ExxonMobil Chemical Increases SpectraSyn Ultra™Capacity


ExxonMobil Chemical have completed a debottlenecking project at the Beaumont Synthetics plant that has increased by 40 percent the capacity to produce SpectraSyn Ultra ™ High VI high viscosity polyalphaolefins (PAO). The expansion will help meet increasing market demand for the advanced high viscosity PAO, used to create a wide range of high-performance synthetic fluids.


"The increase in capacity demonstrates our continued focus on developing high-performance synthetic fluids for lubricants and specialty fluids markets," said Page Greenwood, Synthetics Global PAO marketing manager. "Innovation and investment in the business are important to our customers and


we are committed to being the premier supplier of these fluids."


Manufactured using a proprietary process, SpectraSyn Ultra™High VI is an ultra-performance high viscosity PAO offering performance advantages across a wide range of viscosities. Lubricants formulated with SpectraSyn Ultra™ benefit from increased film thickness, extra energy efficiency and excellent low-temperature fluidity.


Link www.exxonmobilchemical.com


Animal testing no longer needed to measure cell toxicity


Scientific breakthrough provides real alternative to animal testing in drugs research - as Europe demands far more testing to be carried out.


Quicker and less expensive approach to animal testing now available.


Scientists at the University of Western England (UWE), Bristol working with leading Bio-related healthcare research company Kaiku have developed a technology for measuring cell toxicity that eliminates the need to rely on animals for drug evaluation and toxicity testing.


The electrical characteristics of a cell are determined by composition of the cell and the charge distribution across various membranes within the cell and cell organelles. Work carried out at the University of the West of England in conjunction with Kaiku, has shown that by measuring changes in the electrical characteristics of cells, toxic effects of harmful compounds can be determined more rapidly than with traditional animal testing protocols, negating the moral debate of using animals to achieve the same.


The significance of these findings, using a new form of Impedance Spectroscopy RIS (Resonant Impedance Spectroscopy) means that by using cell culture systems the toxicity of potential pharmaceutical compounds can be evaluated, ethically, whilst saving time and money too.


This new technology is especially important as European legislation has dictated that all chemicals used by industry should have their toxicity evaluated and defined by the year 2018. This means that, over 30,000 chemicals need to be tested by then. Traditionally, this would be by the exhaustive use of animals to meet the targets. The first tests are scheduled to begin in 2008 so it is important that new technology is introduced as soon as possible to replace and reduce the numbers of animals used for toxicity testing.


As Richard Luxton Principal Lecturer at UWE says, "The replacement of animal testing is an important theme in UK and European research, supporting the 3Rs - replacement, refinement and reduction. But beyond this, we are at a point where technology has come to the aid of a social and moral campaign that


usually is seen at odds with scientists." The development and introduction of alternative methods for the assessment of toxicity is monitored at a European level by a not-for-profit, non govern- mental organisation called ecopa (European Consensus Platform on 3RA- Alternatives). ecopa acts as an umbrella organisation at European level for a number of National Consensus Platforms for the promotion of the 3Rs in member states.


Says Dr. Hassan Amrani, Technical Director Kaiku, "There is a real moral dimension here. European legislators are driving organisations both academic and commercial alike towards a huge programme of testing with animals in the front line. However, with this technology the testing can be carried out in a way that removes any social conflict."


Link www.kaiku.co.uk


LUBE MAGAZINE JUNE 2007


23


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36