License current licensing systems

Two options are being developed at the moment. The first is to produce 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol) from glycerol. 1,2-Propanediol has a number of industrial uses, including as a less toxic alternative to ethylene glycol in anti-freeze. Conventionally, 1,2-propanediol is made from a petrochemical feedstock, propylene oxide. The new process uses a combination of a copper-chromite catalyst and reactive distillation. The catalyst operates at a lower temperature and pressure than alternative systems 220°C compared to 260°C and 10 bar compared to 150 bar. The process also produces fewer by-products, and should be cheaper than petrochemical routes at current prices for natural glycerol. The first commercial plant is under construction and the process is being actively licensed to other companies. 

This powerpoint presentation reviews food-contact regulations worldwide with reference to current systems for regulating food-contact materials. These include general safety requirements, licensing/registration, mandatory and voluntary positive lists, no objection letters, and combinations of the above and their applicability to various countries. 

It is recognized that as wood preservative systems that exhibit broad-spectrum activity are phased out, there will be an increase in the use of systems that are designed to be Tit for purpose . In the area of wood modification, it is well known that some systems perform well in some situations and less well in others. There will need to be a framework of tests that recognize this fact and allow products to be licensed that perform entirely satisfactorily in service, even though they may fail the current tests as they stand at the moment. 

Asahi Chemical EHD Processes. In the late 1960s, Asahi Chemical Industries in Japan developed an alternative electrolyte system for the electroreductive coupling of acrylonitrile. The catholyte in the Asahi divided cell process consisted of an emulsion of acrylonitrile and electrolysis products in a 10% aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium sulfate. The concentration of acrylonitrile in the aqueous phase for the original Monsanto process was 15—20 wt %, but the Asahi process uses only about 2 wt %. Asahi claims simpler separation and purification of the adiponitrile from the catholyte. A cation-exchange membrane is employed with dilute sulfuric acid in the anode compartment. The cathode is lead containing 6% antimony, and the anode is the same alloy but also contains 0.7% silver (45). The current efficiency is of 88—89%, with an adiponitrile selectivity of 91%. This process, started by Asahi in 1971, at Nobeoka City, Japan, is also operated by the Rhcjme Poulenc subsidiary, Rhodia, in Brazil under license from Asahi. 

Table 32.2 summarizes expression systems that are currently used in the biotechnology industry for generating stable cell lines. Before one makes a decision as to which expression system is preferred, it is important to evaluate all aspects including productivity and time needed for cell line development, as well as potential license fee and cost. 

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