NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

Protein aggregates save cells during aging

Max Planck Scientists identify new role of
protein aggregates in neurodegeneration
As an organism ages, a gradual loss of cellular protein quality
control occurs. This results in the increased production of toxic
protein clumps, so-called aggregates. Using a comprehensive
approach, researchers in the teams of F.-Ulrich Hartl and Matthias
Mann at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried
near Munich now analysed the changes in protein composition
during aging. The results published in the journal Cell show that
the quantities of proteins undergo a severe shift. This also sheds
new light on the origin and function of protein aggregates. The
study also involves the groups of Michele Vendruscolo and Chris
Dobson in Cambridge and of Richard Morimoto in Chicago.
Aging is a complex biological process which is accompanied
by an increasing number of toxic protein aggregates in the cells.
Scientists consider them the cause of various neurodegenerative
disorders, such as Alzheimers, Huntingtons and Parkinsons
disease. However, their exact role remains poorly understood.
A collaborative team headed by F.-Ulrich Hartl at the MPIB now
used the tiny nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans (short: C.
elegans) as a model organism to analyse the changes that occur
in the proteome (the entirety of all proteins) during a lifespan.
The study is the most extensive of its kind in a whole organism
quantifying more than 5,000 different proteins at multiple time
points during aging, explains Prasad Kasturi, equally contributing
first author together with Dirk Walther.
The researchers were able to show that the proteome undergoes
extensive changes as the worms age. About one third of the
quantified proteins significantly change in abundance. The
normal relation between different proteins, which is critical for
proper cell function, is lost. This shift overwhelms the machinery of
protein quality control and impairs the functionality of the proteins.

This is reflected in the widespread aggregation of surplus proteins

ultimately contributing to the death of the animals.
Based on these findings, the researchers also analysed how
genetically changed worms with a substantially longer or shorter
lifespan manage these changes. We found that proteome
imbalance sets in earlier and is increased in short-lived worms.
In contrast, long-lived worms coped much better and their
proteome composition deviated less dramatically from that of
young animals, as Kasturi says. Surprisingly, the long-lived worms
increasingly deposited surplus and harmful proteins in insoluble
aggregates, thus relieving pressure on the soluble, functional
proteome. However, in contrast to the aggregates found in shortlived animals, these deposits were enriched with helper proteins
the so-called molecular chaperones which apparently
prevented the toxic effects normally exerted by aggregates.
These findings demonstrate that the cells specifically
accumulate chaperone-rich protein aggregates as a safety
mechanism. Therefore, the aggregates seem to be an
important part of healthy aging, Kasturi explains. Indeed, it
is known that insoluble protein aggregates also accumulate
in the brains of healthy elderly people. So far, researchers
assumed that neurodegeneration and dementia appear to
be mainly caused by aberrant protein species accumulating
in aggregates. This assumption may now be tested again:
Clearly, aggregates are not always harmful. Finding ways to
concentrate harmful proteins in insoluble deposits might be
a useful strategy to avoid or postpone neurodegenerative
diseases as we age, Hartl classifies the results.
Max Planck Institute

IMPROVING SUB-AMBIENT REACTION REPRODUCIBILITY

The DrySyn Snowstorm MULTI from Asynt provides a simple and highly effective way to perform
multiple reactions in parallel across a large temperature range including sub-ambient chemistries
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scale. The DrySyn Snowstorm MULTI is able to accommodate up to 12 vials or three 100ml round
bottom flasks offering sub ambient reactions in parallel without the need for jacketed reaction
vessels, or ice baths. Operating with a suitable chiller / circulator, a DrySyn SnowStorm MULTI provides
accurate, stable temperature control down to -60C and up to +150C. Being able to maintain a subambient temperature, sometimes for significant periods, is important for reaction reproducibility. The
DrySyn SnowStorm MULTI connects to an external chiller unit and holds temperatures at a set-point for
as long as is required. Setting temperature ramping profiles is also possible on the DrySyn Snowstorm
MULTI which is important in crystallisation studies. For further information please visit www.asynt.com/
product/drysynsnowstormreactor/ or contact Asynt on +44-1638-781709 / sales@asynt.com

Chimica Oggi - Chemistry Today - vol. 33(3) May/June 2015

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

2015 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON GPC/SEC AND RELATED TECHNIQUES
October 20-22, 2015
Hilton Philadelphia at Penns Landing, Philadelphia, PA
The International Symposium on GPC/SEC and Related Techniques is a unique event on the scientific calendar, which focuses on
bringing together the three key elements of Instrumentation Innovation, Industrial Research and Academia. Through a series of scientific
presentations and open forum discussions, led by some of the most renowned experts in this field, attendees are immediately immersed
into open debate surrounding the most important and current analytical challenges facing the polymer characterization industry.
EXPERT DAY
The symposium will begin with an Expert Day on October 20 with presentations by some of the worlds leading polymer scientists:
GPC/SEC SYMPOSIUM 2015
SESSION TOPICS

GPC/SEC Potential and Limitations

GPC/SEC Applications using Viscometry and Light Scattering Technique

GPC/SEC Applications using Mass Spectrometry, NMR, and FTIR

Fractionation Techniques (GPC/SEC, SFC, LAC, FFF, CE)

Hyphenated Fractionation and Multi-Dimensional Techniques

A Vendors Perspective on Current Analytical Challenges

Interaction Polymer Chromatography, IPC

Wisdom of the Crowd

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Telephone: +49 30 468 11247 or +49 30 468 12030 | Telefax: +49 30 468 11450
www.bayer-pharmachemicals.com

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

Zentek
distributes
uorinated
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Epilepsy drug could help

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University of British Columbia researchers say a new epilepsy drug

holds promise as a treatment for Alzheimers disease.
The findings, published in Alzheimers Research & Therapy, reinforce
the theory that brain hyperexcitability plays an important role in
Alzheimers disease, and that anticonvulsant drugs drugs that
prevent or reduce the severity of seizures represent a promising
treatment that deserve further human studies.
In previous studies, several groups have tested the effects of the
widely used anticonvulsant drug levetiracetam in both rodent models
as well as two clinical trials in patients with early signs of Alzheimers
disease. The findings suggest it may slow some of the symptoms of the
disease, including memory loss.
In this newest research, Dr. Haakon Nygaard, the Fipke Professor in
Alzheimers Research in UBCs Faculty of Medicine, tested the effects
of brivaracetam, an anticonvulsant drug still in clinical development
for epilepsy, and closely related to levetiracetam. Since it is 10 times
more potent than levetiracetam, it can be used at lower dosages.
Nygaard and his colleagues found that it completely reversed
memory loss in a rodent model of Alzheimers disease.
While the drug appears effective, the researchers are unclear how it
works to reverse memory loss. Nygaard also points out that the current
study represents very preliminary data with respect to treating patients
with Alzheimers disease.
Now we have many different research groups using antiepileptic
drugs that engage the same target, and all point to a therapeutic
effect in both Alzheimers disease models, and patients with the
disease, said Nygaard, a researcher with the Djavad Mowafaghian
Centre for Brain Health. Both of these drugs are likely to be tested in
larger clinical trials in Alzheimers disease over the next five to 10 years.
Larger clinical studies in human subjects will be needed before we
can determine whether anticonvulsant therapy will be part of our
future therapeutic arsenal against Alzheimers.
BACKGROUND
Alzheimers is the most common cause of dementia among older people.
It slowly destroys memory and cognitive skills, and eventually the ability to
carry out simple, daily tasks. In 2011, 747,000 Canadians were living with
dementia, a number expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2031.
Its been known for a few decades that patients with Alzheimers have an
increased risk of seizures, especially in people with a family history of the
disease. There is now a growing body of evidence that certain mechanisms
related to how the brain is wired are shared between Alzheimers and
epilepsy. This led researchers to test anticonvulsant drugs as potential
treatments for Alzheimers. While some drugs like levetiracetam and
brivaracetam appear to work, others do not. In this study, Nygaard and his
colleagues also tested the anticonvulsant ethosuximide but found that it
was not effective in reversing symptoms in an Alzheimers model.
The study was co-authored by UBCs Linda Huh and Yale University
researchers: Adam Kaufman, Tomoko Sekine-Konno, Hilary Going,
Samantha Feldman, Mikhail Kostylev, and Stephen Strittmatter.
University of British Columbia

Chimica Oggi - Chemistry Today - vol. 33(3) May/June 2015

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NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

Novel catalyst used to make styrene in one step
Styrene is an important industrial chemical. It is the precursor to
polystyrene which is used in various every day plastic products, like
disposable cups, packaging, and insulation. Over 18.5m tons of
styrene is produced industrially around the world. Typically, styrene
synthesis begins with benzene and ethylene, and involves a multistep process under harsh reaction conditions and often leads to
unwanted by-products.
In research that aims to streamline and optimize styrene synthesis
Benjamin A. Vaughan, Michael S. Webster-Gardiner, Thomas R.
Cundari, and T. Brent Gunnoe from the Department of Chemistry at
the University of Virginia and the Center for Advanced Modeling in
the Department of Chemistry at the University of North Texas have
devised a single-step synthesis of styrene using a novel rhodium
catalyst. Their work appears in Science.
The production of styrene, or vinyl arenes in general, involves
benzene alkylation. This is typically done under harsh conditions
involving high temperatures and either a Friedel-Crafts or zeolite
catalyst. This process typically involves poly-alkylated bi-products.
Additionally, the alkyl substituent will then need to be oxidized to
form the vinyl group, which is usually accomplished with a metal
oxide at high temperatures. The products are the target vinyl arene
and hydrogen gas, as well as any bi-products from poly-alkylation.
Products from poly-alkylation are converted to ethylbenzene in a
trans-alkylation step, which follows the alkylation reaction.
Prior research from this group, found that this synthetic process
can be streamlined using a platinum catalyst for the alkylation of
benzene, and the alkyl group will subsequently undergo betahydride elimination, forming free styrene. However, this process
degrades the platinum catalyst, likely because the platinum ion
further reduces to platinum metal during the beta-elimination
phase of the reaction.
To make this one-step process industrially feasible, they need to find
an optimal catalyst. Ideally, this catalyst would directly vinylate the
benzene ring rather than initial alkylation followed by oxidation of
the alkyl group. Additionally this catalyst would not lead to multiple
side reactions and have a high turnover number even in harsh
oxidative conditions and in the presence of highly reactive metal
hydrides. Furthermore, industrially favorable mechanisms would
involve recovering and recycling the oxidant using air or oxygen.

For this paper, Vaughan et al. designed a catalyst with rhodium

rather than platinum in hopes that the less favorable reduction
of Rh(I) to elemental rhodium compared to the reduction of Pt(II)
would maintain the integrity of the catalyst.
Prior work in designing a rhodium-based catalyst for a reaction
that has a similar carbon-hydrogen activation step was adapted
with an ethylene coordinated to the rhodium complex. The ligand
framework likely serves to protect rhodium from oxidative damage
and may serve other important functions in the mechanism. With
this ligand serving to protect the metal, they decided to use a Cu(II)
salt as an oxidant because there is precedent for the recovery of
Cu(I) and re-oxidizing it to obtain Cu(II), thus enabling the possibility
of recycling the oxidant.
Testing of their catalyst with Cu(OAc)2 at 150oC in benzene lead
to 58 to 62 turnovers in twenty-four hours. Characterization showed
high selectivity for styrene, and the copper salt as the limiting
reagent. The reaction was optimized by testing various copper salts,
temperatures, and concentration of ethylene gas. Cu(OAc)2, while
it causes a slower reaction rate than other copper salts, provided a
more stable reaction process. Additionally, while the reaction rate
did increase with increasing temperature, the catalyst degraded
when the temperature was above 180oC. Finally, the reaction rate
increased as ethylene pressure was increased.
The optimized reaction conditions provided a near-quantitative
yield of styrene with a large turnover number for the catalyst, and
the catalyst maintained its integrity for up to 96 hours. The best
turnover number observed was at least 800. Kinetic studies showed
that this reaction appears to be first-order with respect to ethylene
concentration, which is unique to this particular catalyst. Additional
kinetic studies revealed that there is a kinetic isotope effect with kH/
kD ~ 3.1, which is consistent with other transition metal-mediated
C-H activation reactions.
While further studies need to be done to analyze the reaction
mechanism, this paper provides a framework by which a novel
rhodium complex allows for a one-step reaction to form styrene
from benzene and ethylene.
Reference
"A rhodium catalyst for single-step styrene production from benzene
and ethylene" Science DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa2260

HIGH PERFORMANCE AIR CONDENSER

The Asynt CondenSyn is a new high performance air condenser for synthetic chemistry experiments that requires no cooling water for
operation. Organisations are growing increasingly concerned about both the environmental impact and indeed the cost of running a
research facility. A condenser is often required for synthetic experiments and therefore an essential tool for the research chemist. Whilst
condensers cooled by a circulating fluid such as water are effective, their constant need for running tap water creates an environmental
and cost issue. Consequently such condensers should ideally be attached to a recirculating chiller unit which will not just reduce the
environmental impact but also the long term running costs. Drawing upon over 30 years of scientific glass manufacturing knowledge,
Asynt has created an affordable high-surface-area air condenser, which is both safe and operationally effective. The robust design uses
a new borosilicate glass manufacturing technique and this, together with a proprietary multiple hyperbolic profile, ensures optimum heat
removal as vapours pass along its length. CondenSyn additionally incorporates a non-roll feature to help prevent accidents if left on a lab
bench. Offering clear visibility of ongoing experimental reflux, the Asynt CondenSyn is easy to clean and maintain. An extended period
testing the performance of the CondenSyn air condenser has been shown to be equivalent to a Liebig type condenser being used with
tap water. By not using water as the condensing coolant the CondenSyn eliminates the environmental and running costs associated with
the need for constant running tap water as well as potential issues associated with water leakage. For further information please visit http://
www.asynt.com/product/asynt-condensyn-air-condenser/ or contact Asynt on +44-1638-781709 / sales@asynt.com

10

Chimica Oggi - Chemistry Today - vol. 33(3) May/June 2015

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

Diagnostics of quality of graphene and spatial
imaging of reactivity centers on carbon surface
A convenient procedure to visualize defects on graphene layers by
mapping the surface of carbon materials with an appropriate contrast
agent was introduced by a team of researchers from Zelinsky Institute of
Organic Chemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow) involved
in international collaborative project. Developed imaging (tomography)
procedure has revealed organized patterns of defects on large areas of
carbon surfaces. Several types of defects on the carbon surface can be
"caught" and captured on the microscopic image within a few minutes.
The article describing the research was published in Chemical Science
journal of Royal Society of Chemistry (DOI: 10.1039/c5sc00802f).
Graphene and related 2D materials are anticipated to become the
compounds of the century. It is not surprising -- graphene is extremely
thin and strong, as well as possesses outstanding electrical and thermal
characteristics. The impact of material with such unique properties may
be really impressive. Scientists foresight the imminent appearance of
novel biomedical applications, new generation of smart materials, highly
efficient light conversion and photocatalysis reinforced by graphene.
However, the stumbling block is that many unique properties and
capabilities are related to only perfect graphene with controlled number
of defects. However, in reality ideal defect-free graphene surface is
difficult to prepare and defects may have various sizes and shapes. In
addition, dynamic behaviour and fluctuations make the defects difficult
to locate. The process of scanning of large areas of graphene sheets
in order to find out defect locations and to estimate the quality of the
material is a time-consuming task. Let alone a lack of simple direct
methods to capture and visualize defects on the carbon surface.
Joint research project carried out by Ananikov and co-workers revealed

specific contrast agent -- soluble palladium complex -- that selectively

attaches to defect areas on the surface of carbon materials. Pd
attachment leads to formation of nanoparticles, which can be easily
detected using a routine electron microscope. The more reactive
the carbon center is, the stronger is the binding of contrast agent in
the imaging procedure. Thus, reactivity centers and defect sites on a
carbon surface were mapped in three-dimensional space with high
resolution and excellent contrast using a handy nanoscale imaging
procedure. The developed procedure distinguished carbon defects
not only due to difference in their morphology, but also due to varying
chemical reactivity. Therefore, this imaging approach enables the
chemical reactivity to be visualized with spatial resolution.
Mapping carbon reactivity centers with "Pd markers" gave unique insight
into the reactivity of the graphene layers. As revealed in the study, more
than 2000 reactive centers can be located per 1 m2 of the surface area
of regular carbon material. The study pointed out the spatial complexity
of the carbon material at the nanoscale. Mapping of surface defect
density showed substantial gradients and variations across the surface
area, which can possess a kind of organized structures of defects.
Medical application of imaging (tomography) for diagnostics, including the
usage of contrast agents for more accuracy and easier observation, has
proven its utility for many years. The present study highlights a new possibility
in tomography applications to run diagnostics of materials at atomic scale.
References
The article Spatial imaging of carbon reactivity centers in Pd/C
catalytic systems by E. O. Pentsak, A. S. Kashin, M. V. Polynski, K. O.
Kvashnina, P. Glatzel and V. P. Ananikov was published in Chemical
Science journal of Royal Society of Chemistry.

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

Characterizing Extractables from Packaging Materials
Characterizing extractables from packaging involves testing the extracts for known compounds. However, final packaging
may have impurities present from the starting materials and additional degradants. The first step in ensuring that these
compounds do not pose any toxicological risks to the consumer is to identify the extractables, or at least their structural class.
Structural elucidation of unknowns is typically a complex and time-consuming process. Waters UNIFI Scientific Information
System utilizes accurate mass and fragment information to simplify data review and facilitate decision-making. Analysts can
evaluate complex data more efficiently and quickly make decisions about the possible identity of an unknown compound. The
described LC-MS and Informatics workflow, which employs high-resolution mass spectrometry can be adopted for cosmetics,
food, and pharmaceutical packaging extractable applications.
To learn more download the complete Application Note:
http://www.waters.com/waters/library.htm?cid=511436&lid=134836651

HIGH PERFORMANCE AIR CONDENSER

The Asynt CondenSyn is a new high performance air condenser for synthetic chemistry experiments that requires no cooling
water for operation. Organisations are growing increasingly concerned about both the environmental impact and indeed
the cost of running a research facility. A condenser is often required for synthetic experiments and therefore an essential tool
for the research chemist. Whilst condensers cooled by a circulating fluid such as water are effective, their constant need for
running tap water creates an environmental and cost issue. Consequently such condensers should ideally be attached to a
recirculating chiller unit which will not just reduce the environmental impact but also the long term running costs. Drawing upon
over 30 years of scientific glass manufacturing knowledge, Asynt has created an affordable high-surface-area air condenser,
which is both safe and operationally effective. The robust design uses a new borosilicate glass manufacturing technique
and this, together with a proprietary multiple hyperbolic profile, ensures optimum heat removal as vapours pass along its
length. CondenSyn additionally incorporates a non-roll feature to help prevent accidents if left on a lab bench. Offering clear
visibility of ongoing experimental reflux, the Asynt CondenSyn is easy to clean and maintain. An extended period testing the
performance of the CondenSyn air condenser has been shown to be equivalent to a Liebig type condenser being used with
tap water. By not using water as the condensing coolant the CondenSyn eliminates the environmental and running costs
associated with the need for constant running tap water as well as potential issues associated with water leakage. For further
information please visit http://www.asynt.com/product/asynt-condensyn-air-condenser/ or contact Asynt on +44-1638-781709 /
sales@asynt.com

Superior Temperature Technology for a Better Life

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

MULTIPLE BUSINESSES ARE DRIVING THE COMPANYS
GROWTH
Speaking at the companys annual meeting of
shareholders, Wendell P. Weeks, Corning Incorporateds
chairman, chief executive officer, and president, said:
Corning is financially healthy, our businesses are growing,
and we are capturing exciting new opportunities to
apply our unique expertise to solve tough technology
challenges. Looking ahead, he conveyed his confidence
in Cornings future and noted that multiple businesses are
driving the companys growth.
2014 Results and 2015 Quarter Performance
Weeks described 2014 as an outstanding year, including
the highest sales in Cornings history. He attributed
profitability increases to a combination of top-line growth
and cost reductions across the organization. He also noted
that Corning had exceeded its expectations for synergies
from the integration of Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd.
www.corning.com

SUMITOMO CORPORATION INVESTS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

INFRASTUCTURE TO HELP BALANCE ELECTRICITY GRID
SERVING NORTHEASTERN U.S.
Sumitomo Corporation together with Sumitomo
Corporation of Americas (collectively Sumitomo
Corporation Group) have announced their investment
in an innovative battery power storage system which will
provide a reliable and stable supply-demand balancing
service for the frequency regulation market operated
by PJM, the largest independent service operator of
wholesale electricity in the U.S. Sumitomo acquired an
interest in Willey Battery Utility, LLC (WBU) from Renewable
Energy Systems Americas (RES), a part of the RES Group,
the U.S. renewable energy developer and constructor,
through Perennial Power Holdings, a U.S.-based subsidiary
of the Sumitomo Corporation Group. WBU will own
this battery power storage system (maximum output:
6 MW, capacity: 2 MWh) manufactured by Toshiba
Corporation. This is the Companys first investment in a
large-scale stand-alone battery storage facility in the
United States. With the increase in the percentage of
electricity generated from renewable resources with
high output fluctuation, such as wind and solar energy,
it is becoming increasingly important to balance and
manage any difference between actual and forecast
electricity demand and stabilize the output of electricity
to consumers. Storage batteries like the one WBU will have
at its facility in Ohio will provide the frequency regulation
market an automated mechanism to supply regulated
power. Such power has conventionally been supplied by
thermal and hydraulic power generation. In the United
States, however, it is believed that the introduction of
battery storage systems along with other new technologies
will provide promising alternatives, as they can respond
quickly to demand variations and enable fine-tuned
adjustment.
www.sumitomocorp.co.jp

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Chimica Oggi - Chemistry Today - vol. 33(3) May/June 2015

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NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

SIEGFRIED AWARDED WITH LIFE SCIENCE LEADER CMO AWARD
On March 18, Siegfried received a Life Science Leader CMO Award at the Award Ceremony held at the annual DCAT
event in New York. Siegfried was recognized by industry executives in the four categories Innovation, Productivity, Quality
& Regulatory Record. Once again, Siegfried was nominated as a top CMO receiving a Life Science Leader CMO Award
having been ranked by industry executives worldwide in 4 out of 5 categories (Innovation, Productivity, Quality, and Regulatory
Record). Companies achieving top 10 percentile perception scores are recognized for their achievement and are presented
with a CMO Leadership Award. Marianne Spne, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Development, Marketing &
Sales: Our company is again recognized as a CMO in the top 10% of pharmaceutical service partners for the pharmaceutical
and biopharmaceutical industry. This good result proves the high quality awareness and exceptional commitment of the whole
Siegfried team".
www.siegfried.ch

VERTELLUS SHOWCASES NON-TOXIC PLASTICS ADDITIVES AT NPE 2015 AS SAFE, SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO MEET INDUSTRY NEEDS
Growing interest among consumers and legislators in the safety and environmental impact of traditional plasticizers is
prompting the plastics industry to seek new solutions. Entellus, a leading global supplier of additives to the plastics and
polymer industries, is addressing this issue with its bio-based, non-toxic Citroflex plasticizers and Topanol antioxidants that
have a long history of safe use. Both high-performance additive product lines also deliver low volatility and low leaching,
making them suitable for a wide range of polymers used in food packaging, medical applications and childrens toys.
Increasing regulation and greater consumer awareness clearly point to the need for safer and more sustainable
solutions said Mike Szabo, business director, Plastics at Vertellus. Our biobased Citroflex plasticizers are derived from citric
acid, which has been used safely in food for many years, and our Topanol antioxidants have earned broad approval in
food contact applications. By replacing traditional compounds with these technologies, the plastics industry can reassure
consumers and get ahead of the curve on upcoming regulatory restrictions. Due in part to the ongoing industry debate
over the safety and environmental impact of traditional compounds, some retailers and manufacturers of infant and
childrens items have voluntarily stopped carrying or using products made with these additives in response to pressure
from consumers.
Non-Toxic Alternatives
Vertellus Citroflex plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other polymers are citric acid esters, which have a long history
as plasticizers and lubricants in food contact applications, such as rigid food containers and packaging films. These bio-based,
non-toxic additives have also demonstrated safety in childrens toys and medical applications. As an added benefit, Citroflex
products deliver superior tensile strength and ultimate elongation performance compared to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
and di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA). The companys Topanol CA and CA-SF additives can replace traditional materials as an
antioxidant in a wide range of polymer systems. They provide excellent protection against thermal and oxidative degradation
at low loadings and are compatible with many secondary additives.
www.vertellus.com

AMRI HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAS DECIDED TO CLOSE ITS HOLYWELL, U.K. FACILITY
AMRI has announced that it has decided to close its Holywell, U.K. facility following a consultation process with
employee representatives. The Holywell site provides chemical development services and small- and large scalemanufacturing services of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and intermediates. "This was a difficult decision
as it impacts team members who have made valuable contributions to AMRI" said William S. Marth, AMRI President
and Chief Executive Officer. "We will work diligently to ensure the closing of the Holywell facility goes as smoothly as
possible for our customers and employees". AMRI will transition activities at the Holywell site to other facilities within the
AMRI network and plans to cease operations at the site by the end of 2015. Closure of the site is expected to affect
approximately 62 positions.
http://ir.amriglobal.com

JOHNSON MATTHEY COMPLETES SALE OF GOLD AND SILVER REFINING BUSINESS TO ASAHI
Johnson Matthey has announces that it has completed the sale of its Gold and Silver Refining business to Asahi Holdings, Inc.
(Asahi). This completes the transaction, which was first announced on 15th December 2014. Commenting on the transaction,
Robert MacLeod, Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey said: "The divestment of the Gold and Silver Refining business is in line
with our long term strategy to focus on areas where we can use our expertise in chemistry and its applications to deliver high
technology solutions or that provide a strategic service to the wider Johnson Matthey group".
www.matthey.com

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Chimica Oggi - Chemistry Today - vol. 33(3) May/June 2015