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DSM launches DOE-funded researchinitiative for second generation biofuels
On 21 Oct 2008, Royal DSM NVannounced the execution of amultimillion dollar cooperative fundingagreement with the US Department ofEnergy to underwrite a portion of R&Dcosts aimed at enabling “secondgeneration” biofuels from non-foodfeedstocks. In Feb 2008, a consortiumled by DSM that includes AbengoaBioenergy New Technologies, LosAlamos National Laboratory, andSandia National Laboratory wasawarded $7.4 M by the DOE toward aproposed $33 M program to conductcost effective enzyme developmentfocused on finding applications incellulose-based biorefineries for theproduction of advanced biofuels bio-based products.
Press release from: DSM, PO Box 6500, 6401 JHHeerlen, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 45 578 2422. Fax:+31 45 574 0680. Website: http://www.dsm.com (21Oct 2008) & Het Financieele Dagblad, 21 Oct 2008(Website: http://www.fd.nl/) (in Dutch) & ChemicalWeek, 27 Oct 2008, 170 (33), 9
LibraGen and DSM link a deal to co-develop and produce enzymes
LibraGen, a Toulouse-based biotechfirm, and DSM have agreed to jointlydevelop omega-transaminases for theproduction of chiral amines. LibraGenwill use its discovery anddevelopment expertise to identifyenzymes that can convert ketonesinto optically pure R- and S-aminesfor use in the fine chemical andpharmaceutical sectors. The enzymeswill be produced on an industrial scaleby DSM using its fermentationtechnology and proprietary expressionplatform. Subsequent development ofbiocatalytic processes will be carriedout by both partners. DSMPharmaceutical Products, whichoffers contract manufacturing anddevelopment services topharmaceutical andbiopharmaceutical firms, expects asignificant reduction in the timebetween enzyme discovery and finalproduct screening.
Chemical Week, 29 Sep 2008, 170 (30), 35
Evonik has granted exclusive licenceto Solvias for homogeneous catalysts
Evonik Degussa GmbH has grantedan exclusive license to Solvias AG of
Basel, Switzerland, to develop,manufacture, and market thecatASium and cataCXium ligandproduct lines. Evonik remains activein homogenous catalysis asmanufacturer and vendor ofcatMETium catalysts for metathesisreactions. Solvias is a centre forhomogeneous catalysis and highthroughput screening (HTS).catASium is a product line of chiralligands for asymmetric hydro-genations that consists of highlyvariable chiral ligands and theirassociated Rh complexes. cataCXiumis a line of CX coupling ligands withproven success in solving industrialCX coupling problems.
Press release from: Evonik Industries AG,Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11, 45128 Essen, Germany.Website: http://www.evonik.com (30 Sep 2008) &Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 6 Oct 2008, (439), 10 (inFrench)
Topsoe involved in next generationbiofuels
On 10 Oct 2008, Haldor Topsoe A/Sannounced that it will participate inbuilding the world’s first plantproducing DME from biomass. Within18 months the plant will supply 4-5tonne/d of the new biofuel dimethylether, DME. “Topsoe has extensiveDME experience, and we are pleasedto be part of this important project,which potentially will make asubstantial contribution to solving theenergy challenges of tomorrow,” saysTechnology sales manager JensPerregaard. The plant will beconstructed as part of the Europeanproject BioDME, coordinated byVolvo. The BioDME project willdemonstrate the entire technologychain from biomass to trucks runningon DME, including fuel distributionand dedicated filling stations. Theproject was kicked off yesterday withactivities in Stockholm and Pitea. Thebiofuel supply chain: Topsoe andChemrec will design and build thenew DME plant, which will be locatedat the Smurfit Kappa paper mill inPitea, Sweden. The plant is based onthe gasification of black liquor, a by-product from paper production, andTopsoe’s unique DME synthesis.
Press release from: Haldor Topsoe A/S, Nymollevej55, PO Box 213, DK 2800 Lyngby, Denmark. Tel: +454527 2000. Fax: +45 4527 2999. Website:http://www.haldortopsoe.com (10 Oct 2008)
Mascoma announces $49.5 M in DOEand State of Michigan funding forcellulosic fuel facility
Mascoma Corp, with the USDepartment of Energy (DOE),Michigan Governor Jennifer MGranholm, members of the MichiganCongressional delegation and theMichigan Economic DevelopmentCorp, announced that Mascoma hasreceived a total of $26 M in fundingfrom the DOE and an overallcontribution of $23.5 M from the Stateof Michigan. The funds will be appliedtoward the development of a cellulosicfuel production plant that uses non-food biomass to convert woodchipsinto fuel. The facility will be located inChippewa County in the UpperPeninsula of Michigan, in the town ofKinross. The funding provided byDOE and the State of Michigan willaccelerate Mascoma’s construction ofthe plant and the scale-up of itstechnology process while also pavingthe pathway to commercial low-carbon and sustainable fuelproduction in Michigan.
Press release from: Mascoma Corp, 1380 SoldiersField Road, Second Floor, Boston, MA 02135, USA.Tel: +1 617 234 0099. Fax: +1 617 868 0408. E-mail:[email protected]. Website:http://www.mascoma.com (7 Oct 2008)
Novozymes awarded $12.3 M contractfrom DOE
Novozymes has been awarded a$12.3 M contract from the USDepartment of Energy (DOE) toimprove the enzymes necessary toproduce cellulosic ethanol.Novozymes’ project DECREASE(Development of a Commercial-Ready Enzyme Application Systemfor Ethanol) aims to improve theperformance of Novozymes’ mostadvanced enzyme system, to furtherreduce the cost of cellulosic ethanolproduction. Under the terms of the2.5-year contract, Novozymes hascommitted to increase the efficiencyof the enzymes used in theconversion of cellulosic biomass toethanol by two-fold. In combinationwith internally funded R&D to reduceenzyme production costs, this workwill enable Novozymes to supply newand even more cost-efficientcommercial cellulases in pilot,demonstration, and commercial plantsby 2012. Novozymes will match the
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