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developed EnCat, a polyurea encapsulation technology for catalysts. It is also producing the Quadrapure range of scavengers for removing metals.
Chemical Market Reporter, 3 Oct 2005 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)

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fine chemicals restructuring costs are expected to total 100 M. For 2005, Degussa is expecting to report net losses of 450 M, compared to a net profit of 298 M for 2004.
European Chemical News, 10 Oct 2005, 83 (2166), 6 & Chemical Week, 12 Oct 2005, 167 (34) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)

Bayer Antwerp and Shell International reach licensing agreement

Bayer Antwerp NV and Shell International Research Maatschappij BVs licensing agreement will enable Shell to employ Double Metal Cyanide (DMC) technology to generate polyether polyols utilising Shells process design under Bayers Impact patents. The technology involves a method for using DMCs as catalysts for polyoxyalkylation. The agreement also covers a continuous process generating long chain polyether polyols, which are used as base products for flexible polyurethane slabstock foams. The value of the licensing agreement was not revealed.
Hydrocarbon Processing, Sep 2005, 84 (9), 31

COMPANY NEWS
Albemarle, hte, sign collaboration agreement
Albemarle Corp, and hte Aktiengesellschaft (hte) have entered into a multi-year collaboration agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, hte will provide Albemarle with high throughput experimentation solutions to enhance innovation in the field of refinery catalysis, including the supply of hardware and software technologies and research services. This collaboration agreement extends the work that Albemarle and hte have undertaken together in the past two years to apply htes proprietary technologies and methods to technically challenging research topics in refinery catalysis.
Press release from: Albemarle Corp, 330 South Fourth Street, PO Box 1335, Richmond, VA 23210, USA. Tel: +1 804 788 6000. Fax: +1 804 388 7686. Website: http://www.albemarle.com (17 Oct 2005) & Chemical Market Reporter, 24 Oct 2005 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemical and Engineering News, 24 Oct 2005, 83 (43), 6-8 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 24 Oct 2005, (315), 11 (in French)

Dow announces the sale of its 50% interest in UOP

The Dow Chemical Co announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Union Carbide Corp, has agreed to the sale of its indirect 50% interest in UOP LLC to Honeywell. Honeywell currently owns the remaining 50% interest in UOP. The sale price is $825 M plus or minus 50% of the net cash in the venture at closing. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory review, is expected to close in 4Q 2005. Despite the success of the jv with Honeywell, UOP is not considered strategic to Dow Chemicals future growth agenda. UOP has been a jv between UCC and Honeywell since Aug 1988.
Press release from: The Dow Chemical Co, 2030, Dow Center, Midland, MI 48674, USA. Tel: +1 989 636 1463. Fax: +1 989 636 1830. Website: http://www.dow.com (3 Oct 2005) & Chemical and Engineering News, 10 Oct 2005, 83 (41), 10 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & Chemical Market Reporter, 10-16 Oct 2005 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemical Week, 12 Oct 2005, 167 (34) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Handelsblatt Wirtschaftsund Finanzzeitung, 4 Oct 2005, 40 (191), 16 (in German)

CCI developing series of catalysts for making sulfur-free fuels

Catalyst and Chemicals Industries is Japans largest producer of oil refining and petrochemical catalysts. It is focusing on high value-added products such as ultra deep desulphurization catalysts. New fluid cracking catalysts are also being developed in anticipation of increased demand because of greater propylene production. In 2006, the company will begin recycling molybdenum, tungsten, and other raw materials for which prices are rising. By 2010, sales by Catalyst and Chemicals Industries are to be doubled under Scenario 2010, the medium-term business plan of its parent company, JGC Corp. Sales of catalysts are targeted to double to Yen 20 bn/y. Currently, 40% of sales are exports and production facilities are to be established overseas in South East Asia and China, where new oil refineries are being built.
Japan Chemical Week, 15 Sep 2005, 46 (2334), 7

Haldor Topsoe A/S: promoting mediumtemperature CO shift catalysts

The catalyst operations of Haldor Topsoe A/S are being expanded globally. Strong growth in Korea has meant that sales and marketing there have been transferred to head office from the Tokyo Branch Office of Haldor Topsoe International. The company is promoting its catalysts for production of synthesis gas and medium-temperature CO shift catalysts, together with new lowtemperature CO shift catalysts it has developed which significantly reduce methanol as a by-product. Demand for TK-576, a new catalyst for ultra deep desulfurisation of gas oil, is increasing in the west and gaining ground in Japan. There is steady growth in demand for sulfuric acid catalysts based on cesium.
Japan Chemical Week, 15 Sep 2005, 46 (2334), 8

BASF expanding catalyst business in Asia

By the end of 2005, BASF will deliver a refinery catalyst for off-gas collection from fluid catalytic cracking equipment to a customer in Japan. It has already supplied a similar order in China. Asian customers have rapidly employed new styrene catalysts, S-36 and S-38, commercialised by BASF at the end of 2004. Orders are also being received for the companys nitrogen oxides decomposition catalysts. Catalysts are being developed for fuel cells in both automotive and industrial applications.
Japan Chemical Week, 15 Sep 2005, 46 (2334), 12

Degussa sends out warnings

Degussa has warned that it is taking a charge of 830 M on its peroxygen chemicals; exclusive synthesis and catalysts; and building blocks business units. Overcapacity and stiff competition in the fine chemicals sector has led the company to increase its reorganisation activities, resulting in an extra 20 M of nonoperating costs. For 2004 and 2005,

DECEMBER 2005