Firms preparing to dig deeper to supply global oil needs

patients. The trial is funded primarilythrough a grant provided by theCystic Fibrosis Foundation. Theresults from this trial are anticipated in1H 2010.

Press releases from: Discovery Laboratories Inc,2600 Kelly Road, Suite 100, Warrington, PA 18976-3622, USA, tel: +1 215 488 9300, fax: +1 215 4889301, e-mail: ir@discoverylabs.com, website:http://www.discoverylabs.com) (4 & 17 Nov 2009)

Other

Cleaning products firm’s Penang plantoperational

Kyzen has commenced operations atits fourth facility in Penang, which willmanufacture green cleaningdetergent products. The company hasinvested Ringgit 1 M (€0.21 M) for the1300 sq m facility, which will operateunder its Kyzen Sdn Bhd unit. Thenew plant will immediately startsupplying green cleaning detergentsto electronics and semiconductorsector companies in Malaysia andother parts of South-East Asia, and toclients in Singapore and Indonesia bythe end of 2009. The company thenintends to expand operations to caterto markets in Thailand, Vietnam andthe Philippines by 1H 2010. Kyzen isa leading provider of environment-friendly cleaning products for high-tech manufacturing plants.

The Star, 2 Nov 2009, (Website:http://www.thestar.com.my)

Firms preparing to dig deeper tosupply global oil needs

The growing population andincreasingly limited access to ‘easyoil’ will drive demand for enhanced oilrecovery (EOR) chemicals, accordingto producers. Market research firmFreedonia estimates the US EORmarket to expand 7.4%/y through2013 from the 2008 level of $430 M.Shell Chemicals and SNF Group areamong those positioning themselvesto benefit from this expected uptrend.Shell is conducting more R&D studieson water-based plus surfactant EORactivities while SNF plans to invest$362 M in a 250,000 tonne/ypolyacrylamide powder plant inPlaquemine, LA, USA.

Chemical Week, 2 Nov 2009, (Website:http://www.chemweek.com)

New additive provides high-performance coatings withoutcompromise

Dow Corning has introduced aninnovative performance-enhancingadditive that brings excellent abrasionresistance, levelling and slip to clearand pigmented paints, coatings andinks without generating excessivefoam or compromising the gloss orclarity of the finished coating. Thenew Dow Corning 55N additive hasalso been found to improve coatinghardness and recoatability in certainwater-based coating applications.Dow Corning 55N additive reducesCoF without the poor recoatability,gloss reduction and foamingproblems commonly associated withCoF-reducing additives. A reactivesilicone glycol surfactant with carbinolfunctionality, Dow Corning 55Nadditive is designed for use in paints,coatings and inks for wood, metal andplastic. It performs well in water-based, solvent-based and UV-curablesystems and is compatible with awide range of resins, including alkyd,acrylic, epoxy and polyurethane.

Press release from: Dow Corning Corp, PO Box 994,Midland, MI 48686-0994, USA, tel: +1 989 496 4400,fax: +1 989 496 6731, website:http://www.dowcorning.com (5 Oct 2009)

Behaviour modification could easeconcerns about nanoparticles

In an advance that could help easehealth and environmental concernsabout the emerging nanotechnologyindustry, scientists are reportingdevelopment of technology forchanging the behaviour ofnanoparticles in municipal sewagetreatment plants – their main gatewayinto the environment. Their study wasscheduled to be published online inNov 2009 in the ACS’ journalEnvironmental Science & Technology.Manufacturers use 2 M tons ofnanoparticles each year in foods,cosmetics, medicines and otherconsumer products. Studies havehinted that some nanoparticles couldhave adverse environmental healtheffects. Scientists thus are focusingon how nanoparticles behave inwastewater and how that gatewaymight be closed off. The studysimulated (primary) sewage treatmentto show that coating silica

nanoparticles with a detergent-likematerial made the nanoparticlesclump together into the solid residuetermed sewage sludge. Sludge isoften stored in landfills or recycled asagricultural fertilizer. Uncoatednanoparticles, in contrast, stayed inthe water and therefore remained inthe effluent stream. As thenanoparticles are simply too small tobe visualized optically, the team usedneutron scattering (at the UK’s ISISFacility) to view the sewage at thenanoscale. The neutrons easilypenetrate the sewage ‘soup’ andscatter strongly from thenanoparticles, allowing theiraggregation behaviour to be followedwith time. The study demonstratesthe potential for coating or otherwisechanging the surface chemistry ofnanoparticles to re-route their journeythrough sewage treatment plants, thescientists say.

Nanite News, 14 Nov 2009, (Website:http://www.nanitenews.com)

MARKETREVIEWS

Strategic analysis of the home andfabric care specialty ingredientsmarkets in Europe (Ref: M382)

The market for speciality ingredientsin home and fabric care formulationsremains dynamic, fuelled by the needto minimize risks from bacteria andgerms, to reduce the time and effortrequired for household chores, and tofurther improve the quality of life whileaddressing the environmentalconcerns of consumers. New analysisfrom Frost & Sullivan, StrategicAnalysis of the Home and FabricCare Specialty Ingredients Markets inEurope, shows that this marketgenerated €615.8 M in revenues in2008 and estimates it to reach €706.2M in 2015. The following segmentsare covered in this research:speciality surfactants, functionalpolymers, fabric enhancers, activeingredients and rheology modifiers inhome and fabric care formulations aswell as hard surface cleaners, carinterior and upholstery cleaners,furniture, shoe & leather polishes, anddishwashing products. Speciality

JANUARY 2010 5

F O C U S O N S U R F A C T A N T S