Acquisition
Codexis, Inc. has acquired BilCatalytics, Inc.  BioCatalytics is a private company that has produced custom and off-the-shelf enzymes used in chemical process manufacturing by pharmaceutical and fine chemical companies.  The acquisition combines two companies focused on biocatalysis, a high-growth clean technology that uses specialized enzymes to accelerate and improve the economics and environmental impact of chemical reactions.

Start up
ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing LLC and Thai Paraxylene started the first licensed application in Thailand of ExxonMobil’s new Olgone technology.  The Olgone process was implemented at Thai PX’s Sriracha petrochemical complex and removes olefinic contaminants from a heavy reformate feed, replacing a traditional clay treatment process.  The mixed xylenes separated from the treated heavy reformate are converted to paraxylene as the final product.

Joint venture
The Dow Chemical Company and Solvay S.A. will create a joint venture for the construction of a hydrogen peroxide plant in Thailand.  The new plant, scheduled to be operational in 2010, will serve as a raw material source for the manufacture of propylene oxide.  The plant will be the largest in the world, with a capacity of more than 330 kilotons/year of hydrogen peroxide at 100% concentration.