Arkema goes organic with new catalyst

International chemical firm Arkema has launched the Oxynitrox S100 - an entirely organic catalyst.

Arkema's new catalyst contains no metallic el-ments, and has the chemical structure of a nitroxide type polymer (a nitroxyl radical), yet has proved as effective as conventional metallic oxidisation catalysts. The specific polymer structure of the catalyst makes it recyclable.

In addition to the environmental benefits of using an organic catalyst, the S100 also affords savings in energy consumption, because optimum performance can be achieved at ambient temperature.

The S100 catalyst has a number of prospects for the treatment of fine chemicals, allowing selective oxidisation of primary alcohols into aldehydes and the conversion of secondary alcohols into ketones.

The new catalyst will find application in the pharmaceutical market.