A hoi-polloi of green news last week, although nothing standing out except a couple of more algae developments. Coming out from ICIS Chemical Business (the magazine I work for) on August 17 is our Chemical Sites feature and I contributed an article about new technology and developments that help chemical manufacturers reduce energy use. Watch out for that!
For now, here are this week's news roundup:
Hexion biocomposite JV
Hexion Specialty Chemicals has partnered with Tekle Technical Services (TTS), a biocomposites company, to develop "green" building products for the construction industry. Hexion will develop resins, adhesives, catalysts and additives for use in TTS products.
Flower powers hydroplane
A biofuel blend made from the energy crop camelina (85%), jatropha (14%) and algae oil (1%) was used to power Boeing U-787 unlimited hydroplane, which is said to be the world's first hydroplane test to use 100% biofuel.
Risky Canadian chemicals?
The Canadian Government has identified
BNST, dimethyl and diethyl sulphate as chemicals of risks and recommend
a virtual elimination of BNST use because of its environmental risks.
Canadian regulators propose measures to tackle the human health risks
of dimethyl and diethyl sulphate.
Solar grant for Air Products
Air Products will receive more than $1.5m grant
from the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technology Program.
Air Products will use its expertise in etch and deposition science to
develop materials that could potentially result in significant cost
savings for thin-film photovoltaic manufacturers.
Arkema ends fluorosurfactant use
Arkema
says its Kynar® and Kynar Flex® polymer process aid (PPA) resins made
using a new fluorosurfactant-free (FSF) process are now available.
Kynar® and Kynar Flex® PPA resins are used to aid in extrusion of
polyolefins like LLDPE, HDPE, and PP.
And in ICIS news (requires subscription):
The proposed US cap-and-trade legislation unfairly burdens the US refineries by awarding them fewer credits, according to the American Petroleum Institute.
Several chemical industry groups cautioned against a total overall of the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) saying such action would hurt small and mid-sized businesses.
US biopolymer producer NatureWorks said that recent criticism on the viability of sorting polylactic acid resins in recycling processes, particularly for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) players, resulted from a misinterpretation of the company's research.
Germany's safety agency, Bundesinstitut fur Risikobewertung (BfR), is recommending a ban on the antibacterial agent triclosan in food contact plastic materials.
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