Researchers at the University of Minnesota claimed to have invented a groundbreaking new catalyst technology that converts biomass feedstocks to acrylic acid and acrylates used in paints, coatings and superabsorbent polymers. The new catalyst technology is also highly efficient, which means lower costs for manufacturing renewable chemicals.
BASF launches innovative catalyst for biobased ethylene production [Full subscriber]
The chemical giant BASF has introduced CircleStar™, an innovative dehydration catalyst to process renewable feedstocks. The novel star-shaped catalyst achieves a 99.5% selectivity for the ethanol-to-ethylene (E2E) conversion.
High conversion of syngas to gasoline-range liquid hydrocarbons via dual-bed catalyst [Full subscriber]
Researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have realized the highly efficient and selective conversion of syngas to gasoline-range liquid hydrocarbons over a dual-bed catalyst.
New ultra-efficient catalyst effective in recycling contaminated cooking oil into biodiesel [Full subscriber]
An international collaboration led by RMIT University has developed a powerful, low-cost method for recycling used cooking oil and agricultural waste into biodiesel and turning food scraps and plastic rubbish into high-value products.
Breakthrough in eco-friendly water treatment/purificiation method [Full subscriber]
Researchers from Swansea University have developed a new environmentally friendly method of water treatment that does not require the use of solvents
Methane-eating bacteria paves way for cost-effective production of methanol [Full subscriber]
Now, researchers at Northwestern University have discovered that the catalyst for the methane-methanol conversion induces this complex reaction at a site that contains just one copper ion.
Palladium-copper catalyst enhances carbon dioxide-to-methanol conversion [Registered]
Researchers at Penn State University claim to have made significant strides in converting carbon dioxide into methanol by developing a new catalyst that uses a specific formulation of palladium and copper.
UV light-driven catalyst converts CO2 into fuel and feedstock [Registered]
One of the problems with carbon dioxide is the strength of the carbon-oxygen bond. It is very difficult to break its bonds and free up the carbon for reactive chemistry. CO2 activation – the process of persuading oxygen-bound carbon to react – has therefore been a goal of chemistry for some years. A potential breakthrough has now come from researchers at Duke University in North Carolina, USA, who have engineered nanoparticles containing the precious metal rhodium that convert CO2 into methane via UV light. The methane could be used directly as a fuel or as a feedstock for reaction into further organic molecules.
Anellotech successfully extends catalyst lifetime for the biomass to aromatic chemicals and fuels process [Registered]
Anellotech recently announced that it has developed proprietary technology to extend catalyst lifetime in its Bio-TCat process for low-cost conversion of biomass into valuable aromatic chemicals and renewable fuels.
Sulphur’s potent catalytic role discovered [Registered]
Synthetic organic chemistry consists of transforming existing molecules into new molecular structures or assemblies. These new molecular systems are then used in a myriad of ways in everyday life – in a wide range of sectors, such as public health, energy and environment, for use in drugs, solar cells, fragrances, and so on. The active element in the molecule that initiates these transformations, known as the catalyst, is often hydrogen. However, a research team at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, has found that a sulphur atom, if carefully inserted into a molecule, can not only become an extremely effective catalyst but can also operate with greater precision.
Monthly Snapshot
Raw sugar for March delivery settled at 19.82 cents/pound on January 18 after reaching a two-and-a-half-week high earlier in the session at 20.25 cents. The white sugar contract expiring in […]
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