Biofuels made from marine algae

the patented ultrasonic technology inall potential hydrocarbon applicationsin Canada. Under the terms of themaster licence agreement, Bayshorewill have an exclusive right to use andto sublicense the patented ultrasonictechnology in Canada for 20 years.The master licence agreement alsogrants Bayshore a two-year option toacquire exclusive rights to thistechnology in other countries.Ultrasonic desulfurization involvespassing a hydrocarbon streamthrough an ultrasonic wave chamberwith an added proprietary catalyst toseparate sulfur from hydrocarbons inan economic manner. The patentedultrasonic wave process with catalystis much more efficient and does notrequire high temperature, highpressure or hydrogen.

Original Source: Bayshore Petroleum Corp, 2014.Found on Marketwired, 30 Jul 2014, (Website:http://marketwired.com)

Nanostructured metal-oxide catalystefficiently converts CO2 to methanol:highly reactive sites at interface oftwo nanoscale components could helpovercome hurdle of using CO2 as astarting point in producing usefulproducts

Scientists at the US Department ofEnergy’s Brookhaven NationalLaboratory have discovered a newcatalytic system for converting carbondioxide to methanol – a keycommodity used to create a widerange of industrial chemicals andfuels. With significantly higher activitythan other catalysts now in use, thenew system could make it easier toget normally unreactive CO2 toparticipate in these reactions.

Original Source: Nanotechnology Now, 31 Jul 2014,(Website: http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=49904 © 7thWave Inc2014

Sugazym increases yield and quality insugar production

New multi-enzyme complexes arebeing offered by SternEnzym GmbH& Co KG for the sugar industry,specifically for the production ofgranulated and raw sugar from beetand cane. Sugazym containsdextranase and amylase and aids in

the processing of raw materials thathave starch and dextrans. Sugar yieldis also increased by Sugazym and thequality of the sugar crystals isoptimized.

Original Source: NutraCos, Mar-Apr 2014, 13 (2), 40(Website: http://www.b5srl.com) © B5 Srl 2014

Valorization of crude glycerol

One method for valorizing glycerol,the principal by-product of biodieselmanufacture, is catalytic partialoxidation. The usual products areglyceraldehyde, glyceric acid, anddihydroxyacetone. There are twogeneral approaches: either oxidise thecrude glycerol directly and thenremove the oxidised minor by-products; or first purify the glyceroland then oxidise it. There aretechnical and economic advantagesand disadvantages of bothapproaches. This paper, from fourworkers from Poland and France,analyses them. Their experimentalwork used a commercialplatinum/alumina catalyst. Anadditional factor is the possibility ofselling some of the by-products.

Original Source: Applied Catalysis A: General, 22 Jul2014, 482, 245-257 (Website:http://www.sciencedirect.com) © Elsevier BV 2014

Sulfonated cellulose derivatives forglycerol acetylation

The acid-catalysed acetylation ofglycerol, which produces monoacetin,diacetin and triacetin, all used as fueladditives, is usually catalysed by anion-exchange resin. In this paper fromSouth Korea, the use of an uncon-ventional acid catalyst is described –sulfonated deoxycellulose. Theactivity and stability of the catalystwas found to be comparable with thatof a commercial resin.

Original Source: Applied Catalysis A: General, 22 Jul2014, 482, 31-37 (Website:http://www.sciencedirect.com) © Elsevier BV 2014

Better catalysts for dehydratingglycerol to acrolein

Tungstated zirconia made by wetmethods was found to be moredurable than products made byimpregnating pre-formed zirconias.

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 15 Sep2014, 196, 97-103 (Website:http://www.sciencedirect.com) © Elsevier BV 2014

PATENTSCatalytic dechlorination ofhydrocarbons

An alternative alkylation process formaking hydrocarbons for use as fuelsor lubricants using ionic liquidsinstead of mineral acids. But theseionic liquids contain chlorinecompounds and traces of themremain with the products. To removethese harmful chlorine compounds,the products are heated with adechlorination catalyst and thendistilled. Many dechlorinationcatalysts are mentioned but the oneexemplified is extruded alumina.

US 8,795,515, Chevron USA Inc, San Ramon, CA,USA, 5 Aug 2014

Denitration catalysts for engineexhausts

The function is to destroy NOx byreaction with CO2. The catalyst isrhodium on a zirconia base, coatedwith ceria.

US 8,796,171, NE Chemcat Corp, Tokyo, Japan, 5 Aug2014

Direct conversion of biomass to liquidfuels and chemicals

The biomass is reduced in thepresence of methanol and a catalyst.Various catalysts are mentioned, butthe preferred one is a copper-dopedmetal oxide.

US 8,796,494. University of California, Oakland, USA,5 Aug 2014

Biofuels made from marine algae

Polysaccharides in the algae are firstconverted to monosaccaharides andthence to biobutanol.

US 8,795,994, Korea Institute of IndustrialTechnology, Chungcheongnam-Do, South Korea, 5Aug 2014

Hydrocarbon fuels made from lignin

The process uses either separatedlignin or neat black liquor from theKraft process. The catalyst is a mixedmetal oxide containing Mo, Co, Ni, W,Fe, Pt, or mixtures thereof.

US 8,795,472, Chevron USA Inc, San Ramon, CA,USA, 5 Aug 2014

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