with the continued improvement oftechnologies to commercial manu-facturing levels and increasingrevenues. Intermediate chemicals likeadipic acid and lactic acid areexpected to post the highest growthfrom 2 M tonne/y to 4.9 M tonne/y in2017. Meanwhile, bio-derivedpolymers will increase their current1.1 M tonne/y capacity by 18%/ythrough 2017. According to the report,players like Segetis and Solazyme willbenefit from the 46% compoundannual growth rate (CAGR) ofspeciality chemicals like farnesenebetween 2014 and 2017. NorthAmerica is seen to emerge as the topregion in terms of global capacity asstart-ups like Gevo construct moreAmerican facilities. Europe’s capacityshare will amount to 37% in 2017.First-generation sugar-starchfeedstock like sugarcane and corn willcontinue to lead all bio-basedsources. New sources like bio-oilsand waste gas will drive the decline ofcellulosic feedstock’s market sharefrom 67% to 27%.

Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 4 Mar 2014,(Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © SevakPublications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2014

Alcohol and starch/sugar enzymemarket worth $2238 M by 2018

The report “Alcohol and Starch/SugarEnzyme Market by Type(Carbohydrase, Protease, andLipase), by Application (Industrial,Specialty) & Geography - GlobalTrends & Forecasts to 2018”, definesand segments the global alcohol andstarch/sugar enzymes market withanalysis and forecast of the globalvalue for alcohol and starch/sugarenzymes. It also identifies driving andrestraining factors for the globalalcohol and starch/sugar enzymesmarket with analysis of trends,opportunities, burning issues, winningimperatives, and challenges. Themarket is segmented and the value isforecasted on the basis of majorregions such as North America,Europe, APAC, and Rest of the World(RoW). Alcohol and starch/sugarenzyme market is projected to beworth $2238 M by 2018 and isexpected to grow at a CAGR of 7.9%from 2013 to 2018.

Original Source: MarketsandMarkets, 2014. Found on PR Newswire, 24 Mar 2014, (Website:http://www.prnewswire.com)

COMPANYNEWS

ADM invests in biotech Rennovia

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) hasannounced a $25 M equity investmentin Rennovia, a biobased chemicalstart-up company. Rennovia isdeveloping a catalytic process that willproduce adipic acid andhexamethylenediamine from sugars.The two chemicals are used toproduce nylon 6,6. ADM expects thatthe technology and its products will becombined with the company’sofferings of renewable chemicals.

Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 17 Feb 2014, 92 (7), 16 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) © American Chemical Society 2014

BASF produces first commercialvolumes of butanediol from renewableraw material

BASF has manufactured the firstbatch of 1,4-butanediol (BDO) fromrenewable raw material through aproprietary fermentation technology ofCalifornia, US-based Genomatica,which uses dextrose as a renewablefeedstock. Volumes of BDO producedby the company will be available inthe market for testing and commercialpurposes. BASF intends to includeselected BDO derivatives based onrenewable feedstock, such aspolytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF), in itsproduct portfolio. BDO and itsderivatives are used in the productionof various chemicals such as plastics,textiles and electronic chemicals. InJul 2013, BASF announced its plan toexpand its global capacities for BDOto 650,000 tonnes and for PolyTHF to350,000 tonnes in the next two years.

Original Source: Green Chemistry Network Newsletter,31 Jan 2014, (45), 20 (Website:http://www.greenchemistrynetwork.org) © GreenChemistry Network 2014

China’s new PDH unit employsClariant’s catalyst technology

Switzerland-based Clariant hasstarted the operations of its 600,000tonne/y propane dehydrogenation(PDH) unit in Tianjin, China, utilizingits Catofin method and catalysttechnology. The Catofin technology is

licenced through CB&I. The shale gasboom and increased demand forpropylene production drives thesteady growth of global Catofincatalysts demand. High Chinesepolypropylene and other propylenederivatives demand strengthens PDHinterest in the country. NumerousCatofin manufacturing facilities areslated for startup in China in thecoming 12-18 months.

Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 28 Jan 2014, 163(Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © SevakPublications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2014

Metathesis unites Elevance, Versalis

Versalis and Elevance RenewableSciences have teamed up to developa new metathesis technology that willenable the production of bio-basedchemicals from vegetable oil. WhileElevance already has a facility inGresik, Indonesia, that utilizes thetechnology, the partners will create amolybdenum-catalyzed metathesistechnology that Elevance has shownwith XiMo, a start-up catalyst facility inSwitzerland. Versalis is an Italian firmwith expertise in catalysis processdevelopment.

Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 10 Feb 2014, 92 (6), 16 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) © American Chemical Society 2014

Grace exits bankruptcy

On 3 Feb 2014, W R Grace & Coannounced its exit from bankruptcyafter almost 13 years of courtprotection. To achieve this, it made aseries of settlements on asbestosclaims. The most recent settlementwas made in late 2013, in which thecompany agreed to pay $4 bn tovictims of asbestos-related diseasesand clean-up of asbestoscontamination. The company, aproducer of catalysts, constructionproducts, and speciality chemicals,records sales of $3 bn/y.

Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 10 Feb 2014, 92 (6), 6 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) © American Chemical Society 2014

Green Biologics raises 15.4 M

Green Biologics, Oxford, UK,specialises in the production of bio-alcohol. It is raising its capital by 15.4M (€18.5 M) led by SofinnovaPartners in cooperation with Swire

MAY 2014 3

F O C U S O N C A T A L Y S T S