Chemical Specialties Research Articles

Intensive 2-phenylethanol production in a hybrid system combined of a stirred tank reactor and an immersed extraction membrane module

AbstractBioconversion of l-phenylalanine to 2-phenylethanol using Saccharomyces cerevisiae is connected with the growth of biomass strongly limited by product inhibition. Therefore, fermentation can proceed only at low conversions of l-phenylalanine with very low yield of the desired product, which allows reaching the maximum concentration of 2-phenylethanol, 4 g L−1, in an ordinary batch, fed-batch, or chemostat bioreactor. To minimize capital and operating costs in the bioproduction of chemical specialties where the product inhibits the bioreaction, using a hybrid system based on the application of membrane extraction integrated in the bioreactor to remove the product is a suitable solution. Integration can be done by an external module for membrane extraction or, as a more efficient solution, by an extraction membrane module immersed directly in the bioreactor. Such a hybrid system can be used to remove 2-phenylethanol from the fermentation media and thus to overcome the product inhibition of the biotransformation process. In this paper, a hybrid system consisting of a stirred tank bioreactor (3.5 L) and an immersed extraction hollow fiber membrane module was studied. In the proposed system, the kinetics of 2-phenylethanol extraction from a water solution with and without biomass in the bioreactor to alkanes at different operational conditions was measured. Extraction kinetics was compared with the predictions obtained by a mathematical model. In the hybrid system, two extractive biotransformation experiments were performed and compared with that without product removal. Experimental data were also mathematically predicted with good accuracy between the simulation and the experiment.

9 CHEMICAL SPECIALTIES

If the aerosol industry maintains its present heady growth rate, it may only be a matter of time before some alarmist warns that the entire North American continent is about to disappear under a cloud of hair spray, shaving lather, and deodorant. Last year aerosol output in the U.S. and Canada shot up 31.9% from the number of units filled in 1964 and up about fivefold from a decade ago, according to the annual survey of the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association (CSMA). Other specialty chemicals also registered good sales gains in 1965—but none did so well as the aerosols. Retail sales for toiletries, for example, climbed 11.5% over the previous year. Antifreeze sales, which had been down slightly in 1964, bounced back with an 8% boost in 1965. Similarly, 1965 shipments of soap-type liquid floor cleaners and wax strippers were up more than 17% over 1964. And, synthetic detergent sales kept up their steady pace—gaining ...

Transformations of aromatic hydrocarbons over zeolites

Aromatic hydrocarbons represent an important group of starting materials, intermediates, as well as final products produced in the chemical industry in the range from large processes in petrochemistry up to the synthesis of fine chemicals. This short overview covers the recent achievements in acid-catalyzed transformations of aromatic hydrocarbons with a special focus on alkylation-isomerization-disproportionation reactions in petrochemistry, and acylations or condensations used mainly in synthesis of chemical specialties. In the case of fine chemical synthesis, some zeolite applications in the preparation of important intermediates for pharmaceutical or fragrance products are presented. Advantages and disadvantages of the various types of zeolite are discussed in these reactions from the point of view of their (shape) selective properties, as well as the accessibility of acid sites.

Putzmeister, Sika form strategic alliance

German concrete pump maker Putzmeister AG has entered into a strategic global alliance in the tunnelling and mining sector with Sika AG, a Swiss chemical specialties company. This is a short news story only. Visit www.worldpumps.com for the latest pump industry news

THE 'NEW' DEGUSSA MAKES ITS GRAND DEBUT

THIS WEEK, STOCK-MARKET TRADing is scheduled to begin in shares of a major chemical company that by all rights should never have been conceived. But a merger of two German energy producers foisted a merger upon their chemical subsidiaries. The result is a company that will be one of the 10 largest chemical companies worldwide. That company is the Degussa, formed by the merger of Degussa-Huls, subsidiary of German energy company Veba, and SKW, part of another German energy firm, Viag. The parents have formed a new energy giant, E.ON. Their decision last May 15 that the chemical operations should join together set into motion a move that neither chemical company would have envisioned—or necessarily desired. But given the imperative, the two have gone all out to forge a new identity as a sharply focused chemical specialties company The merger also has given managers the opportunity to shape the new company on a radical ...

Produktionsstrategien für Mehrzweckanlagen

Multipurpose equipment is an important element in the portfolio in manufacturing of chemical specialties. As for every manufacturing strategy, this special case also has to be embedded in supply chain strategies and long-range business plans. Flexibility when focusing on the future market needs in terms of the product life cycle and the chemistry is the most important element of the strategy. Creative leadership and operators are indispensable assets in all stages of the strategy.

Oregon's Toxic Household Products Law

In 1991, Oregon became the first state in the U.S. to require the addition of an aversive agent to ethylene glycol-containing antifreeze and methanol-containing windshield wiper fluid. This new law, entitled "Toxic Household Products (THP) Act," was designed to reduce pediatric and animal poisonings from accidental ingestion of these two potentially lethal consumer automotive products. While not the stated intention of the law, addition of aversive agents to consumer automotive products could also reduce adult poisonings associated with intentional (suicides or alcoholics ingesting methanol-containing windshield wiper fluid) or accidental exposures. This law went into effect April 30, 1995, following settlement of a lawsuit brought by the Chemical Manufacturing Specialties Association (CSMA), a trade group representing the five largest manufacturers of ethylene glycol-based antifreeze in the U.S. This paper discusses the major policy issues that arose following the passage of Oregon's THP Act. Major provisions of the law are provided along with a discussion of CSMA's opposition to the Act's implementation. A description of the eventual settlement that was reached with CSMA as well as the major components of Oregon Health Division's (OHD) enforcement program are also highlighted. Data are presented for 1987 through 1998 on the number of exposures and severity of effects for pediatric cases (children < 6 years old) following exposure to both of these potentially lethal automotive products. However, because of the low incidence of exposures each year, these data are insufficient to draw any conclusions on the impact of the THP Act.

ACS expands industrial, job assistance programs

At the American Chemical Society's 209th national meeting in Anaheim, crucial pieces began to fall into place to enable ACS to increase support for unemployed members and to enhance activities for industrial members. A highlight was approval by the board of directors of a seven-point program to help members with employment problems. The board authorized $245,000 in immediate funding this year to implement seven new services—including an on-line job data bank listing job postings for both candidates and recruiters that will be made available on the Internet using World Wide Web. Other new services include a dedicated phone line (800-ACS-JOBS) to provide members with direct access to career services; expanded career services for graduate students; expansion of the existing Professional Data Bank to include consultants and volunteers; programs on alternative careers in a variety of chemical specialties; increased publicity about ACS career services; and a one-year experiment to offer ACS short courses at no ...

Advances In Specialty Chemicals Driven By Changing Economics, Regulations

Companies that make a variety of products are turning to specialty chemicals to adapt to changes in economics, product quality requirements, and new government regulations. Specialty chemical producers are responding by stepping up their research efforts and introducing a variety of new products that range from replacements for organic solvents to biocides that are both effective and safe. Chemists gathered to hear of these recent advances in technical sessions at Chemical Specialties USA '94 last month in Chicago. One conference speaker pointed to regulations that are compelling producers to switch from organic solvents to water-based formulations. But there is a cost associated with making such a switch, because water formulations can suffer product spoilage caused by bacteria and fungi. At the same time, still other regulations have trimmed the number of effective antibacterial and antifungal biocides that formulators can put into their products. Other speakers described a relatively new organic solven...

New diets for production of house flies and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in the laboratory.

A diet for rearing the house fly, Musca domestica (L.), was developed from feed constituents available on a year-round basis in Gainesville, FL. The diet, called the Gainesville House Fly Diet, performed as well or better than the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers' Association fly larval medium (CSMA) and can be mixed, bagged, and delivered by a local feed mill within 3 d. By adding pelleted peanut hulls 1:1 by volume, the house fly diet becomes suitable for rearing the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.). Use of these diets and the economics involved are discussed further.

Effect of synergists on the oral and topical toxicity of azamethiphos to organophosphate-resistant houseflies (Diptera: Muscidae).

Dermal and oral toxicities of azamethiphos were determined in two organophosphate-resistant and one susceptible strain of houseflies, Musca domestica L. The 594vb strain was 1,967-fold more resistant to azamethiphos when compared with the susceptible Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association (CSMA) strain by dermal application. When the compound was administered orally to the 594vb strain, we observed only a 15-fold resistance. In contrast, the Yachiyo strain, which show 1,500-fold resistance to diazinon and which has known multiple mechanisms for organophosphate resistance, showed only 6-fold resistance to azamethiphos by topical application and 4-fold resistance by oral administration. Azamethiphos administered dermally and orally was equally toxic to the CSMA and Yachiyo strains. However, when azamethiphos was administered to the 594vb strain, the insecticide was 71 times more toxic orally than by the dermal route. This result indicated involvement of a cuticular penetration factor in the resistance mechanism. The effect on azamethiphos toxicity of piperonyl butoxide (PB), an inhibitor of the monooxygenases, and tributylphosphorotrithioate (DEF), an esterase inhibitor, was investigated in the three strains. Pretreatment of the flies with PB, DEF, or PB+DEF before topical application of azamethiphos resulted in a significant decrease in LD50s in all the strains. The degree of synergism, however, varied depending upon the strains and the synergists. Similar results were obtained when azamethiphos was administered orally following pretreatment of the flies with PB+DEF. We attribute the high level of azamethiphos resistance in the 594vb strain partly to increased degradation by oxidative and hydrolytic enzymes. The hydrolytic enzymes are more important, but other factors including reduced cuticular penetration and insensitive acetylcholinesterase may be involved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

How Securities Analysts See Industrial R&amp;D

RD however, they are confused by it, and they can't quantify it. The is this: in 36 interviews of securities analysts with major brokerage and independent research firms over a period of three months, could not find a single analyst who said he had ever made a buy/hold/sell recommendation on the basis of RD but can't recall a situation where R&D has had an impact on per-share Even in the case of pharmaceuticals -- so dependent on the technical creativity of their R&D departments --industry analysts talked in terms of marketing, not R&D, although they all acknowledged that these are research-driven companies. The major exception was genetic engineering companies. Many analysts -- such as Fred Greenberg, a partner with EGS Partners, in New York City -- cited the fact that positive recommendations for these companies have been largely based on R&D. Although securities analysts are surely one of America's most inaccessible clans, most of the analysts that agreed to extensive interviews were surprisingly candid. Most held key positions in their firm's research departments, and were either members of the New York Society of Securities Analysts, Registered Representatives, or both. Seven were chemical or chemical specialties industry analysts, six were pharmaceutical industry analysts, four specialized in electronics, three watched computer companies, four focused on biotechnology companies, three studied the aerospace industry, and another three tracked oil and gas. Other analysts observed telecommunications companies, food and tobacco, machinery, publishing, household and personal products. Three admitted only to watching high tech companies. The median number of years employed as an analyst was six, with a similar median for the number of years in their specific positions. Less than 10 percent had technical degrees. To understand analysts, one must appreciate their role from the buyer's point of view. Analysts are paid to predict the future of the companies they watch so that their constituencies -- other members of their firm, institutional money managers and individual investors, investment bankers, corporate financial officers and treasurers, and other members of the financial community -- can optimize their investment strategies. While the bottom line of their calculations is usually a prediction of the next quarter's earnings, they also supply additional information so that their recommendations can be rationalized. (This article does not discuss the attitudes of investment banking analysts because their primary role is to analyze companies for the purposes of financing acquisitions or sale.) Wolfgang H. Demisch, managing director of UBS Securities and an aerospace industry specialist, sets forth the case for most analysts of technically oriented manufacturers: I personally think that the accusations that analysts think only about R&D that is going to result in higher profits within the next quarter or two is hogwash. The biotech industry, where there isn't a nickel in earnings, shows that those companies are being valued at something much more than their earnings. …

Sex Differences in Suicide among Chemists

Suicides among twenty-eight female chemists and among sixty-three male chemists were investigated for age, marital status, educational qualifications, type of employment, minority status, chemical specialties, and method of suicide. Although work played a significant part in suicides by both males and females, there were marked sex differences. Isolation, the leading work-related factor, occurred more frequently and with greater intensity among women. Similarly, while the majority of women suffered some form of sex discrimination, none of the men did. The leading nonwork-related causes were interpersonal problems and mental illness, the latter also more common among women. Low self-esteem coupled with high achievement orientation was a dangerous combination of personality characteristics found twice as frequently in suicides by female as by male chemists. In conclusion, suicide prevention guidelines are proposed.

Aerosol Product Innovation Fueled By Public Attitudes, Regulations

For those in the aerosol industry, there's no rest for the weary. Having recovered from a long battle with adversity in the late 1970s and early 1980s, aerosol producers and their suppliers enjoyed some healthy growth rates over the past several years. But now, because of mounting pressures from the public and from a variety of regulations, business is flattening out and growth is slowing again. In the U.S., aerosol production was up 6.8% in 1988, according to the annual Pressurized Products Survey conducted by the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association (CSMA). However, next week when the 1989 survey is unveiled at CSMA's spring meeting in Chicago, some predict that it will show slower growth for aerosol products. I think the survey will show growth of maybe a couple of percent if it is that much. One or 2% is more likely, predicts Jim Jandora, product manager for aerosols at U.S. Can Co., Oak Brook, Ill. ...

Keynote address

Dr. Flamm, other distinguished representatives of the Federal Government, representatives of business, members of the news media and ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to what we all hope will be a very productive and successful workshop. On behalf of our allied trade associations, the Chemical Manufacturers Association, the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association, the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association and the companies we represent, I welcome you most sincerely.

Aerosol output grew for fifth consecutive year

Aerosol production in the U.S. rose 3.6% in 1987, according to the latest annual pressurized products survey from the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association. At CSMA's midyear meeting in Ch...

Aerosols Back on Road to Success

The word is out around industry: Aerosols are finally recovering from their long battle with adversity. In Western Europe, output growth in aerosol industry is approaching 9% per year; in U.K., output in 1985 was 11% higher than in 1984, according to figures just released by British Aerosol Manufacturers' Association (BAMA). And when U.S. figures are published next month at spring meeting of Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association (CSMA) in Chicago, they are expected to show an increase of 3 to 4% over 1984—the second year of growth in a row. That, says Sam F. Copia, vice president of marketing for propellant supplier Aeropres Corp., Shreveport, La., means the American public has given its stamp of approval to aerosols as a packaging form. I doubt whether any other package could have survived attacks that media leveled at aerosols, and, in some cases, still' levels. It is most ...

Report of Eighth Biennial Conference on Chemical Education

Summary of the Eighth Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, including plenary lectures; NEACT sessions; the two-year college chemistry conference program; an open forum for an exchange of ideas for high school chemistry teachers; symposia on computers, health and safety, chemical toxicology and health hazards, and practicalities; ACS initiatives; teaching chemistry; chemical specialties; poster sessions; general sessions; workshops; and retrospectives.

REDUCTION IN THE NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR OÖGENESIS DUE TO HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF CHOLESTEROL IN THE LARVAL DIET OF THE STABLE FLY, STOMOXYS CALCITRANS (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE)

AbstractFemale stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), from larvae reared on the standard CSMA (Chemical Specialties Manufacturing Association) medium required 5 days of blood feeding before producing their first batch of eggs. When the larval medium was supplemented with 1 or 2% cholesterol, resultant females were able to produce mature eggs after only 4 days of blood feeding. Females from larvae reared on the 2% cholesterol-supplemented medium had slight but significant precocious follicular growth at the time of emergence from the puparium. When blood feeding was restricted, the size at which follicular growth ceased was consistently higher in females fed the cholesterol-supplemented diets as compared with control females.

Consumer chemical specialties

Some myths die hard; there are still people who believe that the world is flat. So, too, some people hold the unshakable belief that chemical companies are misfits when it comes to marketing products directly to the consumer. It ain't necessarily so. This myth grew from a few well-publicized failures. Mention consumers and chemical companies in the same breath and some people start to recite details of Monsanto's sad experience with air detergent, the chemical companies' Edsel. Dow's Dowgard and DuPont's Telar also are on the see what I mean list. There are others. In all fairness, however, chemical companies have a better track record in the consumer market than they are often given credit for. Who can deny the success of DuPont's Lucite paints, Union Carbide's Eveready batteries, GAF's Ansco line of photographic products, or 3M's Scotch brand tapes? It's possible to tick off success stories in other consumer areas—recreational chemicals such as swimming ...