Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME; Aachen, Germany; http://www.ime.fraunhofer.de) have genetically engineered Russian dandelions to make it easier to extract the plant’s milky latex. The scientists identified the enzyme responsible for the rapid polymerization…
The first commercially available, pentacene-based, organic semiconductor material is sufficiently soluble to render it amenable to solution-depositing methods, according to 3M (St. Paul, Minn.; http://www.3m.com). The company recently began marketing the product as semiconductor L-20856 (TIPS-pentacene) for low-cost transistors. Substitution…
Lurgi GmbH (Frankfurt, Germany; www.lurgi.com) has delivered, in less that 29 months, a new hydrogen unit to Grupa Lotos S.A.’s (www.lotos.pl) petroleum refinery in Gdansk, Poland. The plant designed and built on an EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) basis, went on stream…
This Fall, Sumitomo Chemical Co. (Tokyo; http://www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp) will begin shipping samples of Ilumio, a new photocatalyst, which is 10 times more effective than existing titanium oxide catalysts for deodorizing and antifouling under weak room light. The company plans to install…
Süd-Chemie AG (Munich, Germany; www.sud-chemie.com) is substantially expanding its position in the Brazilian growth market for bentonite-based additives used in the foundry, construction, and paper industries in a joint venture (JV) with the internationally leading and largest Brazilian group in…
Small-scale, factory-built nuclear power plants could dramatically reduce construction times and capital costs for nuclear-based power generation. A research team at Sandia National Laboratory (Albuquerque, N.M.; http://www.sandia.gov) is seeking an industry partner to commercialize a modular reactor design developed at…
Foams based on corn starch may one day be substituted for polystyrene foams through technology being developed by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS, Beltsville, Md.; http://www.ars.usda.gov). The ARS Western Regional Research Center (Albany, Calif.) is working on two processes. One…
Retarded polymerization A latent-acid catalyst that can be added to highly reactive pre-polymer resins enabling them to be stored for at least three months prior to controlled polymerization at 120°C has been commercialized by Bac2 (Southampton, U.K.; http://www.bac2.co.uk). Alternative catalysts…
Two sulfur-treatment technologies are being used together for the first time in a facility that is now starting up at Reliance Petroleum’s Jamnagar Export Refinery (Jamnagar, India). Designed by Black & Veatch (B&V, Overland Park, Kan.; www.bv.com), the facility combines…
Wacker Chemie AG (Munich, Germany; www.wacker.com) exits from the solar wafer business and will transfer its shares in its joint venture Wacker Schott Solar GmbH (WSS) to its former partner Schott Solar AG. Wacker and Schott Solar have reached agreement…