tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82672584745234074442024-02-15T09:15:16.341+00:00Chemicals and innovationChemicals and innovation follows chemical company innovation strategies, investments, financing, people and awards. It is global in coverage and written by John Baker, global editor at ICIS, the chemicals and energy news and information provider.John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-21756493432876699832015-05-28T13:54:00.000+01:002015-05-28T13:54:05.116+01:00ICIS Innovation Awards 2015 - entries now required<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6H6gVM4iU3lg6W7MpYoWWyilKoU4d8yOEvPKoSaTZanFOrfyuIA_vUGvCnYQqaRrZzrUVcZOyuJrAZfdf955c1OVaHBEE_lnVEPRaviHXIAxhyKb2XPkJPkB1B1YEruhX3C0ihc2PuE/s1600/IA_2015_Logo_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6H6gVM4iU3lg6W7MpYoWWyilKoU4d8yOEvPKoSaTZanFOrfyuIA_vUGvCnYQqaRrZzrUVcZOyuJrAZfdf955c1OVaHBEE_lnVEPRaviHXIAxhyKb2XPkJPkB1B1YEruhX3C0ihc2PuE/s200/IA_2015_Logo_Small.jpg" width="145" /></a>After a break of some time, I'm back to tell you about the ICIS Innovation Awards 2015.<br />
This is the 12th year I've organised these awards, which seek to recognise and promote innovation in the chemical industry.<br />
I'm looking for entries to be in by 26th June and hoping that as usual we will get some super innovations from large and small companies alike.<br />
The Awards seek to recognise and reward companies that show high levels of innovation in products, processes and ways of doing business, as well as providing benefits to the environment and sustainability.<br />
Winners will be those companies that have made significant steps forward in technological and business innovation, with tangible results emerging during 2014 and the early part of this year.<br />
You can read all about last year's winners in a <a href="http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?eid=2fc6aa88-c7ab-478f-987e-6c3b02a25ed0">16-page publication</a>.<br />
The Awards are open to companies around the world, reflecting ICIS's global coverage of the industry<br />
ICIS is pleased to have Roland Berger Strategy Consultants as the overall sponsor again this year and to welcome back U.S. Chemicals as a category sponsor. We are also delighted to welcome ExxonMobil Chemical as a new category sponsor for 2015.<br />
There are five innovation categories for you to choose from to enter, depending on the type of innovation and size of company.<br />
They are:<br />
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<li><b>Best Product Innovation</b><br /> Sponsored by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants</li>
<li><b>Best Process Innovation</b><br /> Open to sponsorship</li>
<li><b>Best Innovation by a Small or Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME)</b><br /> Sponsored by ExxonMobil Chemical</li>
<li><b>Best Business Innovation</b><br /> Open to sponsorship</li>
<li><b>Innovation with Best Benefit to Environment or Sustainability</b><br /> Sponsored by U.S. Chemicals</li>
</ul>
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You can see full details of the Awards at <a href="http://www.icis.com/awards">www.icis.com/awards</a>, and learn a little more by watching these two short videos. I look forward to receiving your entry!<br />
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<br />John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-30174114939412169692013-02-08T08:43:00.000+00:002013-02-08T08:43:14.127+00:00Bio-economy needs innovation in supply chain<span lang="EN-GB"></span>Most, if not all, major chemical producers and major agriculture combines are looking at the potential for renewable raw materials to replace petrochemical feedstocks, in some areas of their operations at least. <br />
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Chemical companies are striving to embrace bio-based production to ensure their long-term sustainability. But there are many issues to resolve and questions to answer</div>
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And it is not just the majors that are investing heavily into the required technologies. Small, hi-tech start-ups are often leading the way in technology terms. Many have been lured in and supported by the huge political push in North America and Europe for alternative fuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel. <br />
But increasingly, these firms are focusing on devising routes to chemicals from biomass, as the market and prospects for further fuels investment stalls due to concerns over subsidies and the nonfood use of crops. <br />
The stimulus from the fuels sector to the use of renewable raw materials to make existing and new chemicals and materials has been beneficial, however. Not only has it kick-started production on a scale not seen before, but it has begun to show how the logistics of using crop-derived materials might be managed to enable widespread production of chemical inter-mediates and products such as polymers, surfactants, solvents and lubricants.<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">"The stimulus from the fuels sector to the use of renewable raw materials... has been beneficial"</span></h5>
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The problem is that in the main, the feedstocks - starches, sugars, cellulose and oils and fats - are produced in rural areas, away from industrial production centres, and in low density. Thus the bulky raw materials have to be transported over some distances, adding significant costs and environmental impacts. <br />
Before the bio-based economy can truly begin to play a significant part in industrial output, such problems will need to be solved at technical and economic levels. <br />
Another major challenge to overcome is to bring bio-based products to the market in a profitable way. The goal of many companies is to develop higher value-added bioproducts, but before these can be successfully introduced, companies have to produce lower value-added products, simply to fund development costs and to prove the technologies involved. <br />
The slow adoption of biopolymers competing against well established petrochemical-derived materials is a salient example. With costs driven down over many years of production experience, conventional polymers are cost-effective in their areas of application. Bio-polymers have to compete on niche performance benefits or on their green credentials. <br />
Perhaps a more rational way, and one that is being used by several technology start-ups, is to produce bio-based intermediates, such as <a alt="Ethylene" class="infusionLink" href="http://www.icis.com/v2/chemicals/9075774/Ethylene.html" omd="zodJump('http://widgets.zibb.com/images/_jump.gif?tag=InfusionJS&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.icis.com%2Fv2%2Fchemicals%2F9075774%2FEthylene.html&gsid=13058202&entitytypeid=6&lid=9075774&title=Ethylene&intref=infusion&variantName=ethylene&zodid=70')"><strong><span style="color: #0973b6;">ethylene</span></strong></a> and <a alt="Butanediol" class="infusionLink" href="http://www.icis.com/v2/chemicals/9075175/Butanediol.html" omd="zodJump('http://widgets.zibb.com/images/_jump.gif?tag=InfusionJS&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.icis.com%2Fv2%2Fchemicals%2F9075175%2FButanediol.html&gsid=13058192&entitytypeid=6&lid=9075175&title=Butanediol&intref=infusion&variantName=butanediol&zodid=70')"><strong><span style="color: #0973b6;">butanediol</span></strong></a>, that can be used in conventional reactions to produce existing products. There is then little or no market development needed and the bioroute has only to prove it can make biointermediates that are identical to oil-based intermediates. <br />
The drawback here, say some, is that the established chemical industry in Western economies will see this as a way of going half-way down the green route, and will still operate its large chemical plants to produce conventional products albeit from renewable resources. <br />
The risk is that emerging economies and technologies will leapfrog them to develop truly green products that are more competitive in the longer term. India and China are certainly looking at bio-based production and, given raw material availability and an innovative approach, could certainly produce some interesting and surprising developments. <br />
A third route, now being opened up, is to use bio-based feedstocks to produce a range of novel intermediates that can then be used to produce products in well-known families. Thus succinic acid is receiving a lot of attention at the moment and can be used in the production of polyurethanes, coatings, solvents, thermoset resins and so on. <br />
Further into the future lies the concept of the biorefinery, whereby a range of bio-raw materials will be converted using a variety of techniques into a range of chemical intermediates, ready for downstream conversion. This approach is today still in basic research but has very large potential.<br />
<strong>QUESTIONS BUT NO ANSWERS?</strong><br />
All of the above raises as many questions as it does answers. What makes a location competitive for green chemistry, and which routes are the most promising in terms of technology and market reception? Can a bio-based economy be established on imported feedstocks or should these be locally available? Is fermentation of sugars the best route forward or production via bio-syngas?<br />
Even more fundamentally, should companies start investing in technologies and market introductions even before government incentives or legislations are fully in place? And how should agricultural business chains collaborate with the chemical and materials industry and the sector of transport and logistics? <br />
Later this month, ICIS and NOM, the Investment and Development Agency for the northern Netherlands, are hosting a high-level Roundtable in Amsterdam to discuss many of these issues. The outcomes of the discussion will be reported in a future issue of ICIS Chemical Business. <a href="http://www.nvnom.eu/"><strong><span style="color: #0973b6;">For more information on NOM and how it aids investment in Northern Netherlands</span></strong></a>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-41085757360338405572011-05-12T09:24:00.000+01:002011-05-13T21:38:43.432+01:00Change of platform for this blogHi! This will be the last post on this blog on this platform. From today I'm transfering Chemicals and Innovation to a new site, under the slightly different name of ICIS Chemicals and Innovation, to reflect the fact this is part of the ICIS free online offering. You can see more of ICIS and its other blogs at <a href="http://www.icis.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.icis.com</span></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Iat5sgXepzgcBZYRjzAgWVF8otYNlVVgKGe35kPJqA2QbTRTuMMvvpCX099NaeukQplMJzL2DW8w1GndCqeEPMofgVt1Nri5qEFh_IkzRgv5DF2El9YCJm2njGMv13NOnvVzGPJBs6g/s1600/John+Baker+cropped.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Iat5sgXepzgcBZYRjzAgWVF8otYNlVVgKGe35kPJqA2QbTRTuMMvvpCX099NaeukQplMJzL2DW8w1GndCqeEPMofgVt1Nri5qEFh_IkzRgv5DF2El9YCJm2njGMv13NOnvVzGPJBs6g/s200/John+Baker+cropped.JPG" width="166px" /></a></div>You can find me and all I've written so far at this address:<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://www.icis.com/blogs/chemicals-innovation/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.icis.com/blogs/chemicals-innovation</span>/</a>. I hope you'll continue to follow the news and opinion on innovation in the chemical sector. <br />
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If you are interested, you can also follow the progress of the ICIS Innovation Awards 2011 at <a href="http://www.icis.com/awards"><span style="color: blue;">www.icis.com/awards</span></a>. These were launched mid-April and the deadline for entries is 4 July.John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-12808339622564545202011-05-10T17:23:00.000+01:002011-05-10T17:23:47.748+01:00Quick source of innovation ideasKeeping up with my fellow bloggers on innovation, I came across this <a href="http://www.business-strategy-innovation.com/wordpress/2011/05/april%e2%80%99s-top-12-innovation-and-marketing-articles/"><span style="color: blue;">useful list of articles</span></a> that had generated plenty of traffic on innovation strategy in April. It's on the <a href="http://www.business-strategy-innovation.com/wordpress/"><span style="color: blue;">Blogging Innovation site</span></a>, which I have referred to previously and find has good articles on general innovation if not always chemical. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMk93LrtwpopUrvcgZyPvoNKIAnA-Yy_P2VOf1NeuAFOptZwjSvsg-c1uLs4-KbaPbwvHMOaj88PY3lZ9AS3q90VPVcrjIaP5doGlo8nIgRq99LOPPb0LePFb-jXQvdH2yzTq4LjP8ps/s1600/Lightbulb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMk93LrtwpopUrvcgZyPvoNKIAnA-Yy_P2VOf1NeuAFOptZwjSvsg-c1uLs4-KbaPbwvHMOaj88PY3lZ9AS3q90VPVcrjIaP5doGlo8nIgRq99LOPPb0LePFb-jXQvdH2yzTq4LjP8ps/s200/Lightbulb.jpg" width="173px" /></a></div>Also featuring here this week is another look at <a href="http://www.business-strategy-innovation.com/wordpress/2011/05/managing-open-innovation-roadblocks/"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">open innovation</span></a> - and the main road blocks that have to be addressed to make it work. <br />
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It's by Paul Hobcraft, who runs an advisory business that stimulates sound innovation practice, researches topics that relate to innovation for the future, as well as aligning innovation to organizations' core capabilitiesJohn Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-79059693304637433212011-05-09T14:09:00.005+01:002011-05-09T14:14:27.931+01:00DSM, Roquette scale up bio-route to succinic acid<span style="font-family: inherit;">Innovation in the bio-based material sector continues to make ground. Amongst latest news is the decision by Netherlands-based major <a href="http://www.dsm.com/en_US/cworld/public/home/pages/home.jsp"><span style="color: blue;">DSM</span></a> to <a href="http://www.dsm.com/en_US/cworld/public/media/pages/press-releases/36_11_dsm_and_roquette_to_open_commercial_scale_bio_based_succinic_acid_plant_2012.jsp"><span style="color: blue;">proceed with a 10,000 tonne/year commercial-scale facility for bio-succinic acid</span></a> in collaboration with France's <a href="http://www.roquette.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Roquette Freres</span></a>. The plant, using yeast fermentation of crop-based materials, will be built on Roquette's site in Cassano Spinola in Italy, and be onstream in the second half of 2012.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDLmsAmbTavyO8GoWBQBN5bS_72VIs5I6YABx4ps9otKxbjPVy3qQjP1k7v_xlk5AOuqxJgF7rwZx7reIi-nacenGbhKGRg8byYNrBJwAW0ALBWYwQJi7Eo_QBwGMFk87E0ftRyVgIkM/s1600/products_actis_formula_sa.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="109px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDLmsAmbTavyO8GoWBQBN5bS_72VIs5I6YABx4ps9otKxbjPVy3qQjP1k7v_xlk5AOuqxJgF7rwZx7reIi-nacenGbhKGRg8byYNrBJwAW0ALBWYwQJi7Eo_QBwGMFk87E0ftRyVgIkM/s200/products_actis_formula_sa.gif" width="200px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">Succinic acid can be used in packaging to footwear</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Succinic acid is a chemical building block that can be used in the manufacture of polymers, resins, food and pharmaceuticals, says DSM, and provides an alternative to fossil-fuel based intermediates such as adipic acid and 1,4-butanediol. The two partners already have a demonstration plant running flat out in Lestrem in France and intend to create a joint venture company, Reverdia, to carry out business together. </span><br />
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<div class="hs1" style="font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="hs2" lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rob van Leen, chief innovation officer of DSM, commented: "The time is right to capitalize on the tremendous progress we have made together with Roquette in the last two years. Our proprietary yeast-based fermentation process not only allows cost effective production; it also eliminates salt waste and other by-products and thus improves the overall eco-footprint of end-products. This bio-based chemical building block is a substitute for various fossil feedstock derived monomers and proves that the bio-based economy is no longer a distant prospect."</span></span></div><div class="hs1" style="font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="hs1" style="font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="hs2" lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And at an event in North America, DSM CEO Feike Sijbesma commented: <span class="hs2" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span lang="EN">"The so-called fossil-age will make a shift to the bio-based-economy. </span><span lang="EN-US">In two or three centuries from now, people will look back on our civilization as a merely brief moment in history where we in a period of just about 250 years shifted our total economy to coal, oil and gas. To make the shift back to living with, and especially off, nature, we need to start this shift now. We are at a <span style="color: black;">turning point towards a next green industrial revolution to secure our feed and fuel needs in the future."</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="hs2" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN">Sijbesma was receiving the prestigious George Washington Carver Award for Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology in recognition of his outstanding contribution and vision to the development and innovation in industrial biotechnology. He </span><span lang="EN-US">delivered a keynote address during a plenary session of the 2011 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bio-processing in Toronto, Canada.</span></span></span></div><div class="hs1" style="font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="hs1" style="font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="hs2" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.icis.com/awards"><strong>DSM is a new sponsor in this year's ICIS Innovation Awards 2011. </strong></a></span></span></span></div>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-22367075505011992462011-05-05T17:07:00.000+01:002011-05-05T17:07:32.297+01:00Tree bark may be used in polyurethanesNews has just come my way that <a href="http://www.huntsman.com/pu/"><span style="color: blue;">Huntsman Polyurethanes</span></a> is to join the <a href="http://www.barkbiorefinery.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Bark Biorefinery Consortium</span></a> Project, a four-year Canadian joint venture between academia and industry that is exploring how best to extract value from tree bark, a forest residue left over by the lumber industry.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXk_H84b1aijvRmFLoBH3TxhGkWhkT6xKFyy7U2myzdZbr_lnbaDSqgdwvKnvVlQPwhHam9mPiazboEFUsx8NcScxJV2Ltbid1BZEO7gnuM3Bzx_N48BSi9Zt-XmWYTTM51AKr59WQ-Fo/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXk_H84b1aijvRmFLoBH3TxhGkWhkT6xKFyy7U2myzdZbr_lnbaDSqgdwvKnvVlQPwhHam9mPiazboEFUsx8NcScxJV2Ltbid1BZEO7gnuM3Bzx_N48BSi9Zt-XmWYTTM51AKr59WQ-Fo/s200/images.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><span id="more-508"></span>The collaborative research program has a total budget of Can$5.25m and is being funded by the province of Ontario together with participating institutions and industry partners. As part of consortium activities, representatives from Huntsman’s CoreScience unit in the US will work closely with scientists from the University of Toronto, who are leading the project.<br />
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Leveraging combined academic and commercial know-how, the Huntsman team will focus on one core element of the initiative: converting bark into value added intermediates for polyurethane to achieve improved properties and more renewable content. Previous research in this area has shown that incorporating bark products into other polymers can result in improved thermal stability and fire resistance, as well as improved adhesive properties. <br />
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Niek van Wiechen, Global CoreScience Director at Huntsman Polyurethanes, said: “When the University of Toronto invited Huntsman to join the Bark Biorefinery Consortium, we leapt at the chance. The program has many parallels with our own corporate research and development (R&D) strategy. Huntsman is committed to developing renewable technologies that increase the natural content in our products, provide cost effective solutions for our customers, and offer significant sustainability benefits. This is a great opportunity to turn forest residue into valuable commercial products.”John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-42647262956943277792011-04-27T15:24:00.002+01:002011-04-28T15:46:09.247+01:00Open innovation at P>he chemical industry is gradually getting to grips with open innovation (OI) - as <a href="http://www.rsc.org/images/Industry_tcm18-137086.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">this article from the UK's Royal Society for Chemistry</span></a> by Sean Milmo, also a regular writer for ICIS, sets out. <br />
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<a href="http://www.dsm.com/en_US/cworld/public/about/pages/open_innovation.jsp"><span style="color: blue;">DSM</span></a> is a leading exponent, even boasting a vice president for open innovation in the form of Rob Kirschbaum, a long-standing friend of ICIS. You can see more of its commitment to open innovation in a detailed and informative <a href="http://www.dsm.com/en_US/cworld/public/about/downloads/publications/pdma_presentation.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">presentation</span></a> by Rob van Leen, the company's chief innovation officer. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTgmNNEpJAr0N_IKMsTL-Y5AoxIJzHkCIx4PlOjRU53zBw3HwRLGT5bC3geclGzAXWKwoelYk9Sv7zn_j5r75RdtmCceaQi7X7-G4jvBIYYp03Z93gbz0gEzdFBjmPCZgOgoogmjLCaA/s1600/dscofield_136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTgmNNEpJAr0N_IKMsTL-Y5AoxIJzHkCIx4PlOjRU53zBw3HwRLGT5bC3geclGzAXWKwoelYk9Sv7zn_j5r75RdtmCceaQi7X7-G4jvBIYYp03Z93gbz0gEzdFBjmPCZgOgoogmjLCaA/s200/dscofield_136.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>P&G, it seems, has been using OI for many years, and has not so long ago (10 years) formalised the approach as <em>Connect + Develop</em>, as outlined in this <a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/work-in-progress/2011/04/27/lessons-from-175-years-of-innovation/"><span style="color: blue;">interesting blog</span></a> on Forbes by <a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/people/dscofield/"><span style="color: blue;">Deborah Mills Schofield</span></a>. <br />
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She argues that "P&G has created more value together with their OI partners than they ever could have alone. It is a real ecosystem that creates value on a global scale to accomplish P&G’s mission: '…improve the lives of the world’s consumers, now and for generations to come'.”John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-31993754796191530352011-04-26T16:48:00.001+01:002011-04-26T16:49:40.564+01:00IYC art exhibition at SusChem Amsterdam meeting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uFx2NSRJW8bcmujzIYIZh_azCtjXYT8aWbRqLV_sWQCqFjC2xiX3R1C-8-ROudE0iCU-GkozYoAU-1_pdc7CY6wXUaNwgONbBk8DI1PzEOI2L3gHWQKPea21XbGAF84I1PusbyReibQO/s1600/OurKidsonWater01.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">ICIS is looking forward to its collaboration as media partner with SusChem, the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_SAtSzvmPFcYaEQYDwByPk79DZ35x49OPfbhPppOFiniBfdNcFTuO-bm1wYzXhLAmVcA_HzdUvZivjLcnnEXeDkJe5U-G1RqjDD3vk-OuycOWdTnKklFuUKQSPpSpZQ7AtCjpXYPlVs/s1600/OurKidsonWater01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="128px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_SAtSzvmPFcYaEQYDwByPk79DZ35x49OPfbhPppOFiniBfdNcFTuO-bm1wYzXhLAmVcA_HzdUvZivjLcnnEXeDkJe5U-G1RqjDD3vk-OuycOWdTnKklFuUKQSPpSpZQ7AtCjpXYPlVs/s200/OurKidsonWater01.jpg" width="200px" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two editors will attend the upcoming SusChem annual stakeholder day </span><a href="http://www.suschem.org/en/_event/suschemppartneringforsustainablegrowth"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">event in Amsterdam on 17 May</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Participants at the meeting will have the opportunity to take an exclusive preview of an international art exhibition. During the lunch interval the exhibition “Our Children on Water” will take place. Created by the </span><a href="http://www.rsc.org/"><span style="color: #0076c2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC</span>)</span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> as a contribution to the </span><a href="http://www.chemistry2011.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">International Year of Chemistry (IYC)</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> this unique international art exhibition consists of artwork created by children from three African and six European countries depicting the role that water plays in their lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The three African countries involved are South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia and the photo above (Copyright Zoe Heaton) shows children from Abyot Public School in Ethiopia getting involved. The artwork has been produced under the title 'Water: Refreshment or Responsibility?' The resulting collection of artwork displays breathtaking imagination and shows children's views on water from many different, thought-provoking perspectives. The artwork in addition helps to draw attention to the role of chemists in industry and academia in providing safe and clean water around the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>European tour</strong><br />
The exhibition will take place in Beurs Van Berlage in Amsterdam on 17 May. Following exhibition at the SusChem Amsterdam event "Children on Water" will tour major European cities including London, Frankfurt, Prague, Rome and Barcelona throughout 2011 in collaboration with a number of European and African chemical societies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The official launch for the exhibition will be held at the </span><a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">European Parliament</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in Brussels in June. The "Our Children on Water" project is a high profile exhibition that serves to showcase the chemical community’s involvement in the pursuit of clean and safe water for everyone. </span>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-45453353550734937062011-04-21T12:22:00.000+01:002011-04-21T12:22:13.225+01:00DSM/AkzoNobel boost innovation push<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZAsV9wohcHxzIhtM-wVCFfs5nRAiNnX7_CFbSwe5CPBZR7dGXZ-b5WiAbZI49kQ1KHof45pEhY1DRkzlx4lmGvFML7yhDBZtnjZ3q04MHRZQmbEz1P6iatDUqpl4eHQDa93ddGmDDrE/s1600/yourfile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZAsV9wohcHxzIhtM-wVCFfs5nRAiNnX7_CFbSwe5CPBZR7dGXZ-b5WiAbZI49kQ1KHof45pEhY1DRkzlx4lmGvFML7yhDBZtnjZ3q04MHRZQmbEz1P6iatDUqpl4eHQDa93ddGmDDrE/s200/yourfile.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>My colleague Will Beacham on <a href="http://www.icis.com/staticpages/magazines.htm"><span style="color: blue;">ICIS Chemical Business</span></a> has just published <a href="http://www.icis.com/Articles/2011/04/15/9453130/dsm-aims-to-accelerate-commercialization.html"><span style="color: blue;">this interesting piece</span></a> on the changing pace of innovation in the chemicals sector, with interviews with leading executives at DSM and AkzoNobel as well as consultants at Accenture. Well worth a look.<br />
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Accenture's Stephan Scholtissek argues that "CEOs should recognize that the core of the company is no longer the existing businesses, but the innovations. Innovators are today seen as the troublemakers; nobody wants them. Everything is laid on for the standard business to ensure it is working properly. All the effort goes into this. The most powerful board members are all working on the day-to-day business."<br />
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In the article, DSM's chief innovation officer, Rob van Leen, says: "Five years ago, we launched our strategy making innovation more center stage in our corporate strategy, to make it more market-driven and to increase the speed of innovation. Now we want to take this to the next level in line with our four strategic pillars: high-growth economies, innovation, sustainability, and partnerships and acquisitions."John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-58027485871616673782011-04-20T11:48:00.001+01:002011-04-20T11:48:50.424+01:00Strategies for R&D in emerging economies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLfk7Qz5xAJFcLPtuUNRKL1yCC7_CivsqaR-amcgBe1jLOrKOzhoB5_ZMpC-6tjWHCqwf5JOjsvhQfaEV94b4IiRlFsidy4xPwig5VvPElNcuXvg_ymAXAOoPUf0QrP5hKSkzfRyck7M/s1600/Specialty_roundtable_2010_100x100_p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLfk7Qz5xAJFcLPtuUNRKL1yCC7_CivsqaR-amcgBe1jLOrKOzhoB5_ZMpC-6tjWHCqwf5JOjsvhQfaEV94b4IiRlFsidy4xPwig5VvPElNcuXvg_ymAXAOoPUf0QrP5hKSkzfRyck7M/s200/Specialty_roundtable_2010_100x100_p1.jpg" width="150px" /></a></div>ICIS has run several roundtables recently where innovation has risen as a topic, particularly the growing move by chemical majors to <a href="http://www.icis.com/Assets/GetAsset.aspx?ItemId=27455"><span style="color: blue;">carry out innovation in places like China</span></a> and the difficulties encountered. Now consultancy McKinsey has carried out an <a href="https://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Operations/Product_Development/RD_strategies_in_emerging_economies_McKinsey_Global_Survey_results_2787"><span style="color: blue;">industry survey</span></a> to assess the current situation.<br />
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It finds that many companies have not even addressed the issue of doing research and development in emerging economies like China, India and Brazil, even though these are the markets with vibrant growth prospects and the need for localised innovation in products that meet market demands.<br />
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McKinsey found that "fully one-third of executives around the world say their companies are not doing any R&D work in emerging economies." However, the good news is that companies that are active are addressing local needs, and not just attempting to shift innovation for developed markets to low cost regions. <br />
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Says McKinsey: "Of the two-thirds of respondents whose companies pursue such efforts, the largest shares say their R&D is focused on either global product platforms or local innovation in emerging economies, as opposed to R&D for developed markets only, which respondents say is not a major focus of emerging-market R&D operations. Moreover, companies appear to be aligning their goals, whether it’s seeking lower development costs or gaining better access to customer insights, with their specific R&D focus in emerging economies."<br />
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You can read the full report <a href="https://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Operations/Product_Development/RD_strategies_in_emerging_economies_McKinsey_Global_Survey_results_2787"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-3351132239135593472011-04-18T11:47:00.003+01:002011-04-18T11:51:19.606+01:00ICIS launches eighth Innovation Awards<span style="font-family: inherit;">At last - after weeks of preparation I can officially launch the </span><a href="http://www.icis.com/awards"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">ICIS Innovation Awards 2011</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. This annual competition, now in its eighth year, recognises outstanding technological and business innovation in the chemical industry. </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EFHVW7ugXyBRVAAbGjWAWh6hySidFbrOXfjrHo5b1b0Y2NRizImTnMU7XSWjJLruRPhyphenhyphenyMydeoRRvxCRBMwUXgxX4-DRL7uQce2HYPBg8QoPtUeBkMfiR79lGyZ992sxYrRq9CuIJHg/s1600/ICISInnovationAwards2011_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EFHVW7ugXyBRVAAbGjWAWh6hySidFbrOXfjrHo5b1b0Y2NRizImTnMU7XSWjJLruRPhyphenhyphenyMydeoRRvxCRBMwUXgxX4-DRL7uQce2HYPBg8QoPtUeBkMfiR79lGyZ992sxYrRq9CuIJHg/s200/ICISInnovationAwards2011_Small.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><a href="http://www.dowcorning.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Dow Corning</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is the overall lead sponsor for the Awards, as it has been from their inception in 2004. </span><a href="http://www.crai.com/consultingexpertise/content.aspx?tID=1680"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">CRA</span> </span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">returns as the sponsor of the Best Product Innovation category, and </span><a href="http://www.uschemicals.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">U.S Chemicals</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is again sponsor of the Innovation with Best Environmental Benefit category.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joining the sponsors this year is global health, nutrition and materials major </span><a href="http://www.dsm.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">DSM</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">,</span> which is supporting the new category of Best Innovation for Sustainability.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Innovation Awards continue to grow and gain industry support. We have added a new sponsor and new category this year and look forward to being able to highlight the very best of innovation in the industry later in the year. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is tremendous effort and investment going into innovation in the chemical sector today, as companies seek answers to many of society’s global problems.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Awards are open to entry from today, with a deadline for entries of 4 July 2011. The winners will be announced on 17 October.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For more information or to enter the awards, visit </span><a href="http://www.icis.com/awards"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">http://www.icis.com/awards</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-60423166169586271882011-03-28T13:30:00.000+01:002011-03-28T13:30:25.277+01:00Microreactors gain interestThis blog has <a href="http://chemicals-and-innovation.blogspot.com/search/label/microreactors"><span style="color: blue;">already commented</span></a> on the attraction of microreactors for greener chemical production, noting recently that one of the winners of the <a href="http://www.icis.com/awards"><span style="color: blue;">ICIS Innovation Awards</span></a> - Oxford Catalysts - won it for microreactor developments. Now market research firm Frost & Sullivan has released <a href="http://www.chemicalonline.com/article.mvc/Chemical-Industries-Opt-For-Microreactors-As-0001"><span style="color: blue;">a fascinating study</span></a> into the uptake of this technology.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVe85buNgR15mVioYf_EhmuVNRTQx5ngvd-nPOwRgRVuYBOgEj4UazYT39LGJnnUOrizZoMcxy6IK0_pUpZsTFfh-UFbgerbeZG5Yhzk-Xvy3qZkyF_gwqmydbtuyPo84OjJfdcNVdh8/s1600/Oxford_Catalysts_Reactor_new_Background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVe85buNgR15mVioYf_EhmuVNRTQx5ngvd-nPOwRgRVuYBOgEj4UazYT39LGJnnUOrizZoMcxy6IK0_pUpZsTFfh-UFbgerbeZG5Yhzk-Xvy3qZkyF_gwqmydbtuyPo84OjJfdcNVdh8/s200/Oxford_Catalysts_Reactor_new_Background.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxford Catalysts' microreactor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Says Frost & Sullivan: "The advent of microreactors makes it easier to conduct one-step reactions. Hence, the conventional chemical reactions that produce by-products and waste products can easily be utilized in microreactors to eliminate these alternate reactions, thereby preparing high-quality products. <br />
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"Moreover, the fast reaction rates ensure higher yields of up to 100% with high quality and no side reactions. Product quality is enhanced through the accurate control of operation parameters such as pressure, temperature and space velocities."<br />
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Oxford Catalysts' raising of a further £21m for future development bodes well for its efforts in biofuels and Fischer-Tropsch reactions in microreactors. Many other players are looking at the technology, which, says the report, has high potential. It points out though that there are risks in implementation: <br />
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"The scope for microreactors in fuel and chemical processing is high. However, the non-availability of any commercial demonstration unit that can be retrofitted to an existing facility prevents manufacturers from taking a huge financial risk in their facilities."John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-63945329792956424922011-03-27T15:03:00.012+01:002011-03-28T13:33:06.934+01:00Alternative feedstocks for petrochemicalsOn the occasion of the <a href="http://www.npra.org/forms/meeting/MeetingFormPublic/view?id=36C50000001B4"><span style="color: blue;">NPRA's annual International Petrochemicals Conference in San Antonio, Texas</span></a>, taking place as I write this in the conference hotel, ICIS editor Doris de Guzman has written a piece on progress towards bio-based feedstocks as an alternative to crude oil-derived materials. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLM1JnC6y0PsXPkOy7tL3vyYvCygiOH8gBNW7CGwksdofNMAQt2Nnxoh1WHa2HqQKVd-pzkJUr1G4MwYXQVkbuAEt5AMm0HeGT0QArFLnZRb-2hVepIva8uyYCNDUwYU7B9s-NQe7FatI/s1600/yourfile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLM1JnC6y0PsXPkOy7tL3vyYvCygiOH8gBNW7CGwksdofNMAQt2Nnxoh1WHa2HqQKVd-pzkJUr1G4MwYXQVkbuAEt5AMm0HeGT0QArFLnZRb-2hVepIva8uyYCNDUwYU7B9s-NQe7FatI/s200/yourfile.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>The <a href="http://www.icis.com/Articles/2011/03/28/9446614/npra-supplement-renewable-chemicals-gear-for-commercialization.html"><span style="color: blue;">article</span></a> appeared in a <a href="http://cde.cerosmedia.com/1G4d81f2d45d790329.cde"><span style="color: blue;">special publication</span></a> ICIS produced for NPRA and delegates to the meeting.<br />
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Half a dozen US-based companies are well on the way to producing ethylene, propylene, butanediol and even adipic and acrylic acid from bio-materials, all of which can be used as inputs for downstream green chemicals. Doris reviews progress at these innovative companies in the article, and points to who is now moving to demonstration stage and beyond.<br />
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Says Doris: "<span style="font-family: inherit;">The petrochemical sector will soon have an array of renewable raw materials to choose from, as companies gear up to commercialization through partnerships. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Biobased chemicals activities are at fever pitch this year, as several start-up companies step up their efforts towards commercialization phase."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the biobased intermediates, products such as </span><a alt="Acrylic Acid" class="infusionLink" href="http://www.icis.com/v2/chemicals/9074864/Acrylic%20Acid.html" omd="zodJump('http://widgets.zibb.com/images/_jump.gif?tag=InfusionJS&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.icis.com%2Fv2%2Fchemicals%2F9074864%2FAcrylic%2520Acid.html&gsid=13058185&entitytypeid=6&lid=9074864&title=Acrylic%20Acid&intref=infusion&variantName=acrylic%20acid&zodid=70')"><span style="color: #0973b6; font-family: inherit;">acrylic acid</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, adipic acid, 1,4-</span><a alt="Butanediol" class="infusionLink" href="http://www.icis.com/v2/chemicals/9075175/Butanediol.html" omd="zodJump('http://widgets.zibb.com/images/_jump.gif?tag=InfusionJS&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.icis.com%2Fv2%2Fchemicals%2F9075175%2FButanediol.html&gsid=13058192&entitytypeid=6&lid=9075175&title=Butanediol&intref=infusion&variantName=butanediol&zodid=70')"><span style="color: #0973b6; font-family: inherit;">butanediol</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (BDO) and succinic acid are among those that are considered frontrunners in advancing product and process development.</span>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-7394125712881930992011-03-24T12:20:00.001+00:002011-03-24T12:22:51.124+00:00SusChem annual meeting approachesChemical and biotech industry innovators and regulators will be meeting in Amsterdam for the 7th annual <a href="http://suschem.blogspot.com/2011/03/register-for-amsterdam-stakeholder.html"><span style="color: blue;">SusChem stakeholder meeting on 17 May</span>.</a> The <a href="http://www.suschem.org/upl/3/en/doc/9th%20SusChem%20Stakeholder%20Event%20-%20Draft%20agenda.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">agenda</span></a> focuses on the role the industry can play in sustainable growth, in the context of the EU's 2020 strategy. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiCJwUPwoeMC1I8ZhO8PFrX7hWIkSmB3FrHiN_8LZrktTpgKfXUvqkVaRxbIOW561ujzWbC6YXpI1i5RX7L24TFCUHDeW9__HEDMsb1QK5RPJSwPGokRwY-wt2nHcCoo-RyrkVMXT4Ao/s1600/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiCJwUPwoeMC1I8ZhO8PFrX7hWIkSmB3FrHiN_8LZrktTpgKfXUvqkVaRxbIOW561ujzWbC6YXpI1i5RX7L24TFCUHDeW9__HEDMsb1QK5RPJSwPGokRwY-wt2nHcCoo-RyrkVMXT4Ao/s1600/logo.jpg" /></a></div>The industry will be making its case to establish a couple of European Innovation Partnerships <br />
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SusChem, the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry, involves trade bodies Cefic and EuropaBio and was set up in 2004 as part of the European Commission's initiative to spur innovation across <span style="font-family: inherit;">industry sectors in the EU. </span><br />
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The technology platform has already produced:<br />
<ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="color: #003300; font-family: inherit;">engagement with the wider stakeholder community in an open dialogue; </span></div></li>
</ul><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="color: #003300; font-family: inherit;">an integrated, shared <u><a class="" href="http://www.suschem.org/upl/3/default/doc/38_2170ctp_final.pdf" title="undefined">vision</a></u> of a more sustainable future EU chemical industry;</span></div></li>
</ul><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="color: #003300; font-family: inherit;">a European <u><a class="" href="http://www.suschem.org/upl/3/default/doc/Suschem_SRA_final.pdf" title="undefined">Strategic Research Agenda</a></u> for innovation in the prioritised chemical technologies; </span></div></li>
</ul><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="color: #003300; font-family: inherit;">an <u><a class="" href="http://www.suschem.org/upl/3/default/doc/SusChem_IAP_final(1).pdf" title="undefined">Implementation Action Plan</a></u> that provides recommendations for mobilisation of resources for collaborative R&D, on sustaining a strong European chemical science base and on improvements for EU innovation framework conditions.</span></div></li>
</ul>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-64080705575849087202011-03-24T12:00:00.001+00:002011-03-24T12:01:43.908+00:00ICIS Innovation Awards 2011 launch nearsAs well as my role as Chemicals and Innovation blogger at ICIS, I also run the <a href="http://www.icis.com/awards"><span style="color: blue;">ICIS Innovation Awards</span></a> each year. March is always a busy time as I prepare to launch the Awards, now in their 7th year, on 18 April. The call for entries will appear in <em>ICIS Chemical Business</em> and on the icis.com website from that day, with a deadline for entries of 4 July.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZip5X1eD8pKww8o6iSeOKB05LiblnBOJPzgwITmEbZhSG5Yo-fQiWYiw2x9-dMPV9-cA2hS1L8XUoE6v_COv0lRkbt4mFwqeGOLHrYziFBDMiHVwWcqVbDinhwXvkhvEFHYR43oLQyhc/s1600/ICISInnovationAwards2011_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZip5X1eD8pKww8o6iSeOKB05LiblnBOJPzgwITmEbZhSG5Yo-fQiWYiw2x9-dMPV9-cA2hS1L8XUoE6v_COv0lRkbt4mFwqeGOLHrYziFBDMiHVwWcqVbDinhwXvkhvEFHYR43oLQyhc/s200/ICISInnovationAwards2011_Small.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><a href="http://www.dowcorning.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Dow Corning</span></a> has worked with ICIS over these years to sponsor the competition, designed to celebrate the best in innovation in the chemical sector. This year again they will take the lead sponsor role.<br />
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This year, we have a new category focusing on sustainability and a new sponsor to go with it, in the form of <a href="http://www.dsm.com/"><span style="color: blue;">DSM</span></a><span style="color: blue;">.</span> Sponsors from last year - <a href="http://www.crai.co.uk/Default.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">CRA</span></a> (Best Products) and <a href="http://www.uschemicals.com/HOME.html"><span style="color: blue;">U.S.Chemicals</span></a> (Innovation with Best Environmental Benefit) - are also supporting the Awards again this year.<br />
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For full details of previous winners and the sponsors, you can go to <a href="http://www.icis.com/awards"><span style="color: blue;">www.icis.com/awards</span></a><span style="color: blue;">.</span> I encourage all of you in companies to take a look and enter this year.John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-42210206580552345362011-03-23T17:38:00.000+00:002011-03-23T17:38:34.237+00:00Evonik "white bio" day hails above average growth<div class="headline_section"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">In a recent white biotechnology day, attend by some 200 people, <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Germany</place></country-region>'s Evonik noted that the sector will see above average growth for the industry. It's a message that seems to be gaining momentum, but perhaps more so in rhetoric than in practice.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5PU8qaLOSHCFm527obbHgbGAa_ULVemT3_PHzdI-Kwb85UH3e_pKRVi4oBRrhA8L3Sb2PMhgwgtOlBAvoGs6df4Paj6lnfRclai8qd1NPjxa0l1IzQ-hYliv2AYjZiSNmEn4dNMH7Sc/s1600/norm_full_s2b-bio-stand-30_11_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5PU8qaLOSHCFm527obbHgbGAa_ULVemT3_PHzdI-Kwb85UH3e_pKRVi4oBRrhA8L3Sb2PMhgwgtOlBAvoGs6df4Paj6lnfRclai8qd1NPjxa0l1IzQ-hYliv2AYjZiSNmEn4dNMH7Sc/s200/norm_full_s2b-bio-stand-30_11_09.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://corporate.evonik.com/en/media/press_releases/Pages/news-details.aspx?newsid=18188"><span style="color: blue;">Evonik argues</span></a> that the use of renewable raw materials presents special opportunities and prospects for the chemical industry. "Industrial biotechnology provides new approaches to manufacturing novel products with useful properties, or to manufacturing, for example, polymer building blocks and active ingredients by entirely different means. Because it is highly energy- and resource-efficient, white biotechnology is often an alternative to conventional chemical processes."</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">In the health, nutrition and cosmetic markets, there are constantly new growth opportunities for bio-based products, it adds, showing that white biotechnology has above-average growth prospects. Besides the economic growth opportunities through biotechnology, the event also centered around "renewable resources."</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Evonik opens its Science-to-Business Center Biotechnology in January 2007 at its Marl site in Germany, where a host of experts from various disciplines are conducting research in “white biotechnology” in close cooperation with the business units and service units and a large number of external cooperation partners.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="content_block">By conceiving new biotechnological products and processes, the center seeks to future-proof the core business of Evonik’s Chemicals Business Area. Biotechnological processes, unlike chemical processes, are notable primarily for their low investment costs. This means, for example, that a single bacterium can be used to perform multi-stage production sequences. The bacteria serve as “microbial cell factories.” </div></div>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-54422282217476820132011-03-17T16:42:00.000+00:002011-03-17T16:42:30.992+00:00Pepsico makes all renewable "PET" bottlePepsi has<a href="http://www.pepsico.com/PressRelease/PepsiCo-Develops-Worlds-First-100-Percent-Plant-Based-Renewably-Sourced-PET-Bott03152011.html"> <span style="color: blue;">unveiled a PET-type bottle</span></a> produced entirely from renewable resources, although it is not indicating how it has achieved the look-alike molecule for the polymer. All it says in its release is that: Combining biological and chemical processes, PepsiCo has identified methods to create a molecular structure that is identical to petroleum-based PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which results in a bottle that looks, feels and protects its product identically to existing PET beverage containers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH0DaHyX9FEXRikqfIpSaBEyUjq8-LtuCNXyiUkCByTPDnmQIvsgthyphenhyphenT7rw6WZ9ZGHZChxgyAKaMew0EPEU9FU3GKg4LNuzYXkjp6CRgqazSSdWYxaiHO1CanDRxF_lLNOhOkG5AySxc/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH0DaHyX9FEXRikqfIpSaBEyUjq8-LtuCNXyiUkCByTPDnmQIvsgthyphenhyphenT7rw6WZ9ZGHZChxgyAKaMew0EPEU9FU3GKg4LNuzYXkjp6CRgqazSSdWYxaiHO1CanDRxF_lLNOhOkG5AySxc/s200/untitled.bmp" width="150" /></a></div>PepsiCo says its "green" bottle is 100% recyclable and far surpasses existing industry technologies. The bottle is made from bio-based raw materials, including switch grass, pine bark and corn husks.<br />
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In future, the company expects to broaden the renewable sources used to create the "green" bottle to include orange peels, potato peels, oat hulls and other agricultural byproducts from its foods business. <br />
<br />
The announcement has sparked plenty of interest amongst bio-based economy followers, given the scale of Pepsi's operations. PepsiCo will pilot production of the new bottle in 2012. Upon successful completion of the pilot, the company intends to move directly to full-scale commercialization.John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-30596530532423303462011-03-15T12:06:00.000+00:002011-03-15T12:06:28.714+00:00Dow boosts innovation in Saudi Arabia<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Dow Chemical has finalised its plans to invest in innovation in Saudi Arabia through support of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). A comprehensive cooperation agreement signed this week establishes Dow's Middle East and <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Africa</placename> <placename w:st="on">R&D</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype></place> on the university's campus at KAUST. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7YbtzmdIYabOPwzA4mtT7ZcZXXzP1AIz-I4b2FuCE5oXlUTYlqYn9PVUkrN_J9yljjPEP5xKlhrGtj4Uz2VcmLqxT5ulkFls72vw9wxHDG9pDahA4UtDiW2W9WJZtju27Y-cCkaNDnQ/s1600/Wildi.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7YbtzmdIYabOPwzA4mtT7ZcZXXzP1AIz-I4b2FuCE5oXlUTYlqYn9PVUkrN_J9yljjPEP5xKlhrGtj4Uz2VcmLqxT5ulkFls72vw9wxHDG9pDahA4UtDiW2W9WJZtju27Y-cCkaNDnQ/s200/Wildi.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">Markus Wildi heads up Dow Chemical </div><div align="left">in the Middle East</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Dow and KAUST will collaborate on a range of academic research programs tailored to KAUST's areas of excellence in research and education. In particular, Dow will conduct R&D in the KAUST Innovation Cluster facilities until a permanent Dow facility in the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">KAUST</placename> <placename w:st="on">Research</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Park</placetype></place> is completed. Research will initially focus on water, water treatment technologies and oil and gas, and later expanding to include fields of study pertaining to infrastructure. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Dow will provide opportunities and funding to educate and train citizens of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Saudi Arabia</place></country-region>. Dow has already offered academic development opportunities and extended permanent offers of employment to KAUST students and will continue to do so. Dow will also provide financial support for research challenge competitions. Firstly, in alignment with Dow's 2015 Sustainability Goals, KAUST will administer the Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Research Challenge Program, which recognizes and rewards students for their innovation and research of sustainable solutions to the world's most pressing social, economic and environmental problems. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Dow's Middle East president Markus Wildi, said, "the Dow R&D Center at KAUST is a reflection of our commitment to the intellectual and human potential of this distinguished institution. Our collaboration agreement lends strong support to the notion that <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Saudi Arabia</place></country-region> will become an engine of innovation and a generator of solutions for modern developmental challenges like clean water supply and sustainable living."</div>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-59178554148045327642011-03-14T17:07:00.001+00:002011-03-14T17:09:28.073+00:00Dow studies bio-based propylene routesHere's an <a href="http://www.icis.com/Articles/2011/02/28/9438198/Dow-studies-bio-based-propylene-routes.html"><span style="color: blue;">interesting article</span></a> from an ICIS colleague, Anna Jagger, on Dow Chemical's quest to source feestocks for its downstream slate from bio-sources. In this case, it's looking for ways of making propylene, to support its already proven bio-route to ethylene.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCJxEVqhzPtNZZZs4zct7C-fcoRp6oYZdsA1kllskbNZZXGpZYOXieij1gp_jX2uUdXF8K5XpqtiAe8nWZKPGGIoi0lsZocU07EJNO5Dx6RaU7rsw-ZgR2r0aI2wgjy5D2R-b7TAhEYw/s1600/kotanchek%252C_theresa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCJxEVqhzPtNZZZs4zct7C-fcoRp6oYZdsA1kllskbNZZXGpZYOXieij1gp_jX2uUdXF8K5XpqtiAe8nWZKPGGIoi0lsZocU07EJNO5Dx6RaU7rsw-ZgR2r0aI2wgjy5D2R-b7TAhEYw/s200/kotanchek%252C_theresa.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>As well as developing the necessary process technologies, the company is examining which bio-based products it would be able to sell at a premium. "Each of the regions is looking from a markets point of view," said Theresa Kotanchek (left), Dow vice president for sustainable technologies and innovation sourcing. "We're examining an array of raw materials."<br />
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Dow sees opportunities in sectors including personal care, cleaning products and the replacement of phthalates as plasticizers, Kotanchek said. "The opportunities cut across multiple end-use markets," she added. <br />
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It is early days. Dow's research and development (R&D) teams are investigating which bio-derived products the company should be focusing on. The research is still exploratory, explained John Biggs, R&D development director for Dow's hydrocarbon and energy group in Latin America.John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-39653585059805034432011-03-11T12:03:00.000+00:002011-03-11T12:03:30.965+00:00BASF, RWE, Linde extend carbon captureThe chemical industry continues to show it can provide solutions to the problem or global warming. In Germany, BASF and Linde have been working with RWE Power to develop carbon capture technology to remove carbon dioxide from the exhaust gases of a lignite-fed power station at Niederaussem. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9oPrwKwvkp-1nHSUIlnGCqM7N1wXcqfDKDkE5NzVfg1aei13XW15TrcrKkXoKGK3LU3vd2nQR3E16Fy9WL7eevvy4sYgVYZs9N4Pt7uvKxUr2VsXMjVfJck4bmiANrMiFqws6Eo3K7Y/s1600/biopact_CCS_RWE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9oPrwKwvkp-1nHSUIlnGCqM7N1wXcqfDKDkE5NzVfg1aei13XW15TrcrKkXoKGK3LU3vd2nQR3E16Fy9WL7eevvy4sYgVYZs9N4Pt7uvKxUr2VsXMjVfJck4bmiANrMiFqws6Eo3K7Y/s200/biopact_CCS_RWE.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Already underway for four years, <a href="http://www.basf.com/group/pressrelease/P-11-194"><span style="color: blue;">the project</span></a> has just been extended, with another 6m euros invested, to optimise the scrubbing agents and equipment.<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Different scrubbing agents have been tested since the pilot plant was commissioned in 2009, in three test phases of six months each, to identify an optimum solvent developed by BASF. Compared with processes commonly used, the energy input can be reduced by about 20% when using the new chemical solvent for CO<sub>2</sub> capture.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"></span><span lang="EN-GB">The new scrubbing agent also comes with increased stability and resistance to oxygen. This reduces the solvent consumption substantially. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">In the test phase starting now and lasting to 2013, the structure of the CO<sub>2</sub> absorber will be optimised by Linde so that carbon dioxide can be removed more effectively from the flue gas.</span>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-19233706530714124202011-03-10T16:15:00.000+00:002011-03-10T16:15:30.650+00:00New entrant for bio-ethyleneThe petrochemical industry's search for sustainable feedstocks has prompted another major producer to look at sourcing ethylene from sugars, via ethanol, so as to be able to make polymers such as polyethylene and PET with a "green" credential. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsoWw0Y-wCgQ7r2dxj-koLGD2VVZe6_Lt3PJZNc3bH02nzu6UqqjvZQMXFh9UorpTOD9Q6Ko06mZvPR4nXCoZEPxQ_TmDXuuHDIEi6btiOhyphenhyphenzqbxCGeorRvaW4KRXWk_BES-CwC6G_Io/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsoWw0Y-wCgQ7r2dxj-koLGD2VVZe6_Lt3PJZNc3bH02nzu6UqqjvZQMXFh9UorpTOD9Q6Ko06mZvPR4nXCoZEPxQ_TmDXuuHDIEi6btiOhyphenhyphenzqbxCGeorRvaW4KRXWk_BES-CwC6G_Io/s200/untitled.bmp" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left" class="imagemLegenda ">Braskem’s new green ethylene plant in Triunfo</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The technology is already in use in Brazil, where sugar cane has long been used as a source of ethanol. <a href="http://www.icis.com/Articles/2010/10/28/9405625/brazils-braskem-plans-to-start-green-pp-plant-in-2013.html"><span style="color: blue;">Braskem</span></a> and <a href="http://www.icis.com/Articles/2010/11/08/9408031/APLA-10-Dow-says-integration-is-key-to-bio-based-PE.html"><span style="color: blue;">Dow Chemical</span></a> have separately announced plans to make ethylene and polymers using this route. And Solvay has <a href="http://www.icis.com/Articles/2010/12/17/9420641/Solvay-resumes-plans-to-build-ethanol-to-PVC-plant-in.html"><span style="color: blue;">plans to make PVC</span></a> from bio-ethylene in the country.<br />
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Now, in Europe, <a href="http://www.totalpetrochemicals.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Press_releases_news/press_release_bioethylene_10032011_EN.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">Total Petrochemicals</span></a> has developed proprietary catalyst for converting ethanol into ethylene, in association with IFP Energies nouvelles and its Axens subsidiary.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The new technology will open the way, Total says, to "competitive production of bio-ethylene from renewable resources with lower energy consumption and lower CO2 emissions." It is expected that the technology will be ready for industrial implementation around end of 2011.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The alliance also covers production of other olefinic monomers from bio-derived higher alcohols which will be developed in parallel within the same technology platform. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">“With this new approach we will be able to respond to a growing demand for plastics based on renewable raw-materials. Efficient alcohol dehydration will broaden the commercial potential of all the on-going developments in the production of second generation bio-based alcohols and contribute to sustainable application of such forms of bio-based feedstock”, says Bernadette Spinoy, Total Petrochemicals senior vice president for base chemicals.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-41949048506818570672011-03-04T16:52:00.000+00:002011-03-04T16:52:36.693+00:00Bio-economy needs supply chain innovation<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Chemical companies are striving to embrace bio-based production to ensure their long-term sustainability. But there are many issues to resolve and questions to answer.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br>
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Most, if not all, major chemical producers and major agriculture combines are looking at the potential for renewable raw materials to replace petrochemical feedstocks, in some areas of their operations at least. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciuoA0jLX0p_2XsvQ33wiD1jDAIClkj1OuUGrcs82KsH0Eztsm_tpGc2LLul1XUoEFeG1EDrc_whDRsQ7pvVm0Nz_vA_dwO3uqhGeJTv16Fr52DN2cFr7uZZwpg8_ox31CucDII6MUUc/s1600/yourfile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciuoA0jLX0p_2XsvQ33wiD1jDAIClkj1OuUGrcs82KsH0Eztsm_tpGc2LLul1XUoEFeG1EDrc_whDRsQ7pvVm0Nz_vA_dwO3uqhGeJTv16Fr52DN2cFr7uZZwpg8_ox31CucDII6MUUc/s200/yourfile.jpg" width="200"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">And it is not just the majors that are investing heavily into the required technologies. Small, hi-tech start-ups are often leading the way in technology terms. Many have been lured in and supported by the huge political push in North America and <place w:st="on">Europe</place> for alternative fuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br>
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">But increasingly, these firms are focusing on devising routes to chemicals from biomass, as the market and prospects for further fuels investment stalls due to concerns over subsidies and the nonfood use of crops. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br>
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The stimulus from the fuels sector to the use of renewable raw materials to make existing and new chemicals and materials has been beneficial, however. Not only has it kick-started production on a scale not seen before, but it has begun to show how the logistics of using crop-derived materials might be managed to enable widespread production of chemical inter-mediates and products such as polymers, surfactants, solvents and lubricants.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br>
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The problem is that in the main, the feedstocks - starches, sugars, cellulose and oils and fats - are produced in rural areas, away from industrial production centres, and in low density. Thus the bulky raw materials have to be transported over some distances, adding significant costs and environmental impacts. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br>
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Before the bio-based economy can truly begin to play a significant part in industrial output, such problems will need to be solved at technical and economic levels. </div><a href="https://chemicals-and-innovation.blogspot.com/2011/03/bio-economy-needs-supply-chain.html#more">Read more »</a>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-30713701334899276802011-03-03T16:13:00.000+00:002011-03-03T16:13:29.958+00:00Innovation ahead for hair dyes?Technological progress may be fast-paced in many fields, but one mundane area has been almost left in the doldrums for the last 150 years: The basic technology for permanently colouring hair. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFt-RHiEUV91U978hfCvTCfUBdX9T_Vu8AcXf2ySkHqDOAoED6xq323bGGMmP2kEw6I4Ay3qHv7apfR_44i2tWjS8ze-5Lv19E3dWofjrURKcN5_xd-fSErFUK0pbAY688isXQ64P_sQ/s1600/hairdye1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFt-RHiEUV91U978hfCvTCfUBdX9T_Vu8AcXf2ySkHqDOAoED6xq323bGGMmP2kEw6I4Ay3qHv7apfR_44i2tWjS8ze-5Lv19E3dWofjrURKcN5_xd-fSErFUK0pbAY688isXQ64P_sQ/s1600/hairdye1.jpg" /></a></div>That's the conclusion of an <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/cr1000145"><span style="color: blue;">analysis of almost 500 articles</span></a> and patents on the chemistry of permanent hair dyeing, which foresees much more innovation in the years ahead, including longer lasting, more-natural-looking dyes and gene therapy to reverse the grey. <br />
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The article appears in ACS's journal <i><a href="http://pubs.acs.org/journal/chreay"><span style="color: blue;">Chemical Reviews</span></a>, </i>where Robert Christie and Olivier Morel note that hair dyes are poised for expansion in the future due to the greying of a global population.<br />
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Most permanent hair colouring technology, apparently, is based on a 150-year-old approach that uses p-phenylenediamine (PPD), a chemical that produces darker, browner shades when exposed to air. Concern over the safety of PPD and other hair dye ingredients, and demand for more convenient hair dyeing methods, has fostered an upswing in research on new dyes and alternative hair colouring technologies. <br />
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The scientists describe progress toward those goals. Future hair colouring techniques include nano-sized colorants, for instance. Composed of pigments 1/5,000th the width of a human hair, they will penetrate the hair and remain trapped inside for longer-lasting hair colouration. <br />
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Scientists also are developing substances that stimulate the genes to produce the melanin pigment that colours hair. These substances promise to produce a wider range of more natural-looking colours, from blond to dark brown and black, with less likelihood of raising concerns about toxicity and better prospects for more natural results.John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-9952734150436416192011-03-02T14:26:00.000+00:002011-03-02T14:26:44.603+00:00Oxford Catalysts raises £21mAs the organiser of the <a href="http://www.icis.com/staticpages/awards_home.htm"><span style="color: blue;">ICIS Innovation Awards</span></a> each year, it's always rewarding to see winning companies making progress with their innovations. This <span style="font-family: inherit;">week, <a href="http://www.oxfordcatalysts.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Oxford Catalysts</span></a>, winner of the <a href="http://www.icis.com/staticpages/Innovation_Best_SME_Category.htm"><span style="color: blue;">SME category in 2009</span></a> has <a href="http://bdd30412c4435fb83871bb42c4abc74fdcc18bff.gripelements.com/downloads/oxford_catalysts_placing_25-02-11.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">raised a further £21m in funding</span></a> to progress its innovative microreactor technology that can be used to convert biomass and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">biowaste into syngas ready for conversion into fuels and materials. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8y9r2HuCqBUXmqvylLrO_C2XNDr96IrwMtj-Kkr1d-nAtiiSZouGHu_mXSPk4rmbGykLXOfFBNJQcbuhyyJViD8W3Scuvj0reQyoVW4_n9apFk3r1yQ-us7kkUSII1IpDNd7vOX9Btc/s1600/Oxford+Catalysts+Reactor+new+Background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8y9r2HuCqBUXmqvylLrO_C2XNDr96IrwMtj-Kkr1d-nAtiiSZouGHu_mXSPk4rmbGykLXOfFBNJQcbuhyyJViD8W3Scuvj0reQyoVW4_n9apFk3r1yQ-us7kkUSII1IpDNd7vOX9Btc/s200/Oxford+Catalysts+Reactor+new+Background.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">The microreactor is very compact</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">The technology is particularly appropriate as it enables the conversion to be carried out on a local scale, without transport of the biomass. It can also be used to convert stranded fossil fuels such as shale gas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As the UK startup company says, "w<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">ith moves towards development of vast shale gas reserves in <place w:st="on">North America</place>, the increasing focus on the utilisation of stranded and associated gas and the growing interest in biomass-to- liquids (BTL) and waste-to-liquids (WTL) technology, the need to develop distributed technologies such as microchannel processing is more important than ever."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Microchannel reactors – compact reactors that have channels with diameters in the millimetre range lie at the heart of microchannel processing technology because they intensify chemical reactors, enabling them to occur at rates 10 to 1000 times faster than in conventional systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Oxford Catalysts Group’s FT technology to produce biofuels has been demonstrated in <city w:st="on">Güssing</city>, <country-region w:st="on">Austria</country-region> since the summer of 2010 in partnership with SGC Energia, <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">SGPS</city>, <country-region w:st="on">S.A.</country-region></place> (SGCE). In addition, the Group’s steam methane reforming (SMR) technology is due to be demonstrated in summer 2011 along with the Group’s FT technology in a six barrel per day integrated gas-to-liquids (GTL) pilot plant at a Petrobras refinery in Fortaleza, Brazil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The Group received its first order for a commercial scale FT microchannel reactor and highly active FT catalyst in December 2010. It expects that further commercial sales of its microchannel and catalyst technologies to multiple partners will follow in 2011.</span></span></div></span></span>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267258474523407444.post-27401977927416088012011-03-01T09:50:00.001+00:002011-03-01T09:52:38.416+00:00Open innovation thoughts<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir91dwmMjCfaS2cOIHoxMfUzYXIcujkWZDro-liGfbaa63NDJGV00ILqkCvX9-0_dMczmZuJnVgQF0gBVPFwsf96sDgDypkiLBonONj_r3TRxKwBVcIz8ePLvcV-k00sDQ94pEC8S81Zg/s1600/gwen-ruta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir91dwmMjCfaS2cOIHoxMfUzYXIcujkWZDro-liGfbaa63NDJGV00ILqkCvX9-0_dMczmZuJnVgQF0gBVPFwsf96sDgDypkiLBonONj_r3TRxKwBVcIz8ePLvcV-k00sDQ94pEC8S81Zg/s1600/gwen-ruta.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">Gwen Ruta</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>This <a href="http://blog.innocentive.com/2011/02/28/can-open-innovation-save-the-planet/"><span style="color: blue;">interesting post</span></a> came my way this morning, offering some thoughts on open innovation and why it is important. <br />
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It is written by Environmental Defense Fund's <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/user/gwen-ruta"><span style="color: blue;">Gwen Ruta</span></a> and first appeared on <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1730712/can-open-innovation-save-the-planet#"><span style="color: blue;">FastCompany</span></a>'s Expert Bloggers series.<br />
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EDF and Innocentive recently <a href="http://www2.innocentive.com/innocentive-and-environmental-defense-fund-announce-eco-challenge-series"><span style="color: blue;">announced</span></a> a partnership aimed at accelerating environmental innovation in business. <br />
<div align="left"></div>John Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720076223342276074noreply@blogger.com0