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division of Eagle-Picher IndustriesInc. The division produces diatamu-ceous earth filter aids and absorbents.

H. Michael Wehr has been electedpresident of the Association of Offi-cial Analytical Chemists for 1990-91.Wehr is administrator of the laborato-ry service division of Oregon's depart-ment of agriculture.

Business briefsSouthern Testing & Research Labo-ratories Inc. has completed its moveto a new 19.000-square-footlaboraloryfaciliry in Wilson, North Carolina. Thefirm's new mailing address is: 3709Airport Dr., Wilson, NC 27893. Thetelephone number is now 919-237-4175; fax number is 919-237-9341.

Minnesota's state-sponsored lottery isnow using soy-bused inks to print itsgaming tickets on recyclable paper.Minnesota's Environment and NaturalResources Trust Fund gels 40% of netlottery proceeds; the Greater Minneso-ta Corporation, 25%: higher education,approximately 28%: environmental-related capital projects. about 7%.

SURFACTANTS & DETERGENTS

Akzo to close McCook research laboratories• Akzo N.V. based in The Netherlands,

has announced plans to close itsMcCook. Illinois, research facility bythe end of March 1991. The move willaffect about 90 Akzo employees.

Akzo says manufacturing opera-tions at McCook will continue,including the production of surfac-tants. fatty amines, fatty acids andpaper chemicals.

Some McCook research activitieswill be transferred to the company'sother U.S. research facility in DobbsFerry. New York, and some employ-ees will be offered the opportunity tomove. How many, however, wasuncertain as of mid-October. An Akzospokesman said decisions on whomight be transferred to' Dobbs Ferrywould be made by the first of 1991.

Research at McCook has concen-trated on basic and applicationsresearch chiefly for fany amines andrelated chemicals. In recent years, thishas included work with enzymes andhow they relate to fatty acids and fats.

The closing will end an era ofresearch activities begun years ago inChicago by the Armour organization.The McCook facility-now part ofAkzo Chemicals Inc.-was opened in1961 by Annour Chemicals.

Armour and Company, founded in1859. first produced fatty aminescommercially in 1938 and inventedfabric softener in the 1940s. In theearly years. Armour's main chemicalslaboratory was in the Chicago stock-yards with an auxiliary research labo-ratory for soaps and related materialsat 31 st Street and Ashland Avenue.

"The central research laboratory at thestockyards and the Armour industrialchemicals research at 31st Street wereconsolidated at the McCook facility in1961," long-time Abo employee lin-coln Metcalfe recalled. noting thatwith the closing of McCook. the lastof the research activities originated byArmour will have moved from Chica-go. Offshoots of other Armour groupswhich already have moved includethose for food research, Armour-Dialand pharmaceutical research, Metcalfesaid.

In 1970. the former Armour Indus-trial Chemical Division was renamedArmak when it was sold to Akzona.In January 1984, the Armak namewas changed to Akzo Chernie Ameri-ca and in January 1988. to AkzoChemicals Inc.

In 1987. Akzo acquired the special-ty chemical business of StaufferChemical Co .. which owned theDobbs Ferry research facility.

Shutdown of the McCook laborato-ry is part of a reorganization that willconsolidate the eight business units ofAkzo's chemicals division into six.effective Jan. I. 1991. Under the plan.the company's industrial chemicalsgroup will be incorporated into thefunctional chemicals unit; the paperchemicals unit will be combined withpolymer processing. Group vice-presi-dents named to head these worldwidegroups are: Hans Arnoldy. polymerproduction chemicals; Vincent Oakes,polymer processing and paper chemi-cals: Kees Bakker. rubber processingchemicals; Martin E. Hartman, cata-

tysrs: Arend-Jan Kortenhorst, deter-gents and surfucrarus: and GeorgeMiller. functional chemicals.

Conrad S. Kent will continue aspresident of Akzo's North Americanchemicals division and will be a mem-ber of Akzo's worldwide chemicalsmanagement team.

Personal care oilsface toxicology testsThe National Toxicology Program(NTP) has announced it will conductstudies on mice and rats to determinewhether there is reason to be con-cerned about potential long-term toxi-cology of lauric and oleic acids andcoconut oil.

"We have no reason to suspect thatthere is any problem with long-termexposure to these products," saidWilliam Eastin of the NTP. "We aretesting them simply because the con-sumer is exposed 10 them in such largequantities in cosmetics and personalcare products." NTP expects to awarda contract for the studies in March1991.

Anyone wishing to share relevantinformation (including ongoing toxi-cological studies, current or futuretrends in production and import, usepattern, human exposure levels, andtoxicological data) with the NTPshould contact Eastin. at NlEHS/NTP.PO Box 12233. Research TrianglePark, NC 27709: or by telephone at919-541-7941.

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Ecological packagingtermed an 'imperative'Consumer demand and state regula-tions are making it imperative thatcorporate America reformulate andrepackage consumer products to makethem "environmentally friendly. ,.That was the take-home message fromthe Society of Cosmetic Chemists'scientific seminar. held duringSeptember in Chicago. Illinois.

With 11% of U.S. residents livingin California. and the number increas-ing daily. the California Air ResourcesBoard's (CARD) proposed regulationswill have a nationwide impact onindustry. according to Joyce Graf,staff chemist for the Cosmetic. Toi-letry and Fragrance Association. Cali-fornia's Clean Air Act. enacted in1988, is meant to reduce the ozonelevels in urban areas by reducing therelease of ozone-producing chemicals.Automobile emissions are the primarytarget. but consumer products. whichaccount for the release of 10% of allnon-vehicular volatile organic com-pounds in California. also are beingregulated.

Meanwhile. other states. includingNew York and New Jersey. are draw-ing up their own state regulations.While they are not copying Califor-nia's Clean Air Act. they are heavilyinfluenced by it.

Other environmental considera-tions addressed at the meeting includ-ed solid waste management. AI leastone Procter & Gamble householdcleaning product is now sold in 100%recycled plastic containers, accordingto Philip Geis. regulatory manager atProcter & Gamble. Packaging person-al care products in recycled plastics isnot permitted because of the Food andDrug Administration's (FDA) concernabout the carryover of contaminants.although FDA officials have ex-pressed optimism on the future use ofrecycled plastic in food and cosmeticcontainers.

There was also a presentation byRobert Collier. manager of degradablepolymers at Batelle. on plastics thaiwill degrade under normal landfillconditions. Packaging must be strong.cost-effective. and have a reasonableshelf life. while degrading to environ-

mentally compatible products within areasonable period of time. Manufactur-ers are now developing wholly degrad-able packaging from such materials aslactic acid polymers and copolymersand starch-based polymers.

For further information on the Cal-ifornia Clean Air Act and on CARB'sregulations, conracr Dean Simeroth.chief of CARB's criteria pollutantsbranch at 916-322-6020.

A company spokesman said thecoast-to-coast expansions have beenprompted primarily by the number ofcompetitor plant closings announcedin recent years. Although the industrymay be consolidating. such markets ashousehold detergents and personalcare continue to grow. he said.

Stepan expands itssulfonation capacityStepan Co. is continuing to expand itssulfonation capacity to help supply thegrowing surfactants markets. Projectsrecently completed or nearing comple-tion will bring the company's totalsulfonation capacity to approximately1.2 billion pounds, according to acompany spokesman.

Stepan recently brought a new 200-million-pound-per-year sulfonic acidplant online at Millsdale, Illinois. andis completing a project there toexpand by 50% its production of neu-tralized products. including alphaolefin sulfonares. lauryl sulfates. ethersulfates and blends.

Stepan expects to complete a majorexpansion of its production facility inWinder. Georgia, during the first quar-ter of 1991. This project includesinstallation of a 130-million-pound-per-year continuous sulfonation/sulfa-non unit. Also, engineering is underway at Fieldsboro. New Jersey. to add60 million pounds of sulfonic acid andneutralized product capacity. This pro-ject is expected 10 be completed inlate 1991.

Stepan also is modifying equip-ment at its facility in Anaheim, Cali-fornia. to run at a higher rate to helpmeet increased West Coast demand.Stepan also has raised sulfonationcapacity to 25 million pounds at itsMetamoros, Mexico. plant, to servecustomers in Mexico, the Caribbeanand the southwestern United States.

In Canada. Stepan is increasingcapacity for sulfonic acid and neutral-ized products to 25 million pounds peryear at its Longford Mills. Ontario,plant. Stepan acquired the plant fromDomtar Inc. late in 1989.

Rohm and Haas opensdetergent polymer plantRohm and Haas Co. has begun pro-duction at its new NorsoHaas facilityfor detergent polymers in Villers SaintPaul, France.

The facility. a joint venture withAtochem, can produce more than40.000 metric tons annually of poly-acrylate water-soluble polymers.

"The (plant) will make Rohm andHaas a truly global supplier of water-soluble polymers for the detergentindustry," according to A. Wayne Car-ney. the company's newly appointedbusiness director for formulationchemicals.

Rohm and Haas also manufacturesdetergent polymers at facilities inMexico. Italy and in Knoxville. Ten-nessee.

Shell, Gist-brocadesto end joint ventureGist-brocades N. V. of The Nether-lands and two companies of the RoyalDutch Shell Group have announcedthey will break up their joint-ventureoperations in International Bio-Syn-thetics (IBIS) Holding B.v., whichthey formed in 1987 to developbiotechnology applications in fine andspecialty chemicals.

Gist-brocades" contribution to thejoint venture had consisted of itsindustrial enzymes business. whichhas plants in Brugge, Belgium, andKingstree. South Carolina. and a U.S.office in Charlene, North Carolina.Shell Petroleum N.V. of The Hague,The Netherlands. and Shell Oil Co. ofHouston. Texas. had contributed theirfine chemicals business at wldnes,United Kingdom. previously knownas Ward Blenkinsop & Co. Ltd.

The companies said they plan to

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exploit their technology separately.The enzyme business, including 181SInc. in the United States and 181SN.V. in Belgium, will be reintegratedby Gist-brocades and will continueunder the name International Bio-Syn-thetics. The fine chemicals business inthe United Kingdom will be takenover by Shell and will continue underthe name IBIS Ltd.

The companies said they do notanticipate laying off any employees asa result of the change.

Ecolab and Henkelform joint ventureEcolab Inc. of SI. Paul, Minnesota.and Henkel KGaA of Dusseldorf,Germany. have agreed to form a 50-50 joint venture combining theirEuropean cleaning and sanitizingbusinesses.

Also under the agreement. Ecolabwill acquire Henkel's cleaning andsanitizing businesses in 18 countriesoutside of Europe as well as Henkel'sinterest in its cleaning and sanitizingbusinesses in several other countries.

The joint venture. with Henkelserving as managing partner, will haveits own manufacturing facilities andR&D activity for technical service andproduct development. The venturewill be autonomous from its parentfirms. Administrative headquarterswill be in Dusseldorf. The joint ven-ture. to be known as Henkel-Ecolab,initially will have approximately $750million in revenues. with approxi-mately 3.500 employees.

Regulatory approvals are requiredbefore the agreement can be consum-mated. However. the companies antic-ipate the transaction closing will occurin early 1991.

As a result of the formation of thejoint venture and Bcolab's purchase ofHenkel's cleaning and sanitizing busi-nesses in other countries, Henkel willreceive 5.6 million shares of Ecclab'scommon stock and approximately $74million, subject 10 adjustment. Henkelwill receive an additional SilO mil-lion, reflecting its investment in Eco-lab Series A Convertible PreferredStock last December which will beretired concurrently with the closing.

Founder 'meets' chQirmtlflOn hand to celebrate Henkel Corp.'s Emery Group's l50th anniver-sary in Cincinnati, founder Thomas Emery Sr; (portrayed by actorJon Farris. len in photo) and his wife (portrayed by Emery employ-ee Clara Freson) greet Konrad Henkel, chairman of Henkel KGaA.The open house, held during September, drew more than 1.500 per-sons, including several Henkel dignitaries. The Emery business,founded in 1840. firsl manufactured lallow candles and lard oil forlamps from by-products of Ihe city's mealpacking industry. Henkelpurchased Emery in 1989,

Upon completion of the transac-tion, Henkel's equity ownership inEcolab will represent approximately19% of Ecclab's outstanding commonshares. Henkel then will be permittedto purchase Ecolab shares in the openmarket. Over time, Henkel will havethe ability to own up 10 30%, and willhave representation on Bcotab's boardof directors proporttonate to its Ecolabstock ownership,

other chemicals for treating paper.textiles and leather. He replacesHoward W. Gross. who will continueas an executive vice-president but willconcentrate on Henkel Corp, 's exportbusiness and other activities outsidethe United Slates.

Meanwhile, James S. Lee, who hasworked in technical product develop-ment and sales and marketing during25 years in the industry, has beennamed executive vice-president of thecompany's functional products group.He had been appointed vice-presidentof the organic products group's coat-ings division in 1987,

The functional products group sup-plies resins, adhesives, curing agents,plasticizers. polymers. plastic addi-tives and dispersants to a variety ofindustries, as well as vitamins andspecialty chemicals. Lee replacesJochen P. Heidrich, who will return toDusseldorf, Germany. for an assign-ment with the Henkel Group, the par-ent company of Henkel Corp.

Henkel names leadersto two operating groupsHenkel Corp. has named Neveille E,McDonald, a 25-year veteran in thechemical industry, as executive vice-president of its organic productsgroup. McDonald joined Henkel in1983,

The organic products group sup-plies surfactants, antistatic agents,defoamers. lubricants. fat liquors and

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