Semiconductor chemical restrictions
On 1 July 2019, Japan announced export restrictions on three key chemicals for semiconductor chip manufacturing bound for South Korea.
Low carbon cransport
When it comes into force in January 2020, Brazil’s new low carbon transport policy will mandate fuel distributors to gradually increase the amount of biofuels they sell. The policy, named RenovaBio, could result in national ethanol production doubling by 2030 from current levels of about 26bn litres, according the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Business digest
Glasgow-based scientific software company DeepMatter, which focuses on big data and digitising chemistry, has launched DigitalGlassware, an online portal at https://public.deepmatter.tech, which allows scientists to interact with data originated from chemistry lab experiments using the company’s proprietary cloud-based technology.
Chemical circularity
While the hot topic of the circular economy is uppermost in the minds of many in the chemicals sector (See p30), the circularity of the industry, better known as its tendency for ‘boom and bust’, has not been a topic for discussion, or indeed action, in recent years.
Organic chemistry
Arenes are usually ‘bought-in’ for use in organic synthesis but from time to time methods are devised to build substituted arenes to join two (or more) structural features together. The arene now becomes a linker, and because of its inherent stability, it is very suitable in this role.
BP and Bunge create ethanol JV
UK-based energy group BP and US agricultural trader Bunge have agreed to form a 50:50 biofuels joint venture in Brazil. The new company will be an integrated sugarcane ethanol producer, with 11 biofuels mills in Brazil located across the southeast, north and midwest regions.
Investment needed in US chemical recycling
A recent push for more investment in US chemical recycling would allow recycled material to return to the value chain at the same level from which it started. However, multi-pronged investment is needed to improve comprehensive collection, sorting and recycle process technology.
Productivity repackaged
Analytical laboratories can see big benefits from innovative performance packaging solutions. This includes reducing solvent storage, handling and disposal costs by up to 98%. Users can also accelerate research, often saving a week of lab time per year
Biomedical
Nimbolide, a terpene-derived natural product from neem trees, was known to have medicinal value, but unknown reasons, until a group centered at UC Berkeley, and involving Novartis, set about target elucidation.
GM foods and health
Vitamin A deficiency is a huge problem in the developing world, killing or blinding over a million children a year. Golden Rice – which has been genetically modified to provide more pro-vitamin A than other rice varieties – was created by scientists to tackle this very issue nearly 20 years ago.