Hello from Berlin! Being jetlagged has its perks and one of them is having the time to blog since I can't sleep. As mentioned before, I am covering ICIS' oleochemicals conference and will try to tweet all the good stuff via @ICISgreenblog (keeping my fingers crossed on that internet connection).
While I'm complaining about the size of soda bottles here in Europe (I'm thirsty!), here are this week's news roundup.
BASF likes metathesis tech
Materia has exclusively licensed its metathesis technology to BASF for use in the research and development of certain specialty chemicals. Metathesis catalysts enable the formation and manipulation of carbon-carbon bonds in the synthesis of novel specialty chemicals with superior properties as well as in the development of more efficient and low cost production processes for existing ones.
Air Products' PV contract
Air Products signed a turnkey gas supply contract to provide its SunSource(TM) Solutions liquid bulk and specialty gases, related gas distribution equipment, and engineering services to DuPont Apollo (Shenzhen) Limited at its new amorphous silicon thin-film photovoltaic (PV) facility in GuangMing New District, Shenzhen, China.
No waste biodiesel
Yellow Diesel B.V. has produced high-quality biodiesel in a continuous fixed-bed micro
plant based on heterogeneous catalysis. This process gives pure biodiesel plus a cosmetics/food grade glycerol, with practically no waste streams.
W2 Energy has begun negotiating with several organizations and governments in the Caribbean to build commercial scale Algae bioreactor to produce biofuel. The company's Sunfilter Bioreactor is a low cost, low energy consuming bioreactor capable of producing biodiesel.
BP solar in Poland
BP Solar formed a deal
with Jabil Circuit, Inc. to manufacture BP Solar modules for the
European market in Jabil's plant in Poland. The agreement calls for an
initial capacity of 45 megawatts (MW) in 2009 with the opportunity for
expansion as demand increases.
And in ICIS news (requires subscription):
Shell is developing a polycarbonate (PC) feedstock based on carbon dioxide.
2008 reflected a reduction in US chemical industry work-related fatalities.
A group of scientists, including a member of a government advisory board, have sent a letter to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criticising the way it studies bisphenol A (BPA).
They should have 1 Liter soda bottles too - got to check out the mini marts or kiosks.
Ich liebe Berlin :)
Thanks for the tip! I should have scouted the vicinity for nearby mini-marts the first night I came in. Instead I scouted for nearby clothing and shoe stores = )