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| March 5, 2008 |
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Mitsubishi Chemical Receives the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize
at the 7th Green and Sustainable Chemistry Award
for the “development of an environmentally benign THF polymerization process
utilizing solid acid catalysis.” |
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| Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation |
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It was officially announced today that Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yoshimitsu Kobayashi), along with Mitsubishi Chemical Group Science and Technology Research Center, Inc. (Head office: Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa; President and CEO: Iwao Yamamoto) and Mitsubishi Chemical Engineering Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takayasu Gonda), has been awarded the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize at the 7th Green and Sustainable Chemistry Award from the
Green and Sustainable Chemistry (GSC) Network.
The award was granted for the “development of an environmentally benign THF polymerization process utilizing solid acid catalysis,” a new technology concerning the production of polyether compounds (polyoxy tetramethylene glycol, PTMG), a substance for which demand has soared recently as a raw material for the production of elastic fibers. This innovative technology substitutes a new solid acid catalyst, a mixed solid oxide catalyst composed of zirconium oxide and silicon oxide, for the conventional strong acid catalyst (fluorosulfuric acid). This catalyst is distributed stably with high concentration on the surface of porous materials with wider pores (mesoporous materials), so that catalytic activity is not hindered in the polymerization reaction. It has also reduced the environmental burden by substantially achieving zero-emissions of catalyst waste (salt containing fluorine) generated by the acid neutralization in the conventional process. The waste reduction effects have been demonstrated in commercial manufacturing and, furthermore, this new process contributes to energy conservation.
The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize is given for achievements that contribute to the development of industrial technologies. We see this prize as being awarded to honor our achievements in energy conservation and in catalyst technology over many years.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, along with our entire Group, will further strive to reduce the environmental burden caused by any of our business activities through the promotion of natural resource and energy saving, waste reduction, reuse and recycling, environmental conservation, and the development of related technologies.
| For further information, please contact |
Public Relations and Investor Relations Department
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation |
| Tel: +81-(0)3-6414-3730 |
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