MATERIALS AND SOLIDS PROCESSING


proprietary catalyst development, this new technology will open the way to a competitive production of bio-ethylene from renewable resources with lower energy consumption and lower carbon dioxide emissions. Bio-ethylene could be integrated in various


polymer applications such as polyethylene (PE), polyethyleneteraphthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyvinylchloride (PVC) and acrylonitrile- butadiene-styrene (ABS) in existing unmodified downstream polymerisation installations. The goal of this co-development is to


implement new catalysts, envisioning the highest possible carbon-yield for ethylene and to use advanced techniques to minimise energy consumption for the production of polymer- grade ethylene. Within the agreement, Total will continue its work on the optimisation of the catalyst formulation at the research centre in Feluy, Belgium. IFPEN will complete the process development at its Lyon site, France. Axens will finalise this development and


prepare the technology for commercialisation by ensuring the industrial catalyst manufacturing and by providing all process licensing related services to Total Petrochemicals and other potential customers. The alliance is also covering other olefinic


monomers production from bio-derived higher alcohols which will be developed in parallel


within the same technology platform. Solazyme, a renewable oils and bioproducts


company, has announced that it is working with Dow to advance the development of Solazyme’s algal oils for use in next generation, bio-based dielectric insulating fluids key to transformers and other electrical applications.


Fluid formulations Under the terms of a joint development agreement, Dow will combine its extensive knowledge of speciality fluid formulations and dielectric insulation capabilities with Solazyme’s feedstock capabilities to develop of a new class of algal oils tailored for optimised performance and cost in dielectric insulating fluid applications. The deal means that Dow can obtain up to 20 million gallons of Solazyme’s oils for use in dielectric insulating fluids and other industrial applications in 2013 and up to 60 million gallons in 2015. Solazyme ceo and co-founder, Jonathan


Wolfson, commented: “Dow is a world- class organisation with enormous research, production and commercialisation expertise in a broad range of high-value and high- growth chemical sectors. In this initial joint effort Dow and Solazyme will work to tap into the greater-than 500 million gallon dielectric insulating fluids market with novel


and breakthrough bio-based solutions. In parallel we are working with Dow to explore the use of Solazyme’s algal technology and oils in a wide variety of products that Dow commercialises worldwide, to help provide high performance, environmentally sustainable and cost competitive solutions to a broad set of end users.”


Finally, BASF and Swiss company Evolva


Holding have signed an agreement for joint research on the design of novel and optimised biosynthesis routes for selected natural products with crop protection potential (Fig. 1). “The collaboration with Evolva underlines


BASF’s approach to employ cutting edge biotechnology for the development of new specialty products,” said Harald Lauke, president of specialty chemicals research at BASF. The collaboration will initially cover two


projects. BASF will pay Evolva an up-front technology access fee and ongoing research fees. BASF will have responsibility to take forward compounds produced during the collaboration and will potentially pay Evolva R&D milestone fees as well as royalties on products that result from the collaboration. This is Evolva’s first collaboration in which its technology is applied to the agricultural sector. ❒


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