the properties of these waxes areadjusted with the use of metallocenecatalysts to control and combineproperties such as strength, fusionpoint, viscosity, molecular weight, andcompatibility with the base polymer.The range of waxes that are producedis large, from amorphous grades(Licocene PP1502) to crystallinegrades (Licocene PP1602). Currently,the waxes are produced in a pilotplant, but, due to great interest fromclients and growing demand, a plantwith a capacity of several thousandtonne/y is being constructed, withstart-up due in 2006.

Revista de Plasticos Modernos, Dec 2005, 90 (594),516,518 (in Spanish)

ENVIRONMENTNOx control market continues to boom

The NOx control selective catalyticreduction (SCR) market posted over$2 bn in sales globally in 2005, withequipment sales reaching $1.6 bn andcatalysts sales amounting to $468 M.Europe, Japan, and the USA havelong established their NOx reductionprogram. Now China is embarking ona similar effort. Revamping old coal-fired boilers using SCR systems is abooming market that is predicted tohold steady until at least 2015, withChinese investment likely to surpassthe whole European investment overthe last 25 years owing to the relativevolume of coal-fired generation outputin each region.

Hydrocarbon Processing, Jan 2006, 85 (1), 7

Removal of catalyst species fromorganic solutions

Polymer Laboratories has introducedStratoSpheres, a new solid phaseextraction product for removingmetals from organic solutions. Thenew metal scavengers include anumber of products which removemetals such as palladium, platinum,tin, lead, and ruthenium.

PharmaChem, Oct 2005, 4 (10), 65

GreenShift consolidates biofuelsinvestments

GreenShift Corp announced theconsolidation of its various biofuels

companies into a restructured MeanGreen BioFuels Corp (Mean Green).The consolidation is a critical part ofGreenShift’s ongoing implementationof its plan to streamline its portfolio ofenvironmentally proactive companiesduring 1Q 2006. GreenShift’sinvestments in BioEnergy EngineeringLLC and Ethanol Oil RecoverySystems LLC, were transferred intoMean Green along with Mean GreenBiodiesel of Tennessee Inc. MeanGreen’s business model is based onthe production of biodiesel out of thefollowing sources: soy bean oil;animal fats procured from renderingoperations; corn oil extracted fromethanol facilities; and animal fatsderived from dissolved air flotationwastewater sludges. Mean Greenintends to finance, build, and operateseveral biodiesel production facilitiesin the US, where it will leverage itsproprietary oil recovery technologiesto reduce America’s dependence onforeign oil by producing high qualitybiodiesel fuels. GreenShift is apublicly traded businessdevelopment company whosemission is to develop and supportcompanies and technologies thatfacilitate the efficient use of naturalresources and catalysetransformational environmentalgains.

Press release from: GreenShift Corp, 111 HowardBlvd, Suite 108, Mount Arlington, NJ 07856, USA. Tel: +1 973 398 8183. Fax: +1 973 398 8037. Website: http://www.greenshift.com (1 Feb 2006)

PATENTSRaney nickel catalyst manufacture

The nickel-aluminium alloy is meltedand quenched by pouring into coldwater. The resulting granules arecrushed, classified, and leached withaqueous alkali. The product is usedfor catalysing the hydrogenation ofsugars.

US 6,995,107, Towa Chemical Industry Co Ltd andNikko Rica Corp, Tokyo, Japan, 7 Feb 2006

Dual activation of clays

Clay catalysts are usually activated byacid treatment, but some areactivated by exchange with a metalion such as iron. In this invention the

acid activation and ion exchange aredone in the same operation.

US 6,995,108, Süd-Chemie, Munich, Germany, 7 Feb2006

Use of two olefin polymerisationcatalysts

Some polyolefins are made using twomonomers and differentpolymerisation catalysts for each.However, the two catalysts (eg ametallocene and a Zieler-Nattacatalyst) may be incompatible. Thisinvention uses two reactors anddeactivates the first catalyst beforethe intermediate polymer is introducedto the second reactor.

US 6,995,217, Univation Technologies LLC, HoustonTX, USA, 7 Feb 2006

Manufacture of ethylbenzene fromdilute ethylene

Ideally, ethylbenzene is made frompure ethylene plus benzene, butpurification of ethylene is expensive. A low grade of ethylene containingethane is available at several points ina typical oil refinery. This can be usedin a multi-reactor polymerisation systemif the ethane and other minor impuritiesare removed between the stages.

US 6,995,295, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.,Houston, TX, USA, 7 Feb 2006

Selective alkene oxidation catalysts

These catalysts can be used toselectively oxidise ethylene to ethyleneoxide and propylene to propyleneoxide, using molecular oxygen. Thecatalysts are mixed titanium silicatesmade by the sol-gel process,containing also Si-H bonds, acting assupports for silver and/or gold particles.The Si-H bonds are introduced byadding silanes to the sol-gel mixtures.

US 6,995,113, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany, 7 Feb2006

Generation of hydrogen from methane

Hydrogen, free from CO and suitablefor use in a fuel cell, is made by thecatalysed thermal decomposition ofmethane at about 500-575°. Thecatalyst is a mixed nickel magnesiumoxide, with or without added copper.

US 6,995,115, Catalytic Materials LLC, Holliston, MA,USA, 7 Feb 2006

MARCH 2006 7

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