Chemistry and Industry back issues from August 2007:
And now the end is near?(Leader)(Imperial Chemical Industries PLC)
Aug 13, 2007; ... American author Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, wrote: 'The report of my death was an exaggeration', referring to rumours based on the illness of a cousin, James Ross Clemens. The same exaggerated comment might be applied to ICI. Since its formation in ...
Hydroelectricity: a bit of a washout?(Renewable energy)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Hydroelectric power is the least efficient way of using land to produce power, according to a recent report on renewables. In a comparison of the amount of renewable power produced per [m.sup.2] of land, the report by Rockerfeller University researcher Jesse Ausubel rated hydroelectric ...
'Slimming pill' for insects is synthesised.(Azadiractin)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... The first total synthesis of the insect antifeedant azadiractin, which has challenged chemists around the world for more than two decades, has been completed by Steve Ley's group at the University of Cambridge (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. doi: 10.1002/anie.200703027). The fearsomely ...
Akzo makes 8bn [pounds sterling] bid for ICI.(Acquisitions)(Imperial Chemical Industries PLC)
Aug 13, 2007; ... As C&I goes to press it would appear the takeover of UK paint and adhesives manufacturer ICI by Dutch paint and chemicals major Akzo is looking more like a certainty, following an increased offer from Akzo and ICI allowing Akzo to undertake 'certain limited due diligence'. This is despite ...
Novartis patent challenge rejected in India.(News)
Aug 13, 2007 ... Swiss pharma concern Novartis believes that the rejection by the Indian high court in Chennai of its challenge to Indian patent law will have 'negative consequences for research and development into better medicines for patients and public health in India,' according to Paul Herrling, head ...
Therapeutic vaccines target HPV.(Cervical cancer)(Human Papilloma Virus)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Virus-based vaccines targeting human papilloma virus (HPV), including Sanofi Pasteur MSD's Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline's forthcoming version Cervarix, will have 'no effect' on the millions of women already infected with HPV, and the millions who will become infected before the vaccine is ...
Increase in gene-based disease diagnosis.(Pharmacogenomic testing)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Pharmacogenomic testing is set to double in Europe by 2012, with the annual spend reaching $110m, according to research by consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. The field includes diagnostic assays that are carried out to determine which treatment is best for a particular patient. ...
AIDS drug blocks entry of the HIV virus into cells.(Virology)(Acquired immune deficiency syndrome)(Human immunodeficiency virus)
Aug 13, 2007; ... As HIV mutates into forms that are resistant to existing medicines, there is a constant need for novel drugs to stay one step ahead of the virus. The first in a new class of HIV medicines, maraviroc, has just been approved in the US, and should be available in September. It has also ...
Alternative to BCG vaccine.(Science briefs)(Bacille Calmette-Guerin)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... A better alternative to the BCG vaccine, used for nearly a century to ward off tuberculosis (TB), could be in sight thanks to work by US scientists. Researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have produced a genetically modified strain ...
Hope for Chagas cure.(Science briefs)(Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruz)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... A cure for tropical Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, may be a step closer after researchers devised a plan for blocking the parasite's reproductive cycle. Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA), UK, and at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, have ...
Spot on acne treatment.(Drug reprofiling)(Summit)
Aug 13, 2007; ... A product being developed by Summit, formerly Vastox, could provide a safe, effective treatment for acne. Current treatments are largely ineffective, and the most successful, Roaccutane, is teratogenic and can cause a wide range of side effects. Acne develops when too much sebum ...
Merial restarts vaccine production.(Foot and mouth disease)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Animal health specialist Merial has 'temporarily' recommenced manufacture of foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine at its Pirbright, UK, facility following its voluntary suspension of production after two outbreaks of FMD at local farms in Surrey. Merial said that this was in 'specific ...
Antibiotic fibres get to the root of the problem.(Dental technology)
Aug 13, 2007; ... A novel antibiotic fibre could make visits to the dentist a less painful proposition. The fibre is designed to prevent bacterial infection during root canal treatment. Developed by the Forsyth Institute and Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston, US, and licensed to San Diego-based ...
Clay particles brush up well.(Nanopaint)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... DIY enthusiasts could soon look forward to paints that are more hard-wearing and have improved fire resistance. New latex emulsion formulations, incorporating clay nanoparticles rather than soap to stabilise the paint polymer, can not only withstand much higher temperatures than ...
Folic acid found to protect mice from BPA.(Epigenetics)(Bisphenol A )(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Feeding pregnant mice with folic acid or genistein, an active ingredient in soya products, protected their offspring from the harmful effects of the plasticiser Bisphenol A (BPA), US researchers have found. Bisphenol A is a synthetic oestrogen used in manufacturing everyday products from ...
FDA says product labelling unnecessary.(Nano briefs)(Food and Drug Administration )(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... Food, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics that contain nanoparticles do not require special regulations or labelling, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded. Although the properties of nanosize particles are very different from larger particles, an FDA task force found no ...
Nanogen ships heart diagnostic kit.(Nano briefs)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... US firm Nanogen has begun shipment of its new diagnostic kit for congestive heart failure (CHF). The StatusFirst CHF test measures levels of NT-proBNP, a biomarker for heart disease, in blood plasma and gives a quantitative assessment of the biomarker concentration via a small reader in as ...
Nantero speeds carbon nanotubes to market.(Nano briefs)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... Carbon nanotubes for use in semiconductors have now come onto the market years earlier than originally expected, claim their inventors at US technology firm Nantero. Nanotubes are believed to hold great promise for the future of semiconductors, but experts had predicted it would take at ...
Algae-derived biofuels demo.(Algal biofuels)(Green Star Products Inc.)
Aug 13, 2007; ... The commercial development of biofuels derived from algae has been hampered by the management of such production parameters as daily and seasonal pond temperature variation, pH, evaporation, salinity and invasion by alien organisms. California-based Green Star Products (GSP) believes that ...
Decoding mushroom genome could help toxic metal removal.(Fungal fuel)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Researchers at the University of Warwick, UK, have begun a three-year international project to sequence the genome of the common mushroom Agaricus bisporus to assist in the improvement of biomass utilisation in biofuel production, as well as heavy metal removal from contaminated soil ....
The ties that bind--and unbind.(Binary glue)(research)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... An intelligent glue that can grip or release its target in response to changes in its environment has been developed by scientists in the UK and Germany. The adhesive was created by covering a silicon surface with a positively charged polymer arranged like a brush. The other ...
FDA votes to keep Avandia on the market.(GSK)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel has voted overwhelmingly that GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) should stay on the market. The drug, with sales of $3.3bn last year, has been under a cloud ever since the publication of a meta-analysis in ...
NHS to conduct clinical trial.(AMD)
Aug 13, 2007 ... The NHS is funding a clinical trial comparing colon cancer drug Avastin (bevacizumab) with the smaller, related drug Lucentis (ranibizumab) in age-related macular degeneration, according to The Guardian. Genentech, which manufactures both, is not prepared to carry out the trials itself. ...
Clariant.(Movers & Shakers)(promotions)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... Clariant has announced a number of new key senior management changes within the company. Philippe Royer has succeeded Peter Pringer in leading the textile, leather and paper chemicals division, after spending the past decade as the head of several business units for Alcoa. Okke Koo follows ...
DSM has created an international scientific advisory board comprising Bert Meijer of the Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands).(Movers & Shakers)(DSM Chemicals North America Inc. appointed Hannelore Daniel and Gerhart Eigenberger)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... DSM has created an international scientific advisory board comprising Bert Meijer of the Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands), an expert in organic and polymer chemistry and who was earlier named chairman of the board; Hannelore Daniel, Munchen University of Technology ...
Circassia.(Movers & Shakers)(appointment of Richard Sykes )(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... Former GlaxoSmithKline chairman, Richard Sykes has been appointed chairman, Circassia. Sykes is chair ...
BASF.(Movers & Shakers)(appointments)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... Kurt Bock, chief financial officer (cfo), BASF, has become chairman and chief executive officer (ceo), BASF operations in the US, succeeding Klaus Peter Lobbe who has retired for health reasons. BASF vice chairman and industrial relations director, Eggert Voscherau will retire in April ...
Carolyn Merritt.(Movers & Shakers)
Aug 13, 2007 ... Carolyn Merritt has stepped down as head ...
Diary.(Calendar)
Aug 13, 2007 ... 27-31 August: Advances in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, St Petersburg, Russia. International symposium. Contact: ID Organisation. Tel: +32 10 45 47 77, web: www.asmc07.org 12-13 September: General introduction to the regulations for the transport and packaging of dangerous ...
US-based paint and chemicals producer, PPG Industries has offered 2.2bn [euro] for coatings manufacturer SigmaKalon.(Business Digest)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... US-based paint and chemicals producer, PG Industries has offered 2.2bn [euro] for coatings manufacturer SigmaKalon. Currently owned by private investment firm Bain Capital, SigmaKalon was formed in 1999 by the merger of Total's Kalon Group and Petrofina's Sigma Coatings, ...
Finnish adhesive resin producer Dynea has sold its North American operations to Teachers' Private Capital.(Business Digest)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Finnish adhesive resin producer Dynea has sold its North American operations to Teachers' ...
UK private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is acquiring Dutch headquartered chemical distributor Univar for 1.5bn [euro].(Business Digest)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... UK private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is acquiring Dutch headquartered chemical distributor Univar for 1.5bn [euro]. The ...
French chemical major Rhodia has acquired the Alumina washcoat business from US specialty chemical firm WR Grace.(Business Digest)
Aug 13, 2007; ... French chemical major Rhodia has acquired the Alumina washcoat business from US ...
Family-run US chemical concern Huntsman has completed the $350m sale of its US Polymers business to Flint mils Resources, an independent wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Industries.(Business Digest)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Family-run US chemical concern Huntsman has completed the $350m sale of its US Polymers business to Flint mils Resources, an independent wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Industries. Included in the deal are Huntsman's ...
Huntsman's textile effects operation has acquired DuPont's fluoro-chemical business for non-wovens.(Business Digest)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Huntsman's textile effects operation has acquired DuPont's fluoro-chemical business for non-wovens, including a long ...
Polyolefins producer Basell is buying Shell's oil refinery at the Berre l'Etang petrochemical complex in France for $700m, with completion of the transaction expected in early 2008.(Business Digest)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Polyolefins producer Basell is buying Shell's oil refinery at the Berre l'Etang petrochemical complex in France for $700m, with completion of the transaction expected in early 2008. Basell, with its ...
Swiss fine chemicals producer Lonza has acquired the AggreSolve protein screening technology and services business of UK biotech firm Zyentia.(Business Digest)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Swiss fine chemicals producer Lonza has acquired the AggreSolve protein screening technology and services business of UK biotech firm Zyentia. No financial details were disclosed. The ...
Japanese auto maker Nissan is utilising nanotechnology to prevent clustering and the reduction in surface area of the fine metal particles at high temperatures in vehicle exhaust catalysts.(Projects & Technology)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Japanese auto maker Nissan is utilising nanotechnology to prevent clustering and the reduction in surface area of the fine metal particles at high temperatures in vehicle exhaust ...
UK biopharmaceuticals manufacturer Cobra Biomanufacturing is to carry out sterility testing for Oxford University's Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics department as part of the ExoMars mission.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... UK biopharmaceuticals manufacturer Cobra Biomanufacturing is to carry out sterility testing for Oxford University's Atmospheric, ...
Heriot-Watt University has become the third Scottish university to join ITI Life Sciences' stem cell technologies R&D programme.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Heriot-Watt University has become the third Scottish university to join ITI Life Sciences' stem cell technologies ...
Dow Wolff Cellulosics, formed from Dow Chemicals' water soluble polymers business and Wolff Wolsrode.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Dow Wolff Cellulosics, formed from Dow Chemicals' water soluble polymers business and Wolff Wolsrode, acquired from Bayer in ...
Mossi & Ghisolfi, the PET resin business of the family owned Italian chemical engineering and manufacturing group M&G, is building an 800 000 t/year PET plant in the US, of which 650 000 t/year will come on stream in H1 2009 with the balance as required by the market.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Mossi & Ghisolfi, the PET resin business of the family owned Italian chemical engineering and manufacturing group M&G, is building an 800 000 t/year PET plant in the US, of which 650 000 t/year will come on stream in H1 2009 with the balance as required by the market. The site location is ...
Lubrizol.(Projects & Technology)(Lubrizol to open facility in Seremban)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... US specialty chemical firm Lubrizol is to open an Estane engineered polymer production facility in Seremban, Malaysia to ...
German chemical major BASF and US advanced materials technology concern CogniTek have signed a joint development agreement.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... German chemical major BASF and US advanced materials technology concern CogniTek have signed a joint development agreement to examine whether the ...
US-based chemical supplier Sigma-Aldrich has added more than 56 000 of its molecular structures.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... US-based chemical supplier Sigma-Aldrich has added more than 56 000 of its molecular structures, representing specialty chemicals from its ...
Avocado Research Chemicals.(Safety & Environment)(unlawful export of 2-diisopropylaminoethylchloride and hafnium)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007; ... UK-based Avocado Research Chemicals has been convicted of the unlawful exportation of a controlled substance, 2-diisopropylaminoethylchloride (DCH) and hafnium, to a broker in ...
US Environmental Protection Agency.(Safety & Environment)
Aug 13, 2007; ... The US Environmental Protection Agency's National Center for Computational Toxicology has released a list of 340 chemicals to be evaluated under the first proof-of-concept phase of the ToxCast research programme using a selection of computer tests ...
So far, so good: Neil Eisberg looks at the financial results of chemical companies in the US an Europe, but notes that for some the picture is not so rosy.(News Feature)(Financial report)
Aug 13, 2007; ... The first half of 2007 has seen a dramatic improvement in the fortunes of the chemical industry around the world. And the half yearly results of the major companies in the US and Europe bear out the sector's excellent performance for the first half of 2007, although some speciality ...
Breast is best.(Colourful ideas)(Fresh Ideas Australia developed nursing garment)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... To overcome some of the problems of breastfeeding in public, Fresh Ideas Australia has developed a nursing garment/top that is easy to open and close and allows the mother to breastfeed her baby discretely and in comfort. The front panel is divided into upper and lower sections. The upper ...
Trans fatty acids.(Colourful ideas)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... Recent studies suggest that trans fatty acids in foods can be contribute to obesity and other health-related issues. Trans fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids in which the hydrogens of a double bond are on opposite sides of the molecule. Industrial hydrogenation of oils adds ...
The sweetest thing.(Colourful ideas)(Nutrinova GmbH developed sweeteners)(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... In recent years, foods low in sugar and other carbohydrates have become increasingly popular. However, reducing mono- and di-saccharides often affects the sweetness, thickness and mouth-feel of a product. And while artificial sweeteners, such as saccharine, provide sweetness, they do not ...
The art of cookery.(Colourful ideas)(Sensient Imaging Technologies developed food-grade ink jet inks )(Brief article)
Aug 13, 2007 ... Painting and decorating foods requires the use of food-grade inks that must be suitable for the surface, such as icing, onto which they're being painted (C&I 2007, 9, 17). Few inks, however, have the right properties, such as viscosity, surface tension and drying times, to make them ...
Setting a green agenda for plastics: the plastics industry should act collectively to help reduce energy consumption and cut C[O.sub.2] emissions, says Wilfried Haensel, executive director of PlasticsEurope.(Comment)
Aug 13, 2007; ... THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE has moved to the centre of the public agenda. The last two years have seen prominent developments, such as the Clinton Global Initiative, the Stern Review, Al Gore's Oscar-nominated film 'An Inconvenient Truth' and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ...
Feeding the Chinese dragon: as China moves to increase its renewable energy options, there are many opportunities for the chemical industry including biofuels, photovoltaics and clean coal technology.(China)
Aug 13, 2007; ... In brief * China produces 13-15% of the world's C[O.sub.2] emissions, mainly due to coal burning * In 2005, 7% of China's total energy use came from renewables * The Renewable Energy Law aims for 16% of China's total energy supply to come from renewables ...
Clean living labs: a laissez-faire approach to laboratories' environmental performance is no longer acceptable.(Green labs)(University of Bradford)
Aug 13, 2007; ... In brief * Laboratories typically use five to 10 times more energy than an office building * The EU is 10 years ahead of the US in its development of greener laboratories, but the US benefits from a co-ordinated approach * Genzyme has raised the profile of ...
Saltwater works: uptake of desalination technology has long been hindered by high energy consumption, but new membrane technologies promise to improve efficiences and lower costs.(Desalination)
Aug 13, 2007; ... In brief * Thames Water has the go-ahead for a 200m [pounds sterling] desalination plant in East London * The plant will be able to supply 140ML/day of drinking water using traditional reverse osmosis technology * Developments in forward osmosis technology ...
Another chapter in the climate debate.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Aug 13, 2007; ... The decision to close the correspondence on the climate change issues highlighted by the C&I survey was taken to prevent reiteration and repetition of similar views. Due to ...
What is sustainability?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Aug 13, 2007; ... It's hard to say which was the more disconcerting. Was it the letter from a former senior technical manager in a well known chemical company putting forward the case that global warming is not at least assisted by human activity? Or the letter from a collection of very distinguished ...
Another planet.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Aug 13, 2007; ... I have just read--with some amazement and considerable anger--a collection of lies, half-truths and blatant misinterpretations, in the form of a letter from Archie Bennett (C&I 2007, 13, 18). I feel that there are two points that should be made. First, features editor Cath ...
Is anyone out there?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Aug 13, 2007; ... The recent leader in C&I was headed 'Is anybody out there?' (C&I 2007, 13, 4). If you mean the British chemical industry, the answer is an unequivocal no. In 1973, I wrote: 'Unlike the car industry, most of the British chemical industry is British-owned,' and I discussed ICI, ...
Pied pumpkin.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Aug 13, 2007; ... With reference to your article 'Eating pumpkins helps diabetics' (C&I 2007, 13, 9), the type of pumpkin used in the experiment was not our ...
Chemistry and medicines: an introductory text.(Medicinal Chemistry)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Chemistry and medicines: an introductory text J R Hanson This introductory text illustrates the drug development process through the thoughts of medicinal or organic synthesis chemists, and is a must read for all biochemists in the drug development sector. Clearly destined for ...
Analytical chemistry.(Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy employed to determine oil quality)(fluorescence-based optical sensor to measure hydrogen peroxide contenet)(gold nano particles used for immunoassay experiments)
Aug 13, 2007; ... In brief * Measuring oil quality by NMR * Analysing cadmium using a heated tungsten coil * Optical sensor for hydrogen peroxide * Enhanced immunoassay using gold nano particles * Monolithic columns for high-speed separations ...
Advanced materials.(Atom-transfer radical polymerisation and reversible addition-fragmentation-transfer are the two techniques of polymerisation)
Aug 13, 2007; ... Speeding up controlled polymerisations with microwaves Atom-transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) and reversible addition-fragmentation-transfer (RAFT) polymerisation are two new, highly influential radical polymerisation techniques that allow a polymer chemist to make polymers ...
Reaching out: SCI's health and safety and environment groups have arranged a one-day joint conference in Manchester on 12 September to discuss the implications of the REACH legislation which came into effect on 1 June 2007.(members' news)(Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals)(Conference news)
Aug 13, 2007 ... THE INTRODUCTION OF REGISTRATION, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (REACH) legislation earlier this year provided the biggest shakeup ever experienced by the European chemical industry. The new regulations replaced 40 EU directives on chemical control and will include all ...