 10%) at competitivecosts.

Original Source: Macplas, 23 Oct 2013, (169),(Website: http://www.macplas.it) © Promaplast srl2013

Saudi Specialty Chemical Companyand Albemarle Netherlands

Saudi Organometallic Chemicals(SOCC), a 50:50 jv project by SaudiSpecialty Chemicals Company andAlbemarle Netherlands, has startedup a 6000 tonne/y aluminium alkylsfacility in Saudi Arabia.

Original Source: Plastics and Rubber Asia, Aug 2013,28 (199), 6 (Website:http://www.plasticsandrubberasia.com) © Plastics &Rubber Asia Ltd 2013

Catacel expands its capacity forinnovation

Catacel Corp, a rapidly growing highperformance catalyst manufacturer,welcomed the community, investors,and clients to tour its new, Ravenna,OH, USA based plant and technologycentre on 1 Nov 2013. The expansivefacilities allow the company toincrease its manufacturing capacitywhile continuing to innovate within itsfield.

Original Source: Catacel Corporation, 2013. Found onwebsite, 5 Nov 2013, (Website:http://www.prnewswire.com)

Tosho to boost catalyst capacity

Tosho Corp of Japan is investing $20M for a new plant to boost thecapacity of its Rzeta reactive aminecatalysts for PU. The new facility, tobe located at the company’sethanolamines facility property inNanyo, is expected to be completed

by Nov 2014. Rzeta, formerly knownas Rteda, reactive amine catalysts donot produce volatile organic emissionsand thus can be used close to otherresins such as PVC andpolycarbonate without causingdiscoloration.

Original Source: Rubber and Plastics News, 23 Sep2013, 43 (4), 4 (Website:http://www.rubbernews.com) © CrainCommunications Inc 2013

Evonik opens Argentina catalysts plant

A new 60,000 tonne/y catalyst planthas been commissioned by Germany-based Evonik Industries at PuertoGeneral San Martin, north easternRosario region in Argentina. Ready-to-use alkoxides for the manufactureof biodiesel using renewable rawmaterials will be produced from theplant. Main targets are the Brazilianand Argentine markets.

Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 28 Oct-10Nov 2013, 284 (13), (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2013

Honeywell to build new productionfacility in China to support growth ofperformance materials andtechnologies business

Honeywell announced that it willestablish a new manufacturingcampus in Zhangjiagang, China, tosupport growing demand in Asia forenergy technology and advancedmaterials produced by itsPerformance Materials andTechnologies (PMT) business. Theinitial phase of the investment willinclude catalyst and adsorbentsproduction capacity for UOP. Theinitial phase of the project will includea production facility for advancedcatalysts for UOP’s Oleflex processtechnology, which is used to producepropylene. UOP has licensed Oleflextechnology to 19 Chinese producersover the past three years as thoseproducers work to meet strongdemand for propylene andisobutylene at a time when globalpropylene supplies have tightened.Compared with alternativetechnologies, Oleflex technologyoffers higher yields, lower productioncosts, and higher investment returns,with the smallest environmentalfootprint. UOP has licensed a total of23 Oleflex units globally since 2011.

The initial phase of the Zhangjiagangproject will also include production ofadsorbents, expanding capacity forShanghai UOP, a jv of UOP andShanghai Huayi Group founded in1988.

Original Source: Honeywell, 29 Oct 2013, (Honeywell,website: http://honeywell.com/) © HoneywellInternational Inc 2013. Original Source: Chemical andEngineering News, 4 Nov 2013, 91 (44), 12 (Website:http://www.cen-online.org) © American ChemicalSociety 2013

Clariant expands dehydrogenationcatalyst capacity in US

Swiss speciality chemicals companyClariant has increased the capacity ofits Louisville, KY-based plant toproduce the proprietary Houldrydehydrogenation catalysts. Thedebottlenecking investment will helpthe company sustain the increasingdemand for the catalyst. The plant isscheduled to begin operating in midOct 2013. CB&I-licenced Catofintechnology, one of the technologiesbeing used to produce Houldrycatalysts, has been selected by 32global licensees. The technology isused in 12 units, including the 500 kt/ypropane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit.Two Catofin PDH units with 600 kt/yand 750 kt/y capacity, will beginoperating in 2013 and 2015,respectively.

Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 22 Oct 2013, 180 (Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database PLtd 2013

M&G plans biorefinery in China.

M&G Chemicals plans to build asecond generation biorefinery in theChinese region of Fuyang. This willconvert 1 M tonne/y of biomass intobioethanol and bioglycols (particularlymonoethylene glycol). The project willbe a collaboration with the Chinesefirm Guozhen which will supply 1 Mtonne/y of straw. The lignin by-productfrom the process will supply a 45 MWpower plant to be built on the samesite. M&G Chemicals will be themajority partner in the project whichinvolves an investment of around$500 M. It is scheduled to go intoservice mid-2015. Enzymes will besupplied by Novozymes. The unit willuse Proesa technology under licencefrom Beta Renewables, a jv betweenBiochemtex (Mossi and Ghisolfi

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