Full Text for October 2007, Volume 51, Number 4

 

This issue contains the following:

Improvements to Industrial Process Using Rhodium Catalyst (Part II)
Richard Tudor and Michael Ashley (Davy Process Technology Ltd, London, U.K.) describe some of the improvements made to the LP Oxo^SM Process for the hydroformylation of alkenes after the early plants started operation using propylene, and the use of the process in non-propylene applications. Part I, published in the July 2007 issue of Platinum Metals Review, described the initial research and development for the process, and its commercialisation.

 

PGMs for Industrial Catalysis
The second Novel Chiral Chemistries Japan (NCCJ) Conference and Exhibition was held in Tokyo from 16th to 17th April 2007. David J. Ager (DSM, Raleigh, U.S.A.) reviews the event, reporting an emphasis on the need to develop both more efficient asymmetric catalysts and the means to identify them. The wide variety of topics and applications discussed demonstrates that use of the platinum group metals (pgms) continues to provide new and useful methodologies to prepare fine chemicals on an industrial scale.

 

Carbene Ligands for Catalysis
A recent special issue of Coordination Chemistry Reviews has been devoted to N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. Entitled: “Recent Developments in the Organometallic Chemistry of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes”, the Guest Editor of the publication is Robert H. Crabtree (Department of Chemistry, Yale University, U.S.A.). NHCs are significant as spectator ligands in having both steric and electronic tunability, and the capability to promote many useful catalytic reactions. For catalytic applications, NHCs have been chiefly incorporated into pgms.

 

Working Characteristics of Pure Platinum
Platinum is often used in industrial applications in the form of the nominally pure metal, since impurities and alloying elements may adversely affect both its working characteristics and its stability against corrosion. Low strength, typical of a metal of this purity, is accepted in industrial products. Yu. N. Loginov (Ural State Technical University, Ekaterinburg, Russia), A. V. Yermakov, L. G. Grohovskaya and G. I. Studenok (The Ekaterinburg Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Plant JSC, Ekaterinburg, Russia) present work on the rheological characteristics of 99.93 wt.% platinum, including its deformation resistance, aimed at optimising the technical parameters for the thermal and mechanical processing of platinum.

 

Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalysis
Thomas Ilkenhans (Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Sonning Common, U.K.) attended the 40th Conference ‘Deutscher Katalytiker’ in Weimar, Germany, from 14th to 16th March 2007. This selective review covers aspects of the presented work featuring the pgms. The meeting covered a range of topics, from fundamental studies to industrial catalysis. These include the design of catalysts for molecular and supramolecular chemistry, synthesis of metal nanoparticles, preparation and application of supported pgm catalysts, and homogeneous palladium-catalysed reactions.

 
 
Metal-Catalysed Industrial Organic Processes
Robin B. Bedford (School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, U.K.), reviews the book “Metal-catalysis in Industrial Organic Processes”, edited by G. P. Chiusoli and P. M. Maitlis. Filling the gap in the market between textbooks on homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis and treatises on particular processes, the book covers industrially significant examples of catalysis, from large-scale commercial applications to fine chemicals and pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis, including pgm-catalysed processes.

 

Platinum-Based Superalloys (Part II)
A. Watson¹, R. Süss^2,3,4 and L. A. Cornish^2,3,4 (¹University of Leeds, U.K.; ²Mintek; ³DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials; ⁴University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa) continue their report on a collaborative project to build up a platinum-aluminium-chromium-ruthenium (Pt-Al-Cr-Ru) database, for the prediction of phase diagrams for alloy development. Part I appeared in the July 2007 issue of Platinum Metals Review. This paper (Part II) addresses the Pt-Cr-Ru system using new models appropriate to sparse data, with encouraging results. Part III will appear in a future issue of this Journal.

 

Platinum and Palladium for Jewellery Manufacturing
The 21st annual Santa Fe Symposium was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A., from 20th to 23rd May 2007. Christopher W. Corti (COReGOLD Technology Consultancy, Reading, U.K.) reports that palladium jewellery is causing excitement among manufacturing jewellers, with increasing recognition that palladium is quite different in its manufacturing behaviour from platinum. The presentations relating to palladium as a jewellery alloy provide a firm technical underpinning for its application. Further presentations addressed the technology of platinum jewellery manufacture, adding to the already substantial knowledge base for this metal.

 

High-Throughput Techniques for PGM Applications
Kim Chandler¹, Ann Keep¹, Sue Ellis² and Sarah Ball² (¹Johnson Matthey, Royston, U.K.; ²Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Sonning Common, U.K.) review a selection of chapters from the book: “Combinatorial and High-Throughput Discovery and Optimization of Catalysts and Materials”, edited by Radislav A. Potyrailo and Wilhelm F. Maier. The chapters cover some of the range of industrial applications of the pgms studied using combinatorial and high-throughput techniques. PGM applications covered include gas-sensitive field-effect devices, catalyst development for hydrogen generation and for the carbonylation of phenol, and fuel cell electrocatalyst technology. The first in this two-part series of selective reviews appeared in the April 2007 issue of Platinum Metals Review.

 

Abstracts, New Patents and Annual Indexes
A selection of abstracts from the scientific and patent literature is presented. This issue also includes the Subject and Name Indexes for Volume 51.

Barry W. Copping
Editor

Contact
The Editor, Platinum Metals Review, Johnson Matthey PLC, Orchard Road, Royston, Hertfordshire SG8 5HE, United Kingdom; Fax +44 (0) 1763 256359; Email jmpmr@matthey.com

Please click below for PDF file of: