The Catalyst Review June 2019 - 5

PROCESS NEWS
A One-Step Route to Bioplastic Monomers...
Aerobic oxidation of a biomass-derived substrate [5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural; HMF] in methanol and ethylene glycol produces
monomers MFDC - the methyl ester of furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) - and HEFDC - the ethylene glycol ester of FDCA. These
monomers are recognized as crucial for the manufacture of polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a polymer that can replace polyethylene
terephthalate (PET). However, MFDC production has so far been exclusively studied for dilute HMF solutions, and more desirable
routes for the production of HEFDC is currently impractical because a high-yield of the monomer cannot be produced efficiently.
Now, the two monomers can be produced by a one-step, energy-efficient process developed by the research teams of Kiyotaka
Naakajima at Hokkaido University (Japan) and Emiel Hensen of Eindhoven University of Technology (the Netherlands). The
researchers previously developed a stable compound called HMF-acetal, and have now shown that 80-95% of HMF-acetal in
a concentrated (10-20 wt.%) solution can be efficiently converted to MFDC and HEFDC with a gold nanoparticle catalyst. The
researchers note that this method has fewer reaction steps and requires less energy than conventional processes. Source: Chemical
Engineering, 6/2019, p.10.

JUST ANNOUNCED!

The Catalytic Process Industries in China: Markets,
Technologies & Strategic Implications - Update 2019
Produced as a series of reports - first in 2005, Updated in 2013 - The Catalyst Group Resources' (TCGR's) and the China National Chemical Information
Center's (CNCIC's) "The Catalytic Process Industries in China: Markets, Technologies & Strategic Implications" are historic, insightful, and actionable
documents capturing catalyst market sizes, growth rates and participants in China. The multi-client study series were comprised of 4 "stand alone,"
but integrated reports on the Chinese market, each dedicated to a major catalytic process area: refining, petrochemical/chemical, polymerization and
environmental (mobile and stationary) and provided analysis of the market size, growth factors, trade issues, pricing factors and R&D efforts of an
increasingly important industry. Strategies and recommendations were provided for Western and other Asian companies to evaluate opportunities and
begin participation.
Since it has been nearly 6 years since the 2013 Update, the catalytic process industries in China now need to be re-analyzed and segment reports
updated considering dramatic changes in technology, supply, security and political/regional influences. In its proposed "Update 2019," we will again
delineate important changes to the landscape, economics and industry implications based on technology advances and manufacturing/production
capabilities that have taken place in China over the past 6 years. In this series of reports, the Chinese catalyst and catalytic process industries will be
broken into 4 major "segments" documenting the following topics:
*
*
*
*

Refining: Fluid Catalytic Cracking; Reforming; Hydrocracking; Hydroprocessing; Other (including Isomerization, Lubes, etc.)
Petrochemical/Chemical: Aromatic; Organic Synthesis; Oxidation; Syngas & Derivatives; Hydrogenation & Dehydrogenation
Polymerization: Polyethylene; Polypropylene; Elastomers; PVC; PS; ABS; PET
Environmental: Mobile; Stationary

Particular attention will be given to how the industry segment operates within China as well as how, and to what degree, it interacts with global
companies (customers, suppliers, etc.). There will also be highlighted differences between methods and operations of Chinese companies relative to
Western and/or other Asian participants.
A key justification for this study is need for a comprehensive technical, market and strategic/competitive assessment of catalysts and catalytic
processes in China with its effect on producers, supply chains, relationships and competitiveness in such a way that identifies opportunities and
shapes future directions. This study series is a "by the industry, for the industry" assessment and a "must have" for future success in the catalytic process
industries globally!
This proposed multi-client study is scheduled for completion in four segments between Sept. - Nov. 2019.
*****
Additional information, including the complete study proposal, the preliminary Table of Contents and the Order Form, is available at:
http://www.catalystgrp.com/multiclient_studies/catalytic-process-industries-china-markets-technologies-strategic-implications-update-2019/ or by
contacting Mr. John Murphy of TCGR at +1.215.628.4447 or jmurphy@catalystgrp.com or Ms. Pearl Ma of CNCIC at +86.10.6444.4034 or majw@cncic.cn.
The Catalyst Review 										

	

June 2019

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The Catalyst Review June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Catalyst Review June 2019
