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Borealis restructures Europeanactivities

Borealis, a leading manufacturer ofpolyolefins worldwide, plans torestructure its European activities.The company aims to reduce the timerequired to launch new products.Borealis will reduce technicalresearch within the group by aroundone-quarter. Borealis GmbH in Linzwill remain the Polymer DesignCentre with main focus onpolypropylene (PP) and will startactivities in the polyethylene (PE)segment. The business units Film &Fibre and Engineering Applications,including application technologylaboratories, will remain in Linz(Austria).

Kunststoffe, Feb 2003, 93 (2), 7 (in German)

Clariant offers better metallocenewaxes

Clariant is selling a new range ofwaxes which give improveddispersion of organic and inorganicpigments and carbon black inpolymers. The new waxes are madeusing a new metallocene processwhich has been developed byClariant, and can have their propertiesadjusted to suit each customer. Use ofthe new wax lowers the amounts ofcarbon black needed for dispersion inpolyethylene and polypropylene forgood conductivity and appearance.

Double Liaison, Apr 2003, 1 (531), 66

Codexis extends collaboration with RioTinto

Maxygen’s Codexis subsidiary hasextended its collaboration with RioTinto to develop a bioprocess forcarbon dioxide sequestration. Codexishas developed an enzymatic systemthat improves the rate of CO2 fixation.Rio Tinto will provide full R&D fundingfor the programme as well as potentialroyalty payments. Codexis will retainall commercialization rights to thetechnology outside energy production.

Chemical Week, 5 Mar 2003, 165 (9), 7

CRI Catalyst Company profiled

CRI Catalyst Company is profiled.The major products and servicessupplied by the company to the

chemical and petrochemical worldwideare discussed. These includeethylene oxide catalysts, styrenecatalysts, hydrogenation catalysts,and environmental catalysts & systems.


Davy and Samsung to cooperate on EO-to-PDO

Davy Process Technology andSamsung are to cooperate ondeveloping a cobalt-based catalyticprocess for making 1,3-propanediolfrom ethylene oxide. Samsung has apatented process for the hydro-esterification of ethylene oxide to ahydroxyester, and Davy hastechnology for purifying propanediol tothe level required for makingpolytrimethylene terephthalate. Thelocation of a demonstration plant islikely to be in Asia.

Chemical Week, 2 Apr 2003, 165 (13), 16

DIC & Kyushu Univ forgecomprehensive R&D alliance

On 19 Mar 2003, Dainippon Ink &Chemical announced the formation ofa comprehensive joint researchagreement with Kyushu University.Brief details are given. Researchareas include nano organic materialsand catalysts for polymerisation.

Japan Chemical Week, 27 Mar 2002, 44 (2214), 1-2

Diversa making recombinant proteinusing Asahi Glass technology

Diversa, US, has started commercialproduction of feedstuff protein usingAsahi Glass’s ASPEX geneticengineering process. This is the firstpractical application of the technologywhich uses Schizosaccharomycespombe. Diversa recently obtained USFDA permission to produce theenzyme phytase, using the technology.Phytase increases the absorption oforganic phosphorus in feedstuffs,resulting in the release of lessphosphorous compounds into theenvironment. Asahi Glass plans tobecome Japan’s biggest contractsupplier of proteins and forecasts thatthe market for consignment proteinproduction will grow to Yen 200 bn by2005.

Japan Chemical Week, 20 Mar 2003, 44 (2213), 5

Genencor, Eastman to license ascorbicacid bioprocess to ADM

Genencor and Eastman Chemical arein talks to license a biotech processfor ascorbic acid to Archer DanielsMidland (ADM). The two companiesjointly developed the biocatalyticprocess to make 2-ketogluconic acid,an ascorbic acid intermediate, fromglucose. Talks are expected to beconcluded by the end of 2003.


Millennium Cell is bellwether companyfor hydrogen economy

Millennium Cell Inc is currentlydeveloping systems for the earlyadopter markets of consumerelectronics and standby power,including a disposable fuel cartridgefor personal laptop computers, amodel of which Dr Stephen S Tang,Millennium Cell President and CEOunveiled at the Strategic ResearchInstitute’s annual fuel cell investorsconference in Cherry Hill, NJ. TheCEO stated that Millennium Cell is abellwether company: all PEM andalkaline fuel cells require purehydrogen stored safely andconveniently so licenses to thistechnology will precede fuel cellproduct launches. Tang outlined theconsumer electronic market showinga viable, robust market for theMillennium Cell Hydrogen on Demandfuel system. He showed the model forthe disposable fuel cartridge for theportable computer industry, the detailsof which are briefed in the article. Inaddition, he highlighted thecompany’s accomplishments intransportation with uses of Hydrogenon Demand in DaimlerChrysler andPSA Peugeot Citroen prototypes. Hedetailed the benefits of MillenniumCell’s Portable Hydrogen Generator,which features a 2-hour runtime atload of 1 kW on fuel cell in a compact‘one-button operation’ with adisposable borate container.

Press release from: Millennium Cell, One IndustrialWay West, Eatontown, NJ 07724, USA. Tel: +1 732542 4000. Fax: +1 732 542 4010. Website:http://www.millenniumcell.com (28 Mar 2003)

Millennium Cell receives patent onsystem for hydrogen generation

Millennium Cell Inc has been awarded

MAY 2003 3

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