In The News
This one-step route to cellulosic ethanol features a multitasking yeast
The research group of professor Akihiko Kondo at Kobe University (Kobe City, www2.kobe-u.ac.jp/~akondo/index_English.htm) has developed a one-step, pretreatment process for making bioethanol from cellulose and lignocellulose. The process uses an ionic liquid — which converts cellulose into a gel —…
Process for renewably sourced polyols licensed
A process for making polyols from soybean oil and glycerin has been licensed by its developer, Battelle (Columbus, Ohio; www.battelle.org), to Emery Oleochemicals Americas (Cincinnati, Ohio; www.emeryoleo.com), who intends to produce the renewably sourced polyols at prices similar to those…
A glass flow reactor is now available in ceramic
Last month, Corning SAS (Avon, France), a subsidiary of Corning Inc. (Corning, N.Y.; www.corning.com), introduced the Advanced-Flow G4 Ceramic Reactor — the latest addition to the company’s line of glass flow reactors. The G4 is made of sintered-ceramic fluidic modules…
AMEC appointed project management contractor for chemical complex in China
AMEC Plc. (London, U.K.; www.amec.com) has been appointed by BASF Polyurethane (Chongqing) Co. and Chongqing Chemical and Pharmaceutical (Group) Holding Co. (CCPHC) as the project management contractor for the development of a new 400,000-metric-ton-per-year MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate) facility at Changshou,…
Yanchang Petroleum Group and KBR to create a JV company
Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co. (Yanchang Petroleum Group) and KBR, Inc. (Houston; www.kbr.com) have signed an agreement to create a joint-venture (JV) company in the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of the JV will be to market, sell, deliver…
Ube Industries to launch commercial production of Artificial Micro Carbon
Ube Industries, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan; www.ube-ind.co.jp says it will launch commercial production of proprietary Artificial Micro Carbon (AMC; multi-walled carbon nanotubes-MWCNT). The company is currently proceeding with the construction of production line for AMC within the Ube Chemical Factory located…
Solvay to build specialty polymers plant in China
Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) has launched a project to build a specialty polymers production plant for Solef Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), Tecnoflon Fluoroelastomers (FKM) and their essential monomer VF2 in China to satisfy the growing demand for these high value-added…
UOP: Propane-dehydrogenation technology for Abu Dhabi Oil Refining
UOP LLC (Des Plaines, Ill; www.uop.com), a Honeywell company, has been selected by the Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Co. (Takreer) to provide key technology for a new petrochemical production unit in the United Arab Emirates. The new propane dehydrogenation (PDH)…
Novo Nordisk invests in new factory in Denmark
Novo Nordisk A/S Bagsværd, Denmark; www.novonordisk.com) is investing close to 1 billion Danish kroner (€134 million) in a new factory in Kalundborg, Denmark, for the production of biopharmaceuticals such as haemophilia medicine, growth hormone and other current and future pharmaceuticals.…
AkzoNobel: €140-million investment in Frankfurt
AkzoNobel (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; www.akzonobel.com) is investing €140 million to convert its chlorine plant in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, to state-of-the-art membrane electrolysis technology. The new facility, which will increase current capacity by around 50%, will help to reinforce the…