F O C U S

O N

C ATA LY S T S

(catalysts and silica products) and

Performance Chemicals.

research team at the Tokyo Institute of

Technology.

Grace Reports, 1Q 2003 Financial Results, 22 Apr

2003, 1-6 (WR Grace & Co, 7500 Grace Drive,
Columbia, MD 21044, USA
Website: http://www.grace.com)

Japan Chemical Week, 22 May 2003, 44 (2221), 1

Hydrogen peroxide route to PO

NEW PLANTS
UOP, Eurochem Technologies signs
deal
Eurochem Technologies Corp Pte Ltd
has signed a deal with UOP LLC of
Des Plaines, IL, for the basic
engineering design of UOPs
UOP/Hydro methanol-to-olefins
(MTO) process unit, which will be
used by UOP as part of the firms
natural gas-to-polymers project at
Ibeju Lekke in Lagos State, Nigeria.
The project will process natural gas to
produce 400,000 tonne/y of highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) and
400,000 tonne/y of polypropylene
(PP). The proposed plant will
accommodate a methanol unit to
convert natural gas into methanol, a
polyolefin unit to process ethylene
and propylene, and an MTO unit to
convert methanol into ethylene and
propylene. The facility is slated for
completion in 2006.
Hydrocarbon Processing, Apr 2003, 82 (4), 34

Fushun Petrochemical to import UOP

catalyst plant
CNPC Fushun Petrochemical Co,
China, is to import a catalyst
manufacturing line from UOP at a cost
of RMB Yuan 250 M to increase
catalyst capacity from 1700 tonne/y to
4300 tonne/y from 2004.
China Chemical Reporter, 6 May 2003, 14 (13), 8

NEW
TECHNOLOGY
Propylene synthesised from ethylene
using nanoporous silica catalyst
A direct synthesis of propylene and
butene from ethylene, using nickel
ions supported on a nanoporous silica
(MCM-41), has been discovered by a

A new, direct process for the

manufacture of propylene oxide has
been developed by Lyondell and the
University of Pittsburgh. The process
involves the reaction of propylene with
hydrogen peroxide generated in situ
using a palladium or a titanium silicate
catalyst. Currently about 4 M tonne/y
propylene oxide is produced by the
chlorohydrin or co-product (styrene is
by-product) processes.
Chemistry and Industry (London), 5 May 2003, (9), 6
(Website: http://www.chemind.org)

Another direct oxidation route to PO

Scientists at Tokyo University and
Nippon Shokubai have developed a
polyoxometallate catalyst containing
silicon and tungsten which epoxidises
olefins, including propylene, into their
respective epoxides using hydrogen
peroxide as the oxidizing agent. The
compound has selectivity of over 88%
and gives yields of from 90% to over
99% depending on the olefin. No
efficiency is lost on scale-up.
Sumitomo Chemical recently
commissioned the first commercialscale direct oxidation plant for PO at
Chiba, Japan. This uses a titaniumbased catalyst and cumene
hydroperoxide as the oxidizing agent.
Chemical Week, 14 May 2003, 165 (18), 30; Chemical
& Engineering News, 12 May 2003, 81 (19), 11

More efficient PET production

DuPont Inc of Wilmington, DE, has
developed NG-3, a process to make
bottle-grade polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) resin. The new
process utilises less equipment and
fewer steps compared with
conventional PET resin processing.
The technology will be implemented
at Reliance Industries Ltds new plant
in Hazira, India. Reliance plans to
raise the production capacity of its
Relpet PET polyester packaging resin
production plant to 300,000 tonne/y
from 80,000 tonne/y. The plant is
scheduled for 3Q 2003 with an initial
capacity of 220,000 tonne/y. The plant

will process low-molecular-weight

polymer coming from the continuous
polymerization section of the NG-3
unit utilizing UOP Sincos solid-state
polymerisation unit.
Chemical Engineering Progress, Apr 2003, 99 (4),
12-14

Brilen & Nurel: antimony-free PET

fibres
Nurel SA of Barcelona, Spain and
Brilen SA of Zaragosa, Spain have
produced antimony-free PET fibres
that can be utilised in making
polyester garments for children or
people with sensitive skin or allergy
problems. The companies have used
an antimony-free catalyst that is said
to eliminate the need to produce
substances harmful to people and the
environment. The new ecological fibre
is also said to reduce the costs
incurred for waste treatment. Flameretardant and high-tenacity yarns,
yarns with low capillarity and
extremely low shrinkage factor for
PVC coating applications, and marine
finish yarns for offshore moorings are
some of the innovations developed for
industrial textiles.
Chemical Fibers International, Apr 2003, 53 (2), 80-81

JSR develops thermoplastic elastomer

film grade
A new co-catalyst is being used by
JSR Corp for making a new
polybutadiene thermoplastic elastomer
for manufacturing high performance
film. The new material will be suitable
for shrink-wrap films and those used
to preserve product freshness. The
syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene
material exhibits the same elasticity
as rubber and the same hardness of
plastics. South America and Italy are
the companys main export markets,
with total exports accounting for 70%
of production. The new catalyst
technology is to be installed at one of
the companys two production lines in
Chiba. These have a combined
capacity of 45,000 tonne/y. Most of
the companys output is currently for
the shoe sector. JSR is making
strenuous efforts to increase its sales
in China by working with
manufacturers of injection moulding
machines.
Japan Chemical Week, 15 May 2003, 44 (2220), 1

JULY 2003