IEA publishes update of advanced, cellulosic biofuel projects
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rhodium for use in catalytic converters from car manufacturers has remained low and does not show signs of improving in the near future. While demand remains subdued and above- ground stockpiles are high, rhodium is unlikely to see much movement in price. However, an analyst from Deutsche Bank AG suggested that the low price and favourable performance of rhodium catalytic converters could see car markers turn back to the metal. Original Source: Johnson Matthey Platinum Today, website: http://www.platinum.matthey.com/ (13 Aug 2013) © Johnson Matthey plc 2013 June platinum output falls Platinum output from South African mines slumped by nearly a fifth in Jun 2013 compared to Jun 2012. Mining production decreased 6.2% year-on- year in Jun 2013, led by an 18.9% drop in output of platinum group metals (pgms), according to Statistics South Africa data. The largest contributors to the overall slump in mining output were pgms (4.6%) and gold (2.3%). Seasonally adjusted mining production decreased by 3% in Jun 2013 compared with May 2013. For the three months to Jun 2013, pgm output was down nearly a tenth (9.5%) from 1Q 2013. Mining sales decreased by 8.5% year-on-year in May 2013. The largest negative growth rates were recorded for gold (42.6%), nickel (20%), and ‘other’ metallic’ minerals (15.5%). Sales of pgms, which include platinum, palladium, rhodium, among others, were down 0.9% in the three months to May 2013 from the previous quarter. Original Source: Johnson Matthey Platinum Today, website: http://www.platinum.matthey.com/ (9 Aug 2013) © Johnson Matthey plc 2013 IEA publishes update of advanced, cellulosic biofuel projects A 2012 report from the International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task 39 group indicates that global output capacity for lignocellulosic biofuels has grown threefold to roughly 140,000 tonnes of fuel from 2010. The output capacity for hydrotreating technology stood at 2.19 M tonne/y, increasing at an even faster rate. Meanwhile, 14 of the 71 actively pursued biofuel projects were still in the planning stage at end-2012, 9 were still under construction and 48 were already operational. Original Source: Biomass Power & Thermal, 3 Jun 2013, (Website: http://biomassmagazine.com) © BBI International 2013 COMPANY NEWS Bac2’s latent acid catalyst eliminates free formaldehyde Bac2, the polymer materials company, is enabling companies to comply with increasing stringent legislation relating to free formaldehyde through its CSR latent acid catalyst. Formaldehyde resin systems use latent catalysts to control the manufacturing process and end product characteristics. Many of these ammonia-based catalysts rely upon the presence of free formaldehyde to release the acid. In resins with very low levels of free formaldehyde the ammonia-based catalysts are less active. Bac2’s CSR latent acid catalysts use hydroxylamine as a base retarder and can be activated at relatively low temperatures in the absence of free formaldehyde. Concerns over possible health hazards are leading the global legislative drive for formaldehyde reduction. It is classed as a carcinogen, or probable carcinogen, by a growing number of governmental agencies. Building materials are of particular concern. Already, some wood suppliers and cabinet companies are taking steps to label their products as “formaldehyde free”, seeking marketing advantage from changes to their manufacturing processes. CSR latent acid catalysts assist these efforts and deliver additional manufacturing and environmental benefits. The catalysts activate at between 50° and 120°, depending on the application and required speed of cure, a much lower temperature than alternative products. This saves energy and reduces CO 2 emissions. They have no detrimental effect on the mould-flow or other characteristics of the resins with which they are used and the storage life of pre-polymeric mixes for SMC and BMC is extended to several months, simplifying storage, transportation and materials handling. Original Source: BAC2, website: http://bac.co.uk (22 Aug 2013) © Bac2 Limited 2013 BASF interim report for 1H 2013: functional materials & solutions segment Sales grew in the Functional Materials & Solutions segment from €4412 M in 2Q 2012 to €4503 M in 2Q 2013. BASF were able to increase volumes in the Coatings and Performance Materials divisions, while it posted a decline in sales volumes in the Construction Chemicals division. The sales contribution from precious metal trading was lower than in 2Q 2012 due to decreased volumes. BASF were able to significantly improve income from operations before special items. All divisions contributed to this increase. The Catalysts division’s sales slightly decreased from €1467 M in 2Q 2012 to €1463 M in 2Q 2013. As a result of lower volumes, the sales contribution from precious metal trading fell to €588 M (2Q 2012: €631 M). Sales volumes of chemical catalysts declined, but volumes of automotive and refinery catalysts increased. Earnings grew considerably. Original Source: BASF, website: http://www.basf.com/ (25 Jul 2013) © BASF 2013 Clariant International: financial review 1H/2Q 2013: Catalysis & Energy For its 1H 2013, the Catalysis & Energy business unit of Clariant International Ltd has reported sales of SFR 316 M (SFR 342 M for its 1H 2012), EBITDA of SFR 70 M (SFR 65 M), and operating income of SFR 37 M (SFR 31 M). For its 2Q 2013, this business unit has reported sales of SFR 197 M (SFR 211 M for its 2Q 2012), EBITDA of SFR 51 M (SFR 47 M), and operating income of SFR 35 M (SFR 30 M). Original Source: Clariant International Ltd, Rothaustrasse 61, CH-4132 Muttenz 1, Switzerland, website: http://www.clariant.com (30 Jul 2013) © Clariant 2013 Codexis, Purolite form enzymes pact Enzyme developer Codexis and Purolite, suppler of resins for enzyme immobilization, have teamed up to 2 OCTOBER 2013 FOCUS ON CATALYSTS
Transcript of IEA publishes update of advanced, cellulosic biofuel projects
rhodium for use in catalytic convertersfrom car manufacturers has remainedlow and does not show signs ofimproving in the near future. Whiledemand remains subdued and above-ground stockpiles are high, rhodium isunlikely to see much movement inprice. However, an analyst fromDeutsche Bank AG suggested thatthe low price and favourableperformance of rhodium catalyticconverters could see car markers turnback to the metal.
Original Source: Johnson Matthey Platinum Today,website: http://www.platinum.matthey.com/ (13 Aug2013) © Johnson Matthey plc 2013
June platinum output falls
Platinum output from South Africanmines slumped by nearly a fifth in Jun2013 compared to Jun 2012. Miningproduction decreased 6.2% year-on-year in Jun 2013, led by an 18.9%drop in output of platinum groupmetals (pgms), according to StatisticsSouth Africa data. The largestcontributors to the overall slump inmining output were pgms (4.6%) andgold (2.3%). Seasonally adjustedmining production decreased by 3% inJun 2013 compared with May 2013.For the three months to Jun 2013,pgm output was down nearly a tenth(9.5%) from 1Q 2013. Mining salesdecreased by 8.5% year-on-year inMay 2013. The largest negativegrowth rates were recorded for gold(42.6%), nickel (20%), and ‘other’metallic’ minerals (15.5%). Sales ofpgms, which include platinum,palladium, rhodium, among others,were down 0.9% in the three monthsto May 2013 from the previousquarter.
Original Source: Johnson Matthey Platinum Today,website: http://www.platinum.matthey.com/ (9 Aug2013) © Johnson Matthey plc 2013
IEA publishes update of advanced,cellulosic biofuel projects
A 2012 report from the InternationalEnergy Agency Bioenergy Task 39group indicates that global outputcapacity for lignocellulosic biofuelshas grown threefold to roughly140,000 tonnes of fuel from 2010. Theoutput capacity for hydrotreatingtechnology stood at 2.19 M tonne/y,increasing at an even faster rate.Meanwhile, 14 of the 71 actively
pursued biofuel projects were still inthe planning stage at end-2012, 9were still under construction and 48were already operational.
Original Source: Biomass Power & Thermal, 3 Jun2013, (Website: http://biomassmagazine.com) © BBIInternational 2013
COMPANYNEWS
Bac2’s latent acid catalyst eliminatesfree formaldehyde
Bac2, the polymer materials company,is enabling companies to comply withincreasing stringent legislation relatingto free formaldehyde through its CSRlatent acid catalyst. Formaldehyderesin systems use latent catalysts tocontrol the manufacturing processand end product characteristics. Manyof these ammonia-based catalystsrely upon the presence of freeformaldehyde to release the acid. Inresins with very low levels of freeformaldehyde the ammonia-basedcatalysts are less active. Bac2’s CSRlatent acid catalysts usehydroxylamine as a base retarder andcan be activated at relatively lowtemperatures in the absence of freeformaldehyde. Concerns overpossible health hazards are leadingthe global legislative drive forformaldehyde reduction. It is classedas a carcinogen, or probablecarcinogen, by a growing number ofgovernmental agencies. Buildingmaterials are of particular concern.Already, some wood suppliers andcabinet companies are taking steps tolabel their products as “formaldehydefree”, seeking marketing advantagefrom changes to their manufacturingprocesses. CSR latent acid catalystsassist these efforts and deliveradditional manufacturing andenvironmental benefits. The catalystsactivate at between 50° and 120°,depending on the application andrequired speed of cure, a much lowertemperature than alternative products.This saves energy and reduces CO2emissions. They have no detrimentaleffect on the mould-flow or othercharacteristics of the resins withwhich they are used and the storagelife of pre-polymeric mixes for SMCand BMC is extended to several
months, simplifying storage,transportation and materials handling.
Original Source: BAC2, website: http://bac.co.uk (22 Aug 2013) © Bac2 Limited 2013
BASF interim report for 1H 2013:functional materials & solutionssegment
Sales grew in the Functional Materials& Solutions segment from €4412 M in2Q 2012 to €4503 M in 2Q 2013.BASF were able to increase volumesin the Coatings and PerformanceMaterials divisions, while it posted adecline in sales volumes in theConstruction Chemicals division. Thesales contribution from precious metaltrading was lower than in 2Q 2012due to decreased volumes. BASFwere able to significantly improveincome from operations before specialitems. All divisions contributed to thisincrease. The Catalysts division’ssales slightly decreased from €1467M in 2Q 2012 to €1463 M in 2Q 2013.As a result of lower volumes, thesales contribution from precious metaltrading fell to €588 M (2Q 2012: €631M). Sales volumes of chemicalcatalysts declined, but volumes ofautomotive and refinery catalystsincreased. Earnings grewconsiderably.
Original Source: BASF, website: http://www.basf.com/(25 Jul 2013) © BASF 2013
Clariant International: financial review1H/2Q 2013: Catalysis & Energy
For its 1H 2013, the Catalysis &Energy business unit of ClariantInternational Ltd has reported sales ofSFR 316 M (SFR 342 M for its 1H2012), EBITDA of SFR 70 M (SFR 65M), and operating income of SFR 37M (SFR 31 M). For its 2Q 2013, thisbusiness unit has reported sales ofSFR 197 M (SFR 211 M for its 2Q2012), EBITDA of SFR 51 M (SFR 47M), and operating income of SFR 35M (SFR 30 M).
Original Source: Clariant International Ltd,Rothaustrasse 61, CH-4132 Muttenz 1, Switzerland,website: http://www.clariant.com (30 Jul 2013) © Clariant 2013
Codexis, Purolite form enzymes pact
Enzyme developer Codexis andPurolite, suppler of resins for enzymeimmobilization, have teamed up to
2 OCTOBER 2013
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