Chemical Today March 2016 by worldofchemicals.com

March 2016 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

Chemical Today Connecting World Chemically

ORGANIC COSMETICS: UNLEASHING BEAUTY

Expert Viewpoint Green Chemistry Academic Research & Development

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FROM THE ROOTS

INSPIRED BY NATURE In ancient times people used to work in tune with nature. With passage of time, this very nature took a backseat for most of us. Nowadays, with rising awareness people are again looking at nature for inspiration. Architectural designs, patterns, creating new colours, materials etc are all mimicked from Nature. Looking at Nature for solutions is becoming a prominent trend and is fast gathering steam. Use of natural raw materials is now desired consumers, especially in the cosmetics industry. To know more about use of natural products read our ‘Cover Story’ on Organic Cosmetics, where we focus on the various raw materials, which are inspired by nature and are finding their way into the cosmetic products. Moreover, science of Indian Ayurveda is also making its way into the cosmetics and personal care industry. Recently, a well-known ayurvedic toothpaste brand in India managed to eat into the market share of a recognized MNC brand, as per current statistics. Other than Cosmetics, we focus on Adhesives & Sealants, Enzymes & Hormones, Aerosols and Dairy sectors in this issue. For the adhesives as well, researchers at University Of California, Santa Barbara are taking inspiration from Nature. These researchers are studying adhesion mechanisms of mussels and sandcastle worms to create new underwater adhesives. Take a look at their R&D process in our ‘Academic R&D’ section. Further, see what Hunstman India has to say about the adhesives market, as we get an industry perspective from Rohit Aggarwal, vice president and managing director, Huntsman India. For our ‘Insight’ section take a look at what KPMG analysts have to say about working capital management by chemical firms. The Chemical Today digital magazine is available for a yearly subscription on issuu.com. And yes, download our worldofchemicals magazine app for both IOS and Android! Whether you want to give us a break, bouquet or brickbats write to editorial@worldofchemicals.com Shivani Mody Editor In Chief shivani.m@worldofchemicals.com 3

THE TEAM Shivani Mody EDITOR IN CHIEF Debarati Das PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENT Santosh Pradhan GRAPHIC DESIGNER For Editorial contribution editorial@worldofchemicals.com For Advertising queries ads@worldofchemicals.com For Subscription services subscription@worldofchemicals.com

Chemical Today is a monthly magazine focused on chemistry & the chemical industry. Disclaimer: All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All photographs, unless otherwise specified, are used for illustrative purposes only. The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct. However, we accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions and for any loss or damage caused as an effect thereof. The information provided in this publication is for general use and may not be appropriate for the specific requirements of readers. Views and opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Printed and published on behalf of owners Kimberlite Softwares Pvt Ltd (CIN:U22120MH2003PTC142239). Editor: Shivani Mody. Published for March 2016.

Cover Image - Sea Anemones © National Geographic Society 4

CONTENTS 16 EXPERT VIEWPOINT BUILD, BOND,PROTECTTHE MANTRA FOR GROWTH

NEWS

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

EXPERT VIEWPOINT

EVENTS

FARM TO FACE: GOING BACK TO NATURE FOR SKIN CARE REGIME

TENDERS

EXPERT VIEWPOINT ADHESIVES

COSMETICS

R&D CORPORATE

ACADEMIC R&D

ACADEMIC R&D UNDERWATER ADHESIVES

AEROSOLS

ACADEMIC SPEAK

GREEN CHEMISTRY

COVER STORY COSMETICS

INNOVATION COSMETICS

R&D - YOUNG TURKS

LOGISTICS NEWS

MARKET

REPORT

INSIGHT

REPORT ADHESIVES & SEALANTS

AEROSOLS

COSMETICS

HOT MELT ADHESIVES

COVER STORY

JOBS 86

ORGANIC COSMETICS: UNLEASHING BEAUTY FROM THE ROOTS

PRODUCTS

QUOTES

GLOSSARY

96 5

YOU CAN GET TO KNOW

THE TOOLS

TO HANDLE CHEMISTRY visit: www.worldofchemicals.com

NEWS NATIONAL

SAUDI ARAMCO PLANS TO INVEST IN INDIA’S PETROLEUM SECTOR Saudi Oil giant, Aramco, the world’s largest oil firm plans to make major investment in India’s petroleum sector as it considers India the most preferred destination to invest at a time when the global economy is in a crisis. Head of Aramco Khalid A Al Falih called on prime minister Narendra Modi during which he conveyed that the state-owned company was eyeing India as the most preferred investment destination. “Minister Al Falih to PM: Aramco looks to India as its No 1 target for investment,” tweeted Vikas Swarup, external affairs ministry spokesperson. Aramco is Saudi Arabia’s national oil company with crude reserves of about 265 billion barrels, which is over 15 percent of all global oil deposits.The Saudi

government plans to sell shares in Aramco and transform the oil giant into an industrial conglomerate. Energy-powerhouse Saudi Arabia is India’s largest crude oil supplier, accounting for about one-fifth of total imports and both sides were of the view that cooperation in the sector should expand. India is specifically looking at Saudi investment in “high temperature deep sea off shore exploration” and has opened up the sector for FDI. India’s ties with Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s leading oil producers, have been on an upswing over the last two decades based on burgeoning energy ties. The two countries are keen to move beyond buyer-seller relationship in the sector and go for joint ventures and investment in refineries and oil fields. Source: PTI

INDIA MARKS RECORD UREA PRODUCTION OF

245 LAKH TONNE IN FY16

India produced a record 245 lakh tonne of urea in 201516 and is fast moving to become self-reliant on this front, union minister Hansraj Ahir announced adding that the country would start exporting the commonly used fertilizer in next two years on the back of such production. “There has been a record production of 245 lakh tonnes of indigenous urea last year against 225 lakh tonnes in 8

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the preceding year (2014-15). We achieved this only by utilizing our existing capacity. The quantum jump in production of urea is the living example of highly successful ‘Make In India’ campaign,” said Ahir. He said this additional production of 20 lakh tonnes of the commonly used fertilizer has not only helped in saving foreign exchange but also in imports substitutions.

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The increased production of urea is equivalent to the production capacity of almost two urea plants without any additional investments. “As per the announcement made in the budget to revive five non-functional urea plants, we are moving fast in this direction and the tender for revival of one plant will be opened soon,” he said. Ahir said his ministry is in consultation with its US counterparts to produce urea from coal. “We are in talks with our American counterparts to make urea from coal. It is NDA government’s dream to turn black gold (coal) into white (urea) one,” said Ahir.

“When we start producing urea out of coal, we would be saving Rs 7,000-8,000 per tonne on production. Currently, government of India gives subsidy of Rs 55,000 per year on the production of urea and government has to import almost 80 lakh tonne (of urea) from other countries, particularly half of it from China,” said Ahir. He said the government has approved the policy of promotion of city compost by fixing an amount of Rs 1500 per tonne to its producers which will incentivise the production and consumption of city compost. “Government departments and PSUs have been asked to use city compost for their horticulture and other uses,” he said.

Source: Economic Times

SUN PHARMA, ASTRAZENECA

INDIA TO DISTRIBUTE TYPE 2 DIABETES MEDICINES Image Source: livemint Sun Pharma and AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited announced a partnership for the distribution of dapagliflozin, an innovative type 2 diabetes medicine, in India.

promote and distribute the combination of dapagliflozin with metformin under the brand name “Oxramet™”, following regulatory approval.

Dapagliflozin is AstraZeneca India’s leading diabetes “AstraZeneca is committed to addressing unmet need in medicine and is sold in India under the brand name the treatment of type 2 diabetes by offering treatment Forxiga. Under the agreement, Sun Pharma will pro- options to physicians that meet the needs of individumote and distribute dapagliflozin under the brand name al patients. Dapagliflozin represents a significant adOxra. As per the terms of the agreement, both compa- vancement in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and this nies will promote, market & distribute dapagliflozin in agreement supports our strategy of working with a local India under different brand names. partner to maximize the value from our innovative med“This agreement for dapagliflozin further strengthens our icines in a key emerging market,” said Sanjay Murdeshpartnership with AstraZeneca India. The addition of this war, managing director, AstraZeneca India. innovative type 2 diabetes treatment bolsters our diabetes portfolio. We believe the extended portfolio will fur- Diabetes is estimated to affect approximately 69.2 ther enhance our service capabilities to offer customers million people in India and more than 415 million people & patients innovative medicines at affordable prices,” worldwide. By 2040, this will rise to 642 million and type said Abhay Gandhi, CEO-India business, Sun Pharma. 2 is the most common form of diabetes. Sun Pharma’s AstraZeneca will retain the intellectual property rights current diabetes portfolio comprises of over 40 specialty to dapagliflozin. Sun Pharma will also gain the rights to products with a market share of more than 8 per cent. Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BP, CNPC SIGN FIRST SHALE GAS PRODUCTION CONTRACT IN CHINA

BP PLC said that it has signed a production sharing was signed last October during the visit of the president contract (PSC) with China National Petroleum Corpo- of China, Xi Jinping, to the UK. In addition to unconvenration (CNPC) for shale gas exploration, development tional resources, the framework agreement covers posand production in the Neijiang-Dazu block in the Sich- sible future fuel retailing ventures in China, exploration uan Basin, China. The contract is BP’s first shale gas of oil and LNG trading opportunities globally, and carPSC in China and covers an area of approximately bon emissions trading as well as sharing of knowledge 1,500 square kilometres. CNPC will be operator for this around low carbon energy and management practices. project. “CNPC and BP’s existing cooperation covers various “We are pleased to reach this significant milestone as areas including retail business in China, overseas uppart of our strategic partnership with CNPC, building on stream exploration and development and international our successful cooperation in and outside of China. We trading. Building upon the framework agreement on will bring our worldwide experience to our first uncon- strategic cooperation signed last year, this unconvenventional gas project in onshore China with CNPC. We tional resource PSC is a manifestation of our deepening will combine this with CNPC’s knowledge and experi- cooperation,” said Wang Yilin, chairman, CNPC. ence to bring gas to China’s growing clean energy mar- BP’s Energy Outlook (2016 edition) expects that by ket,” said Bob Dudley, group chief executive, BP. 2035 shale gas will account for a quarter of the total gas This PSC is the first achievement from BP and CNPC’s produced globally and China will become the world’s framework agreement on strategic cooperation that largest contributor to growth in shale gas production.

DOW CORNING EXPANDS SILICONES CAPACITY IN US; INVESTS $6 MILLION Dow Corning said it has completed a $6 million expansion at its silicones manufacturing plant in Midland, MI to provide growing beauty and personal care markets with a reliable supply of silicone elastomer blends. “Evolving global consumer preferences, specific customer requirements and differing regional expectations are driving innovation and global growth in beauty and personal care markets. This expansion helps us provide supply reliability and sustained product quality to meet our customers’ needs anywhere in the world,” said Dirk Soontjens, global market segment leader, Dow Corning. In addition to expanding product capacity with additional manufacturing equipment, the investment adds automation to ensure production quality, improves material 10

Connecting World Chemically

handling and logistics capabilities aligned with good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards, and enables increased production flexibility to support changes in market demand. Silicone elastomers are used in many personal care applications to provide unique aesthetics sought after by cosmetics consumers the world over. These specialty silicones address consumer preferences for instantly perceivable and long-lasting results – from enhanced texture and improved hydration to anti-aging effects and more. More recently, silicone elastomers are critical components in popular multi-functional personal care products such as beauty benefit (BB) and colour cosmetic (CC) cream.

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IMCD OPENS OFFICE IN JAPAN IMCD NV said it has opened an office in Tokyo, Japan, marking the latest succession of steps for IMCD to build a stronghold in Asia-Pacific. Shunsaku Kubo is appointed managing director IMCD Japan, effective April. Kubo brings 24 years of experience in senior managerial positions, having worked for some of the leading chemical companies. “We have some very strong relationships with leading Japanese suppliers of high quality ingredients and by

opening of this office we want to be closer to them. In addition, we intend to bring some of our existing top class suppliers to the Japanese market, utilizing our global market presence and product knowledge,” said Gabriele Bonomi, executive committee member, IMCD. Japan joins IMCD’s expanding network of active countries within the Asia-Pacific region, namely Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

AIR PRODUCTS TO EXIT ENERGY-FROM-WASTE BUSINESS LEHIGH VALLEY, US: Air Products said that it will exit its energy-from-waste (EfW) business. As a result, the EfW business segment will be accounted for as a discontinued operation effective in the company’s second fiscal quarter. Also in the second quarter, Air Products expects to record a pre-tax charge in the range of $900 million to $1.0 billion in discontinued operations, primarily to write down assets associated with the EfW business to their realizable value. Air Products’ management has communicated the challenges with the Tees Valley, UK projects. Testing and analysis completed during the company’s fiscal secondquarter indicated that additional design and operational

challenges would require significant time and cost to rectify. Consequently, the board of directors has decided that it is no longer in the best interest of the company and its shareholders to continue the Tees Valley projects. Air Products will work to optimize the cash value of its investments. Exiting the EfW business will allow the company to direct its resources to its core business of industrial gases. “Air Products is focused on our core industrial gas business. We pushed very hard to make this new EfW technology work and I would like to thank the team who worked so diligently. We are also disappointed with the outcome,” said Seifi Ghasemi, chairman, president and CEO, Air Products.

EVENTS

EVENTS CALENDAR 12 – 14 April

29 – 30 June

24 – 26 August

In-cosmetics Paris

International Dairy Meet & Expo

China International Adhesives and Sealants Exhibition

Location: New Orleans Louisiana, US

Location:Guangzhou Poly World Center in Guangzhou, China.

Location: Porte de Versailles, Paris Organised by: Reed Exhibitions U.K Website: http://www.in-cosmetics.com/

The exhibition brings together over 700 exhibitors of ingredients, fragrances, lab equipment, testing and regulatory solutions with over 9,000 cosmetic manufacturers worldwide. Many of the world’s leading personal care ingredients suppliers, formulators, R&D and marketing specialists are present the event. It is a global launch pad for innovations in ingredients and technologies, delivering high-level scientific education and consumer insights for formulators, R&D and regulatory professionals. Shaping future global industry trends, the event offers the most cost-effective business and networking opportunities for the world’s personal care ingredients community.

Organised by: OMICS International Website: http://dairymeet.conferenceseries. com/

The ‘Dairy Meet & Expo’ is a platform for professionals to understand the opportunities & challenges of the future dairy industry. The event is organized keeping in mind the presence of various dairy industry executives—as well as students and professionals who work in sales and marketing, operations, R&D, engineering, production, purchasing, food safety, and more. The global platform will has potential to learn the trends, cost-cutting innovations and ways to deliver more value to customers. Enhanced programming, new on floor promotions, and the co-location with process expo provide a revolutionary dairy show experience with so much more to offer.

Organised by: CCPIT Sub-Council OF Chemical Industry Website: http://en.chinaadhesive2000. com/

This event showcases products such as adhesives, polyurethanes, hot melt, epoxy, silicone, rubber and engineering adhesives and sealants and related chemicals. It also showcases raw materials for adhesives and sealants, such as resins, solvents, wax, monomers and auxiliaries, adhesive tapes, labels, processing equipment, testing instrument, and raw materials for producing various products among others, in the adhesives &sealants, chemicals & dyes industries.

27 – 29 June Global Summit on Hormones and Steroids Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, US Organised by: OMICS International Website: http://hormones.conferenceseries. com/

Connecting World Chemically

The conference will provide an opportunity to hear and meet researchers, practitioners, and business professionals to share expertise, foster collaborations and assess rising innovations across the world. This will be equally informative for participants who attend this meeting as well as a for key opinion leaders who want to brush up on their knowledge outside their own area of specialization. The conference will also provide an opportunity for enthusiastic and talented young researchers and students to share their knowledge before eminent scientist gathering through Young Research Forum and Poster Competition.

www.worldofchemicals.com 07 – 09 September

16 – 19 October

25 – 28 October

FEICA 2016

IDF World Dairy Summit

WAC

Organised by: FEICA

Location: De Doelen Concert Hall and Congress Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Location: Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo Japan

Location: Hilton Vienna Am Stadtpark, Austria Website: www.feica-conferences.com

This is a premier event for Europe’s adhesive and sealant industry, providing essential insights into the key issues affecting the industry and ample networking opportunities for formulators and raw materials suppliers to discuss the latest trends and wider business environment.

04 – 06 October Aerosols Location: Istanbul, Turkey Organised by: Aerosol Manufacturers Association / European Aerosol Federation Website: www.aerosol2016istanbul.com

The 29th FEA International Aerosol Congress & 18th Exhibition will offer seminars, workshops plus exhibition and net working opportunities for professionals. More than 120 manufacturers will come together under one roof to meet and interact with aerosol sector professionals globally.

04 – 08 October Supply Side West Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas Organised by: Informa Exhibitions LLC Website: http://west.supplysideshow. com/

SupplySide West is the industry’s gathering point, where science & strategy intersect. The event offers a unique opportunity to reach leading product development teams and C-level executives, a meeting point for key decision-makers from around the world in the animal nutrition, personal care, food, beverage and dietary supplement markets all in one location.

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

Organised by: International Dairy Federation

Organised by: Asia Regional Adhesive Council / Japan Adhesive Industry Association

Website: www.idfwds2016.com

Website: www.wac2016.org/

The summit is an annual meeting of the global dairy industry attracting 1,500 to 2,500 participants from all over the world. Many CEO’s and employees of dairy processing companies, dairy farmers, suppliers to the dairy industry, academia, governments, marketers etc will be present to network with peers on a global level. The theme of the summit for this year is “Dare to Dairy.”

25 – 26 October

WAC 2016 is an international conference that aims to gather not only manufacturers of adhesives and sealants but also suppliers of raw materials, equipment manufacturers and sales persons together in one place. This year, the world adhesive & sealant conference &expo’s main theme is “Creating Tomorrow” with the keywords: environment, creation and evolution. The event gives participants an opportunity to discuss the further developments and trends in the industry.

Cosmetic Science Symposium & Expo

08 – 09 November

Location: Hilton Alexandria Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia

2nd PRAXIS forum

Organised by: Personal Care Products Council

Organised by: DECHEMA

Website: www.personalcarecouncil.org/

The Science Symposium attracts more than 300 industry leaders and decision-makers and offers personal care products industry staff one-stop shopping for information about microbiology, quality assurance, safety and environmental issues. With a convenient location and an information packed programme, it is a great opportunity to learn from the experts in the industry. The symposium will also feature the cosmetic science expo enabling attendees to meet with cutting edge suppliers and technology companies to help implement the new techniques presented during the workshops.

Location: Frankfurt/Main, Germany Website: http://dechema.de/en/ PRAXISforum+Enzymes+for+Industrial +Applications.html

The event “Enzymes for Industrial Applications” brings together industry professionals, solution providers and key customers in the field of enzyme technology from all over the world. It provides information on the latest developments, new products, services, process and production technologies. Some of the key topics for discussion are; New industrial enzymes - where is the future; Best Practice examples and lessons learned: successful enzyme applications; Engineering enzymes: customized solutions for innovative processes; Lead-time-reduction: efficient scale up from lab to production; Technologies in enzyme production: equipment, engineering solutions and platform technologies; and Intelligent enzymes for innovative processes. 13

TENDERS

TRANSPORTATION OF SODIUM SULPHATE FROM M/S GRASIM INDUSTRIES-HARIHAR, KARNATAKA TO TNPL UNIT-1 AT KAGITHAPURAM THROUGH TRUCK Called by Tamilnadu Newsprint and Papers Limited (TNPL) Tender No 151613006877 dt.23/03/2016 EMD Rs 1,00,000 Fees Rs 500 Quantity 6000 Mts Tender due on 3 May

DIESEL HYDROTESTING (DHDT) CATALYST (GLOBAL TENDER) Called by Mangalore Refineries & Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) Tender No 3000008601 dt.21/03/2016 EMD Rs 39,08,500 Fees Rs 47,500 Quantity To be specified by supplier Tender due on 29 April

ACID SLURRY 96% ( LABSA )

Fees Nil Quantity 6.5 Mts Tender 12April

UREA FOR EFFLUENT TREATMENT PLANT OF IOPS BCPL LEPETKATA Called by GAIL Tender No BCPL/DIB/CANDP/2015/5/469/MD/10528 dt.23/03/2016 EMD Nil Fees Nil Quantity 61 Mts Tender due on 19 April

OPTICAL BRIGHTNER Called by GAIL Tender No /PA15/61034/8000009266/VM/10525 dt.23/03/2016 EMD Nil Fees Nil Quantity 520 kgs Tender due on 22 April

Called by Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd (KSDL) Tender No KSDL/2015-16/ IND 2612 dt.21/03/2016 EMD Rs 2,00,000 Fees Rs 550 Quantity 200 Mts Tender due on 23 May

APGENCO-ANIONIC FLOCCULANT Called by APGENCO Tender No CEG/E4A1/SDSTPS/Polyelectrolyte/91/2015-16 dt.24/03/2016 EMD Rs 5,580 14

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CORROSION INHIBITOR CHEMICAL & OXIDIZING BIOCIDE CHEMICAL Called by IOCL Tender No DRDM15L081 EMD Nil Fees Nil Quantity Corrosion Inhibitor chemical - 120 kgs Oxidizing biocide chemical -750 kgs Tender due on 19 April Note - 1) For more information visit the company website 2) EMD - Earnest Money Deposit

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IN CHEMISTRY

EXPERT VIEWPOINT ADHESIVES

BUILD, BOND,

PROTECT - THE MANTRA FOR GROWTH Rohit Aggarwal, vice president and managing director, Huntsman India, talks about the latest trends of adhesives and surfactants industry in India and opens up about the measures that need to be taken for the growth of the industry. BY SHIVANI MODY

GIVE US AN IDEA ABOUT THE ADHESIVES INDUSTRY IN INDIA? Looking at industry statistics in the country, the total adhesives industry is approximately $1 billion. Some of the sectors that will further fuel the growth of adhesives in India are electrical, wind, transport, woodworking to name a few. Moreover, with advances over the years, some of the prominent trends seen in this industry are hybrid adhesives such as PU/acrylic, MS polymer etc.

WHAT ARE THE LATEST/ADVANCED MATERIALS USED FOR MANUFACTURING OF ADHESIVES? The AralditeÂŽ adhesives range contains a selection of adhesives from the latest epoxy, polyurethane and methacrylate technologies to meet the great majority of high-performance bonding applications. We also have innovative aerospace products offering high strength combined with low weight â&#x20AC;&#x201C; allowing to save energy and to improve 16

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safety. For instance, the EPOCAST syntactic and adhesives used for the fixing of inserts. With recognized expertise in research, development and processes, Huntsman offers a unique and wide range of innovative solutions to new challenges, including the global demand for alternative energy, environmentally sound technology and eco-friendly processes.

HOW HAS THE PERSONAL CARE MARKET EVOLVED IN INDIA? The Indian personal care market has evolved significantly over the

course of time as more and more specialized and niche personal care products are being accepted by the Indian customers. Added to that, the rise in purchasing power of the middle-class, forming the majority of the population is also helping to grow this market. Moreover, with access to information and awareness regarding personal care and hygiene, people are now willing to invest in high-end personal care products. The industry has moved from basic products such as soaps and hair oils to functional products like cold cream, shampoos and now to spe-

www.worldofchemicals.com cialized products such as sun block lotions, body exfoliating creams and skin whitening and anti-ageing products. Personal care industry has grown steadily in India with the increasing usage of specialty ingredients for formulations used in personal care products.

WHAT ARE THE RECENT TRENDS IN SURFACTANTS RELATED TO THE PERSONAL CARE INDUSTRY? The personal care industry was traditionally using the commodity surfactants. With product innovation as the key driver for growth for most of the FMCG companies in India, specialty surfactants has made a foray into the personal care market and will continue to drive sales in these segments. Specialty surfactant-based products are increasingly replacing traditional products because of ease in using the product, its cleansing ability, and ease in customizing the product. Multifunctional surfactants are likely to gain widespread acceptance. Today, there is a selective approach from customers to move to using mild surfactants. But we see a wide spread shift happening to mild surfactants in India over a period of time as the personal care market evolves. Mildness is a key trend in bath and shower, and hair care, while still maintaining the effectiveness of the surfactants. Regulations and non-toxicity would be the main factors that would drive the usage of bio-based and green surfactants over a course of time.

WHAT ARE THE LATEST ADVANCES IN THE INTERMEDIATE CHEMICALS RELATED TO THE PERSONAL CARE INDUSTRY? The key focus for the beauty and personal care industry is sustainChemical Today Magazine | March 2016

ability. Sustainability is the key concept considered during product designing, manufacturing, packaging and distribution management. The key issues that sustainability covers are protection of the environment and renewable supply. Ingredients companies are making great efforts to develop products that target these issues. There is an increasing concern about the chemicals used in everyday consumer products due to the current “green” movement. Consumers are becoming more aware of the potential harm that some chemicals may have on them and their families driven by increased knowledge from the internet and social media. The functionality of products in beauty and personal care is rapidly changing. No longer are bath and shower or hair care products just about cleaning, but products offer a multitude of benefits depending on needs and requirements. FMCG companies launching the “free-from” ranges in beauty and personal care would lead to elimination of potentially harmful ingredients in personal care formulations over a period of time.

With recognized expertise in research, development and processes, Huntsman offers a unique and wide range of innovative solutions to new challenges, including the global demand for alternative energy, environmentally sound technology and ecofriendly processes

The biggest challenge that we face is the absence of a level playing field between the unorganized sector and us.

IN ASIA PACIFIC THERE IS MORE DEMAND FOR GREEN SOLVENT-FREE ADHESIVES. HOW IS HUNTSMAN PLANNING TO ADAPT TO THIS GROWING DEMAND? Huntsman’s innovations in adhesives go beyond improving mechanical properties to focus on important features such as flame retardant, low smoke density and low toxic emissions. Leveraging a long experience working in the automotive, aerospace industry, the business continues to develop products that meet stringent FST safety criteria. Araldite adhesives offer excellent adhesion on metals and composites alongside the advantages of flame retardant properties that are UL 94 V-0. Huntsman’s adhesives are set in a direction to improve their production processes, secure long-term performance and the safety of assemblies. This results in reduced maintenance costs, increased design freedoms and the development of lightweight structures for better energy efficiency and aesthetics – all important factors in making araldite adhesives increasingly attractive choice for all its customers. Huntsman Global project is in progress on bonding solutions for future substrates mainly thermoplastics, specifically high performance adhesives, which requires minimal surface treatment.

THERE IS A MAJOR EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABILITY / GREEN CHEMISTRY. HOW DOES HUNTSMAN ADHERE TO THE SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY STANDARDS? 17

EXPERT VIEWPOINT ADHESIVES As a company we have been promoting products that are environment friendly, for instance promotion of environment-friendly low volatileorganic compounds (VOC) surfactants for paints and coatings. For this, we have Jeffsol solvents,which are not as harmful as the conventional solvents. We have a major share in curing agents Jeffamines in wind power generation industry globally.

MENTION SOME OF THE INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON. Huntsman India took a big step and has acquired the coveted Responsible Care accreditation in Oct 2015. This places Huntsman in the list of India’s most credible organizations that conform to stringent Environment, Health & Safety Standards. All our products meet regulatory compliances-REACH, RoHS, SVHC eg. Huntsman’s Sustainability-Araldite epoxy resins help make newer generation aircrafts & automotive stronger, lighter & more fuel-efficient. In textile effects, we are working on multiple levels to create more innovative and sustainable products. One of the key products we are working on is advanced range of fluorine free durable water repellent, which will provide rain protection and stain management to the garments. Another product we are working on is formaldehyde free fire retardant that delivers the flame and thermal protection. Fluorine free DWR and Formaldehyde free fire retardant not only complies with ZDHC norms, but also saves money through durability and longevity. We are also working on enzyme chemistry for textile applications targeting scouring and finishing. On

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one hand this would result in effluent reduction, while on the other hand it will help in energy and water conservation. In performance products division, the energy & resources group is working on SURFONIC®& JEFFTREAT®range of products to address the challenging problems faced in the oil & gas industry most particularly corrosion inhibition, foaming and acid gas scavenging. The polymer and resins group is focused on developing applications in fast curing coatings, adhesives and decoupage markets using JEFFAMINE® D230 JEFFAMINE® RFD 270. One of the projects the functional chemical group is working on is using TERIC® series products, developing novel solution like developing alkylphenolethoxylates (APEO) free surfactants to be used in coating.

Huntsman India took a big step and has acquired the coveted Responsible Care accreditation in Oct 2015. This places Huntsman in the list of India’s most credible organizations that conform to stringent Environment, Health & Safety Standards.”

But the biggest challenge that we face is the absence of a level playing field between the unorganized sector and us.

WHAT ARE THE GROWTH AND STRATEGY PLANS FOR HUNTSMAN IN INDIA? Some of our future strategy plans are: • Under “Make in India”, to leverage our investments in manufacturing at Baroda, Ankleshwar and Pune to bring world-class technology for both domestic and export markets. • Continue to selectively invest further capital and technology and as the Indian economy continues to grow. • Setting up of global R&D at Mumbai to take advantage of the human capital and expertise to develop products for both international as well as Indian markets. • Aim to double our business in 5 years.

The strategic cornerstone of the doit-yourself (DIY) strategic business unit (SBU) is growth through the introduction of new products, which will add value both at a business level as also to what the Araldite brand stands for-Build, Bond, Protect.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE COMPANY? The need of the hour for us is: • Simplification of indirect tax regime to drive operational efficiencies • Infrastructure development for the chemical industry leading to more dedicated, integrated and sustainable chemical industrial parks • Environmental and safety standards enforcement across the board for a level playing field, and • Availability and lack of investments in upstream bulk chemicals to support growth in specialty sector.

www.worldofchemicals.com 19

EXPERT VIEWPOINT COSMETICS

FARM TO FACE:

GOING BACK TO NATURE FOR SKIN CARE REGIME Aditi Vyas (Left) and Mansi Vyas, directors, Azafran Innovacion, talk about how the cosmetics industry is undergoing a drastic change with the rise of customer consciousness for organic and natural products over chemical alternatives and how we are going back to Mother Nature to find the answers to unleash beauty.

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BY DEBARATI DAS

What inspired both of you to enter the organic cosmetics domain in India. Our aspiration for natural beauty took an innovative form as a range of organic personal care products. Azafran Organics was created out of the passion for natural beauty along with a comprehensive knowledge of what goes on the skin. It is the first ever product line in India created with the concept of ‘Farm to Face’, where the entire range of personal care products are made only by using natural methods, and organic farm grown ingredients. Azafran Organics is our effort to take you back to where you belong, ‘the nature’.

The organic cosmetics industry is a rapidly growing market both globally and in India. Can you tell us about the industry dynamics? Organic personal care products are picking up momentum in the Indian markets and many brands are waiting on their wings seeking access into the segment. Upsurge in young urban elite population, and increase in disposable income of working women who seek for classic life-style products have caused a significant increase in the market for organic products. With an increasing number of people who want to shun chemical products in favor of organic ones, market opportunities are lucrative. Market Analysis report predicts overall Indian personal care market to grow at a CAGR of 8 percent year-on-year.

Tell us more about your ‘Farm to Face’ model. Azafran set up its completely integrated ‘Farm to Face’ model. Purity being our fore-most goal, we grow numerous varieties of plants, flowers and herbs specifically for our organic skin care range on our 40 hectare farmland in Sanand, Ahmedabad. Plants are harvested during its particular season and are sent through the extraction process. Following the extraction, botanical ingredients are sent to our manufacturing unit where they are further processed to final packed formulations. Farm-toface is a completely integrated, perhaps the one of its kind in the Indian organic skin care market ie. - R & D, raw material cultivation, extraction, processing, formulation, packaging, sales & marketing.

The Indian market specifically, is torn between foreign brands and Indian herbal brands. Give us a sense of the acceptance of organic products among Indian consumers? People in India are slowly and gradually shifting to organic personal care products to protect their body and skin from harmful ingredients. Increasing awareness about the environmental damage and growing ‘go green’ consciousness has fueled the demand for organic personal care products in India. At Azafran we always keep an eye on the prices, while compiling our product range. We offer our range in affordable prices; carrying only the best products.

The Indian market is getting Considering the fact that there are crowded with new organic very limited organic personal care cosmetics brands entering the brands in India currently, the seg- terrain. How are your cosmetment offers lucrative market poten- ics different and what are your tial. ‘go to market’ strategies? Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

We believe transparency is the key to trust. Nobody trusts anything that is anonymous. Following principles of transparency and best practices, we always mention the proportion of organic ingredients in our products. You can see our product labels mentioning that the product is made with 80 percent or 88 percent certified organic ingredients, and the rest being earth derived. We also mention the ingredients that are used in the product. Our farming is approved for organic certification of NOP and NPOP standards through ECOCERT France, and you can see these certifications on our website.

You have several varieties of plants, herbs and flowers. Can you tell us more about the uniqueness of your greenhouse? Azafran has its own organic farms with large greenhouses where numerous varieties of plants, flowers and herbs are grown. We create the right kind of climate and environment in our greenhouses, and plants are grown in an environment; free of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. We use organic manures from our own dairy farm and de oil cakes from our cold press for enriching soil and plants. Being a botanical beauty brand, we aspire to protect our environment in whatever we do. Our greenhouses are designed with environmentally friendly innovations and are managed as a natural habitat. We create the right kind of climate and environment in our greenhouses for growing exotic plant varieties. Chamomile, Geranium, Alfa alfa, Lemon balm, Rosemary, Passiflora incarnata and Calendula are a few to name. Herbs are handpicked and essence is extracted. Then

EXPERT VIEWPOINT COSMETICS

we check the concentration of the desired constituents and use it in creating our formulations. We work closely with our ingredient growers, adopt sustainability and organic practices, so as to ensure that our range of personal care products are made with natures best botanical ingredients. We use steam distillation process to extract essential oils at our own facility so as to ensure 100 percent purity.

Azafran has its own organic farm, greenhouses, research and development center for your skincare range. Can you tell us more about your R&D activities for skin care products? Our company’s robust pipeline of innovation resulted in new launches in the form of Nutri active advanced skin firming cream and a range of botanical hair oils. Backed up by leading edge marketing approaches, the products are expected to tap profitable revenue while also strengthening brand reputation. Our Nutri Active Advanced Skin Firming Cream was voted as the ‘Best New 22

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Organic Product’ competing with other international brands in the Pure Beauty Awards, 2015 ceremony in London. The cream is created with the rare Swiss apple stem cell technology and we are the first Indian brand to launch a cream in India using this technology.

How do you plan to expand your product range? With the addition of new organic cosmetic ingredients of organic fruits, flowers, waxes & butters, we are into rigorous R&D for new launches. Baby care range is in pipe-line which will include body wash, shampoo, cream/lotion, bubble bath, massage oil & diaper rash cream. Following the successful market response to our Aqua Halo range, we will extend the product line into moisturizer, toner, cleanser, body lotion and anti-cellulite body cream. Our existing range encompasses shampoo, conditioner & body cleansers. Currently we have body butters based on soya milk as the

base ingredient. We will be extending the Soya Milk range into shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, body wash and face scrub. We are also considering options to launch our organic range of essential oils including jasmine, lavender etc. The global industry is taking its lessons from Eastern ancient traditions and culture. Right from Japanese green tea extracts to marine collagens, to Indian herbal science; a lot of these Eastern ingredients are entering foreign brands.

Can you tell us about the acceptance of organic, herbal, natural ingredients by global customers? Standard cosmetic products are made with synthetic, and petrochemical ingredients. Even animal fats are used in some products. Ingredients like ‘oxybenzone,’ which are used in synthetic sunscreens can be absorbed through the skin, and cause hormone disruption, and cell damage.

www.worldofchemicals.com Synthetic preservatives and fragrances like parabens may cause allergic reactions. In contrast, plant-based natural surfactants extracted from natural fruit sugars and oils such as coconut, sunflower etc moisturizes the skin and help to maintain the pH balance of the skin. Milk proteins from soya milk, aqua milk etc soothe the skin making it velvety soft. People are gradually shifting to organic personal care products to protect their body and skin from harmful ingredients.

Has Indian industry been late in exploring its own traditional science or has it been difficult to convince the new generation Indian consumers to break away from global brandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to embrace Indian traditional beauty regime? Campaigning and building awareness is one of the major thrust areas of Azafran. Our goal is to create awareness about â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;organic way of livingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Our product packaging speaks about the quality of our products inside. Our packaging is not just for product protection, but also has an interesting combination of colors, textures, instructions, which informs about the organic and au-

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

thentic nature of our products. Our brochures, product guides, newsletters, and other versatile pieces of printed information play a vital role. Apart from this, we also use social media engagement to create a strong social awareness.

What are your expansion plans in India? We have a strong and well-established market in the South and West. Following our success in these territories, we have recently launched our products in the North and are currently foraying into Eastern markets. Presently, the brand has presence in 101 modern retail stores located in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmadabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi and Gurgaon. We are planning expansion into II tier and III tier cities as well.

Do you have plans to take Azafran global? We have an established global - online presence. Our website is aesthetically designed with refined product category and menu structure. We have a growing customer base in countries like Australia and US.

R&D CORPORATE

NEW LACTASE IMPROVES PRODUCTION OF LACTOSE-FREE DAIRY PRODUCTS Enzyme testing in Bagsvaerd, Denmark

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Enzyme analytical laboratory in Bagsvaerd, Denmark A new enzyme Saphera, by Novozymes, is a lactase enzyme that sets a new standard for production and quality of a wide range of lactose-free products, including milk and fermented dairy products such as yogurt. Originated from Bifidobacteriumbifidum, Saphera differs considerably from traditional lactases made from yeast, and is the first, major innovation in this growing industry for years. With Saphera, the desired lactose level can be more precisely measured and easily reached. This is because less oligosaccharides – carbohydrates – are formed during the reaction compared to yeast lactases, particularly when producing 0.01 percent lactose-free milk. “Saphera works at lower pH and higher temperature than other lactases and is therefore not only suitable for production of lactose-free milk and other products, but also for fermented dairy products,” said Simon Lyndegaard, director, food platforms & strategic development, Novozymes. “It works extremely well in yogurt production – better than conventional yeast-based lactases. In addition, the lack of invertase and other critical side activities makes Saphera a great solution in sweetened dairy products, maintaining physical and organoleptic properties during shelf life better than any other product on the market.” Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

Saphera converts lactose in dairy to galactose and glucose. This enables the dairy producer to reduce the amount of added sugars and still achieve the same degree of sweetness in lactose-free dairy products. This offers the dairy producer the opportunity for more attractive product labels with claims of reduced added sugar.

LACTOSE-FREE PRODUCTS BECOMING MAINSTREAM Lactose intolerance is a common condition, particularly in emerging markets. In addition, health-conscious consumers are increasingly demanding healthier “free-from” products, a trend that has moved lactose-free dairy products from being a specialty segment to mainstream and enabling dairies to address new, higher-margin markets that are growing at three or four times faster than the market for other dairy products. Through partnerships with customers across the industry, the company is helping transform the quality and sustainability of food and beverages. “As we launch this new lactase, Novozymes will continue to bring significant innovation to the dairy industry in close collaboration with our partners – helping find answers for better lives in a growing world,” said Lyndegaard.

Lactose, lactases and Saphera quick facts: • People who are lactose-intolerant lack the digestive enzyme lactase needed to break down lactose, or milk sugar, in dairy products. • To make lactose-free products, dairy companies use lactase enzymes to split lactose to glucose and galactose – two sugars that can be safely digested by everyone, enabling also lactose-intolerant people to enjoy and benefit from dairy products. • It is estimated that approximately 70 percent of the world population suffers from a degree of lactose intolerance. • Saphera is applicable for a broad range of dairy products including fresh, ESL and UHT milk, milk drinks, cream, ice cream, fermented dairy products and dulcede leche. It is available in a variety of formulations to meet varying processing needs. • Saphera is sold as a liquid standard product (Saphera 2600 L) for use in batch process and in in-line dosing systems (ie. TetraPak Aldose). It is sold as a sterile liquid product (Saphera 900 LS) for use in aseptic in-line dosing systems (ie. TetraPakFlexDos).

ACADEMIC R&D

MELATONIN, NATURALLY OCCURRING BODY HORMONE COULD PREVENT SEPSIS Researchers have managed to decode the immune response present in this disease, a leading cause of death in hospital ICUs.

n a research work carried out in mice, researchers from the University of Granada have managed to decode the immune response present in this disease and to identify the therapeutic targets of melatonin in it. Sepsis takes place when the body has an overwhelming immune response to a bacterial infection. There’s no specific treatment for it yet, given that, although it is a systemic inflammation, known anti-inflammatories are not effective. Sepsis is a serious disease that takes place when the body has an excessive immune response to a bacterial infection. It’s the leading cause of death in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) and, nowadays, there’s no specific treatment for it yet, given that, although it is a systemic inflammation, known anti-inflammatories are not effective. Now, researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) belonging to the Centro de Investigacion Biomedica (Centre for Biomedical Research) have discovered that melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone in our body also used as a medication, could be of use for preventing sepsis.

The results of their work have been published in FASEB Journal, the most quoted biology magazine in the world. 26

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This research has confirmed that the NLRP3 inflammasome activation “Is required and necessary” in the systemic inflammatory response and its extreme seriousness in sepsis. Additionally, the UGR researchers have discovered the molecular targets for melatonin that back its high efficacy as an anti-inflammatory, a property that is being assessed in clinical essays in laboratory. NLRP3 inflammasome is ultimately responsible for the maturation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (proteins regulating cell function), which, as is the case of pro-IL-18 and pro-IL-33, are induced in an inactive way by NF-kB, the classic way of innate immunity. The researches carried out by Jose Antonio Garcia Santos, lead author of this work, were useful to identify the link between the classic way of innate immunity (NF-kB) and the complementary one (NLRP3).

THE NLRP3 INFLAMMASOME ROLE “We’ve been able to confirm that the NLRP3 inflammasome activation is required and necessary in the systemic inflammatory response in sepsis, given that it’s ultimately responsible for the maturation of pro-inflammatory cytokines

which, as is the case of pro-IL-18 and pro-IL-33, are induced in an inactive way by NF-kB.” Being activated by NLRP3 inflammasome, this cytokines, specially IL-1beta, positively feed back NF-kB, thus amplifying the immune response, which determines the overwhelming immune response of the systemic inflammation in sepsis. Once defined these ways, the researchers studied the mechanisms responsible of their activation in mice. Thanks to ROR-alfa (a nuclear receptor for melatonin) in the inhibition of innate immunity, they could identify this receptor as the mechanism of melatonin’s anti-inflammatory action, which also stimulates the mitochondrial bioenergetics and inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome, thus slowing down the production of free radicals. “With this research, we have confirmed the bases for chronic inflammation as an essential mechanism promoting the link between NF-kB/ NLRP3 and systemic inflammation in sepsis. The disruption of this link, caused by melatonin, inhibits all innate immune ways activated in sepsis, which lets the body to recover from the septic shock and multiple organ failure, and significantly increases survival,”professor García Santos stressed.

www.worldofchemicals.com Research by mood disorder experts has questioned the effectiveness of a drug suggested to treat depression.

EFFECTIVENESS OF A STRESS HORMONE DRUG QUESTIONED

t is well recognized that stress can lead to an episode of depressive illness and some patients have raised levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, in their body as an indication of the mental health condition.

Now the largest study of its kind has shown that a drug that blocks production of stress hormone does not routinely help in treating depression. The findings have been published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry. The study examined the effect of metyrapone - a drug, which blocks the production of cortisol - in patients that had not responded to at least two conventional antidepressant drugs. Findings reveal that common use of anti-cortisol drugs is ineffective for patients who have not responded to traditional treatments and there is a need to carry on searching for better treatment options to deal with the condition.

TREATMENT OF RESISTANT DEPRESSION Dr Hamish McAllister-Williams, reader in clinical psychopharmacology, was one of the leads of the three-year study that was spearheaded by Newcastle Academic Health Partners. Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

“Our research has shown that in the population of depressed patients studied, metyrapone is inadequate and therefore should not be routinely recommended as an option for treatment resistant depression,” he said.“We can’t rule out, however, that there might be some patients with particularly high levels of cortisol who might be helped by anti-cortisol treatment – but this needs to be specifically tested in a clinical trial.” Depression is a common mental health problem and people with the condition can experience intense anxiety, along with feeling of hopelessness and self-loathing. One in 10 people will be affected by depression in their lifetime. A total of 165 depressed patients, being treated by GPs or psychiatrists from sites in Northern England, were randomly allocated to a period of treatment with either metyrapone or a placebo (dummy tablet) in addition to their ongoing conventional antidepressants. The aim of the antidepressant augmentation with metyrapone for treatment resistant depression study (The ADD Study) was to examine the efficacy, tolerability and safety of metyrapone as a realistic therapeutic option in everyday clinical practice.

Researchers at the Northern Centre for Mood Disorders have previously shown in rats that raised stress hormones may reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants. This has led to a number of small studies using drugs that block the effect of cortisol or inhibit its production as treatments for depression. Some of these showed positive results. However, the ADD study questions the use of such treatments routinely in clinical practice. It also suggests that depression is more complex than simply being a consequence of high levels of stress hormone. “While stress may well play a role in the development of depression in some individuals, using a drug to decrease the potential negative effects of stress hormones in those whose depression has not responded to conventional antidepressants does not work,” addedMcAllister-Williams. “Our findings suggest that in people, who have not responded to several conventional antidepressants and been depressed for some time, either stress plays less of a role in the development of their depression or this effect wears off over time.” The research challenge now is to identify if different groups of depressed patients would respond to drugs acting on their stress hormone system, as well as identifying treatments targeting different systems within the brain for patients not responding to conventional antidepressants. 27

ACADEMIC R&D

LIVER HORMONE STOPS

â&#x20AC;&#x153;SWEET TOOTHâ&#x20AC;? It may be your liver that keeps you away from sweets overload this holiday season. New research describes a breakthrough in understanding sugar appetite.

he study, co-directed by assistant professor Matthew Gillum from Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (University Of Copenhagen) and assistant professor Matthew Potthoff (University Of Iowa), shows that a hormone produced by the liver suppresses intake of sugar. The hormone, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), is the first identified liver-derived hormone that controls appetite.

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The recent discovery showing that the liver reduces sugar intake by producing FGF21 has been published in the scientific journal Cell Metabolism.

INSPIRATION Researchers followed up on a human genome-wide association study, which found relations between cer-

www.worldofchemicals.com tain mutations and people’s intake of specific macronutrients (fat, protein, carbohydrates). Since two of these mutations were located near the FGF21 gene, the scientists were inspired to investigate how FGF21 might affect appetite. “Even though there has been a lot of research on FGF21, its physiological function is still a bit mysterious,” said co-senior author Matthew Gillum, “And our research suggests a function that has not been described before but fits with the human genetic data showing FGF21 variants may influence food preferences somehow.”

REGULATING SUGAR INTAKE THROUGH FGF21 “To find out how exactly liver can regulate sugar intake through FGF21, we made use of several mouse models,” said Stephanie von Holstein-Rathlou, co-first author and Mater’s thesis student at section for metabolic imaging and liver metabolism at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research. “In normal mice, we injected FGF21 and gave the mice a choice be-

tween a normal diet and a sugar-enriched diet.” What the researchers saw was a surprise - the mice stopped eating sugar within the first two hours after injection and ate seven times less sugar than normally. Some days after the last injection, the mice started eating more sugar again. The second investigation was conducted by using genetically modified mice that either do not produce FGF21 at all or produce a lot of FGF21 (1000 times more than normal mice). Similarly to the first experiment with the normal mice, the investigators gave them a choice between two diets: a normal and a sugar-enriched one. The researchers were able to observe that the mice that do not produce FGF21 at all eat twice as much, whereas the mice that produce a lot of FGF21 eat less sugar.

FONDNESS FOR SWEETS DECREASED BY FGF21 “Based on these studies, and more, we can conclude that FGF21 decreases appetite and intake of sugar,” said Holstein-Rathlou. However, as the study shows, FGF21

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Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

does not reduce intake of all sugars equally efficiently: sucrose (a common, naturally occurring carbohydrate found in e.g. cane or beet sugar), fructose (fruit sugar), and glucose (grape sugar) intake all seem to be decreased, however, sucrose most of the three. As to the intake of artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, it has been also reduced according to the study. “We never imagined that a circulating, liver-derived factor would exist whose function is to control sweet appetite,” said Matthew Gillum. “We are excited about investigating this hormonal pathway further.” This research opens up new avenues for potential investigation on more hormones like FGF21 – the hormones that exist to regulate appetite for specific macronutrients. Investigating further on this matter could be quite beneficial for improving diet quality (eg. preventing junk food consumption). Used therapeutically, the study could potentially help alleviate the diabetes and obesity pandemic by decreasing people’s preference for sugar and reducing their sugar appetite and intake.

A STR L E T CHEMI

ABO

ACADEMIC R&D

USE OF ALL-NATURAL INGREDIENTS TO PRESERVE COSMETICS The cosmetics and personal care industry is all set to use all-natural ingredients instead of synthesized materials like parabens, which are commonly used preservatives.

ll-natural ingredients refined by a visiting scientist in Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering (LORRE) show promise for next-generation products manufactured by the cosmetics industry.

German Schafer said a current trend in the cosmetics and personal care industry is the use of all-natural ingredients instead of synthesized materials like parabens, which are commonly used preservatives. He is developing ingredients called Solanum Complex and Sopex that could replace synthetic antioxidants and parabens. “These ingredients are derived from the extracts of superfruits of the Solanum plant species, which grow in particular ecosystems in the foothills of the Colombian Andes,” he said. “Solanum Complex is a natural antioxidant that stimulates internal revitalization and regeneration of the skin. Sopex protects and 30

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stabilizes cosmetic and dermatologic formulations. Because of the high purity and bioactivity of these ingredients, only very low concentrations are needed to achieve their multifunctional benefits in cosmetics.” Solanum Complex and Sopex are being commercialized by BioProcol, based in Medellin, Colombia. Schafer founded the company. “BioProcol has developed a vertical-integrated operations system based on good agricultural practices, sustainability, social responsibility and benefits-sharing principles to propagate and harvest the raw materials,” he said. “The bio-prospection, the organic horticulture and bio-processes are carried on under a multi-year contract with the Colombian government to research the Andean region’s biodiversity and its genetic resources for its commercialization.” Michael Ladisch, director of LORRE, has worked with Schafer to refine the ingredients.“This is another example of how a renew-

able resource can fill a very special need and provide a value-added product that is difficult to obtain by other means,” Ladisch said. Schafer is working with business experts at Purdue Foundry to evaluate the best path to introduce, transfer, distribute and commercialize BioProcol’s products and technologies. Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub in Discovery Park’s Burton D Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship on the Purdue campus. “These ingredients are used in all beauty products of BioProcol’s IDONA, an all-natural skin care luxury brand,” he said. “BioProcol’s industrial and manufacturing business unit, which produces the special compounds, will sell them to other cosmetics manufacturers in the US and Europe.We also may pursue other health and well-being applications as resources permit and after the growth of IDONA and this cosmetic natural ingredients business.”

‘HUNGER HORMONE’ TURNS EATING LESS INTO EATING MORE If scientists can suppress ghrelin’s activity in the brain, they may be able to cut down on the desire to overeat.

ooking to avoid overeating during those big holiday meals? You might want to avoid fasting in the days beforehand. Cycles of food restriction unleash a “hunger hormone” that increases the capacity to eat more before getting full, according to laboratory research by University of Southern California (USC) researchers.

The insights published in the journal eLife could be valuable for helping the researchers develop new weight-loss therapies. “We are looking deep into the higher-order functions of the brain to unpick not just which hormones are important for controlling our impulses, but also exactly how the signals and connections work,” said lead author Scott Kanoski, assistant professor of biological sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

A LEFTOVER FROM FEAST-OR-FAMINE DAYS Kanoski, doctoral student Ted Hsu and their colleagues conducted their studies in rats, but the work could have implications for humans. The researchers found that when they limited the time rats had access to food every day, the rats gradually were able to double their food intake to compensate.

The hormone’s action makes sense as an adaptive response: To get through times of scarcity, the brain enables the body to take in more calories during times of plenty. But that response isn’t so relevant in the well-fed Western world anymore, Kanoski said. “Instead, we need to find new ways to help us fight some of the feeding responses we have to external cues and circadian patterns.” The USC team’s study provides a rare look at the way ghrelin communicates with the central nervous system to control how much food is consumed.

STEP AWAY FROM THE DINNER TABLE Scientists believe that the hippocampus, a region of the brain that controls memory and motivation, is linked to the way that anticipation of food can increase food intake. In the USC study, researchers found that ghrelin communicates with neurons in the hippocampus to stimulate appetite. These neurons then communicate with another part of the brain, the hypothalamus, to produce the molecule orexin— which further promotes excessive eating. By blocking this pathway in the brain, the researchers reduced

how much food the rats ate during the four-hour feeding time. In previous research, Kanoski and colleagues found that ghrelin signals the hippocampus to increase rats’ food intake in response to a visual cue the rats learned to associate with an imminent meal. In the human world, that visual cue could be a fast-food billboard or vending machine that triggers a cascade of hunger signals that can be hard to resist. Ghrelin also has been found to increase the rate at which nutrients pass through the body. When that rate slows down, people feel fuller for longer. Understanding this system as a whole is important for finding ways to thwart it. The USC scientists are now experimenting with ways to reduce ghrelin’s effects by targeting genes to suppress the activity of the ghrelin receptor in the hippocampus. This in turn disrupts the neurochemical signals that can make it easier for people to overeat. “More than a third of Americans are obese and another third are overweight,” Kanoski said, “So we feel we have an obligation to help identify new ways to reduce the burden on society and on our health care system.”

Over several days, the scientists allowed rats to eat only during a four-hour window, followed by 20 hours without food. The repeated short fasts sparked the hormone ghrelin to go into action before the anticipated feeding time. That hormone reduced rats’ feeling of fullness when they were eating, so they could eat more. Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

ACADEMIC R&D

NEW, EFFICIENT ‘NANO-REACTOR’ FOR PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN BIOFUEL Combining bacterial genes and virus shell creates a highly efficient, renewable material used in generating power from water.

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cientists at Indiana University (IU) have created a highly efficient biomaterial that catalyzes the formation of hydrogen - one half of the “holy grail” of splitting H2O to make hydrogen and oxygen for fueling cheap and efficient cars that run on water.

A modified enzyme that gains strength from being protected within the protein shell - or “capsid” - of a bacterial virus, this new material is 150 times more efficient than the unaltered form of the enzyme. The process of creating the material was reported in “Self-assembling biomolecular catalysts for hydrogen production” in the journal Nature Chemistry. “Essentially, we’ve taken a virus’s ability to self-assemble myriad genetic building blocks and incorporated a very fragile and sensitive enzyme with the remarkable property of taking in protons and spitting out hydrogen gas,” said Trevor Douglas, the Earl Blough professor of chemistry in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences’ department of chemistry, who led the study. “The end result is a virus-like particle that behaves the same as a highly sophisticated material that catalyzes the production of hydrogen.” Other IU scientists who contributed to the research were Megan Thielges, an assistant professor of chemistry; Ethan Edwards, a PhD student; and Paul Jordan, a postdoctoral researcher at Alios BioPharma, who was an IU PhD student at the time of the study. The genetic material used to create the enzyme, hydrogenase, is produced by two genes from the common bacteria Escherichia coli, inserted inside the protective capsid using methods previously developed by these IU scientists. The genes, hyaA and hyaB, are Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

two genes in E. coli that encode key subunits of the hydrogenase enzyme. The capsid comes from the bacterial virus known as bacteriophage P22. The resulting biomaterial, called “P22-Hyd,” is not only more efficient than the unaltered enzyme but also is produced through a simple fermentation process at room temperature. The material is potentially far less expensive and more environmentally friendly to produce than other materials currently used to create fuel cells. The costly and rare metal platinum, for example, is commonly used to catalyze hydrogen as fuel in products such as highend concept cars. “This material is comparable to platinum, except it’s truly renewable,” Douglas said. “You don’t need to mine it; you can create it at room temperature on a massive scale using fermentation technology; it’s biodegradable. It’s a very green process to make a very high-end sustainable material.”

at room temperature. Unaltered NiFe-hydrogenase, by contrast, is highly susceptible to destruction from chemicals in the environment and breaks down at temperatures above room temperature -- both of which make the unprotected enzyme a poor choice for use in manufacturing and commercial products such as cars. These sensitivities are “Some of the key reasons enzymes haven’t previously lived up to their promise in technology,” Douglas said. Another is their difficulty to produce. “No one’s ever had a way to create a large enough amount of this hydrogenase despite its incredible potential for biofuel production. But now we’ve got a method to stabilize and produce high quantities of the material - and enormous increases in efficiency,” he said.

In addition, P22-Hyd both breaks the chemical bonds of water to create hydrogen and also works in reverse to recombine hydrogen and oxygen to generate power. “The reaction runs both ways - it can be used either as a hydrogen production catalyst or as a fuel cell catalyst,” Douglas said. The form of hydrogenase is one of three occurring in nature: di-iron (FeFe)-, iron-only (Fe-only)- and nickel-iron (NiFe)-hydrogenase. The third form was selected for the new material due to its ability to easily integrate into biomaterials and tolerate exposure to oxygen. NiFe-hydrogenase also gains significantly greater resistance upon encapsulation to breakdown from chemicals in the environment, and it retains the ability to catalyze 33

ACADEMIC R&D School of Life Sciences University of Dundee

RESEARCH REVEALS BACTERIA’S HYDROGEN-SPLITTING SECRETS By studying the process and how it happens, we can possibly move one step closer to a cheaper, more efficient, hydrogen economy.

esearchers have worked out how some bacteria rip hydrogen apart to produce energy, just like a biological fuel cell. In the process they question the current ideas of how this happens and possibly move one step closer to a cheaper, more efficient, hydrogen economy.

The research, conducted by collaboration between researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Dundee, and the Harwell campus in Oxfordshire, is published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. The scientists used a combination of different techniques to work out what happens at the heart of bacterial enzymes called nickel iron hydrogenase. One of the authors professor Simon Phillips, director of the research complex at Harwell in Oxfordshire said, “The hydrogenases can do two things with hydrogen gas, turn it into protons and electrons or recombine them to form hydrogen. This can be done in a fuel cell but with platinum.

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Evolution has produced bacteria that can do it with nickel and iron, cheap and plentiful metals.” These bacteria use hydrogen to provide energy; the enzymes convert hydrogen into electrons, just like a hydrogen fuel cell where electricity is generated. Hydrogen fuel cells are seen as a vital part of our low carbon future, using hydrogen to produce electricity to drive vehicles rather than fossil fuel burning internal combustion engines. However, fuel cells require rare and expensive platinum, this enzyme does the same trick with cheap and plentiful iron and nickel. What’s more, this enzyme can do the reaction in reverse, producing hydrogen from electricity and water. As a result the study of these enzymes is anactive and important area of research. Enzymes are nature’s machines made of protein, and have evolved over millions of years to be very good at what they do, often better than the equivalent human tech-

nology. These hydrogenases use cheap metals to do at room temperature what fuel cells can only do with pricey platinum and at high temperatures. If the mechanism of this enzyme can be adapted then it could make far cheaper fuel cells, and also a way of making hydrogen cheaply from electricity and water-two highly sought after technological advances. That, though, is still a long way off. To explore how the hydrogenase works in detail the researchers made subtle alterations, tiny mutations, to each of the amino acids in the pocket in the enzyme where the hydrogen reaction takes place. This resulted in a version that appeared to be the same as the original but was far less efficient. The key here was that they had to know whether the changes had altered the shape of the enzyme or just its activity. To do this they used Diamond Light Source, the UK’s synchrotron science facility, to work out and compare the structures of

www.worldofchemicals.com the original and changed enzyme using a technique called x-ray crystallography. “We got accurate structures of the mutant and basically nothing moved apart from the atoms of the amino acids. So the loss of activity is not down to a change in structure or the loss of the metals. Diamond was crucial in determining this,” said Phillips. This confirmed that reduction in activity had to be due to chemical, not physical, changes. The tiny change removed a nitrogen atom at its heart, one that was essential to make the hydrogen reaction work. What they discovered was that the enzyme uses a principle known as a Frustrated Lewis Pair. A normal Lewis pair is made up of different chemicals that are keen to interact with each other and would so given the opportunity. In this case these are the atoms of nickel and iron together, and a particular nitrogen atom built into the enzyme. The

frustration bit is that in the enzyme, these entities are held close enough to see each other, but not close enough to interact fully. This produces an area of tension between them, a bit like holding a dog back from its food bowl. And just as anything getting between a dog and its food is at risk of being mangled, so a hydrogen molecule fed into this area of tension gets split apart. The concept of a Frustrated Lewis Pair is relatively new even though nature has been successfully using it for likely billions of years. The mechanism is reasonably well understood but is different from the textbook explanation of how these enzymes work. “Our research shows unequivocally that the chemical mechanism in the literature is wrong,” said Phillips. Now that this research has revealed just how the enzyme splits hydrogen the researchers are keen to go further and see if they can watch it in action.

One way they hope to do this is to use Diamond’s latest innovation, a vacuum chamber for x-ray crystallography-the only one in the world to date. Normally x-ray crystallography is carried out in air, but the air molecules interfere with the x-rays and introduce noise to the experiment, a bit like static on a badly tuned radio. This can obscure the very weak signal given by the hydrogen inside the enzyme. By sucking out all the air the researchers can reduce this noise considerably and stand a good chance of actually spotting the crucial hydrogen and exactly what happens to it. “This unique facility means that we might improve the signal to noise ratio by a factor of ten which could let us see the hydrogen in place,” said Phillips. The research was conducted by collaboration between researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Dundee and the Harwell campus in Oxfordshire.

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ACADEMIC R&D

A HEALTHY

BREAKDOWN Researchers discover how some organisms process oxalate, a molecule that can harm humans.

wide variety of fruits and vegetables contain oxalate. But humans and most other animals lack the ability to metabolize this molecule-that is, to break it down while digesting it. And so for some people, a buildup of oxalate is associated with kidney stones, arthritis, and even kidney failure.

At the same time, some plants, fungi, and bacteria are able to break down oxalate. Now MIT scientists, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Michigan, have identified a previously unknown mechanism through which this process occurs, a discovery

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that could help researchers drive toward new ways of lessening oxalate’s harmful effects on humans. The team used X-ray crystallography to identify precisely how a recently-discovered enzyme, thiamine pyrophosphate-dependent oxalate oxidoreductase (OOR), metabolizes oxalate using a “bait-and-switch” mechanism to break apart the troublesome molecule. “This is unprecedented chemistry, what this enzyme does,” said Catherine Drennan, a professor of biology and chemistry at MIT, whose lab team made the discovery. “This particular enzyme just takes it [oxalate]

www.worldofchemicals.com Drennan is the corresponding author of the paper. The molecule oxalate has two carbon atoms and four oxygen atoms. The carbons are connected to each other, and each connects separately to two oxygen atoms. Crucially, it also has a double negative charge coming from two “extra” electrons in the molecule. The OOR enzyme, a large and complex molecule, binds with oxalate in such a way as to neutralize the negative charge, and, in a separate action, it breaks the carbon-carbon bond at the center of oxalate. This is what the researchers call the “bait-and-switch” process — because the enzyme first binds oxalate using its positive charge to attract the negatively charged molecule, before altering the charge environment through two protein movements in order to break the oxalate down. “There are [just] these two movements,” Drennan observed. “The simplest things are the most elegant and beautiful.” The researchers made the discovery through X-ray crystallography, which reveals molecular structures at the atomic scale. By taking a series of X-rays during the OOR-oxalate reaction process, they were able to determine the dynamics of the interaction through which OOP metabolizes oxalate. and splits it. It’s always fantastic when the structure shows you the answer and it’s something you never guessed.”

“SIMPLE, ELEGANT, BEAUTIFUL” The findings are detailed in a published paper, “One-carbon chemistry of oxalate oxidoreductase captured by X-ray crystallography,” appearing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

will help scientists figure out some ways of letting people reduce their oxalate levels if needed. Some people, as Drennan noted, carry the bacteria that can metabolize oxalate, but other people do not. Drennan suggested it would be increasingly useful to grasp how these kinds of processes, or our lack of them, factor into human health issues. “We have kind of been ignoring this huge aspect of human health,” Drennan said. “I think as we start understanding the importance of those microbes [that are] doing chemistry for us, I think we’re going to really appreciate it.” The paper has six co-authors in addition to Drennan. They are Marcus Gibson PhD ’15, a former doctoral student in Drennan’s lab who is now a postdoc at Princeton University; Percival Yang-Ting Chen, a doctoral student in Drennan’s lab; Aileen Johnson ’14, a former undergraduate in Drennan’s lab; and Stephen Ragsdale, Elizabeth Pierce, and Mehmet Can, all of the University of Michigan.

“By solving a number of structures, I call them snapshots, we can watch in a way the action take place, because we have a series of pictures at various different time-points along the reaction mechanism,” Drennan explained. “And that’s super-cool. I think my favorite thing about crystallography is when you can do that.” Ultimately, Drennan and her colleagues hope that identifying the mechanism of oxalate breakdown 37

ACADEMIC R&D

WORLD’S FIRST IBUPROFEN PATCH DELIVERING PAIN RELIEF DIRECTLY THROUGH SKIN Researchers have patented the transparent adhesiveibuprofen patch delivering the drug directly through the skin to exactly where it is needed at a consistent dose rate.

esearchers at the University of Warwick have worked with Coventry-based Medherant, a Warwick spinout company, to produce and patent the World’s first ever ibuprofen patch delivering the drug directly through skin to exactly where it is needed at a consistent dose rate.

This novel patch incorporates polymer technology developed by the global adhesive company Bostik and exclusively licensed for transdermal use to Medherant.

They have invented a transparent adhesive patch that can consistently deliver a prolonged high dose of the painkiller ibuprofen directly through the skin. The University of Warwick researchers and Medherant have found a way to incoporate significant amounts of the drug (up to 30 percent weight) into the polymer matrix that sticks the patch to the patient’s skin with the drug then being delivered at a steady rate over up to 12 hours. This opens the way for the development of a range of novel long-acting over-the-counter pain relief products which can be used to treat common painful conditions like chronic back pain, neuralgia and arthritis without the need to take potentially damaging doses of the drug orally. Although there are a number of popular ibuprofen gels available these make it difficult to control dosage and are inconvenient to apply.

The patch remains highly tacky and thus adheres well to skin even when the drug load reaches levels as high as 30 percent of the weight/volume of the patch. The drug load made possible by this new technology can be 5 -10 times than that found in some currently used medical patches and gels.

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The key features of Medherant’s new patch technology are:

High drug load and a consistent drug release profile means the Medherant patches out-perform other patches and gels in their ability to deliver a consistent and significant dose of drug over a prolonged time from a small patch. It is a cosmetically pleasing transparent design with stronger adhesion than other commercial products – remaining stuck over its time of action but easy and comfortable to remove.

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ACADEMIC R&D UNDERWATER ADHESIVES

A STICKY BREAKTHROUGH Researchers make strides in their quest to develop an underwater adhesive, using key functionalities of interfacial mussel foot proteins.

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n an important step toward creating a practical underwater glue, researchers have designed a synthetic material that combines the key functionalities of interfacial mussel foot proteins, creating a single, low-molecular-weight, one-component adhesive.

Their findings appear in the journal Nature Communications. “We have successfully mimicked the biological adhesive delivery mechanism in water with an unprecedented level of underwater adhesion,” said University Of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) research faculty member Kollbe Ahn, the article’s lead author. An adhesive primer that can overcome the barrier of water and contaminant “biofilm” layers to adhere to virtually any mineral or metal oxide surface has a variety of applications, from basic repair of materials regularly exposed to salty water, to biomedical and dental uses, as well as nanofabrication. “More importantly, this less than 2 nanometer-thin layer can be used not only at the nano-length scale, but also in the macro-length scale to boost the performance of current bulk adhesives,” Ahn added. Inspired by mussels’ ability to cling to surfaces despite the constant pounding of waves and wind, the interdisciplinary group of scientists studied the combination of proteins mussels secrete in the form of byssus threads that extend from their feet and anchor them to rocks, pilings or any other surface in their vicinity. The work builds upon research conducted by UCSB professor J Herbert Waite, who for three decades has investigated the adhesion strategies employed by mussels in the inhospitable rocky intertidal zone. While wet adhesion is an adaptation that is widespread among inhabitants of the intertidal

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

zone, he said, mussels in particular lend themselves to the kind of fundamental research necessary to understand how it is possible to stick to something wet or submerged. “They actually stockpile everything they use to stick to the surface in finite quantities that can be purified and characterized,” said Waite. But science had struggled to emulate the ability the molluscs have developed over millions of years of evolution. According to Ahn, at least part of the reason for the difficulty has been the lack of a fundamental understanding of the biological mechanism at the molecular level, leading to synthetic adhesives that have generally fallen short in the quality of adhesion and often required complex and somewhat impractical processing and functionalization. While collaborating with colleagues from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, the UCSB research team developed a less complex material that nevertheless demonstrates a record high wet (or underwater) adhesion-up to 10 times the effectiveness previously demonstrated in other such materials. Key to this technology is the synthesis of a material that combines the key functional molecular groups of several residues found in the biological adhesion proteins. In mussel feet, the amino acid L-Dopa (also used in humans as a

treatment for Parkinson’s disease) contains hydrogen-bonding chemical groups called catechols. These are found in especially high quantities at the interface between the plaques at the ends of the byssus threads the mussels secrete, and the often wet and submerged surfaces to which they adhere. By mimicking the characteristics of mussel foot proteins that are particularly rich in this amino acid, Ahn and colleagues designed a molecule that can prime and fuse two surfaces underwater. To date, the researchers have studied the practical electronic and biomedical applications of this and other families of self-assembled monomolecular-layer catechols and have three patents pending. In addition, they launched NanoM Technologies, LLC to further develop this technology. Applications of this catecholic adhesive primer are diverse. It can be used to prime or stick surfaces that regularly come into contact with the elements, or added to materials to make them self-healing in wet situations. Additionally, said Ahn, the small molecules of this adhesive form atomically smooth, ultra-thin glue layers, which hold particular promise for the fabrication of nano-scale electronic devices, including circuits and battery components. The spontaneous coating process, he added, is based on molecular self-assembly in water, without the aid of toxic chemicals, volatile organic solvents or external energy inputs such as heat or light-a sustainable and environmentally friendly process that satisfies the requirements of the emerging discipline of green chemistry. “This finding opens the door to a new generation of nanofabrications,” he said.

ACADEMIC R&D UNDERWATER ADHESIVES

CLING-ON WARRIORS: Sandcastle worms inspire new type of underwater adhesive

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n interdisciplinary group of researchers have taken strides in the development of an underwater adhesive that has the potential for a variety of biomedical and non-biological applications.

search. “We successfully replicated the strong wet-contact adhesion of the bio-adhesion featuring nanoscopic chemical and miroscopic porous structures.”

“Sandcastle worms secrete a robust underwater adhesive to build a tube reef (sandcastle) in harsh intertidal environments, where wind and wave velocity often exceed 25 meters per second,” said Kollbe Ahn, a research faculty member at UCSB’s Marine Science Institute and co-lead author of a this re-

curing or applied compressing pressure that are normally required in conventional studies,” Zhao continued. The synthetic glue also promotes adhesion between a variety of surfaces, including plastics, glasses, metals, wood and biological tissues. Additionally, the resulting microarchitecture of

While wet glues have been the subject of research and develAreas such as tissue repair, dental opment for years, they have yet adhesives and other surface adheto approach the performance of sion applications -which are often the natural substances in terms required under adverse conditions, of stickiness and the rapidity with such as salty sea water and in which the adhesion process ocaqueous solutions containing orcurs. In fact, synthetic underwater ganic impurities-could benefit from adhesives have typically required this glue, which replicates the adcomplex processing and functionhesion strategy of the Sandcastle worm (Phragmatopoma californica), alization, adding several steps to what would ideally be a simple a segmented marine invertebrate process. commonly found along the California coast. “From practical perspectives, simple processing saves time and labour, Known for constructing hive-like and ultimately reduces costs,” shelters in colonies out of grains of said Qiang Zhao, UCSB materisand glued together by a protein als scientist and lead author. The adhesive, sandcastle worms, along sandcastle worm-inspired glue is with mussels and other glue-separticularly noteworthy, he said, creting inhabitants of the intertidal zone, have served as inspiration for because through a phenomenon called solvent exchange, adhesion scientists and engineers seeking becomes a little more streamlined. to develop an adhesive that can perform in wet, submerged and “The processing of this wet glue otherwise inhospitable conditions. does not need pre-immersive dry

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

the synthetic glue, which mimics the porous structure of sandcastle worm adhesive, makes it more resistant to cracking. “Porous structures, or cellular structures, are ubiquitous in nature, such as in cork, bones and coral, and they are found to increase fracture energy of these materials,” Zhao said. “Here in the context of wet adhesion, we found that the porosity was reminiscent of the porous structures of sandcastle worm cement, and significantly improved wet adhesion.” This development is the latest effort at UCSB to formulate an adhesive that performs in wet and especially adverse conditions, and could lead to a variety of applications, such as dental adhesion and the repair of tissue, skin, bones and membranes that are surrounded by bodily fluids. Additionally, industrial and commercial applications that require adhesion in wet environments could also benefit from this technology. Through studies of mussels and sandcastle worms, the researchers hope to create and optimize an adhesive that not only bonds quickly and performs well under a variety of conditions and with various surfaces, but also eliminates the need for organic solvents, which results in a more environmentally friendly adhesion process.

ACADEMIC R&D AEROSOLS

POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS MOLECULES DETECTED IN E-CIGARETTE AEROSOLS Previous studies have found low levels of aldehydes and chemical compounds, in e-cigarette “smoke.” But no one has looked for free radicals, the main source of oxidative stress from cigarette smoke.

lectronic cigarettes produce highly-reactive free radicals - molecules associated with cell damage and cancer-and may pose a health risk to users, according to researchers at Penn State College of Medicine. The use of e-cigarettes is on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20 percent of young adults have tried e-cigarettes, and current smokers and recent former smokers are most likely to have used them. E-cigarettes deliver nicotine in water vapour instead of by burning tobacco. The battery-operated devices have been marketed as an alternative to traditional cigarettes. Despite their growing popularity, little is known about toxic substances produced by e-cigarettes and their health effects. “There’s a perception that e-ciga44

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rettes are healthier than regular cigarettes, or at least not as harmful as regular cigarettes,” said John Richie Jr, professor of public health sciences and pharmacology. “While e-cigarette vapour does not contain many of the toxic substances that are known to be present in cigarette smoke, it’s still important for us to figure out and to minimize the potential dangers that are associated with e-cigarettes.” Previous studies have found low levels of aldehydes, chemical compounds that can cause oxidative stress and cell damage, in e-cigarette “smoke.” But until now, no one has looked for free radicals, the main source of oxidative stress from cigarette smoke. Highly reactive free radicals are a leading culprit in smoking-related cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Instead of smoke, e-cigarettes produce aerosols, tiny liquid particles

suspended in a puff of air. The researchers measured free radicals in e-cigarette aerosols. They found that e-cigarettes produce high levels of highly reactive free radicals that fall in the range of 1,000- to 100-times less than levels in regular cigarettes. “This is the first study that demonstrates the fact that we have these highly reactive agents in e-cigarette aerosols,” Richie said. Results were published in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology. “The levels of radicals that we’re seeing are more than what you might get from a heavily air-polluted area but less than what you might find in cigarette smoke,” Richie said. The radicals are produced when the device’s heating coil heats the nicotine solution to very high temperatures. Further research is needed to determine the health effects of highly reactive free radicals from e-cigarettes. “This is the first step,” Richie said. “The identification of these radicals in the aerosols means that we can’t just say e-cigarettes are safe because they don’t contain tobacco. They are potentially harmful. Now we have to find out what the harmful effects are.” Richie is currently conducting studies to carefully measure total numbers of free radicals in e-cigarette aerosols and to identify their chemical structures. “That will help us interpret the data better to know how dangerous they are,” he said. Other investigators on this project were Reema Goel and Jonathan Foulds, department of public health sciences, and Neil Trushin and BogdanProkopczyk, department of pharmacology, all at Penn State; Erwann Durand and Ryan Elias, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.

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hile the effects of power plant emissions, vehicle exhaust and other manmade aerosols on air quality and public health are wellknown, their impact on the climate is not completely understood. Scientists have shown that aerosols can lower surface temperatures either directly, by reflecting sunlight skyward, or indirectly, by increasing the reflectivity of clouds, but until now have not figured out the role these airborne particles play in shaping the distribution of rain and snowfall around the world.

According to a new MIT study in Geophysical Research Letters, the effects of anthropogenic aerosols exert a strong influence in determining where precipitation increases and decreases take place across the globe. Running historical simulations with models that represent aerosol-cloud interactions with far greater precision than in previous analyses, the MIT study indicates that the distribution of precipitation in the second half of the 20th century is dominated by the effects of anthropogenic aerosols over the tropics, and also substantially influenced in non-tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. “While it is true that total precipitation change is controlled by average global temperature change, which, in turn, is largely based on greenhouse gas emissions, our research shows that aerosols have significantly impacted the distribution of precipitation change around the world since preindustrial times,” saidChien Wang, a senior research scientist at the MIT joint program on the science and policy of global change and the MIT department of earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences. Using historical simulations running from 1850 to 2005, the MIT study compared results of an ensemChemical Today Magazine | March 2016

HOW AEROSOLS DRIVE THE RAIN Study finds human-made aerosols exert strong influence on the geography of precipitation.

ble of 10 models from the recent Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5), which explicitly represent aerosol-cloud interactions, with those of a set of seven older models that oversimplified these interactions. The new models showed that aerosol-driven precipitation changes occurred not only where aerosol concentrations were high (e.g., the Indian summer monsoon region) but also in a number of far-off locations. “We compared results with and without aerosols from preindustrial times to 2005, and found that aerosols alone can force a pattern change in precipitation,” Wang said. “Because of the sophistication of the new, physically-based models, we can now see that aerosols have a larger impact on precipitation

distribution than previously established.” Aerosol concentrations may rise or fall as nations grow their economies, implement clean air policies, or develop in other ways, leading to changes in the distribution of precipitation around the world that could adversely impact economic, agricultural, and other activities. These results suggest that anyone formulating a climate mitigation or adaptation strategy will be wise to consider the potential impact of aerosols on both local and global precipitation patterns. This research was supported by the US National Science Foundation, department of energy and Environmental Protection Agency and the National Research Foundation of Singapore. 45

ACADEMIC R&D AEROSOLS

SALTY SEA SPRAY AFFECTS THE LIFETIMES OF CLOUDS Scientist says sea spray is a unique source of ‘ice nucleating particles’ – microscopic bits that make their way into clouds and initiate formation of ice, and in turn affect the composition and duration of clouds.

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ll over the planet, every day, oceans send plumes of sea spray into the atmosphere. Beyond the poetry of crashing ocean waves, this salt- and carbon-rich spray has a dramatic effect on the formation and duration of clouds.

Yes, clouds, which cover 60 percent of the Earth’s surface at any given time. In a new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Colorado State University’s Paul DeMott, a senior research scientist in the department of atmospheric science, said sea spray is a unique, underappreciated source of what are called ice nucleating particles – microscopic bits that make their way into clouds and initiate the formation of ice, and in turn affect the composition and duration of clouds. “The presence of these particles is critically important for precipitation and the lifetime of clouds, and consequently, for their radiative properties,” said DeMott, who works in the lab of Sonia Kreidenweis, professor of atmospheric science, associate dean for research in the college of engineering and a university distinguished professor.

CLOUDS’ EFFECT ON CLIMATE Clouds, with their ability to reflect solar energy and absorb terrestrial radiation, have dramatic effects

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

on climate. Their radiative properties are greatly influenced by the number, size and type of droplets and ice particles inside the cloud. These cloud particles can initiate from any number of sources of aerosols – particles suspended in air – from land and ocean surfaces. From desert dust to burning fossil fuels, aerosols that affect clouds are everywhere. DeMott’s study has confirmed that ice nucleating particles from oceans are distinct, both in their abundance as well as their ice-making properties, from landsourced particles. Hence, their influence on the liquid/ice phase structure of clouds, and their subsequent radiative impacts, can differ over vast swaths of Earth.

CENTER FOR AEROSOL IMPACTS ON CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT The laboratory portion of the study was conducted with other researchers at the National Science Foundation-supported Center for Aerosol Impacts on Climate and the Environment (CAICE), at which DeMott is a senior scientist. Based at University of California-San Diego, CAICE boasts the world’s most cutting-edge laboratory wave flumes that simulate closely how ocean waves send sea spray

aerosols into the air. In turn, the researchers can study the biological and chemical makeup and transformations of these particles, and using specialized instruments, how they influence cloud formation. DeMott and colleagues compared these data to other measurements made over oceans. The study offers one hypothetical explanation for why global climate models have consistently underestimated reflected, short-wave solar radiation in regions dominated by oceans, particularly in the southern hemisphere. “Our paper gives a clearer picture of the behavior of major classes of atmospheric aerosols in cold clouds – factors that need to go into global-scale climate modeling,” DeMott said. Added Nick Anderson, program director in the National Science Foundation’s Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, which funded the research: “The development of clouds and precipitation is a core issue for understanding weather and climate processes. By studying ice nuclei, which can be considered a building block for clouds, these researchers will help piece together the puzzle of how clouds and precipitation form, especially over remote oceanic regions.”

ACADEMIC SPEAK

USE OF TYROSINASE ENZYME TO DETERMINE STAGES OF SKIN CANCER Dr Andreas Lesch is a scientist in the laboratory of physical and analytical electrochemistry at Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (EPFL Valais Wallis). Lesch is also a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Ambizione Energy grant holder.

Dr. Andreas Lesch, doctoral assistant Tzu-En Lin and Dr. Alexandra Bondarenko in the Laboratory of Physical and Analytical Electrochemistry at EPFL Valais Wallis

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www.worldofchemicals.com Laboratory of Physical and Analytical Electrochemistry (LEPA) team has developed a skin cancer scanner using tyrosinase enzyme that reads exclusively the electrochemical signals from the target, avoiding limitations of optical testing, which could lead to uncertain conclusion. GIVE US MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH WORK. We took advantage that tyrosinaseexists in both ripe fruit and human melanoma to develop an imaging technique capable of measuring tyrosinase levels and its distribution in human skin. We use a scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) instead of optical detection methods that are usually employed. The scanner we developed contains eight microelectrodes lined up like the teeth of a comb and as flexible as the fingers of a hand. These tiny sensors can pass over the uneven surface of the skin without damaging it and measure the electrochemical response within an area of a few square millimeters or even centimeters. The recorded signals give information on the quantity and distribution of tyrosinase, which allows thedetermination ofthe stage of melanoma. Based on this system future diagnostic tools could be developed to obviate the need for invasive tests like biopsies.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF YOUR RESEARCH TOWARDS CANCER TREATMENT? Currently, if there is a suspicious area of melanoma, the medical doctor will first check it by itsappearance and render a skin test called skin biopsy. In this technique a small piece of skin will be taken out and examined under the optical microscope. Unfortunately, the detection canbe interfered by colour

pigments in the skin(such as melanin), which could lead to uncertain conclusion.Our method can avoid this optical limitation, because the scanner we developed reads exclusively the electrochemical signals from the target.

HOW WILL YOUR RESEARCH WORK ON TYROSINASE ENZYME MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE COSMETICS/ ANTI-AGING COSMECUTICAL INDUSTRY? We use dtyrosinase as a biomarker for melanoma. Currently, we do not intend to use our technique for cosmetics or the anti-aging cosmecutical industry.However, we could principally label tyrosinase and then examine its expression level before and after using the cosmetics. In this way, we could estimate the effect of whitening cosmetics on different people.

WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT REGULATE THE MALFUNCTION OF TYROSINASE ENZYME? Tyrosinase related diseases include melanoma and vitiligo. The former is caused by cancerogenic factors such as UV light. The latter is caused by genetic problems. Therefore, different diseases are the result of different factors.

SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE MECHANISM OF TYROSINASE ENZYME THAT TENDS TO CREATE A DIFFERENCE IN BOTH FRUITS AND HUMAN BEINGS?

The molecular structures are slightly different, but do not affect the applied electrochemical method. However, we optimized the detection conditions on human skin biopsies.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN SOURCES OF TYROSINASE ENZYME? They are produced by a lot of animals and plants. Examples are mushrooms, potatoes, and bananas. In human body, it exists in a trace amount in melanocytes.

KINDLY ELABORATE ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TYROSINASE ENZYME IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES? Tyrosinase has the ability to catalyze the hydroxylation of monophenols and oxidase phenolic compounds. It is one of the main factors for melanin production in animals and the reason of fruit or vegetable browning. Therefore, inhibitors of tyrosinase are important in cosmetic industry and food industry. It is also very important to study the tyrosinase distribution and thus to find ways to prevent browning in human skin or fruits.

WHAT ARE THE MOST CHALLENGING ISSUES IN YOUR AREA OF RESEARCH? We want to apply our soft scanners non-invasively directly on the human skin. Compared to tissue micro-arrays as obtained from biopsy the skin contains various outer layers that may block the signals without further optimization of the detection principle.

Group leader is Prof. Hubert Girault, The laboratory is “Laboratory of Physical and Analytical Electrochemistry (LEPA)” from the EPFL Valais,Wallis in Sion, Switzerland. Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

GREEN CHEMISTRY

LIQUID METAL-BASED NANO-TERMINATORS CAN ENHANCE ANTI-CANCER THERAPY Seeing carbon dioxide as a raw material rather than a waste product could lead to a more sustainable future

Penn State researcher Chunshan Song has a plan to address one of the most important issues facing the world today - reducing greenhouse gas emissions to curb the negative impacts of climate change. At the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, 195 countries agreed to investigate and adopt methods to reduce emissions of gases including carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere in two basic ways: naturally, through plant respiration and decomposition, as well as from human activities, such as deforestation, cement production and energy generation from burning fossil fuels. Instead of looking at carbon dioxide as a pollutant or waste product, Song sees it as a valuable ingredient to create fuels, industrial chemicals and other materials.

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www.worldofchemicals.com he sees as an imbalance in the world’s natural global carbon cycle. “Normally, carbon dioxide in the air is absorbed by growing plants through photosynthesis, and plants either are eaten by animals or they die. Matter from decomposing animals and plants is used by microbes for respiration, and this process releases carbon back into the atmosphere, which continues the cycle,” said Song, who is a distinguished professor of fuel science. However, the rapid consumption of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide, has offset that balance, he said.

Song plans to use carbon dioxide as a raw material to create fuels, chemicals and materials that are traditionally produced from petroleum. He’s a world leader in this approach, known as carbon dioxide conversion or carbon dioxide utilization, and chairs a committee for the International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization (ICCDU). In Song’s laboratory on the University Park campus, he has seen results that indicate carbon dioxide conversion could be the best longterm solution to reduce excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Restoring balance to the global carbon cycle Song’s primary goal in his research and the dream that has fueled more than a decade of his carbon dioxide conversion studies-is to develop a sustainable energy cycle for the future. Part of this involves addressing what Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

“Most of the coal, petroleum, natural gas and other fossil fuels we use today for power originated between 280 and 300 million years ago,” Song said. “They are burned in a matter of minutes, which means we’re using them up millions of times faster than they were formed. There’s no way you can be sustainable in this fashion.” Song believes the global carbon cycle balance can be restored by changing how we view carbon dioxide. Instead of looking at it as a pollutant or a waste product, Song sees carbon dioxide as a valuable ingredient for creating fuels, industrial chemicals and other materials.

COOKING UP USEFUL PRODUCTS The goal of carbon conversion is to break apart carbon dioxide into its parts - carbon and oxygen molecules - and then use those parts as building blocks for different materials. Song’s approach requires three main ingredients: carbon dioxide, a chemical catalyst and hydrogen, which can be created when water molecules are chemically separated using renewable energy, such as through the chemical process of electrolysis.

Catalysts are chemicals that influence how carbon and hydrogen molecules fit together, and they play a critical role in what products can be created through carbon conversion. They modify the surface properties, such as surface electron density, of the molecules, which allows the molecules to fit together in new and different ways. For example, it could allow for more carbon or hydrogen atoms to be added to the desired molecule, or it could change the types of bonds between carbon and hydrogen atoms. It’s similar to modifying the shape of a puzzle piece so that it can connect to a new puzzle. Every change made at the atomic level affects the end product and how that product functions. To develop new, selective catalysts for carbon dioxide conversion, Song has been working with Xiao Jiang, a postdoctoral scholar in the EMS Energy Institute; Wenjia Wang, PhD student in energy and mineral engineering; Nuttakorn Bore, a visiting PhD student from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand; and collaborating researchers at Dalian University of Technology in China. They have created and tested several new catalysts within the past several years, and have seen promising results. “We’ve known for many years that you can create hydrocarbons such as propane and ethane using carbon dioxide conversion, but through our work with surface modification and the creation of novel catalysts, we’re showing that it’s possible to selectively produce valuable chemicals and fuels,” said Song.

GREEN CHEMISTRY

ONE-STOP SHOP FOR

BIOFUELS Researchers develop first high-gravity one-pot process for producing cellulosic ethanol

The falling price of gasoline at the pumps may warm the hearts of consumers but it chills the souls of scientists who recognize that humankind must curtail the burning of fossil fuels to reduce the threat of climate change. Biofuels can help mitigate climate change and provide us with a sustainable source of transportation energy if yields and production costs are economically competitive. A major step towards achieving this goal has been achieved by researchers with the US Department of Energy (DOE)’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI). Led by Seema Singh and Blake Simmons, JBEI researchers have developed a “high-gravity” one-pot process for producing ethanol from cellulosic biomass that gives unprecedented yields while minimiz-

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www.worldofchemicals.com eliminates the need for separations, recoveries and other operational steps, generating significant cost savings.” Ionic liquids are powerful solvents that can be used to deconstruct (dissolve) cellulosic biomass into sugars for the production of fuels. The renewable ionic liquid to which Simmons refers is one made from lignin and hemicellulose, two byproducts of biofuel production from biorefineries. The discovery of the unique properties of this “bionic” liquid was also led by Singh and Simmons.

ing water use and waste disposal. The process utilizes a combination of ionic liquid pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and yeast fermentation for the production of concentrated fermentable sugars that result in high-titer cellulosic ethanol. “High gravity” means high biomass loading – the higher the biomass loading, the lower the costs for converting it to fuels. “Our new one-pot process for making cellulosic ethanol was enabled by the discovery and use of a renewable ionic liquid derived from amino acids those commercially available enzyme mixtures and organisms can tolerate,” said Simmons, a chemical engineer who is JBEI’s chief science and technology officer and heads the institute’s deconstruction division. “This Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

“Using bionic liquids in our new one-pot high-gravity process we were able to increase biomass digestibility and obtain ethanol titer yields of 41.1 grams/litre, which exceeds the production distillation required for industrial ethanol production,” said Singh, who directs JBEI’s biomass pretreatment programme. “The reduction in water consumption combined with the improved overall process economics moves us closer to more affordable and sustainable second-generation biofuels.”

temperatures for the 20th century. The El Nino weather phenomenon is expected to make 2016 even hotter. A major contributor to this alarming trend is the burning of fossil fuels, which continues to release nearly 9 billion metric tonne of excess carbon into the atmosphere each year. With more than a billion tonne of biomass produced annually in the US alone, biofuels made from the cellulosic sugars in biomass have the potential to substantially reduce the use of fossil fuels. “Our work with bionic liquids and one-pot fuel production processes can be a game-changing technology for biorefineries by overcoming several of the challenges these refineries currently face,” Simmons said. “The integration and consolidation of all of the major unit operations required for converting biomass into biofuels into a single vessel is a dramatic example of how impactful basic science can be to a very relevant process- engineering environment.”

Simmons and Singh believe that their one-pot process for producing cellulosic ethanol could also Details on this one-pot process for be applied to next generation or producing ethanol from cellulosic “advanced” biofuels, those that can biomass have been reported in be directly “dropped” into today’s Energy and Environmental Science. gasoline engines and infrastructure. The paper is titled “Transforming They are currently working with biomass conversion with ionic researchers in JBEI’s fuels syntheliquids: process intensification and sis division to develop a microbial the development of a high-gravity, host capable of producing these one-pot process for the production advanced biofuels. of cellulosic ethanol.” In addition “While there is no other ionic liquid to Simmons and Singh, who is system on the planet right now that the corresponding author, other performs as effectively as ours, we co-authors are FengXu, Jian Sun, still need to improve on increasing SuryanarayanaKonda, Jian Shi, yields and developing a microbial TanmoyDutta and Corinne Scown. organism that can consume all of 2015 was the hottest year on the sugars present in the biomass,” record for global average temperaSimmons said. “Then we need to ture, and marked the 19th straight develop a host microbe that can year that average temperatures generate advanced drop-in biofuels in the US surpassed the average in addition to ethanol.” 53

GREEN CHEMISTRY

NEW HYBRID TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE

BIORENEWABLE NYLON Engineers have combined a genetically engineered strain of yeast and an electrocatalyst to efficiently convert sugar into a new type of nylon.

Engineers at Iowa State University have found a way to combine a genetically engineered strain of yeast and an electrocatalyst to efficiently convert sugar into a new type of nylon. Previous attempts to combine biocatalysis and chemical catalysis to produce biorenewable chemicals have resulted in low conversion rates. That’s usually because the biological processes leave residual impurities that harm the effectiveness of chemical catalysts. The engineers’ successful hybrid conversion process is described online and as the cover paper of an issue of the journal AngewandteChemie International Edition. “The ideal biorefinery pipelines, from biomass to the final products, are currently disrupted by a gap between biological conversion and chemical diversification. We

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www.worldofchemicals.com After simple separation and polymerization, the engineers produced biobased, unsaturated nylon-6,6, which has the advantage of an extra double bond in its backbone that can be used to tailor the polymer’s properties. The engineers say the hybrid conversion technology offers many advantages: The reaction is performed at room temperature, it uses a cheap and abundant metal instead of precious elements such as palladium or platinum, and the other compounds involved in the reaction are produced from water. “We gave it a try and it worked immediately,” Tessonnier said. “The process does not need additional chemical supplement, and it works amazingly at ambient temperature and pressure, which is very rare for this type of process.”

herein report a strategy to bridge this gap with a hybrid fermentation and electrocatalytic process,” wrote lead authors Zengyi Shao and Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, Iowa State assistant professors of chemical and biological engineering who are also affiliated with the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC) based at Iowa State.

Energy’s Ames Laboratory. The engineers’ research was supported by CBiRC, the National Science Foundation, Iowa State’s Plant Sciences Institute and the Ames Laboratory.

HERE’S HOW THEIR TECHNOLOGY WORKS:

The process described by the engineers “Opens the door to the production of a broad range of compounds not accessible from the petrochemical industry,” Shao said.

Shao’s research group has created genetically engineered yeast – “A microbial factory,” she said – that ferments glucose into muconic acid. By applying metabolic engineering strategies, the group also significantly improved the yield of the acid.

Moving forward, the engineers will work to scale up their technology by developing a continuous conversion process, said Tessonnier, who’s a Carol and Jack Johnson faculty fellow and also an associate scientist with the US Department of

Then, without any purification, Tessonnier’s group introduced a metal catalyst – lead – into the mixture and applied a small voltage to convert the acid. The resulting reaction adds hydrogen to the mix and produces 3-hexenedioic acid.

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

Shao and Tessonnier started talking about working together while car-pooling from a research meeting two hours from campus. Their collaboration illustrates the CBiRC way – combining the tools of biologists and chemists to develop hybrid technologies that produce novel biorenewable chemicals. And now the resulting collaboration – and CBiRC’s core vision – are turning out discoveries and high-profile research papers. “CBiRC seeds these new ideas and concepts,” Tessonnier said. “It’s all about integration.” “CBiRC provides the nurturing environment to brainstorm what can be done with the expertise owned by two groups of experts who are trained through very different routes. This vision of these fields working together is going to grow. Students educated through such interdisciplinary research projects will definitely stand out with a broader vision in the biorenewable industry,” said Shao. 55

GREEN CHEMISTRY

BIO-INSPIRED BIOMIMETICS CAN OUTPERFORM

NATURAL COENZYMES New synthetic biomimetic compounds developedto replace the expensive natural NADH and NADPH coenzymes in enzymatic conversions of industrial relevance.

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The search for affordable, green biocatalytic processes is a challenge for chemicals manufacture. Not only is the use of natural coenzymes economically hardly viable, the moderate stability of these molecules thwarts their implementation in large-scale catalytic processes that employ coenzyme recycling. For this, researchers from the University of Amsterdamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) have developed a range of synthetic biomimetic compounds to replace the relatively expensive natural NADH and NADPH coenzymes in enzymatic conversions of industrial relevance. They show that some of the compounds even outperform their natural counterparts. The research has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS).

www.worldofchemicals.com In the joint JACS publication, with researchers from TU Delft and the University of Manchester, DrTanjaKnaus from the HIMS Biocatalysis group led by Dr Francesco Mutti describes the great potential of a range of synthetic biomimetics for replacing the natural coenzymes NAD(P)H in redox biocatalysis. The new biomimetic coenzymes are inexpensive to manufacture and more stable than their biological counterparts, that are required as hydride source (reduced form NAD(P)H) or acceptor (oxidised form NAD+) in selective enzymatic reductive and oxidative reactions.

OUTPERFORMING NATURAL COUNTERPARTS The HIMS Biocat researchers have investigated the performance of their biomimetic compounds with a wide range of oxidoreductase biocatalysts, in particular enzymes belonging to the family of the

“ene”-reductases. These enzymes catalyse the asymmetric reduction of activated alkenes and their activity can be exploited for the synthesis of high value chemical products such as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. The researchers elucidated the performance of the biomimetics through steady-state and rapid-reaction kinetics as well as the analysis of the X-ray crystal structures of the biomimetics in complex with the ene-reductaseXenA. The analysis of the kinetic parameters shows that, in selected cases, these biomimetics outperform the natural coenzymes. That laboratory-based designs can outperform those available in nature is quite notable. Moreover, the biomimetics have been successfully applied to the asymmetric catalytic reduction of activated alkenes. It is noteworthy that the biomimetics could be

employed in catalytic amount as they were recycled in situ at the expense of formate.

A FUTURE FOR REDOX BIOCATALYSTS The HIMS Biocat researchers conclude that the implementation of these synthetic biomimetics - as well as the design of more sophisticated analogues capable of operating with a variety of other oxidoreductases - will facilitate the use of redox biocatalysts in chemicals production and thereby transform the use of oxidoreductases more widely in industrial biocatalysis. They expect that the “better-than-nature”biomimetics can find widespread application in fine and specialty chemicals production by harnessing the power of high stereo-, regio-, and chemoselective redox biocatalysts and enabling reactions under mild conditions and at low cost.

visit: www.worldofchemicals.com

FOR YOU TO KNOW

ALL ABOUT CHEMISTRY Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

COVER STORY COSMETICS

ORGANIC COSMETICS: UNLEASHING BEAUTY FROM THE ROOTS After decades of drenching the skin into different types of chemical ingredients, consumers across the globe have finally started to realize - what is natural, needs to be preserved and protected in a natural way. And thus began the search for beauty from the core of nature. BY DEBARATI DAS

Bird’s saliva. Snail’s slime.Sea anemones. Fish skin. No, we are not dealing with NatGeo’s episodes. Bamboo grass. Roasted brown rice. Mushrooms. Rice bran. Pomegranates. Neither are these a part of some exotic recipe. These are instead some of the ingredients used by global cosmetic companies to bring out youthful radiance. The cosmetics industry today is delving into traditional alchemy of natural ingredients and age-old beauty rituals from Asia to device modern cosmetic solutions. From rare exotic herbs and roots of the East to deep down the ocean bed, global cosmetic companies have now come under the scanner of conscious customers who are 58

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demanding greener options over harmful chemicals based cosmetic products.

Market Update The global demand for organic personal care products was over $7.6 billion in 2012 and is expected to reach $13.2 billion by 2018, growing at a CAGR of 9.6 percent from 2012 to 2018, according to Transparency Market Report. This dramatic growth has been due to the rise of more curious and well informed next generation customers who are conscious about every ingredient listed in micro-lettering behind the product packs. These set of customers are well aware of the constant degeneration that a human body has been undergoing due to the constant attack of polluted,

synthetic and chemically processed products in form of food, water, air and cosmetics and are now stepping up against it. “Changing consumer perception towards organic products coupled with growing utilization of environmentally sustainable products has fueled growth of naturally derived products. In addition, manufacturing of organic or naturally derived products aids in reducing pollution by consuming natural resources and reducing reliance on petroleum based products,” noted a global market research firm, Grand View Research Inc. Hence, cosmetic companies are finding a drastic rise in the demands of ecofriendly products in all aspects of their lives, including body products, skin care, perfumes, bath and other toiletries.

www.worldofchemicals.com $4.1 billion. Malaysia is a $1.7 billion market and is growing at a current rate of 5.7 percent per annum while Indonesia also is expected to make notable growth in future.

Trend Setters Cosmetics, is one such industry segment which is driven by constant change and latest trends. The use of natural ingredients to “unleash the beauty within’ has been a trend which has been catching up across all segments of cosmetics industry alike. Here are some of the unusual trends which have caught global attention:

Use of Exotic Ingredients:

Image of Sea Anemones © National Geographic Society “There is an increasing concern about chemicals used in everyday consumer products due to the current “green” movement. Consumers are becoming more aware of the potential harm that some chemicals may have on them and their families driven by increased knowledge from the internet and social media,” said Rohit Aggarwal, vice president and managing director, Huntsman India. For decades, West is said to have inspired the East. However, off late, it is the ancient Eastern beauty regimes, and the knowledge of the nature which has been taken the Western cosmetics industry by storm. From collagens to exotic herbs, some of the major cosmetics industry has been taking lessons from the Eastern science. AccordChemical Today Magazine | March 2016

ing to a survey by Euromonitor International, despite the slowdown being witnessed in many developing markets worldwide, Southeast Asian countries are positioned to see industry growth in the coming years. The cosmetics and personal care industry in the ASEAN countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar has been growing at an average CAGR of approximately 8.4 percent during the course of the past fiveyears, to reach the current value of $14.9 billion, as perEuromonitor international. Out of this, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar represent a very small, yet fast growing market. Thailand is undoubtedly the biggest market in the region with estimated value of

Probiotic, ayurvedic, post-biotics, microbiome are some terms which have been catching the fancy of the customers these days. But bird’s nest, sea anemone, sea weed extract, fish skin … no matter how disgusting they may sound, have been scientifically proven be the source of youthful skin. Global cosmetic companies are spending million in the research of these far eastern beliefs which is known to have anti-aging and anti-wrinkle properties. For instance, a rare and extremely expensive type of birds’ nest made out of bird’s saliva can help reduce wrinkles and reverse the effects of aging in the skin. Similarly, micro injectors of sea anemones, which are used to inject venom into the prey can be used to deliver anti-wrinkle and brightening creams deeper into the skin. Traditionally, marine collagens extracted from fish scales and skin has been the secret for youthful radiance among Japanese women. It also nourishes hair, increases growth, thickness, texture and shine. The slimy discharge from a snail’s trail has been one of the 59

COVER STORY COSMETICS latest ingredient which has taken the global cosmetics market into its stride. Apart from these, extensive study on regenerative ability of stem cell is also being extensively adopted into beauty care products to bring back smother skin, blur wrinkles, and roughness around lip contours. With these rare and exotic ingredients and extensive investments in researches, although the cost of these skin care products have gone up, however, there has also been a rise in the earning class customers who are able to afford these ingredients.

Perfumes: According to a study, 60 percent of what is applied on the skin gets absorbed in the blood stream. Over 95 percent of chemicals in most common fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petrochemicals which when absorbed by the skin does more harm by changing the chemistry of the body than just leaving you smelling good. Natural fragrances from essential oils are derived by botanical ingredients like flower, fruit, sap, seed, plan skin, bark leaves, roots etc. hence, natural perfumes too are catching up. However, rose, lavender, sandalwood are things of the passe. Customers are looking for fine fragrances. Flora and fauna bringing in the summer, autumn, winter- like fragrances, are marking the trends. While forest scents are also sought after, coniferous woods scents are the latest ones to be in vogue. Researchers are now tapping the scents of coniferous trees like cypress, cedarwood, pine, fir and juniper to meet the trend of fine fragrances.

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Drinkable Cosmetics What you eat and drink is what reflects on your face.The quality of food consumed has a direct effect on the body. And in this era of junk food, stressful lifestyle, cosmetics can do as much as hide the dark circles and wrinkles on our faces. For decades, with wrong food choices and lifestyle people have been literally poisoning themselves. Amidst this, consumers have been eagerly accepting greener options. Hence, a new industry for ‘beauty from within’ is catching up. These drinkable cosmetics which have become the latest buzz in the cosmetics market is nothing but bottled calorie- free botanical ingredients infused with vitamins and minerals. These drinks range from lychee, pomegranate, grape seed, aloe vera, and green tea extracts to exotic berries such as goji berries, acai, sea weedsand algae etc which are being marketed as elixir of life and claims to have complexion lightning, anti-wrinkle, acne healing qualities. The principle remains the same. While most cosmetic firms are infusing these ingredients in their skin care products, the same is being sold as edible products to enhance skin. The concept traditionally may not be new in the Asian context which, for generations has incorporated various such plants, herbs, leaves and roots with medicinal qualities a part of daily culinary process. However, the West has shown much enthusiasm in this as a changing formulation which is being marketed as liquid gold in skin care regime.

Halal Cosmetics: A new line of cosmetic and personal care products with the halal label is rising in Muslim countries.

These halal cosmetics are nothing but products, which meet the Sharia law and have permitted and prohibited set of ingredients. The Halal products are fast catching up with the Muslim consumers who are looking for authenticity in their cosmetic products and do not have animal-derived ingredients like gelatin and collagen. Globally, Halal-certified cosmetics and personal care products is a $5 billion market and apart from Middle Eastern countries, Asia too is showing a growing number of halal certified cosmetic products with Malaysia being one of the largest markets for halal certified cosmetics. However, several non-Muslim countries like Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and Philippines are joining this brigade to promote Halal certified products giving strength to the growth potential of this industry. According to a market research, the halal cosmetics industry is set to record an annual growth rate (CAGR) of just under 10 percent through to 2020 and is expected to reach a valuation of $2.47 billion in Asia alone.

Learning from the Indian Vedas Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical science had opened the secret of goodness that nature stores in itself, centuries before terms like‘herbal’, ‘organic’and ‘natural’ took the Western world by storm. Unlike the West, Indian culture has passed on this knowledge for generations and has also incorporated this science as a part of their daily culinary and cosmetic regime for centuries. Herbs like turmeric, tulsi, neem, brahmi, shikakai etc have been used for skin care, oral care or hair care in its raw form right off the tree. However, while the last few generations have been slowly

www.worldofchemicals.com in Bengaluru, which is working on formulations that marry conventional science and Ayurveda. Action on this front will grow in the future,” said Jean-Christophe Letellier, MD, L’Oreal India. Amidst the growing demand from customers for natural ingredients, while global cosmetic brands are feeling the pressure to research and incorporate Asian herbal and natural ingredients in the products, Indian brands too are facing the heat to not just utilize the homegrown knowledge of herbal science but also to package and market this knowledge like any of the global cosmetic products to appeal to the Indian masses.

bending towards the more glamorous, chemically laden, beautifully packaged western products, the recent shift of the global attentionto organic products and India’s ancient science has also made the new generation Indian customers take their heritage seriously again. “Indian ayurveda industry is already recognized globally and the country has a natural access to medicinal plant and qualified scientific acumen,” said Philipe Haydon, CEO, The Himalaya Drug Company. The herbal or Ayurvedic cosmetic industry in India is seeing a major growth in the country with not just Western labels embracing organic ingredients in their products but also a sudden spur in new Indian companies launching herbal products to suit Indian skin types. Today, the Indian cosmetics industry has a wide range of herbal cosmetic brands like Forest Essentials, Biotique, Himalaya, Blossom Kochhar, VLCC, Dabur, Lotus, Aza-

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

fran and Patanjali with many more adding to the list who are offering products for skin care, hair care, colour cosmetics, fragrances and oral care segments. “People in India are slowly and gradually shifting to organic personal care products to protect their body and skin from harmful ingredients. Increasing awareness about the environmental damage, and growing go green consciousness has fueled the demand for organic personal care products in India,” said Aditi Vyas, director, Azafran Innovacion. While the current market of organic personal care products in India is estimated at Rs 500 crore it is expected to grow at 20-25 percent per year giving this market a major impetus. French beauty products maker, L’Oreal, to meet the demand in India, announced its plan to strengthen its herbal portfolio. “We have a research & development centre

India has also become a potential market for the global brands as it is easier to sell these cosmetic products to a set of customers who already have the knowledge of the ingredients unlike Western customers who have to be educated about the beauty benefits that is found in a certain root or sap of a plant which is unheard of in the Western geographies. “During the last decade, the herbal beauty care business has emerged as the new growth frontier for beauty business in India. The market for ayurvedic cosmetics products in India is expected to grow at a rapid pace over the coming decades. The market is only beginning to get populated with ayurvedic brands and it will be a while until it gets too crowded,” noted market research firm, Kuick Research. Hence, this growing demand for chemical-free skin and personal care products, the changing lifestyle of consumers, growing knowledge and awareness about healthy lifestyle and the ability to afford such a lifestyle has contributed to the growth of organic cosmetics market globally.

INNOVATION COSMETICS

POLLUTION IS THERE, BUT THE SKIN CAN

NOW BE PROTECTED

By Alicia GimenezCristina Davi, Elena Canadas, Nuria Alminana, Raquel Delgado

Alarming levels of environmental pollution are widely present around the world. Besides, the deleterious effects of contaminants on the skin are very clear and consumers are more and more aware of those. In order to minimize these negative consequences, Poll shieldâ&#x201E;˘ functional ingredient has been developed, helping to prevent accumulation of particles in the epidermis and to replenish the skin with antioxidants, increasing its capacity to resist damage.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION Environmental pollution is very widespread and basically disturbs the air, water and land. Atmospheric pollution affects outdoor air of many cities, and is mainly due to fuel burning for transportation, but it is also very present indoors,resulting from household activities such as biomass combustion for cooking or heating. Water pollution frequently derives from agricultural and industrial work. However, by-products of water purification procedures, such as chlorine or ozone, are sometimes found in potable water. 62

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Pollution consists of a complex mixture of chemicals. Among the most prominent is particulate matter (PM), formed by harmful micro-particles and liquid droplets that are classified according to their size(e.g. PM10 and PM2.5). Toxic metals, such ascadmium, mercury, lead and nickel, can persist and accumulate in the environment. Finally, volatile organic compounds and gaseous pollutants have to be considered as well.

THE HARM CAUSED IN THE SKIN The constant contact of air and water contaminants with the skin results indetrimental effects, such aspremature aging or irritation. In the skin, pollutants drive the production of free radicalsthat react with biological molecules leading to loss of function(e.g. peroxidation of lipids). In addition, when toxic substances or oxidative stress are present, the skin displays specific responses,like the synthesis of metal-binding proteins known asmetal and migrate away from the epidermis to initiate the immune response. The result is a lower number of

www.worldofchemicals.com Langerhans cells in the epidermis, with the consequent decline in skin immunity.

NATURAL SKIN PROTECTION AND COSMETIC SOLUTIONS The skin has a certain ability to defend itself from pollution. Its physical barrier helps minimize penetration of pollutants. Also, the skin has endogenous antioxidative defenses consisting of vitamins and enzymes.However, when exposed to high levels of contaminants,the protecting capacityof the skin is surpassed, leading to damage and accelerated aging with their visible consequences. Some additional shielding strategies can be adopted.By topically applying molecules such as metal chelators, it is possible to reduce the direct interaction of pollution particles with the skin. In addition, it is essential to provide antioxidants to complement the loss of endogenous ones caused by overexposure to harmful substances or the aging process. Antioxidants can act within the skin to block the effects of free radicals regardless of the type of pollutant that produces them. Pollushield™ functional ingredient is the combination of a metalchelating polymer with a powerful

antioxidant. As a result,this antipollution ingredient can limit accumulation of toxic particles and also enhance the self-defensive capability of the skin, as various studies have proven.

URBAN DUST IN EPIDERMAL CELLS To evaluate the protective effect on skin cells,human epidermal keratinocytes from adult (HEKa) were incubated for 24 hours with the polymer (acrylic acid/acrylamidomethyl propane sulfonic acid copolymer) and the antioxidant (dimethylmethoxychromanol) at concentrations equivalent to 0.5 percent Pollushield™ functional ingredient, while non-treated cells were used as a control. Then, 100 µg/ml urban dust, consisting of atmospheric particulate material collected in a city, were added and incubated with the cells. After 24 hours, cellular viability was evaluated through the colorimetric method based on the reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Epidermal cells were protected despite the presence of urban dust,with aviability that was 47.9 percent higher when treated with thecosmetic ingredient.

SKIN EXPLANTS EXPOSED TO POLLUTION Human skin explants maintained with culture medium were treated with 5 percent Pollushield™ functional ingredient in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) aqueous gel or with CMC aqueous gel alone. The CMC gel is used because it provides the appropriate viscosity for the ingredient to stay in contact with the skin. The explants were treated once a day for four days whereas non-treated explants were used as a control. After four hours from the last treatment the explants were exposed to a pollution mix containing heavy metals, hydrocarbons and diesel particles, for an additional 24 hours.

SKIN MORPHOLOGY Skin sections were stained with the Masson’s trichrome, Goldner variant method. Then,cell and tissue morphology were visually evaluated by a trained expert. The application of Pollushield™ functional ingredient to the explants helped preserve normal morphology in pollution-exposed skin

(figure 1), maintaining density of the dermal collagen network (green staining) and typical morphology of epidermal and dermal cells (purple staining).

Fig.1 Photographs of stained sections showing skin morphology features.

Non-treated non-exposed

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

Non-treated pollution-exposed

CMC gel with POLLUSHIELD™ functional ingredientpollution-exposed

INNOVATION COSMETICS EXPRESSION OF METALLOTHIONEIN Protein metallothionein(MT-1H) was used as a marker of exposure to metals and oxidative stress. This protein was detected on skin tissue sections by means of immunostaining (figure 2) and its levels were visually evaluated by trained experts.With the active ingredient, MT-1H was not Non-treated increased despite the presence ofnon-exposed toxic substances, suggesting skin protection.

Non-treated non-exposed

Non-treated pollution-exposed

Fig.2 Immunostaining (in purple color) of MT-1H in the skin.

NUMBER OF LANGERHANS CELLS Glycoprotein CD1a, which is specifically expressed by Langerhans Non-treated cells, was detected through immune pollution-exposed staining and quantified on skin tissue sections (figure 3). The total amount of Langerhans cells diminished significantly in skin exposed to pollution. However, with the anti-pollution ingredient the number of these cells was higher (32.4 percent) compared to non-treated skin. Fig.3 Skin sections with CD1a staining indicating presence of Langerhans cells.

LIPID PEROXIDATION The degree of oxidation of skin lipids was assessed using an enhanced method of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay.The concentration of the marker for oxidative stress malondialdehyde(MDA) in the explants medium was quantified and it was 37.4 percent lower in pollution-exposed skin pretreated with the ingredient compared with non-treated skin.

IN VIVO TEST IN A HIGHLY POLLUTED CITY In order to evaluate the protective effect of the ingredient in an urban 64

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CMC gel with POLLUSHIELD™ functional ingredient pollution-exposed

creams and spent six hours in the Non-treated pollution-exposed city traffic. Finally, skin stripping was performed to obtain new samples of the epidermis. Metals were extracted from skin samples and, by means of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, the following were analyzed: iron, lead, chromium, nickel, and zinc. Variations in metal levels with respect to basal conditions were CMC gel with(figure POLLUSHIELD™ calculated 4). functional ingredient pollution-exposed

All metals evaluated increased significantly after exposure to pollution. However, this was not observed in skin treated with the active cream, where there was a significant difference in metal levels compared to placebo (p<0.001). Fig.4 Change in the concentrations of metals in the skin after 6 h of exposure (***p<0.001).

ANTIOXIDATIVE CAPACITY AND LIPID PEROXIDATION

Fig.2 Immunostaining (in purple color) of MT-1H in the skin.

environment, a clinical test was performed in a panel of 20 Asian female volunteers, between 2662 years old, who were outdoor workers in Beijing, China. The subjects applied a cream containing 5 percent Pollushield™ functional ingredient to half face and a placebo cream to the other half, according to a randomization scheme.

BUILD-UP OF METALS At the beginning of the study, skin samples obtained through tape stripping were obtained to measure basal levels of metals. Then, the volunteers applied the

After 15 and 30 days of product application and regular exposure of the volunteers to city pollution, skin samples were taken by means of tape stripping and analyzed. The antioxidant capacity of the skin was assessed by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method, while lipid peroxidation was determined by means of the MDA assay. In the skin that was treated with the active cream, the antioxidative capacity improved and the level of lipid peroxides decreased (figure 5). Differences in these measurements were statistically significant also when compared to placebo, both after 15 (p<0.01) and 30 days (p<0.001). Fig.5.Changes in skin antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation (*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001).

CMC gel w ingre

www.worldofchemicals.com Fig.3 Skin sections with CD1a staining indicating presence of Langerhans cells.

Non-treated non-exposed

Non-treated pollution-exposed

CONCLUSION Pollushield™ functional ingredient is a cosmetic ingredient that offers the benefits of a polymer that can bind toxic metals and the aid of a powerful antioxidant. The ingredient has been shown to maintain the viability of epidermal cells in contact with urban dust. Furthermore, it protects the skin, with a preservation of morphology and reduced peroxidation, together with

CMC gel with POLLUSHIELD™ functional ingredientpollution-exposed

lower levels of damage markers. A single application of Pollushield™ functional ingredient in volunteers exposed to urban pollution provided quick protection against heavy metals deposition in the skin, while its continued use replenished the antioxidative pool of the skin suggesting a better capacity to resist oxidative stress, which was also revealed with reduced lipid peroxidation.

Fig.4 Change in the concentrations of metals in the skin after 6 h of exposure (***p<0.001).

Source: Lipotec SAU Fig.5. Changes in skin antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation (*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001).

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

Pollushield™ is owned by The Lubrizol Corporation or its affiliates. 65

R&D YOUNG TURKS WINNERS FROM

INTEL SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH 2016 TEENAGER DISCOVERS NEW METHOD FOR DECOMPOSITION OF PLASTIC WASTE Thomas William Colburn, 17, of Oak Ridge, investigated a way to make plastic litter decompose faster in sunlight for his chemistry project. In this latest phase of a two-year polymer project, Thomas found that adding light-sensitive nanoparticles of titanium dioxide to plastics used for shopping bags would cause them to degrade in about six months when exposed to ultraviolet light, or about 90 percent faster than the nearly five years required without the additive. Similarly, a plastic milk jug would decay in about 23 years, instead of almost 270 years. Thomas cautions, however, that additional research is needed to more accurately simulate the spectrum of actual sunlight required to break down the treated plastics and to assess the additive’s efficacy in an ocean environment. A dedicated trail runner, his passion for this research is energized every time he sees plastic items littering the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Thomas, the son of Scott and Julie Colburn, runs cross country and track at Oak Ridge High School and plays in the school’s marching, jazz and symphonic bands. He has also volunteered at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge where he received two awards for outstanding exhibit design.

DEMONSTRATED A METHOD TO REMOVE ANTIBIOTIC FROM WATER Maria Elena Grimmett, 17, of Jupiter, used her environmental science project to demonstrate the capacity and kinetics of a commercially available adsorbent to remove an ecosystem-damaging antibiotic, sulfamethazine, from water. Sulfamethazine is representative of several antibiotics routinely fed to livestock that contaminate surface and groundwater worldwide. Beginning at age 10, Maria Elena has worked at home to study the removal of contaminants from water using adsorptive media. Continuing in her home lab, Maria Elena extended that research, simulating a range of relevant aqueous environments while also comparing the performance of various commercial resins. Maria Elena found that Purolite MN250 removed the antibiotic most efficiently. Identifying the drug-removal rate and capacity of an existing, reusable and scalable resin may offer a new, practical solution for water treatment facilities. Maria Elena is sole author of two papers published in the Journal of Environmental Quality on this topic. She attends Oxbridge Academy of the Palm Beaches where she is a fencing enthusiast and has won awards spanning the fields of math, chemistry and art. 66

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STUDENT IDENTIFIED TWO MOLECULES FOR TREATING DRUG-RESISTANT PNEUMONIA

Catherine Jessica Yihui Lai, 17, of New York City, identified two molecular compounds that may contribute to new treatment options for multi-drug resistant pneumonia for her medicine and health project. Jessica used new descriptions of the structure of a key enzyme in pneumonia bacteria metabolism to screen for therapeutic compounds using software she previously developed. Jessica identified two molecules out of millions of possible compounds with high binding affinity for the enzyme. This may lead to new antibiotics that have not yet been derived from existing treatments. She has published her research results in the Journal of Computational Methods in Molecular Design as sole author, and also holds provisional patents on her findings and screening software. At The Brearley School, Jessica is co-captain of the varsity cross-country and badminton teams and the varsity dance troupe.

TEENAGER DEVELOPS NANOMEDICINE TO TREAT HEART ATTACK Kavya Ravichandran, 17, of Westlake, studied the use of nanomedicine to destroy potentially fatal blood clots for her bioengineering project. Kavya’s latest work on this three-year project involved developing and testing nanoscale encapsulated clot-busting drugs that target platelets, the blood components that form clots – a primary cause of heart attacks and strokes. By coating her drug-loaded nanoparticles in molecules that bind directly to a clot, she hopes to avoid the serious side effects of current clot-busting therapies. She found that about 80 percent of the targeted clot was eliminated by these particles. Ultimately, the platform will need to be tested in clinical trials. At Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, Kavya is founder and president of the Totally Excellent Computer Scientists club and managing editor of the print and online editions of the school newspaper.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR DISCOVERED NEW TYPE OF POLYMER Beverly Ge, 17, of Gainesville, used her materials science project to develop a novel sensor based on her discovery that a new type of shape memory polymer (SMP) changed colours when exposed to various gases. Recognizing that vapour detection is central to human health, both for controlling pollution and in diagnosing disease by breath sampling, Beverly developed an application for the SMP and tested it with five chemicals. Her results showed that each of the different gases changed the thickness of the SMP, causing it to change colour in ways she could distinguish with a spectrometer and smartphone app. Among other uses, Beverly’s new application could lead to development of an affordable, portable sensor for monitoring surroundings and personal health. Beverly attends Buchholz High School where she is president of the Junior Engineering Technical Society and has won numerous regional and statewide awards for debate, poetry and violin performance. Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

LOGISTICS NEWS

CHEMICAL FREIGHT RATES TO REMAIN UNDER PRESSURE THROUGHOUT 2016

though some of the older stainless/ LONDON, UK: On the back of coated ships will likely be scrapped low bunker prices and more new over the next year or two, the fully buildings to be delivered in 2016, stainless fleet is very young and chemical shipping freight rates for the number of deletions will be very both contracts of affreightment and spot cargoes will be under pressure small in relation to deliveries. throughout 2016, as there are some “Shipyards still have the capacity to new operators looking to break into build more chemical tankers and the long-haul trade routes, acwe expect many ships to be orcording to the latest edition of the dered this year for delivery in 2017 Chemical Forecaster, published by and beyond. None of this leaves global shipping consultancy Drewry. us optimistic about the future of the More and more larger vessels were chemical tanker industry and our outlook for this segment is quite delivered during 2015; a total of bleak,” said Drewry’s lead analyst 193 ships, aggregating 7.4 million for chemical shipping Hu Qing. deadweight tonnage (dwt) with an average vessel size of 38,390 dwt Looking at market fundamentals, hit the water during the year. About there is a large amount of new 206 ships totalling 3.72 million dwt buildings slated to hit the market and averaging 18,058 dwt were rein 2016, and still many new promoved from the fleet. The stainless duction projects appear on hold steel order book is at 37 percent of pending a consensus opinion on the number of ships and 41 percent the long-term trend of oil markets, of the existing deadweight. Alfor example the methanol to olefin

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(MTO) plants in China. The lifting of sanctions on Iran brought cheer to the country’s petrochemical industry and it is expected that the volume of trade from Iran to Europe and the Far East will increase. El Nino brought dry weather across South-East Asia, affecting the palm oil producing countries of Malaysia and Indonesia by lowering yields and output. With prolonged dry weather caused by the August 2015 drought and the effects of El Nino, production is likely to decline substantially in 2016. “We expect spot activity out of the Middle East and US Gulf to increase significantly in 2016, but freight rates for both contracts of affreightment and spot cargoes will remain under pressure throughout the year, as there are some new operators looking to break into the long-haul trade routes,” added Qing.

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CHEMICAL TANKER MARKET WORTH $2 TRILLION LONDON, UK: Considering recent industry forecasts, chemical tanker shipping is a global market that is predicted to reach $2.23 trillion by 2020. Also the global chemical tanker shipments are expected to reach 243.50 million tonne by 2020, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3 percent from 2014 to 2020, said a news report by Maritime Information Services. Shale gas is expected to increase the production level of organic

chemicals, which in turn is anticipated to boost the chemical tanker shipping market. Growth of global gross domestic product, which is the total value of a companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s output in a specified time period, on account of rapid industrialization in Asia Pacific and Latin America, is also expected to drive the global chemical tanker shipping market. The US, Canada and China are projected to have a positive influence on market growth through an

increase in shale gas production, predicted the report. Expansion of refinery and petrochemical capacity in China and India partnered with increasing production of vegetable oils in South East Asia is expected to be a factor driving regional market through to 2022. Moreover, organic chemicals are expected to see the fastest growth of 4.6 percent from 2014 to 2020, the report mentioned.

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LOGISTICS MARKET

NORTH AMERICAN SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES IN THE ERA OF CHEMICAL EXPORTS Exports must be moved efficiently from plants to customers in order to preserve healthy margins.

In North America, large amounts of new petrochemical production capacity are starting to come online as the industry takes advantage of lower cost feedstocks from the shale gas boom. But domestic markets will not be able to absorb all this - and North American producers will need to export 30 percent of their polyethylene production by 20181. North American chemical companies will need to get those exports from plant to customer very efficiently. Southeast Asia and China will be key markets for them, and polyethylene prices in that region are 20 to 30 percent lower than domestic US prices. On top of that, declining oil prices are eroding North Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural gas feedstock cost advantage. As such, companies serving export markets will need to take out all the supply chain costs that they can in order to preserve healthy margins. There are some key challenges on that front. For example, shipping containers are already something of a bottleneck in North America. Some ports, like Los Angeles for example, have more imports coming in than exports going out. Other ports, typically those in the Gulf of Mexico region, have the opposite problem, with a shortage of containers for outbound goods. As a result, shippers end up moving a lot of empty containers around to meet demand-an inefficiency that only adds to the cost of exported goods. Meanwhile, trucking prices have been increasing for more than a decade, and that is likely to continue due to driver shortages and new regulations. At the same time, the covered hopper railroad cars needed by the industry are in short supply. 70

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Along with those constraints, chemical companies also need to factor changing logistics patterns into their plans. The expansion of the Panama Canal, slated for early 2016, will allow the passage of larger ships that can accommodate about 13,000 containers, compared to the current 5,0002. In addition, the heightening of the Bayonne Bridge will allow larger ships to reach the Port of New York and New Jersey. These developments will bring larger ships to the Gulf and East Coasts, but they will also put pressure on the warehousing, rail lines and roadways associated with these ports. In the near future, we are also likely to see plastics exports going through a wider variety of ports-not only Gulf ports like Houston, but also Los Angeles, Charleston in South Carolina and Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico. Chemical companies will need to take these evolving options into account when siting plants and packaging facilities. North American chemical producers need to be planning now for this fast-approaching world. And this is not an area where companies can go it alone. They will have to communicate with all stakeholders in the supply chain to come up with innovative approaches to logistics, and help ensure that the appropriate investments are made-and made on time. 1

Based on Accenture Research analysis of Nexant data, Dec 2015

In twenty foot equivalent units (TEU); Official Panama Canal expansion 2

Source: Accenture PLC

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LOGISTICS REPORT

GLOBAL LOGISTICS MARKET INSIGHT 2016 The global outsourced logistics market was valued at over $760 billion in 2015, wherein the market has grown due toincreased economic activity and outsourcing of logistics activities to third-parties. The logistics market is large, fragmented and populated by a wide range of differing companies. There are multinational companies offering a comprehensive range of logistics services leading the industry, down to smaller national freight forwarders, offering simple logistics services. The market has been driven by consolidation over the last 20 years, with customers seeking fewer, larger providers that are able to manage complex supply chains on a global basis. Global Logistics Market Insight Report 2016 provides an analytical overview of the global logistics market. It attempts to portray accurately the market structure, size, growth, trends and competitive landscape. As per the research, the global outsourced logistics market was valued at over $760billion in 2015, having grown by almost 5 percent. Market growth has been driven by both increased economic activity and the continued trend in outsourcing of logistics activities to third-parties, both new outsourcers and companies outsourcing more activities to third-parties. The largest region in terms of outsourced logistics market size is Asia Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, with the Asia Pacific region having experienced faster growth in logistics market value than other regions. Outsourcing penetration is highest in Europe, but levels are increasing quickly in Asia Pacific.

logistics outsourcing to third-party supply chain specialists. Dedicated e-commerce warehousing and distribution contracts are increasingly being awarded to logistics providers. A key trend in the global logistics industry is the provision of value-added services and bespoke solutions. Logistics providers are increasing their focus on specific industry sectors such as high-technology, automotive and pharmaceuticals, and offering additional value-added services that make their services more relevant for client needs. New technologies are finding their way into logistics services in order to improve productivity and enhance service. New logistics technologies being developed include vehicle management software, self-driving vehicles, robotics, internet of things applications and augmented reality.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

KEY TRENDS

The leading logistics providers covered in this report generated combined 2014 logistics revenues of $285billion, demonstrating that the global outsourced logistics industry remains fragmented and open to further consolidation. The largest logistics providers are characterized by differing service lines, asset ownership models, geographical scope and types of customers they serve.

Some of the prominent trends are: outsourcing business processes and supply chain activities continues to be a driver of logistics company revenues and hence market growth. The growth of e-commerce is also creating an environment where supply chains are adapting to new models. Ecommerce is driving further

The top three groups are all based in Europe: DPDHL is the largest provider globally, followed by Kuehne & Nagel and DB Schenker Logistics. All three have grown slower than the market in recent years, as they have consolidated the major acquisitions made in the past. XPO Logistics has recently joined the top six as a

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www.worldofchemicals.com result of its recent big acquisitions (Dentressangle and Con-Way). The revenue growth rates (CAGR 2010-2014) of the leading logistics providers ranges from -4.6 percent (Wincanton) to 26.9 percent (Yusen Logistics). Margins achieved ranged from -9.3 to 10.3 percent in 2014. Average margin in 2014 stood at 4.3 percent, having been relatively stable over the last four years. Most, but not all, of the leading logistics providers operate on a global scale, covering more than one continent. Some have a significant presence in all regions (ie Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific and Middle East / Africa). There has been significant mergers and acquisitions activity in the global logistics industry.

XPO Logistics has been at the forefront of acquisition activity in recent years, acquiring a number of logistics companies in various regions, including Norbert Dentressangle, Con-way and New Breed Logistics. Other notable acquisitions include: – DSV’s proposed acquisition of UTi Worldwide – Geodis’ acquisition of Ozburn-Hessey Logistics – Kintetsu World Express’ acquisition of APL Logistics – Japan Post’s acquisition of Toll Group – CH Robinson’s acquisition of Freightquote – Goldman Sachs / Rhone Capital’s acquisition of Neovia Logistics.

OUTLOOK Global freight volumes are cyclical and sensitive to the global economic environment. Hence, economic

performance will continue to be a key driver of the market. Market growth will also be driven by the continued outsourcing of supply chain activity to third-party logistics providers. This includes increase in the scope of contracts when they are renewed. However, a key factor which will offset the impact of this on market growth is the efficiency savings made by logistics providers which are passed back to clients. Further consolidation is expected as logistics providers seek to add new service capabilities and geographical scope to enable them to support global clients and hence, build their position in the competitive global market. Source: Report Buyer

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Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

INSIGHT

CASH IS

ALWAYS

KING

HOW CHEMICAL COMPANIES ARE OPTIMIZING THEIR WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT. BY ANDREW ASHBY, DANIEL BROADHURST AND NATHAN MCCARTHY

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uring the global downturn, working capital management was top of mind for the chemical industry. Companies were able to unlock cash and improve their balance sheets through rigorous working capital management. With today’s increased revenues, falling raw material prices and ready access to cheap debt, companies might feel that they have fewer incentives to change their processes. However, opportunities are often available to improve capital performance, and the benefits can range well beyond increased liquidity. Whether in good times or bad, working capital management should be based on holistic, sustainable solutions and should be an intrinsic part of a chemical company’s business strategy.

MAINTAINING CASH DISCIPLINE Faced with economic upheavals beginning in 2008, chemical companies acted aggressively-and in many cases, successfully-to reduce the cash level between what they had purchased (inventory and accounts payable) and what they had sold (accounts receivable). By most measures economic times have improved. Revenue growth for the chemical industry is expected across all regions, including over 3 percent in North America and almost 5 percent in emerging markets, and this growth is likely to continue into 2016. In addition, interest rates have dropped to historically low levels and credit markets are relatively accessible. Driven in part by these positive trends, many companies have adjusted their efforts in maintaining cash discipline. According to a recent survey of large US companies, cash on hand has increased 74 percent since 2007. In research

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

conducted by KPMG across several business cycles, evidence suggests that working capital performance by companies tends to follow the economy in general – improving during hard times and declining in recovery years.

A PLAN FOR ALL SEASONS For chemical companies, effective cash and working capital management should be a consistent part of business as usual-not an emergency plan reserved only for economic downturns or financial stress within the company. By its nature, chemical manufacturing is capital intensive, so companies should always manage this capital as efficiently as possible. The global chemical industry will spend more than $2 trillion over the next 20 years. Building and maintaining manufacturing facilities takes enormous amounts of capital. The same applies to storage facilities and transportation systems, including environmental safeguards required by regulators. Inventory will always contain a significant amount of capital, even with diligent efforts to streamline the supply chain. Chemical manufacturing is also part of a cyclical and ever-changing industry. Even in the US, where low feedstock prices and strong domestic markets have boosted revenues, chemical companies recognize that

these same advantages can lead to reduced oil & gas production, a downward pressure on product prices and manufacturing over capacity when demand slacks off. Other uncertainties involve a change in interest rates triggered by government policies or banking systems, new directions in the Chinese economy, investor activism targeting chemical companies and geopolitical realignments in the Middle East. Unforeseen events like these can have a ripple effect across countries, regions, supply chains and industrial sectors, impacting chemical companies at multiple levels. The best approach for cash and working capital management is to always ‘hope for the best but plan for the worst.’

DEVELOPING A CASH CULTURE The mark of a well-run business is a cash culture based on effective working capital management. Unlocking cash is always cheaper than borrowing and less disruptive than selling assets. This cash can be used to fund new growth, retire debt, gain price discounts on cash purchases, benefit from a top commercial credit rating, and take advantage of market opportunities. Greater transparency is another important benefit. Working capital levels can be hard to see. The

INSIGHT performance of a business is usually evaluated on income statement measures such as EBITDA or earnings per share and these metrics are not driven directly by a companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s level of working capital. At the same time, companies might not systematically track data on working capital, or consolidate data across suppliers, business units, divisions or functions. However, managers should always know how many days their current inventory will last at each location and stage of production-from feedstock to processing to finished products. They also need to know how much they spend with each supplier and their respective payment terms. Sometimes these figures are available to managers but sometimes not. Even if supplier contracts are renegotiated on a regular basis, they still might rely on outdated information. A â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;clean-sheet,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; zero-based assessment, based on accurate, timely data and rigorous analysis can lead to a better understanding of capital levels that can, in turn, reveal waste and inefficiencies. The assessment can also provide managers with a more informed understanding of supply chain and operational processes. Discovering, for example, that two divisions use the same supplier might open the door to negotiations involving volume-based pricing and extended payment terms. As always, the goal should be to make working capital management a key part of a healthy cash culture. Managers with budget responsibilities need to understand the implications of their actions and balance these with the priorities of the business to achieve the best outcome.

Business units have different constraints, challenges and priorities, so targets should be tailored accordingly. Changes can be embedded through governance policy, training, contract templates, negotiation and other areas. be optimized across the organization, not just minimized-too much inventory traps cash, but too little inventory can hamper the response to customer orders. Inventory levels and revenues may or may not move up and down in concert; a 30 percent revenue growth might require a 50 percent increase in inventory, or vice versa. More important for working capital management is a holistic strategy that aligns itself with the specific business model and objectives of the company. A manufacturer in South America serving markets in China will always have a certain level of inventory on the water, a fact that needs to be reflected in its capital strategy. A manufacturer preparing to enter emerging markets in Southeast Asia might want additional cash to finance new ventures, supply chains and distribution networks over a large region. A company in particularly volatile or cyclical markets might want to increase inventory levels to cover unexpected demand even as costs rise or revenues dip.

payable), manufacturing (including inventory) and sales (for accounts receivable). Inventory levels should be determined by multiple divisions that share their information to help optimize production schedules and stock levels. Experience based on KPMG member firm engagements has shown that companies with a good sales and manufacturing relationship generally benefit from a more efficient supply chain and a better working-capital-to revenue ratio. Chemical companies should also explore other areas of cash and working capital management, which is sometimes overlooked, such as indirect tax, pension funding and capex cash controls. Especially important are opportunities involving ways to link compensation incentives with cash management. If managers see a direct connection between their actions and compensation, they will be much more motivated to focus on working capital.

STRONG FRAMEWORKS FOR SUSTAINABILITY Good working capital management is a matter of getting the basic things right-and then keeping them right. That is why chemical companies need to develop sustainable initiatives for cash and capital management based on a strong framework built on visibility, control, organization and capabilities.

The leadership team and board should provide active support with clear, consistent messaging about the importance of working capital management. Everyone should understand why change is needed and This holistic strategy should be de- how solid benefits are achievable. OPTIMIZED, NOT JUST MINIveloped by stakeholders across the Determining change should include MIZED enterprise. Although finance usually a realistic assessment of what is Working capital management is takes the lead, target setting should possible and how success can be more than just a matter of squeez- be a collaborative process that in- achieved. ing out cash. Working capital must volves procurement (for accounts

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www.worldofchemicals.com Messaging should reflect proper governance, and both need to be executed according to plan, not shifting the emphasis, for example, from cost 1 year to cash the next. An organization-wide communications program can provide regular updates and guidance on capital management goals and activities. In particular, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Sales and Finance should be in close communication with one another and properly aligned in terms of their cash targets and strategies. In addition, the framework should be flexible enough to accommodate today’s complex organizations. Business units have different constraints, challenges and priorities, so targets should be tailored accordingly. Changes can be embedded through governance policy, training, contract templates, negotiation and other areas. The right technology can also help play a key role in effective working capital management. Benefits include the rapid analysis and identification of opportunity areas, enhanced processes and ways of working, and improved transparency and reporting of cash and working

Around $2 billion of working capital improvement has

Volume-proofing tracking is also important. However, the results are worth the effort. Even medium-term improvements in working capital management can significantly mitigate the cost of other transformation activities.

been delivered and

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

an additional $500

CFOs, finance directors and other company leaders should keep in mind the wisdom of expecting the unexpected. In today’s global economy, ‘black swans’ are not as rare as they were in the past. The effective management of cash and working capital can improve performance while managing risk. A holistic approach that emphasizes a sustainable cash culture will help chemical companies take better advantage of opportunities during the good times and prepare themselves against market contractions and fiscal downturns.

million is expected in the future

capital across the organization. To give just one example, digital tools can enable real-time collaboration between buyers and suppliers to discover the optimal rate for early invoice payment. By allowing each supplier to offer the rate that makes sense for them at that point of time, the buyer captures a much broader range of discounts while providing its entire supply chain more flexibility on timing and frequency of usage. Supporting a framework for sustainability is not a simple task. It requires ongoing tracking of strategic initiatives from c-level decisions to business unit activities.

Source: Andrew Ashby, partner, KPMG in the UK Daniel Broadhurst, director, KPMG in the UK Nathan McCarthy, senior manager, KPMG in the UK

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Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

REPORT ADHESIVES & SEALANTS

ALAN E S & S E V I S E AL ADH

4 6 $ H C A E R ARKET TO

GLOB

9 1 0 2 Y B BILLION

d ction activity an ru st n co in th gies w nding technolo n by strong gro o b ve ri ve d si e e b h l il ad w f option o Demand ners. d increasing ad an t, u tp u o echanical faste g m n t n ri e u ct m g fa u au r an o m place designed to re The worldwide demand for adhesives and sealants is forecast to rise 4.5 percent per year through 2019 to 20.2 million metric tonnes (mmt), valued at $64 billion, from 16.14 mmt in 2014.

makers, boosting sales of epoxies, polyurethanes, and other adhesive and sealant types. Similar trends will also spur demand in the auto industries of Thailand and other emerging economies.

Strong growth in construction activity will underpin advances, driven by increased urbanization and infrastructure improvements in developing countries, combined with rebounding construction spending in Western Europe and the US. Expanding manufacturing output, particularly in emerging Asia/Pacific economies, is expected to fuel growth across a number of segments, boosting adhesive and sealant use in packaging, tapes and labels, motor vehicles, electronics, and footwear applications, among others.

FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES TO BOOST DEMAND IN WEST

Increasing adoption of adhesive bonding technologies designed to replace or augment mechanical fasteners will provide additional growth opportunities for adhesives suppliers worldwide, as will the availability of improved, high performance products.

CHINA TO LEAD WORLD MARKET, INDIA TO GROW RAPIDLY

Manufacturers of automobiles and aerospace equipment in West European countries are increasingly adopting adhesive bonding technologies to help reduce vehicle weight and meet more stringent fuel efficiency requirements. Growing use of lightweight aluminum components, which are typically bonded using adhesives, is also boosting product use per vehicle. Similar trends are anticipated for the US, where OEMs are using adhesives and sealants to improve vehicle fuel efficiency, create quieter cabins, and lower production costs.

REACTIVE PRODUCTS TO POST STRONGEST ANNUAL GAINS

The fastest annual sales gains are projected for reacChina’s global dominance in several adhesive-intensive tive adhesives and sealants, driven by rising demand in industries will bolster the country’s position as the top high performance applications, including bonding and/ adhesives and sealants consumer through 2019. Con- or sealing of motor vehicle, aerospace, and electrical struction spending will remain robust in China, fueling and electronic components. Ongoing strength in globdemand for silicone and epoxy sealants, flooring and al construction activity will further boost sales, fueling purchases of epoxy, polyurethane, silicone, and other wall-covering adhesives, among other products. sealant types used in building construction and civil Suppliers of packaging adhesives will benefit from engineering projects. However, water-based types will growing urban populations and improving disposable continue to capture the largest market share, bolstered incomes, which will continue to boost demand for pack- by their good performance, ease of application, and aged consumer goods sold in supermarkets, online, environmental friendliness compared to solvent-based and via other retail outlets. In India, rapid advances products. in construction and motor vehicle output will fuel demand. Construction activity, and related adhesives and Added to this, the report also considers market envisealants use, is expected to advance at a strong rate, ronment factors, evaluates company market share and supported in part by public infrastructure spending.In profiles 39 industry players, including Henkel, HB Fuller India’s automotive sector, rising motor vehicle sales are and Bostik. Source: The Freedonia Group Inc fueling output and capacity expansions by major auto78

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REPORT AEROSOLS

T N A L L E P O R AEROSOL PAN $8 BILLION INDUSTRY:

0 2 0 2 Y B T E K MAR

expected lion in 2014, is il b 0 .7 5 $ at d t ket, value of 6.17 percen propellant mar R l G so A ro C a ae at al , b 0 2 lo The g ort. billion by 20 d Marketsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rep to reach $8.16 an ts e k ar M 020 from 2015 to 2 Personal care & homecare products, environment regulations and increase in the disposable income, are some of the factors that are driving the aerosol propellant market, according to Marketsand Marketsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; report. The global aerosol propellant market, valued at $5.70 billion in 2014, is expected to reach $8.16 billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 6.17 percent from 2015 to 2020, according to the report.

propellants play an important role. They are used in the manufacturing of metered dose inhalers (MDI).

MARKET UPDATE The global aerosol propellant market is driven by growth in the usage of aerosol propellants in personal care and homecare products, use of eco-friendly aerosol propellants in industrial and technical products, increase in the disposable income of consumers, and technological advancements in the field of aerosols.

An aerosol propellant is a gas under pressure in a can or a container, which is used to spray out the contents present inside when the pressure is released. The most The market is experiencing strong growth and is mainly preferred propellants are liquefied gases, and naturally driven by regions, such as Asia-Pacific, North Amerioccurring hydrocarbons, such as propane and butane. ca, and Europe. However, Europe, which held the largOther types of aerosol propellants include dimethyl est share in the global aerosol propellant market in ether (DME), hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), and hydrofluo- 2014, is expected to continue to lead the market during ro-olefin (HFO). 2015 - 2020 owing to the presence of many established The usage of propellants has now been closely moni- players in the region, such as Royal Dutch Shell Plc tored by the government and environmental agencies (Netherlands), Arkema Group (France), Akzo Nobel NV as propellants, such as CFC, HCFC, and HFC, harm (Netherlands), and others. the ozone layer. Aerosol propellants must meet strict volatile organic compound (VOC) regulations as outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and other government agencies. Aerosol propellants are majorly consumed in the manufacturing of personal care products, such as deodorants, antiperspirants, hair mousse, hair sprays, and many other products. They are also used in household products, such as insecticides, textile/fabric care, air fresheners, and others. In medical application, aerosol

In terms of types, the hydrofluoro-olefin segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2015 and 2020. Under the Montreal Protocol, major countries agreed to phase down the use of HFC and replace it with low global warming potential (GWP) aerosol products, such as HFO. From January 2017, the use of HFC will be banned for applications, such as personal care, household, automotive, industrial, and technical products due to its high GWP. HFC (HFC-152a) will be used only for medical and other specific applications, with the permission of government agencies. Source: Research and Markets

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IT’S A DIRECTORY OF CHEMICAL

SELLERS & BUYERS 81

REPORT COSMETICS

: S L A C I T U E COSMEC N GLOBAL O I L L I B 1 6 $ A 0 2 0 2 Y B Y R T S INDU

re and in care, hair ca sk e d u cl in ls eceutica uticals, on areas of cosm application area of cosmece ti ca li p ap r o aj rgest The m in care is the la r care. injectables. Sk followed by hai The advent of cosmeceuticals has revolutionized the cosmetic and personal care industry. These beauty products have the ability to resolve the cause of imperfections rather than covering them. Due to this ability, the share of cosmeceuticals is incessantly increasing in the cosmetics and personal care industry. It is anticipated that the global cosmeceuticals market will reach $61 billion by 2020. The growth of the market is majorly driven by rising desire of people to maintain healthy skin without using chemicals.

TREND SETTERS The major application areas of cosmeceuticals include skin care, hair care, and injectables. Skin care is the largest application area of cosmeceuticals, followed by hair care. In skin care market, anti ageing products account for the largest share. This large share can be attributed to the rising desire amongst 35+ age group people to have youthful skin. The injectables market is expected to witness the highest growth from 2015-2020. This growth is likely to be driven by incessant launch of new and improved injectables, such as solid HA fillers in the market. The report provides current and forecasted market for each of the application areas of cosmeceuticals.

ANTI-AGING COSMECUTICALS MARKET Anti-aging represents the largest segment in the skin care cosmeceuticals, accounting for more than one third share in the total skin care products market. The segment will burgeon in the coming years as a result of the sudden interest that baby bombers are taking in anti-aging products. For consumers eager to cure skin damage that have occurred as a result of aging, sun exposure or other environmental stressors, cosmecuticals offer a more affordable and non-invasive alternative to cosmetic surgery.

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Taking advantage of this rising interest, cosmetic giants and small cosmecuticals players are coming up with wide varieties of products that claim to make remarkable improvements. In the past one year, many companies, such as Private LableNutracueticals, MyChelleDermaceuticlas, Sisley and BmorCosmeceuticals have launched various anti-aging products. Most of these products make use of age-defying ingredients and help in skin hydration, combating negative effects of freeradical damage and minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, thus imparting a fresh glow. Companies are also focusing on new packaging strategies which will enhance the longevity and efficiency of a product. Some of the newly introduced products feature anti-aging components that protect cellular DNA and help in collagen reproduction resulting in tightened and firmer skin.

www.worldofchemicals.com LIP CARE Lips are particularly vulnerable because the skin there is thin, and they are usually the first area to show signs of dryness. The types of wax that work best for lip balms are fairly limited. Most lip balm companies used petroleum jelly, like petroleum, beeswax, candalilla wax, carnauba wax, or some combination of these. Beeswax is one of the best waxes because it is naturally derived, smooth, and creates a thin protective layer on the lips that serves to seal-in moisture and protect lips from the effects of dry weather.

MARKET OVERVIEW

The advent of cosmeceuticals has revolutionized the cosmetic and personal care industry. These beauty products resolve the cause of imperfections rather than just covering them.

The cosmeceuticals market is growing rampantly in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world. But Asia Pacific, by far is the largest market, and is also expected to witness the highest growth. The major reasons for the high growth are the rising disposable income of this region coupled with the increasing appearance consciousness amongst people. North America and Europe are expected to grow at modest rate due to launch of new and innovative products in these market. Source: RNCOS

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REPORT HOT MELT ADHESIVES

S C I M A N Y D GROWTH T ADHESIVES IN HOT MEL BY 2025 MARKET es market is valued at melt adhesiv The global hot rms of value. te in 5 1 0 2 in n $5.4 billio

Hot melt adhesives are 100 percent solid thermoplas- Polyolefin is anticipated to be the fastest growing segtic materials without any volatile organic compounds, ment during the forecast period. The growth of ethylene which makes them safe for use in production, trans- vinyl acetate segment is expected to remain steady due portation, application and storage. They are also envi- to the availability of innovative and improved polymer ronment friendly and safe for use by humans. Hot melt bases. adhesives consist of one or more polymers as well as additives such as stabilizers, pigments and resins which SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATION are carefully blended to exhibit different characteristics The global hot melt adhesives market is segmented from base polymers. on the basis of application into packaging, automotive, Hot melt adhesives are named after polymer bases. construction, healthcare products and others. Others Various types of hot melt adhesives are ethylene vinyl include textile, electronics, footwear and paper bonding. acetate, polyolefin, polyamide, styrenic block copoly- Out of all these applications, the packaging segment is mers, polyester, etc. Hot melt adhesives are used for expected to dominate with over 35 percent of the marapplications in industries such as packaging, non-wo- ket share in 2015. Moreover, it is expected to be the ven, automotive, product assembly, textiles, tapes and fastest growing segment during the forecast period, follabels, woodworking, paper bonding, electronics and lowed by healthcare products. many more.

MARKET VALUE AND FORECAST The global hot melt adhesives market is anticipated to expand at a moderate CAGR during the forecast period. Market growth is mainly driven by technological advancements and product innovations in polymer bases. The global hot melt adhesives market is valued at $5.4 billion in 2015 in terms of value. Another major reason for the rise in demand for hot melt adhesives is its solvent free properties that comply with the regulatory authorityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requirements. This has led to increased production and consumption of hot melt adhesives. The global hot melt adhesives market is segmented on the basis of polymer bases, applications and regions.

POLYMER BASE SEGMENT The global hot melt adhesives market is segmented on the basis of the polymer base into ethylene vinyl acetate, polyolefin, polyamide, styrenic block copolymers and others. Out of these polymer bases, ethylene vinyl acetate accounted for over 40 percent of the global market share in 2015. 84

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www.worldofchemicals.com GEOGRAPHIC GROWTH POTENTIAL The global hot melt adhesives market has been segment into seven major regions including North America, Western Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa. Of all the regions, North America dominated the market with over 30 percent of the total market share in 2015. Western Europe is ranked second with more than 18 percent market share in 2015. In addition, Asia Pacific is anticipated to become the fastest growing region in the global hot melt adhesives market. Eastern Europe and the Middle East & Africa together accounted for 15 percent of the total market share in 2015 and are expected to witness a steady growth during the forecast period.

DOMINANT PLAYERS Some of the key players in the global hot melt adhesives market are Henkel AG & Co KGaA, HB Fuller, Sika AG, The 3M Company, Arkema Group, Ashland Inc, Jowat

AG, Palmetto Adhesives Company, Sipol SpA and Sealock Ltd. These players continue to expand their global presence in emerging markets by establishing manufacturing plants in proximity to developing regions so as to reduce distribution costs and have direct interaction with customers. Moreover, major players are investing heavily in research activities so as to keep pace with changing market trends. Hot melt adhesive are thermoplastic glues that are thermally melted on application and attain adhesion strength on cooling. Hot melt adhesives consist of one or more polymers as well as additives such as stabilizers, pigments and resins, which are carefully blended to exhibit different characteristics from base polymers. Hot melt adhesives are named after polymer bases. Various types of hot melt adhesives are ethylene vinyl acetate, polyolefin, polyamide, polyurethane, polyester etc. Hot melt adhesives are used in industries such as packaging, non-woven, automotive, product assembly, textiles, tapes and labels, woodworking, paper bonding, electronics and many more. Source: Future Market Insights

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CHEMICALS 85

JOBS Company: Kimberlite Chemicals (India) Private Limited

Company: Orica

Scientist - Non Conventional Materials

Date posted: 22 March 2016

Company: SABIC

Date posted: 22 March 2016

Country: US

Date posted: 22 March 2016

Last date: 15 April 2016

City: Minden

Country: US

Technical Manager - Oil and Gas

Production Operator

City: Sugar Land

Country: INDIA City: Bangalore, Karnataka

Job description: The desired candidate should be able to lead a team dedicated specifically to Oil and Gas processing chemicals and achieve customer satisfaction. He should have problem solving, verbal communication, leadership, multi-tasking and good writing skills. Website: http://www.worldofchemicals.com/chemical-jobs/603/technical-manager-oil-and-gas.html

Production Engineer Company: The Dow Chemical Company Date posted: 16 March 2016 Country: Saudi Arabia City: Al-Jubail

Job description: The Dow Chemical Company is looking for Production Engineer to be based in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The candidate must contain bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, 3-5 years manufacturing experience, good problem solving skills. The Run Plant Engineer is a technical resource for operations personnel, applying technical skills within, to manage production work process, optimizing plant operations, resolving plant problems and enabling safe and reliable production of high quality reverse osmosis elements. The run plant engineer works as a member of the plant operating team ensuring excellence in safety, quality, operations and maintenance. The role provides a technical resource to assist work teams on daily performance improvements, equipment modifications and upgrades, and new product qualifications and trials. Website: http://www.dow.com/enus/careers/job-details?id=1510918 [http://bit.ly/1pMpEt3]

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Job description: This role’s key responsibilities include ensuring production occuring on a timely basis following all safety procedures and taking a pro-active teamwork approach, focused consistent execution of product handling and production functions, blending raw materials into formulations. This position require some important qualifications which include high school degree or equivalent work experience with demonstrated ability to read and write the English language, minimum 6 months previous work experience with preference for manufacturing or operations type roles, requires thorough and meticulous completion of regulatory paperwork and entry level computer skills including Internet and Windows applications. Website: http://bit.ly/1Tk9qDu

Senior Researcher Computational Materials Science/Catalysis Company: Shell Date posted: 24 March 2016 End date: 23 April 2016 Country: India City: Bangalore

Job description: SABIC Americas seeks high energy, creative and responsive individuals who are dedicated to research and development of new technologies and products. This role require Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering or Chemical / Engineering or related discipline or equivalent combination of education and research and development experience. Strong background in material synthesis methods including wet-chemical routes (sol-gel, co-precipitation, homogeneous precipitation, impregnation, etching), hydrothermal synthesis, solid state reactions, strong background and hands-on experience in material characterization including structural, surface, mechanical and electrochemical testing tools and command strong expertise in utilizing processing-structure-property/performance principles to design materials at the nanoscale, analyze properties and evaluate performance in the applications of interest etc. Website: http://bit.ly/1pMvTNm

Job description: The position focuses on building capabilities and skills in Computational Materials Science & Catalysis. The position is for the recently established Computational Centre of Expertise (CCoE) and applies the above skills to solve targeted problems in Shell’s businesses. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing electronic structure computational methods for materials simulation, and will manage as well as deliver a portfolio of computational R&D projects. The candidate is expected to seek out, evaluate, discover and invent DFT and post-DFT technologies relevant to Shell’s businesses. The responsibility is also to critically test ideas through the “fastest route to failure” and/or to champion & develop such technologies to the point of organizational commitment. The candidate should have and maintain a broad & deep technical network with research institutes, academia, and peers in Shell and other companies in order to be able to early recognize/test new ideas and approaches. Website: http://bit.ly/1pPEDmb

www.worldofchemicals.com Formulations Chemist - Metal Coatings

Senior Scientist Silicone Hydrogels

Quality Compliance Specialist

Company: Lubrizol Corporation

Company: DSM

Date posted: 28 March 2016

Date posted: 25 March 2016

Date posted: 28 March 2016

Country: US

End Date: 24 March 2016

Country: US

City: Texas

City: US

City: Pennsylvania

City: Cleveland

Job description: As the Formulations Chemist you will lead new product development projects for our metal coatings segment within North America. The candidates are charged with elevating our formulation and testing capabilities to industry-leading standards. This roleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key responsibility includes to derive new product development for metal coatings in the North America region to meet our global business and technical targets, lead and execute medium and long-term development projects to develop Coatings with unique and differentiated performance for Metal Substrates. And also to develop in-house formulation and testing capabilities that is equal to (if not better than) our customer base. For this role the candidate must hold qualifications like B.S. degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field from an accredited college/university, minimum 5 years experience in formulating and testing metal coatings, deep understanding of fundamentals of corrosion science etc.

Job description: This positionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key areas of accountability / responsibilities include experience in the execution of characterization techniques and the development of robust analytical methods, performing analysis of materials/chemicals, providing thorough interpretation of generated data, challenging the reliability of tests and if necessary, initiating alternative approaches to generate convincing data, devise product / formulation development programs/project plans and execute product / formulation development plans and projects in cooperation with customers, incorporating requirements for materials/chemical-process solutions etc. The ideal candidate should have BSc/MSc/ PhD science or technology or equivalent (chemistry, polymer chemistry, material science, chemical engineering, surface-physics, mechanical engineering, and biomaterials), excellent teamwork / cooperative skills with demonstrated experience in leading teams/projects. Website: : http://bit.ly/1OUv2D7

Company: : Ashland Inc

Job description: The primary role of this position is to perform daily production area audits for cGMP compliance and notify management of quality/compliance issues, batch packet reviews and approve cGMP product on a daily basis, support quality/manufacturing in failure investigations by defining investigational strategy, approving, tracking trends, and facilitating the flow through completion of failure investigations and arranging and directing Validation Committee meetings, coordinating validation activities, driving the Master Plan, serving as a resource for validation projects, interfacing with Corporate and other ISP sites to assure Plan harmonization, tracking progress and providing reports and presentations to management and other interested parties on Validation Committee progress. The candidate should contain Bachelor of Science as an educational qualification, 4 years experience in Quality in a chemical or related industry and strong computer skills with experience in ERP, LIMS, CRM and other global business applications. Website: http://bit.ly/1UEdYpL

Website: http://bit.ly/1qkW4vi

Akzo Nobel Company: Akzo Nobel Date posted: 30 March 2016 City: US City: Houston

Job description: The role of a Coatings Formulator is to support and direct activities like developing new products and technologies, testing/ support of existing products, processes and coating systems, developing fundamental understanding

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

of key coating attributes. This role requires important qualifications like bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree of science or equivalent in a science discipline with emphasis in chemistry, engineering, physics or related subjects, 5-7 years experience within a laboratory, preferably in the coatings industry or similar industry with obvious similarity in process which allows demonstration of skills etc.industry or similar industry with obvious similarity in process which allows demonstration of skills etc. Website: http://bit.ly/1onTy5Z

Coatings Formulator Research Associate Company: Syngenta Date posted: 29 March 2016 Country: India City: Goa

Job description: This role is responsible for organization of own laboratory work (may include ordering laboratory supplies and equipment), independently prepare and execute routine tasks including making suggestions for problem solving, supervise and maintain procedures, equipment, biomaterials and facilities according to defined guidelines. Website: : http://bit.ly/1UusgsN 87

PRODUCTS NEW PROCESS ANALYZER FOR REFINERY,

PETROCHEMICAL HYDROGEN MANAGEMENT ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, introduces the new HP30 hydrogen process analyzer intended for installation and use in refinery and petrochemical plant environments for the monitoring of hydrogen recycle and hydrogen make-up process streams. The HP30 embodies the ABB “Measurement made easy” design philosophy by providing a simple to install plug and play analyzer with built in sample conditioning and pressure regulation so that it can be directly connected to the process. This analyzer delivers fast and reliable hydrogen concentration measurements in the following unit operations; catalytic reformer, hydrocracker, isomerization unit, butamer off-gas, hydrotreater and fuel gas production. On a typical refinery process unit, the HP30 hydrogen analyzer can save more than $200,000 a year by improving hydrogen management. Incorrect hydrogen management can lead to catalyst failure or significantly reduced throughput. The HP30 helps to prevent these process upsets and avoid millions in catalyst replacement costs.

Contact: ABB Inc Measurement & Analytics Business Unit, Quebec, Canada Tel: +1 418-877-2944 E-Mail: contact.center@ca.abb.com Web: http://www.abb.com

Using the latest sensor technology, the HP30 is not affected by typical refinery contaminants such as H2S, CO, CO2 and light hydrocarbons. It does not require regular maintenance and has no expensive consumables.

INTRODUCTION OF MASS SPECTROMETER FOR REAL-TIME GAS ANALYSIS

Contact: JEOL USA, Inc. 11 Dearborn Road Peabody, MA 01960, USA 88

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Tel. (978) 535-5900 Fax (978) 536-2205 E-mail: salesinfo@jeol.com Web: http://www.jeolusa.com

The InfiTOF’s unique multi-turn ion optics provide high-resolution mass spectra in a system that is the size of a personal computer tower. Featuring a mass resolving power of up to 30,000, the InfiTOF can easily separate isobaric species such as CO+ and N¬2+ without chromatography. Ions can be detected over the mass range from m/z 1 (H+) to m/z 1000. These capabilities make the InfiTOF the ideal system for continuous monitoring of gas streams. The InfiTOF is the latest addition to JEOL’s line of Time-of-Flight systems, which include the AccuTOF-GCx high resolution mass spectrometer with GCxGC capability, the AccuTOF-DART atmospheric pressure ionization high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer (API-HRTOFMS), and the SpiralTOF MALDI imaging and linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

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NEW SPECTROMETERS FEATURE EXCEPTIONAL LEVELS OF

HIGH-PRESSURE ION CHROMATOGRAPHY SYSTEM

ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS PERFORMANCE

ENHANCES SIMPLICITY AND FLEXIBILITY

SPECTRO Analytical Instruments announced its new line of SPECTRO XEPOS spectrometers, representing a quantum leap inenergy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) technology and providing breakthrough advances in the multi-elemental analysis of major, minor, and trace element concentrations. New developments in excitation and detection introduced with the new SPECTRO XEPOS EDXRF spectrometers deliver outstanding sensitivity and detection limits and yield remarkable gains in precision and accuracy. The analyzers excel at critical tasks from rapid screening elemental analysis for environmental and waste sampling to demanding applications in research, academia, and geological science. They support precise product quality control at-line for a variety of applications such as chemical and petrochemical production, and the manufacture of cement, cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, and more. The new line of SPECTRO XEPOS spectrometers features Spectacular sensitivity, unparalleled precision, faster measurements etc. Redesigned operating software provides proven ease and power, while the unique new TurboQuant II software quickly and accurately analyzes practically any unknown liquid, powder, or solid sample. In addition, the new SPECTRO XEPOS spectrometers exhibit a significantly lower cost of ownership than wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) spectrometersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;thus delivering WD performance at an ED price for many applications.

Contact: SPECTRO Analytical Instruments GmbH Boschstr. 10, 47533 Kleve, Germany Telefon: +49 / 2821 / 8 92-0 Telefax: +49 / 2821 / 8 92-22 00 E-Mail: spectro.info@ametek.com Web: http://www.spectro.com Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

The Thermo Scientific DionexIntegrion HighPressure Ion Chromatography (HPIC) system, the newest addition to the Thermo Fisher Scientific ion chromatography portfolio, is intuitive and easy-to-use, and capable of addressing challenging laboratory workflows. The DionexIntegrion HPIC system delivers features previously available only on Thermo Scientific high-end systems, including high-pressure capability and optional electrochemical detection. With a simple, logical, flow-based plumbing layout and integrated performance features, including wholesystem smart monitoring, the DionexIntegrion HPIC offers fast run times in a robust and reliable system. The important additional features include easy-to-install IC PEEK Viper Fittings, which enable easy operation and minimize peak dispersion and band broadeningultimately improving chromatographic resolution. It also has a detachable tablet with local language support allowing the flexibility to access IC controls even while away from the instrument. Its consumables device monitor regulates installation errors by logging and tracking both system and consumable performance-storing data in a secure, cloud server that improves preventative maintenance and maximizes uptime. Also, the thermally regulated detector compartment provides extended life to consumables. The Thermo Scientific DionexChromeleon Chromatography Data System (CDS) software streamlines workflow from samples to results quickly and easily. The HPIC system breaks new ground in productivity and efficiency for environmental, food safety, pharmaceutical and industrial/petrochemical laboratories.

Contact: Thermo Fisher Scientific 81 Wyman Street, Waltham, MA USA 02451

Ph: 781-622-1000/800-678-5599 Email: laura.bright@thermofisher.com Web: www.thermofisher.com 89

PRODUCTS

MULTI-AGITATOR PLANETARY MIXER AND DISPERSER, NOW AVAILABLE IN LARGER MODELS Ross has expanded its most advanced planetary mixer line, the PDDM, to include larger working capacities up to 750 gallons. The PDDM is a multi-agitator mixer featuring two planetary stirrer blades and two high speed disperser shafts. Designed for highly viscous and highly filled applications, the hybrid planetary mixer/disperser can quickly incorporate large amounts of dry ingredients into thick or sticky liquid, and apply intense shear to achieve a smooth and uniform consistency. Shown is a 300-gallon model equipped with a total of four saw-tooth blades that spin on high speed shafts while revolving around the vessel, accelerating solids dispersion and particle size reduction. Two helical planetary stirrers rotate at lower speeds to constantly turnover batch material, ensuring that product is evenly mixed and heated regardless of flow characteristics. A sidewall scraper arm further enhances material and heat transfer around the vessel periphery.

Charles Ross & Son Company 710 Old Willets Path, Hauppauge, New York 11788, USA

Phone: 631 234 0500 Toll Free: 800 243 7677 Fax: 631 234 0691 Email: mail@mixers.com Web: http://www.mixers.com

At any stage of the mixing cycle, operators can easily finetune the observed flow turbulence and shear because the stirrers and dispersers are independently driven by two different motors. The PDDM is rated for vacuum operation up to 29.5 Hg and includes a jacketed change-can vessel, sight/charge ports on the cover and an automated lift for raising/lowering the agitators.

NEW GC-MS SYSTEMSPROVIDE EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE AND SMART OPERABILITY Shimadzu, one of the world leaders in analytical instrumentation, has released its GCMS-QP2020 high-end single quadrupole gas chromatograph mass spectrometer. With excellent performance and smart operability, the instrument satisfies a wide rangeof needs for single quadrupole GC-MS systems. The GCMS-QP2020 achieves the highestsensitivity in its class and enables high-speed performance for many applications. The new turbomolecular pump with improved exhaust efficiency provides higher accuracyin analysis, even when hydrogen or nitrogen in addition to helium is applied as thecarrier gas.

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The GCMS-QP2020 also features a function enabling switching of ionizationmodes without stopping the mass spectrometer as well as ultra-fast scan performance,which allows the use of various analytical conditions. The GCMS-QP2020 withShimadzuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many specialized databases and application software enables configurationstailored to a multitude of applications and purposes. The GCMS-QP2020 provides not only high-sensitivity and high-speed performance, but can also be used for a wide range of applications with enhanced, specialized databases designed for specific purposes, including the testing/inspection of food, pharmaceutical, chemical as well as the environmental applications.

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Shimadzu Europa GmbH Albert-Hahn-Str. 6-10, D-47269 Duisburg, Germany Tel.: +49 (0)203-7687410 E-Mail: us@shimadzu.eu Web: www.shimadzu.eu

DRY SCROLL PUMP VARIANT LAUNCHED, FOR AGGRESSIVE CHEMICAL APPLICATIONS Edwards has launched a special variant to its XDS range of dry scroll pumps, suitable for use in more aggressive applications. The new XDS-C dry scroll pumps are fitted with a Chemraz gas ballast non-return valve pad and exhaust valve pad, and stainless steel exhaust flange. These new features enable them to be used on applications where the exposed standard fluoroelastomer valve pads may be affected by the media being pumped, and cause rapid deterioration. XDS35iC and XDS45iC dry scroll pumps, with peak speeds of 35 and 40 m3h-1 respectively, can handle up to 240 grams per hour of water vapour and are ideal in harsh processes including wet chemistry applications such as rotary evaporation and distillation processes. The simple single sided scroll design allows routine maintenance to be done in minutes for maximum up-time. Edwardsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; XDS dry scroll pump provides an alternative to oil sealed rotary vane pumps and other dry technologies. Edwards Manor Royal Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9LW, United Kingdom Ph: +44 (0) 8459 212223 Fax: +44 (0) 1293 534149 Email: UKSales@edwardsvacuum.com Web: www.edwardsvacuum.com Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

It is lubricant free and hermetically sealed so it provides a totally clean and dry vacuum to prevent cross contamination. Unlike other scroll pumps, the bearings in the XDS range are isolated by the bellows, so that any aggressive chemicals involved in the process will not attack them.

PRODUCTS PRESSURE MEASUREMENT INNOVATION TO SOLVE INDUSTRIAL INSTALLATION CHALLENGES The Rosemount 3051S pressure transmitter by Emerson has been enhanced to allow new measurement possibilities in high-process temperatures or changing ambient conditions. First, the new Rosemount 3051S Thermal Range Expander with new UltraTherm 805 oil fill fluid enables pressure measurements by direct-mounting a diaphragm seal system to processes that reach up to 410°C (770°F) without requiring the challenging impulse piping or heat tracing used in traditional connection technology. Second, the Rosemount 3051S Electronic Remote Sensors (ERS) System now has safety certification. The ERS System calculates differential pressure through a digital architecture - and is now suitable for SIL 2 and 3 applications. Finally, the new Rosemount 3051S High Static Differential Pressure Transmitter provides reliable flow measurement in high pressure applications with capabilities up to 15,000 psi (1034 bar). Emerson Process Management 6021 Innovation Blvd, Shakopee, Minnesota 55379, United States Tel: +1 800 999 9307 / 952 906 8888 Fax: +1 952 949 7001 Email: RFQ.RMD-RCC@EmersonProcess.com Web: http://www2.emersonprocess.com

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As processing applications increasingly operate in conditions with extreme pressures and temperatures, operators must vigilantly monitor equipment integrity and stability in order to prevent failures, safety hazards and decreased production. In industries such as offshore and onshore oil and gas and power generation where pressures can exceed 10,000 psi, it is critical that instrumentation be robust enough to provide accurate measurements on a consistent basis. The transmitter’s SuperModule platform and coplanar design reduce potential leak points by 50 percent compared to traditional designs.

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QUOTES Frank Wegmann Managing Director of Praxair Germany and Benelux

Integrated petrochemical ports such as Antwerp remain highly competitive, continue to attract billions of dollars of investment and are positioned for growth for years to come

Dr Roger Perlmutter President, Merck Research Laboratories

Continued innovation is needed to help address the worldwide epidemic of chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Sergio Escuriet Global Applications Manager, Lubrizol

Integrating new vacuum metallization capabilities means we can remain at the forefront of innovation, continuing to bring new coating technology solutions to the packaging industry

Peter Cella President and CEO, Chevron Phillips Chemical

The horizon is bright for the petrochemical and manufacturing sector, meaning a more robust economy with higher-skilled and higher-paying jobs, particularly in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (or STEM)

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Dr. Jochen Norwig Manager in catalysis research, Covestro

By participating in the BMBF Production Dreams collaboration, we are redoubling our efforts to develop cost-effective and climate-friendly production processes that use CO2 as an element in high-performance plastics

Lauren Williams

Marketing Manager, Sensient Flavors

The 2016 trends to taste flavour predictions represent a larger, overarching shift in consumer thinking

Stuart May Business Director, Specialty Ingredients, Ashland EMEA

End-users are helping to drive legislative change across Europe to protect the environment, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moving tape and graphic manufacturers to rethink their products

Markus Heldt

President, Crop Protection Division, BASF Innovation remains a crucial component of agriculture today. It is a dynamic market, with ever-changing needs and new challenges, and we are happy that we can contribute with new solutions and technologies Chemical Today Magazine | March 2016

GLOSSARY PAGE NO

ABB Inc 88 Accenture Research analysis 70 Air Products 11 Akzo Nobel NV 80, 87 APGENCO 14 APL Logistics 73 Aramco 08 Arkema Group 80,85 Ashland Inc 85,87, 95 AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited 09 Azafran Innovacion 20,61 BASF 95 Biotique 61 Blossom Kochhar 61 BmorCosmeceuticals 82 Bostik 38,78 BP PLC 10 Buchholz High School 67 CBiRC 55 CH Robinson 73 Charles Ross & Son Company 90 Chevron Phillips Chemical 94 China National Petroleum Corporation 10 Chulalongkorn University 51 Colorado State University 49 Covestro 95 Dabur 62 Dalian University of Technology 51 DB Schenker Logistics 72 Department of Transportation 80 DPDHL 72 Drewry 68 DSM 87 DSV 73 Edwards 99 Emerson Process Management 92 EMS Energy Institute 51 Environmental Protection Agency 80 Euromonitor International 59 Food and Drug Administration 80 Forest Essentials 61 Future Market Insights 82 GAIL 14 Geodis 73 Goldman Sachs 73 Grand View Research Inc 58 Hathaway Brown School 67 HB Fuller 78 Henkel AG & Co KGaA 78, 85 Huntsman India 16 Indiana University 33 IOCL 14 Iowa State University 54 Japan Post 73 JEOL USA, Inc. 88 Jowat AG 85 Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd 14 Kimberlite Chemicals (India) Private Limited 86 Kintetsu World Express 73 96

PAGE NO

KPMG 75 Kuehne & Nagel 72 Lotus 61 Lubrizol Corporation 65, 87,94 Mangalore Refineries & Petrochemicals Ltd 14 Merck Research Laboratories 94 MIT 36, 47 MyChelle Dermaceuticlas 82 NanoM Technologies, LLC 43 National Research Foundation of Singapore 47 Neovia Logistics 73 Northern Centre for Mood Disorders 27 Novozymes 25 Oak Ridge High School 66 Orica 86 Oxbridge Academy 66 Ozburn-Hessey Logistics 73 Palmetto Adhesives Company 85 Patanjali 61 Pennsylvania State University 51 Praxair 94 Private Lable Nutracueticals 82 Purdue University 30 Rhone Capital 73 RNCOS 82 Royal Dutch Shell Plc 80 SABIC 86 Sealock Ltd 85 Sensient Flavors 95 Shell 86 Shimadzu Europa GmbH 91 Sika AG 85 Sipol SpA 85 Sisley 82 SPECTRO Analytical Instruments GmbH 89 Sun Pharma 09 Swiss National Science Foundation 40 Syngenta 87 Tamilnadu Newsprint and Papers Limited 14 Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 43 The 3M Company 85 The Brearley School 67 The Dow Chemical Company 86 The Freedonia Group Inc 78 The Himalaya Drug Company 61 Thermo Fisher Scientific 89 Toll Group 73 University Of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) 43, 45 University of Amsterdam 56 University Of Copenhagen 28 University Of Iowa 28 University of Manchester 57 University of Michigan 36 University of Southern California 31 University of Warwick 38 US National Science Foundation 47 UTi Worldwide 73 VLCC 61 XPO Logistics 72

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