Skip to main content

ACC challenges PFOA/S limits 

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has filed a petition in DC Circuit Court challenging the EPA’s Lifetime Health Advisories (LHAs) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, above) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). These are both part of the much-maligned wider group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Lygos-FSI merger progresses

A registration statement has been filed with the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) concerning the previously announced merger of two North American biotechs, Lygos and Flexible Solutions International (FSI). The two announced a definitive merger agreement in April to form “a leading sustainable specialty ingredient company for agricultural, industrial, and consumer applications”.

Green aniline breakthrough claimed

Researchers at the University of Glasgow have published a paper demonstrating a new and more environment-friendly method of creating anilines at room temperature and pressure using a redox mediator. This builds on over a decade of work on mediators, said project lead Dr Mark Symes (pictured) in Cell Reports Physical Science.

Umicore in Canada CAM plant deal

Umicore is to build a facility for cathode active materials and their precursors in Loyalist, Ontario. Construction is due to start in 2023 with operations beginning in 2025. By 2050, it will produce enough to power about one million electric vehicles. The plant will be run entirely on renewable energy.

Singapore site for WuXi AppTec

WuXi AppTec has announced a plan to build a new R&D and manufacturing site in Singapore at a cost of up to $1.4 billion. It will be created in stages over the next ten years, depending on the company’s business needs.

The company added that the site will serve “a critical role in its global network across Asia, Europe and North America”. It ill include “laboratories and facilities that provide a broad portfolio of R&D and manufacturing services” for the pharmaceutical industry.

Bachem automates SPPS

Bachem, the world market leader in peptides, has automated and digitalised one of its core business processes, solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). The company describes this as the start of its journey to Industry 4.0. The process is described in detail on the company website (www.bachem.com/news/bachem-journey-to-industry-4-0/).

Subscribe to Current issue