DATE : 2015-12-15
- Evonik researchers and scientists at Graz University discover biotechnology access to 1-alkenes
- Sophisticated enzyme system as a potential solution
- Biotechnological processes may in future be incorporated into integrated chemical production right from the start of the value chain
Researchers at the specialty chemicals company Evonik Industries, in cooperation with scientists at Graz University, have discovered a biocatalytic access to 1-alkenes such as propene and 1-butene. Such hydrocarbon compounds are considered as key substances for the chemical industry's sophisticated integrated production of high-quality products. For example, Evonik uses propene in the manufacture of superabsorbents or methionine, while 1-butene serves as a component in many types of polyethylene and can be used as a raw material for producing plasticizers.
Such source materials have thus far not been typically manufactured with the aid of biocatalysis. In the opinion of leading scientists, the expansion of biotechnological processes to base, bulk and numerous specialty chemicals remains a largely unresolved challenge to this day. Dr. Thomas Haas, head of the Science & Technology unit at Creavis, Evonik’s strategic innovation unit, says: "If we can succeed in developing technically and economically feasible solutions in this area, we would be able to efficiently combine biotechnological and petrochemical processes in the chemical industry in the form of integrated production for greater added value."
The industry researchers and the scientists working at Graz University under Professor Kurt Faber achieved a first breakthrough when they used naturally occurring short-chain alkanoic acids—saturated fatty acids produced by bacteria—as the source material for 1-alkenes. Haas notes: "It took the team a year to find an enzyme system for the optimal catalysis of converting the saturated fatty acids to 1-alkenes, ultimately with great success."
An established enzyme system, P450 monooxygenase OleT, catalyzes this chemical reaction—oxidative decarboxylation of alkanoic acids to 1-alkenes—very efficiently and substrate-specifically. Thanks to a cascade of two additional enzyme systems, the required electrons for oxidation are absorbed from oxygen in the air. Haas describes the next steps: "We are now working to transfer our enzyme combination to living cells. However, there is still a lot of work to do before we are ready for industry-scale production."
Haas and his team are consistently pursuing the goal of making renewable resources usable for the chemical industry with the help of biotechnology processes. "We will only be able to make equal use of fossil and biogenic raw material streams if we can find a way to incorporate biotechnological processes into integrated chemical production. This will help maintain and expand the industry's established and efficient value chains," he explains.
SOURCE Evonik
DATE : 2015-12-16
NIPPON SHOKUBAI has announced that NIPPON SHOKUBAI EUROPE N.V., a subsidiary in Belgium, has opened a new superabsorbent polymer, or SAP, plant and acrylic acid, or AA, plant in its plant site in Antwerp, Belgium.
Since SAP, one of Nippon Shokubai's core businesses, shows steady growth of demand as a key material of disposable diapers, Nippon Shokubai decided the expansion of SAP and its main raw material, AA, as announced in May this year.
In Europe, Nippon Shokubai expects the steady demand of SAP especially in Central and Eastern Europe.Nippon Shokubai will ensure more stable supply after the investment of not only SAP but also its main raw material, AA.
With this new plant at NSE, Nippon Shokubai group's global SAP production capacity will be 710,000 metric tons per year ("T/Y") and Nippon Shokubai will enhance its position as one of the world top suppliers of SAP.
SOURCE Market Line
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The potential merger of Dow Chemical and Du Pont would not create one gigantic juggernaut of a chemical company rolling across the global industry, but three nimble new entities with a sharp focus and lean structures perfectly positioned for maximum earnings. The latter is, at least, the image Dow and DuPont officials will likely present once the merger is finally announced, which most analysts believe could be in mid-December. Speculation spread across the industry and news media on Wednesday, 9 December, in the wake of reports that the two chemical industry giants were in the final stages of merger talks. The main thrust of this move appears to be unlocking value in the companies’ agricultural and crop seed businesses, which reportedly would be spun off into a separate company following completion of the merger. According to various industry analysts, other potential new businesses created out of the merger could include a materials and materials sciences company and a specialty products company. A deal of this magnitude would, inevitably, require tremendous regulatory examination. “This deal actually makes less sense if they did not think about breaking up the merged companies,” Jason Miner, a senior global chemicals analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, said on 9 December. “Regulators are going to be the big question moving forward especially with regard to the combined ag businesses. Surely Dow and Du Pont would have put the businesses under scrutiny and must feel reasonably certain this will go through.” Miner said he believes the merger, should it be approved, would solve several problems currently plaguing both Dow and Du Pont. “This merger should create new opportunities for the combined businesses of both companies,” he said. “Dow’s earnings have been affected by slow growth, and Du Pont’s have been affected by commodity volatility."
The agricultural chemical industry has been the subject of intense scrutiny for several months involving major companies such as Dow, Du Pont, Syngenta and Monsanto, with other potential mergers and tie-ups discussed and dismissed. Both Dow and Du Pont have been shedding non-core and/or less profitable businesses in recent years. For example, in 2015, Dow sold its Chlor-Alkali unit to Olin Corp and Du Pont spun-off its Performance Chemicals unit to create The Chemours Co. Du Pont sold its Fibres unit to Koch Industries in 2004, which included brand names such as “Lycra” elastane and “Dacron” polyester. Dow is no stranger to the concept of chemical industry mega-mergers after purchasing two iconic US companies since 1999 – Union Carbide Corp and Rohm & Haas. Du Pont’s major acquisition in recent years was Dutch enzymes producer Danisco in 2011. Beyond the ag chemicals businesses, the companies don’t have much market commonality, according to Miner. “Shareholder activists on both sides are a big part of why this deal is happening,” Miner said. “The overlap between the two companies is a lot less than it would appear.”
Dow is heavy in basic chemicals and plastics, and has plans to expand capacity in the US Gulf Coast to take advantage of abundant shale gas supplies that underpin the “renaissance” of the country’s petrochemical industry. Dow currently has capacity to produce more than 7.5 million tpa of ethylene in the US Gulf Coast, and is building a new 1.5 million tpa cracker at Freeport, Texas, for start-up in 2017. Du Pont, on the other hand, has one cracker with 1.3 million tpa of capacity. Du Pont has been busy investing in intermediates and bio-based chemicals, such as the bio-BDO joint venture between Du Pont Tate & Lyle Bio Products and Genomatica.
However, the deal is not yet done. There will be many more words written and blogs published debating its merits, and the 24-hour news cycle will pick apart the pros-and-cons of the proposed merger looking for winner and losers. Whether it is good or bad for the industry and employees will require more time and analysis.
Source: Tecnon Orbichem Dec 11, 2015
DATE : 2015-12-08
A new metabolic ‘toolkit’ enables the production of bio-derived butadiene: Invista and Lanza Tech announce a breakthrough in technology development for a new direct, 2-step processes for butadieneutilizing gas-fermentation.
The metabolic toolkit integrates detailed knowledge about a bacterium’s genetic configuration with the tools to precisely customize that configuration in order to make a particular product, together with a model to accurately predict the performance of the bacterium. This work is in an early stage of development with an aim to commercialize within the next several years.
Butadiene, a key intermediate chemical used in the production of synthetic rubber and various plastics, is used by Invista in its proprietary, butadiene-based adiponitrile (ADN) production technologies. ADN is a critical intermediate chemical used in the manufacture of nylon 6,6.
“This development underscores the progress made on butadiene production via gas-fermentation technology as a result of Invista’s collaboration with Lanza Tech,” said Bill Greenfield, president of Invista’s Intermediates business. “While we are still early in the process, we are encouraged by this breakthrough. Our ongoing collaboration will continue to leverage the strong biotechnology capabilities of both companies.”
The Benefits of a Metabolic Toolkit
This breakthrough highlights the value a metabolic toolkit can bring in developing new pathways for bio-based and bio-derived chemical production. According to Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of Lanza Tech, “The work with Invista represents a significant step in integrating the chemicals supply chain into a circular economy model. By utilizing waste carbon resources, we are decoupling the production of butadienefrom today’s commodity feedstocks.”
Invista believes biotechnology has the potential to significantly improve the cost and availability of several chemicals and raw materials that are used to produce its current products. It views gas fermentation as a key enabling technology that will allow the use of potentially advantaged gas feedstocks, such as waste industrial gases including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
SOURCE Process Worldwide Online
DATE : 2015-12-01
INVISTA and LanzaTech have developed a metabolic 'toolkit' that has been successfully applied to generate novel metabolic pathways to bio-derived butadiene and key precursors, such as 1,3 butanediol and 2,3 butanediol, resulting in new direct and 2-step processes for butadiene utilizing gas-fermentation technology.
A metabolic toolkit integrates detailed knowledge about a bacterium's genetic configuration with the tools to precisely customize that configuration in order to make a particular product, together with a model to accurately predict the performance of the bacterium. This work is in an early stage of development with an aim to commercialize within the next several years.
Butadiene, a key intermediate chemical used in the production of synthetic rubber and various plastics, is used by INVISTA in its proprietary, butadiene-based adiponitrile (ADN) production technologies. ADN is a critical intermediate chemical used in the manufacture of nylon 6,6.
"This development underscores the progress made on butadiene production via gas-fermentation technology as a result of INVISTA's collaboration with LanzaTech," said Bill Greenfield, president ofINVISTA's Intermediates business. "While we are still early in the process, we are encouraged by this breakthrough. Our ongoing collaboration will continue to leverage the strong biotechnology capabilities of both LanzaTech and INVISTA."
This breakthrough highlights the value a metabolic toolkit can bring in developing new pathways for bio-based and bio-derived chemical production. According to Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, "The work with INVISTA represents a significant step in integrating the chemicals supply chain into a circular economy model. By utilizing waste carbon resources, we are decoupling the production of butadiene from today's commodity feedstocks."
INVISTA believes biotechnology has the potential to significantly improve the cost and availability of several chemicals and raw materials that are used to produce its current products. It views gas fermentation as a key enabling technology that will allow the use of potentially advantaged gas feedstocks, such as waste industrial gases including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
INVISTA and LanzaTech first announced their gas fermentation collaboration efforts in 2012.
SOURCE Business Wire