Diversa and Du Pont in enzyme jv

research in developing catalyticprocesses as well as in developingprocesses. The MIT-patentedtechnology involves the preparation ofarylamines from amines and activatedaromatic compounds when apalladium or nickel catalyst and baseare present. A patent on diarylethercondensation is also covered.

Performance Chemicals Europe, Jul-Aug 2002, 17 (4),13 & Speciality Chemicals, Jul-Aug 2002, 22 (7), 6 &Chemical Engineering World, Jul 2002, 37 (7), 38

BP catalyst expertise offeredworldwide

BP is to make its new catalyst for usein fixed-bed maleic anhydrideproduction available to companiesaround the world. BP is using thecatalyst, BP-5, in the fixed-bedmanufacture of maleic anhydride frombutane. BP-5 can be used bybenzene-based producers of maleicanhydride which want to switch tobutane.

European Chemical News, 19 Aug 2002, 77 (2018), 28& Press release from BP Catalyst and Licensing, 150West Warrenville Road, Naperville, IL 60563, USA. Tel:+ 1 630 961 6506. Fax: +1 630 961 7663. Website:http://www.bp.com (7 Aug 2002)

Celanese-Novolen metallocenes pact

New and improved metallocenes, co-catalysts, and metallocene catalystsare to be jointly developed byCelanese and Novolen TechnologyHoldings in order to accelerate thecommercialization of metallocenetechnology and broaden applicationfields.

Chemical Week, 31 Jul 2002, 164 (30), 8 & EuropeanChemical News, 19 Aug 2002, 77 (2018), 26 &Plastics and Rubber Weekly, 23 Aug 2002, 7 &Chemical Market Reporter, 5 Aug 2002 (Website:http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)

Diversa and Du Pont in enzyme jv

Diversa Corp and DuPont Bio-BasedMaterials have formed an alliance todevelop new enzymes, which will beutilised for DuPont processes. Thealliance’s first project will focus ondeveloping enzymatic processes formaking carbohydrates for DuPont’smicrobial 1,3-propanediol (PDO)process. PDO is a vital ingredient inthe production of DuPont’s Soronapolymer.

Chemical Engineering (New York), Aug 2002, 109 (8),19

ExxonMobil, Kellogg enter technologyalliance

ExxonMobil Research andEngineering Co has entered into anew worldwide technology alliance forFluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC)technology with Kellogg Brown &Root. The companies, which plan tooffer their best features to the refiningindustry, will jointly develop andcreate new technology to address thepresent problems faced by the FCCoperators. The internationallyrenowned technology-basedengineering and constructioncompany Kellogg, and the leadingglobal oil, natural gas, andpetrochemical company ExxonMobil,have so far jointly designed over 200grassroots units worldwide and haverevamped hundreds of others withnew and improved technology.

Chemical Engineering World, Jul 2002, 37 (7), 40

Fujisawa allies with MerLion inenzyme research

Fujisawa of Japan and MerLionPharmaceutical of Singapore are tocollaborate in the development ofenzymes derived from naturally-occurring products. MerLion will useFujisawa high-throughput screening(HTS) technology and certain assaysystems that have been alreadydeveloped at its laboratories inSingapore. Fujisawa will financeMerLion’s enzyme R&D activitiesthrough milestone payments androyalties on any enzyme products thatreach marketing stage.

Pharma Japan, 5-12 Aug 2002, (1806), 15

Fujitsu to license photocatalyst

Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd of Akashi,Japan, is offering licences for itsoxidation catalyst claimed to behighly efficient in decomposingundesirable organics. The catalystdecomposes organic substancestwice as fast as conventional light-sensitive catalysts. It is made oftitanium-modified calcium hydroxy-apatite and may be used forbacteria, ammonia, acetic acid, andacetaldehyde.

Chemical Engineering (New York), Aug 2002, 109 (8),21

Grace licenses FCC catalyst fromExxonMobil

WR Grace and ExxonMobil Researchand Engineering have signed a deallicensing ExxonMobil patents to WRGrace’s Davison Catalysts unit. Thepatents will be used to make and sellAdVanta, which is a new FCC catalystbeing used in ExxonMobil’s refineriesaround the world. The catalyst wasjointly developed and commercialisedby Exxonmobil and WR Grace. It isclaimed that the catalyst has gainedcommercial success in FCC units.

Hydrocarbon Processing, Aug 2002, 82 (8), 92 &Japan Chemical Week, 1/8 Aug 2002, 43 (2182), 1

ICI 2Q and 1H 2002: Performancespecialities

For 1H 2002, the PerformanceSpecialities division of ImperialChemical Industries plc has reportedgroup turnover of £422 M (£432 M in1H 2001), EBITDA of £44 M (£55 M),and trading profit of £29 M (£39 M).For 2Q 2002, the division hasreported group turnover of £222 M(£213 M in 2Q 2001), EBITDA of £22M (£26 M), and trading profit of £15 M(£18 M). Performance Specialtiesresults improved from the 1Q to 2Q2002. Synetix sales were 5% aheadof 2001 for the quarter, althoughtrading profit was lower due tocontinued investment in fixed costs.

ICI 2Q and HY Results 2002, 1 Aug 2002, 9 (ImperialChemical Industries plc, 20 Manchester Square,London, W1U 3AN, UK. Tel: +44 20 7009 5000. Fax:+44 20 7009 5001. Website: http://www.ici.com)

JEP licenses chiral enzyme process

Jülich Enzyme Products (JEP) is asmall process development companyformed in 1998 to sell enzymes. It hassince shifted its focus from theproduction of enzymes to developingprocesses for the enzymatic reductionof keto compounds to give chiralalcohols and derivatives usingoxyreductase enzymes. The companydesigns and licenses processes formaking chiral molecules, and makestest quantities of up to 100 kg via adeal with a nearby chemical company.Rütgers Organics recently licensed anapplication from JEP for the synthesisof ethyl (S)4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate.Rütgers is using the technologylicensed from JEP in commercialproduction of a raw material supplied

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