Chemistry and Industry back issues from January 2008:
Dim stars rapped.(Leader)(Editorial)
Jan 14, 2008; ... No, this is not about how an astronomical phenomenon has been used as the inspiration by a singer with a strange and misspelt name for his latest 'musical' offering. It is about the misrepresentation of science by popular public figures who need to brush up their scientific knowledge ...
Akzo focuses on ICI integration ...(Chemical business)(Imperial Chemical Industries PLC)
Jan 14, 2008; ... Dutch chemical major Akzo Nobel has completed its acquisition of the UK speciality chemicals concern ICI (C&I 2007, 15, 4) with the delisting and withdrawal of ICI shares from trading on 3 January following their suspension from trading on 19 December 2007. Integration of the two companies ...
... And admits "Oil for Food" blunder.(Chemical business)
Jan 14, 2008; ... Akzo Nobel signed a non-prosecution agreement with the US Department of Justice in late December acknowledging responsibility for the actions of two of its former subsidiaries, Organon and Intervet International. Employees, and representatives of these companies are said to have made ...
Energy market will settle in 2008.(Energy)
Jan 14, 2008; ... Major energy users like chemical companies can expect to benefit from a more settled energy market in 2008, according to analysts. 'I don't foresee any upward price spikes for the gas or power market in the New Year,' Tariq Akbar, senior analyst for energy utilities at Datamonitor told ...
BP Texas City--full capacity by year end.(News)(BP America Inc.)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... BP's Texas City refinery in the US is expected to return to almost full capacity by mid-February following the fatal accident in March 2005, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle. The facility has been operating at about half capacity since the accident and BP has spent around ...
Prairie grass to rival corn as biofuel.(Renewables)
Jan 14, 2008; ... Switchgrass produces almost twice as much renewable energy than previously thought and is comparable to corn in terms of energy yields, according to the first large-scale study at field production level. (PNAS 2007, 105, 464-9) 'All previous estimates (on switchgrass) have been ...
Off-the-shelf Small Molecules on the way.(Drug discovery)
Jan 14, 2008; ... A quick, cheap automated process that uses chemical building blocks to make small molecules could replace existing methods of making these molecules, potentially revolutionising small molecule drug discovery. Chemists behind the new technique at the University of Illinois at ...
Drug price reductions greatly exaggerated says ABPI.(Drug pricing)(Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008; ... Reports in the Financial Times that government officials are looking for an average 10% reduction in the price the NHS pays for prescription medicines have been dismissed by the industry. 'We're in negotiations with the Department of Health (DH) and it would be wrong to comment ...
A new molecular pesticide promises to get rid of mosquitoes without risk to human health.(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... A new molecular pesticide promises to get rid of mosquitoes without risk to human health. Developed by scientists at the US Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the molecular pesticide technology uses the nucleic acids DNA or RNA to stop pests producing essential proteins. Unlike ...
German chemical major Bayer's Industry Services operation, established in 2003, has been renamed Currenta, and will continue to operate as a 60:40 joint venture between Bayer and the spun-out specialty chemicals business Lanxess.(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... German chemical major Bayer's Industry Services operation, established in 2003, has been renamed Currenta, and will continue to operate as a 60:40 joint venture between Bayer and the spun-out specialty chemicals business Lanxess. 'Our new name expresses our goal of becoming Europe's ...
Hopes of ambient Tc activities.(Superconductivity)
Jan 14, 2008; ... Finding a superconductor that operates at room temperature may have received a boost with growing evidence for an alternative mechanism to explain the phenomenon. Superconductivity is the ability to conduct electricity without resistance, generally at low temperatures at about ...
Merck's cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil may have made it to the market before GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix, but reports that the injection is painful may mean that Cervarix proves more popular in the long run.(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Merck's cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil may have made it to the market before GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix, but reports that the injection is painful may mean that Cervarix proves more popular in the long run. As well as the sharp pain of the needle, there are reports of burning, and ...
Members of the US Senate are claiming that a report published late 2007 by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) shows that the Public Right-to-Know law that informs the public about the release of toxic chemicals has been undermined by the current administration.
Jan 14, 2008 ... Members of the US Senate are claiming that a report published late 2007 by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) shows that the Public Right-to-Know law that informs the public about the release of toxic chemicals has been undermined by the current administration. Senators ...
C[O.sub.2] alters soil microbe mix.(Carbon sequestration)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008; ... The ability of forests to act as carbon dioxide sinks could be higher than previously thought. New research reveals that high atmospheric levels of C[O.sub.2] bring about changes in the mixture of soil microbes, improving plants' ability to sequester C[O.sub.2]. Plants grow ...
DSM Venturing, the corporate venturing arm of Dutch chemical major Royal DSM has made an undisclosed investment in US green plastics company Novomer, based in Ithaca, New York, in a financing round that also included Flagship Ventures and Physic Ventures.(Business Digest)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... DSM Venturing, the corporate venturing arm of Dutch chemical major Royal DSM has made an undisclosed investment in US green plastics company Novomer, based in Ithaca, New York, in a financing round that also included Flagship Ventures and Physic Ventures. DSM and Novomer are also signing a ...
Germany's Bayer CropScience's Nunhems vegetable seed business has acquired US lettuce seed company Paragon Seed, which had 2006 sales of $8.5m.(Business Digest)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Germany's Bayer CropScience's Nunhems vegetable seed business has acquired US lettuce seed company Paragon Seed, which had 2006 sales of $8.5m. No ...
US gas and chemicals producer Air Products has completed the $75m sale of its high purity process chemical business.(Business Digest)(Air Products and Chemicals Inc.)(KMG Chemicals Inc.)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... US gas and chemicals producer Air Products has completed the $75m sale of ...
Air Products has also agreed to sell its interest in its vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) polymers joint venture to its partner German chemical concern Wacker Chemie (C&I 2007, 22, 13).(Business Digest)(Air Products and Chemicals Inc.)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Air Products has also agreed to sell its interest in its vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) polymers joint venture to its partner German chemical concern Wacker Chemie (C&I 2007, 22, 13). Air Products will receive full ownership of the US Elkton, Maryland, and Piedmont, South Carolina, ...
Basell and Lyondell Chemical have completed their merger to create LyondellBasell Industries.(Business Digest)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Basell and Lyondell Chemical have completed their merger to create ...
COSCO Dalian, a subsidiary of China Ocean Shipping, has selected mooring lines made with DSM's Dyneema polyethylene fibre for its newest Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), Cospearl Lake, following a successful 8-month sea trial on its VLCC Cosmerry Lake, which, in comparison with steel wire mooring lines, showed the Dyneema ropes reduced mooring time and improved crew safety.(Business Digest)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COSCO Dalian, a subsidiary of China Ocean Shipping, has selected mooring lines made with DSM's Dyneema polyethylene fibre for its newest Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), Cospearl Lake, following a successful 8-month sea ...
US chemicals and plastics producer Eastman Cehmical has completed the sale of its PET polymers business associated with its production facilities in Cosoleacaque, Mexico, and Zarate, Argentina.(Business Digest)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... US chemicals and plastics producer Eastman Cehmical has completed the sale of its PET polymers business associated with its production ...
French chemical major Arkema is acquiring the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) sheet and block production business of Spanish oil and gas company, Repsol YPF, including production sites in Bronderslev, Denmark, and Polivar, Italy.(Business Digest)
Jan 14, 2008 ... French chemical major Arkema is acquiring the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) sheet and block production business of Spanish oil and gas ...
Ferro.(Business Digest)
Jan 14, 2008 ... US performance materials producer Ferro is restructuring its ...
Basell has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Gas Company and the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago covering the construction and operation of a fully integrated 450 000 t/yr polypropylene complex, based on Basell's Spherizone technology and including a methanol plant.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Basell has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Gas Company and the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago covering the construction and operation of a fully integrated 450 000 t/yr ...
Albermarle.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... US specialty chemicals producer will bring onstream a new production facility for its phosphorus-based NcendX P-30 fire retardant at Nanjing, China, in Q2 2008 with an initial capacity ...
Bayer CropScience has entered into a series of business and license agreements with Euralis Semences, the seed division of the French agribusiness cooperative Euralis.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Bayer CropScience has entered into a series of business and license agreements with Euralis Semences, the seed division of the French ...
Arkema.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... French chemical major Arkema is reorganising its organic peroxides production site in Crosby, Texas, US, ...
Brazilian thermoplastic resins producer Braskem and Venezuelan petrochemical and fertiliser manufacturer Pequiven have formed two companies to build what they describe as the 'most modern and competitive integrated petrochemical project in the Americas' at the Jose Petrochemical Complex in Venzuela.(Projects & Technology)(Petroquimica de Venezuela S.A.)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Brazilian thermoplastic resins producer Braskem and Venezuelan petrochemical and fertiliser manufacturer Pequiven have formed two companies to build what they describe as the 'most modern and competitive integrated petrochemical project in the Americas' at the Jose Petrochemical Complex in ...
Lanxess.(Projects & Technology)(LANXESS Europe GmbH und Company KG)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... German speciality chemicals company Lanxess is investing 10m [euro] in the implementation of ...
Degussa Sanzheng (Yingkou), the 65:35 joint venture between German specialty chemicals producer Evonik.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Degussa Sanzheng (Yingkou), the 65:35 joint venture between German specialty chemicals producer Evonik, formerly known as Degussa, and Liu Zhixun, principal shareholder and deputy general manager, Degussa ...
ThalesNano.(Projects & Technology)(Christian Doppler Laboratory)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Flow chemistry instrumentation manufacturer ThalesNano is collaborating with the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Microwave Chemistry at the Kar-Franzens University in Graz, ...
Rhodia.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... French chemicals major Rhodia has inaugurated its new diphenols plant in Zhenjiang, China, and announced its intention to build a production ...
Honeywell International.(Projects & Technology)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... US technology company Honeywell International's speciality additives business has introduced customised authentication technologies for high value documents and ...
The British Coatings Federation.(Safety & Environment)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... The British Coatings Federation has updated its 'Red Book' guidance on the safe handling and use of flammable liquids. The guidance was originally ...
Life after COX-2: life without the super-aspirins has proved painful for patients with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, but new meds will be just as effective with far fewer side effects.(News Feature)
Jan 14, 2008; ... The near total demise of the COX-2 inhibitor class of drugs has left a big hole in the list of treatment options for patients with arthritis. While COX-2 drugs have no effect on the ultimate progress of disease, they do offer significant pain relief. And, importantly, they were ...
Shire.(Movers & Shakers)(appointment of Angus Russell and resignation of Matthew Emmens at Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Shire has named Angus Russell as the chief executive-designate of the UK's third largest drug-maker ....
Dow Biocides.(Movers & Shakers)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Kenneth Littel has been appointed global marketing manager for ...
Heriot-Watt University.(Movers & Shakers)(death of John Archer)(Obituary)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... John Archer, former principal and vice chancellor at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, has died at age 64. Archer was the also ...
DuPont.(Movers & Shakers)(appointment of Phuong Tram at E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... DuPont has appointed Phuong Tram as the new chief information officer from the beginning of January. Tram is presently ...
National Consumer Council.(Movers & Shakers)(appointment of Ed Mayo)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Ed Mayo has been appointed chief executive of the new National Consumer Council. The council will aim to ensure that consumers' voices ...
Roche.(Movers & Shakers)(appointment of Gottlieb Keller Roche Holding Ltd.)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Roche has appointed Gottlieb Keller to the position of general counsel from the 4 March. Keller will step down from his role as head of corporate ...
Dow Chemical and Chevron Phillips Chemical have announced the team that will lead their proposed styrenics joint venture, Americas Styrenics.(Movers & Shakers)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Dow Chemical and Chevron Phillips Chemical have announced the team that will lead their proposed styrenics joint venture, Americas Styrenics. Tim Roberts will head up the venture as president and ceo with Thomas Egolf as the chief financial officer. Peter Ott is to be the vice president of ...
Isis Pharmaceuticals.(Movers & Shakers)(promotion of B Lynne Parshall)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... B Lynne Parshall has been promoted to chief operating officer, Isis Pharmaceuticals. She will retain her position as chief financial ...
Synexus.(Movers & Shakers)(appointment of Trevor Jones )(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Clinical phase trial management company Synexus has appointed Trevor Jones as chairman of the holding company ...
ProStrakan.(Movers & Shakers)(appointment of Peter Allen)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Peter Allen has taken up the position of chairman of ProStrakan after the current chairman and cofounder of ProStrakan Harry Stratford retired at the end of 2007 ....
Diary.(People/Diary)(Calendar)
Jan 14, 2008 ... 7-10 January, Surface Chemistry Conference 2008, Bolans Village, Antigua and Barbuda. A three day conference covering topics ranging from fuel cell electrocatalysis and self-assembled monolayers to atomic scale imaging. Contact: Katerina Kozakova. Email: katerina.kozakova@zingconferences ....
Coming from nowhere.(Comment)
Jan 14, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IRELAND CONTINUES TO PUNCH WELL ABOVE ITS WEIGHT as a global centre for the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. More than 24 500 are employed in these sectors, over 50% of whom hold a third level qualification. In 2006, exports totalled almost 42bn ...
Climate force: Tea and arthritis.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 14, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] My reading is falling behind, but I was pleased recently to have my attention drawn to the article on the use of black tea extracts against arthritis (C&I 2007, 14, 7). However, the article gives a misleading impression in several ways: ...
Climate force: Shortage of chemists.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 14, 2008; ... I read with interest the recent news feature on the current shortage of chemists (C&I 2007, 21, 14). I did not disagree with any of it but feel I have to highlight the most glaring omissions as to why experienced chemists are becoming hard to find. Firstly, the chemical ...
Climate change: fact or fantasy.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 14, 2008; ... I am afraid that Eric Johnson and Russell Heinen are helping themselves to a large dollop of fantasy (C&I 2007, 22, 14). In fact, the number of scientists who look on the theory that the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is changing the world's weather is a load of rubbish, is ...
2008 in the balance: fears over the health of the global economy are putting a dampener on the outlook for the world's chemical industry in 2008.(Business outlook)
Jan 14, 2008; ... With the threat of a US recession hanging in the balance, the outlook for the global economy, and for the worldwide business of chemistry, in 2008 looks decidedly uncertain. Most analysts put the risk of US recession at around 40%, according to the American Chemistry Council's chief ...
Flying higher on plastics: new generations of aircraft using plastic composites will improve passenger comfort and reduce fuel consumption.(Polymers)
Jan 14, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The issue of climate change is now firmly established at the top of the public agenda. Developments such the award of the Nobel Peace prize to Al Gore and last month's climate change talks in Bali ensure that the issue is never far away from the news ...
Working dangerously: the risks of workplace exposure to chemical carcinogens in the UK is growing but are grossly under-reported, argues Andrew Watterson.(Health & safety)
Jan 14, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Recent research suggests that 13% of all cancers in the EU could be work-related, while other estimates indicate the figure could be as high as 16%. Even using the outdated and inaccurate Doll/Peto estimates of around 4% of all cancers being occupationally ...
Applied highlights.(Highlights)(briefs)
Jan 14, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Heavy metal ions absorbents Heavy metal ion removal has attracted considerable attention for beneficial water usage due to their long-term environmental toxicity as well as short-term public health damage. Various techniques to remove heavy ...
Testing times.(Alternatives to Animal Testing)(Book review)
Jan 14, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Alternatives to animal testing Alternatives to animal testing R Hester & R Harrinson (eds) Publisher: Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry Year: 2006 Pages: 123 Price: 45.00 [pounds sterling] ISBN: 0 85404 211 3 Animal testing is a ...
The inaugural SCI Members' Forum.(members' news)(Society of Chemical Industry)
Jan 14, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE INAUGURAL SCI MEMBERS' FORUM WAS A DAY ORGANISED BY THE MEMBERSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MAC). The day had been organised by the Membership Advisory Committee and is a keystone of the new SCI governance. This SCI innovation was specifically designed to ...
25th Process Development Symposium.(members' news)
Jan 14, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] THE 25TH PROCESS DEVELOPMENT SYMPOSIUM organised by SCI's Fine Chemicals Group, was held at Churchill College, Cambridge on 5-7 December 2007. Process development continues to be a challenging and important area for research into, and the ...
Julius Lewkowitsch memorial lecture.(Event review: Recognising expertise in Oil and Fats and their products)
Jan 14, 2008 ... THE OILS & FATS GROUP has a multidisciplinary approach to all facets of lipid science and technology. Its series of conferences and seminars is designed to promote cooperation and exchange among professionals in all sectors of lipid science and technology. The Group has a number of awards, ...
Respiratory disease.(Event review: Progress in medicinal chemistry)
Jan 14, 2008 ... ON 12 FEBRUARY 2008 there will be a one-day meeting entitled 'Respiratory Disease: Progress In Medicinal Chemistry'. Respiratory diseases remain a major unmet medical need, with new and more effective treatments being required for diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ...
Event diary.(Calendar)
Jan 14, 2008 ... <Pre> THE PROBLEMS SOME CHEMICALS CAUSE IN CONTACT WITH THE SKIN WED 16 JAN 2008 17.00 SCI Health and Safety Group SCI International Headquarters, London Contact: Administration T: +44 (0)1332 298101 F: +44 (0)1332 298099 E: ...
Left hand, right hand.(Leader)
Jan 28, 2008; ... So the UK government has finally committed itself to supporting the expansion of nuclear power in the UK. Apart from the obvious questions about who is going to build the required power stations, and more importantiy, who is going to pay for them to be built, what are the other factors ...
Lion deaths could prompt carbofuran ban.(Pesticides)
Jan 28, 2008; ... Unconfirmed reports of the poisoning of two lions in Kenya by the pesticide Furadan have led to the suggestion of a possible ban on the chemical in the region. Government laboratories have yet to determine the nature of the poison, but Dipesh Pabari, communications manager at Wildlife ...
Greens threaten legal action.(Nuclear energy)
Jan 28, 2008; ... UK government plans for a new wave of nuclear power stations could be delayed by up to a year, if environmentalists go ahead with plans to bring yet another legal challenge to the decision The government's plans were already put on hold once when environmentalists won a judicial ...
Skills shortage could thwart nuclear plans.(Nuclear expertise)(Brief article)
Jan 28, 2008; ... The UK's government's announcement that it is giving the goahead to a whole new generation of nuclear power stations was closely followed by a statement from French major Areva that it has ambitions to build between four and six nuclear power plants in the UK. Luc Orsel, Areva's ...
Russia works at cooperation.(Nuclear ambitions)
Jan 28, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The nuclear industry in Europe has just about been ticking over for almost twenty years with the result that there are very few companies with the capability to build a nuclear power plant. And even those with the capability have had so little opportunity ...