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CHEMICAL NEWS

TOWARDS THE WORLD CHEMICAL SUMMITpage 2

PROJECTS SHOWN AT THE SMART PLACEpage 7

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY: A KEY SECTOR FOR THE ECONOMYpage 8

INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS CONFERENCEpage 10

MEDITERRANEAN CONGRESS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERINGpage. 16

PHARMAPROCESS SEMINARpage 20

SHALE GAS, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE INDUSTRYpage 21

NANOMED SEMINARpage 23

LOGISTICS AND CHEMISTRY SEMINARpage 24

‘SCIENCE AND COOKING’page 25

EXPOQUIMIA AWARDS 2014page 26

WORLD CONGRESS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2017page 28

http://www.expoquimia.com


http://www.equiplast.com

http://www.eurosurfas.com

CHEMICAL NEWS page 2

The balance is optimistic: the number of high-calibre visitors, essentially decision-makers, increased by 11% compared to the previous event. Dur-ing the simultaneous edition of Expo-

quimia, Eurosurfas and Equiplast, between Sep-tember 30th and October 3rd, the Gran Via venue of Fira Barcelona received about 38,000 profes-sionals, practically the same number of visitors as in 2011, but this year lasting a day less.

According to the event director, Pilar Navarro, the results of this edition are very positive in that “they give us an indication that we’re on the right track to becoming the future World Chemical Summit, an international bridge between science and industry.” The goal is to become, in the next ten years, this new worldwide reference event within the sector.

Meanwhile, the president of Expoquimia, Luis Ser-rano, highlighted “the sector’s excellent response to and interest in the show, at a time when we are seeing the first positive signs of economic recovery.” In this respect, during the show the Business Fed-eration of the Spanish Chemical Industry (FEIQUE) announced the economic forecast for the sector for the coming two years, which envisages an increase in turnover of 3.2% in 2014 and of 4% in 2015.

The strength of the Spanish chemical industry and its influence on the wellbeing of present-day soci-ety was reflected in the ‘Smart Chemistry Smart Future’ project, which showcased the contribu-tions that this industry makes in key areas such as energy, water, health and smart cities, which proved very popular with visitors.

The next edition of Expoquimia, Eurosurfas and Equiplast will be held on 1-5 October 2017 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via exhibition centre.

Towards the World Chemical SummitThe 2014 edition of Expoquimia, Eurosurfas and Equiplast has been marked by the boost to its international vocation. The three trade shows can therefore take a confident step forward on the road to their transformation into the future World Chemical Summit, a global benchmark event for the chemical, surface treatments and plastics and rubber sectors.

INCREASED VISITOR NUMBERS AND HIG QUALITY BUYERS

THE GLOBAL NUMBERS

- 734 exhibitors- 37.900 visitors- Over 3,000 product- Over 2,300 represented brands- 200 technological innovations- 300 business meetings at the WICAP Forum- 50 global projects- 160 activities, including congresses, seminars, conferences and presentations- 1785 congress participants

THE NEXT EDITION WILL BE HELD ON 1-5 OCTOBER 2017





SATISFACTION

The 17th edition of Expoquimia, the International Chemistry Event at Fira de Barcelona, exceeded expectations and closed its doors with a satisfaction atmosphere. The event registered a high number of business meetings and contacts among exhibitors and visitors from several countries.

The president of Expoquimia, Luis Serrano, stressed the “high quality of the visitors, especially those from emerging markets” and the importance of “the business meetings that took place within the show”. He is also pleased with “the cross-cutting profile of the three shows, as they offer solutions to a specific type of specialised visitor”. In addition to being the great commercial showcase in this sector, Expoquimia has confirmed its role as a promotion and outreach platform for the Spanish chemical industry.

With 412 exhibitors, and besides 2,171 products from 1,751 represented brands and 120 technological innovations, Expoquimia has also had a wide programme of congresses and seminars, including the 13th Mediterranean Congress of Chemical Engineering and the 14th Instrumental Analysis Conference.

INTEREST ON NEW MACHINERY

Equiplast, the International Plastics and Rubber Event, has contributed to sales with a high number of business contacts. The new machinery presented at the show caught the attention of international visitors, including over a hundred VIP Buyers from countries like China, India or South Africa.

In this edition of Equiplast 63 technological innovations and 356 products were presented by 233 direct exhibitors representing 450 brands from all over the world. It seems that “the sector is facing a change in the trend”, according to Bernd Roegele, president of the show, who also expressed his “optimism” on the increase of sales of machinery un the next few months as “many contacts initiated in Equiplast will crystallize in a near future”.

NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Eurosurfas, the International Surface Treatment Event, has promoted sales and new business contacts with representatives from other sectors such as the automotive or aerospace industries. A total of 89 exhibiting companies have participated, presenting a total of 593 products from 159 represented brands from all over the world. Contacts were made with top executives from automotive companies as Peugeot or Nissan, as well as with VIP Buyers from countries like China, Israel or South Africa, among others.

The president of the event, Giampiero Cortinovis, stressed “the effort of the organisation to open up to new sectors which, on the other hand, are potential costumers” of the surface treatment industry. Cortinovis congratulated “the companies that have recognised the opportunity of participating in Eurosurfas”.

http://www.suschem.org/






Juan Antonio LabatFEIQUE“We look for solutions on how to get energy in the future and provide health and food for 9,000 million people within the next 30 years”

Pablo de Haro ABRASIVOS Y MAQUINARIA SA“I would underline the commitment to innovation and the bet for renewal in every issue”

Rosa Maria LlealLLEAL SA“Bringing together the science and the industrial fields can create significant synergies”

Jordi SalvansHELMUT ROEGELE“Equiplast is a meeting point for all professionals in the plastics sector”

Martín CayreARBURG“For me it represents the consolidation of the plastic injection market “

Joan SerretHENKEL“The important thing is to exchange information and network with customers and the industry in general”

Views on the event

http://www.suschem.org/






WICAP PROJECTS

AIJU- INSTITUTO TECNOLÓGICO DE PRODUCTOINFANTIL Y OCIO

AIMPLAS-CDTI

ANYPLAST

ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA FINITURE DEI METALLI RIVISTA

BARCELONA KNOWLEDGE CAMPUS

CDTI

CEFIC

GALLINA BLANCA

GEA

GERMANY TRADE & INVESTMENT

GOLDEMAR SOLUTIONS SL - UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE CATALUNYA

Valorization of natural and industrial resources in toys, children’s and consumer products. ROTELEC - Sustainable and innovative rotomoulding process and

biomaterials for automotive products and efficient toys. New generation prototype moulds

Bugworkers.

The recycled plastic e-Marketplace.

Hardalt project.

BKC chemistry presentation.

Invierte programma presentation Horizon 2020. Opportunities for Research and Innovation for

the Chemical Sector.National Contact Point Social Challenge 5 - H2020: “Climate Action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials”.

R4R: Chemical Regions for Resource Efficiency.

CENTRE TECNOLOGIC DE QUIMICA SOSTENIBLE

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & CHEMICAL IN ISRAEL

CPTUB

CURECHEM

DG ENTERPRISE AND INDUSTRY -EUROPEAN COMMISSION.

DG RESEARCH AND INNOVATION -EUROPEAN COMISION

DOW CHEMICAL

DOW-CEFIC

ENGINEERING STATEGIC PARTNER

Materials with advanced features by “dual click” healing.

“Methanol as Alternative Fuel for Automobiles” project.

Cold gas spray: innovative technology in surface engineering.

Support and knowledge to take advantage of business opportunities in African markets.

European Innovation Policies and newly-created clusters.

Key technologies that open up possibilities and the roadmap of this general direction.

Investigation of treatment technologies, reuse and control for the future sustainability of water purification.

European Industrial Policy: what impact for the chemical industry?

Algiers refinery rehabilitation and adaption project.

CEFIC-FEIQUE SusChem & SPIRE. Guidelines & next calls

Advanced techniques to identify allergens presence in factories and food.

Modification and improvement of existing evaporation plants in the industry.

The advantages of Germany as an investment location.

Production of gold clusters for applications in the cleaning and automotive sectors.

WICAP is the formula for success that will lead Barcelona to become a scientific and industrial world reference with the World Chemical Summit, an international, cross-cutting and innovative platform, where science, technology and industry will meet.





ICL

INSTITUT CATALÀ D’INVESTIGACIÓ QUÍMICA

INSTITUT DE BIOENGINYERIA DE CATALUNYA

INSTITUT DE CIÈNCIA DE MATERIALS DE BARCELONA

INSTITUT DE NANOCIÈNCIA I NANOTECNOLOGIA

INSTITUT D’INVESTIGACIONS BIOMÈDIQUES AUGUST PI I SUNYER- HOSPITAL CLÍNIC

INSTITUT QUÍMIC DE SÀRRIA

INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN BIOMEDICINE

IQAP MASTERBATCH GROUP S.L

IRIS

KERN PHARMA

KH LLOREDA

NISSAN

OCAS

OXIQUIM

REVERTE-CDTI- CENTRO DEL DESARROLLO INDUSTRIAL

SINCROTRON ALBA

SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA PARA INTERNET DE LAS COSAS

SOCIÉTÉ ENNADHAFA

THE ISRAEL CHEMICAL SOCIETY

VALL D’HEBRON RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Bromine based rechargeable batteries: chemistry and electrochemistry.

Presentation of examples of valorization of intellectual property at the ICIQ. Presentation of examples of industrial collaborations at the ICIQ.

Theralight: optopharmacology for the brain CellNanoMech Dermoglass Advanced characterization of complex materials

DELOS technology platform for the preparation of particulate materi-als for medicine, cosmetics and products with high added value.

Micro and Nano-encapsulation. Graphene. Nanofabrication.

Innovation model at Hospital Clinic-IDIBAPS Research Institute.

Fluorescent labels for use in phototherapy photodiagnosis in the near-infrared.

Interaction between chemistry, biology and structural biology.

Development of new masterbatches with natural waste.

ProPAT.

Standardization of packaging: capacity and flexibility.

Non-stick repellent softening action type or pretreated for clothes, and 100% ecologic packaging (plastics optimization).

Towards a green and energy efficient vehicle production plant.

Semi-industrial plating unit for hard chrome electrodepositing using trivalent chrome technology.

Implementation of the new liquefied gas terminal in Quintero Bay, with their process plants.

Process for obtaining nanoparticles of technical calcium carbonate (nanomarble ibk-09611).

Alba Synchrotron and its industrial applications.

On line traceability in the cold chain supported on IoT (Internet of Things).

“Mankind Faces Sunny Future and so Chemistry” presentation.

From bench to market: Transbiomed a VHIR spin off company.

WICAP PROJECTS




RESOURCES: ENERGY & WATERTO MEET GLOBAL DEMAND IN 2030

SOLVAY (with Bayer and Air Liquide) Impulse. It is the first manned solar aircraft without fuel and emissions. New techniques are used in the field of insulation, coating and pressurization.

BAYER CO2 as feedstock. It is used for the manufacture of plastic materials like high quality polyurethane.

REPSOL Marc Márquez’ motorcycle. It represents the contribution of chemistry to the competition.

BASF Wind turbine. With blades made from epoxy resin, a thermoplastic reference material known for high endurance.

DOW CHEMICAL Water ultrafiltration membrane. It con-tributes to water savings and provides high quality water.

DOW CHEMICAL/SENER Cylindrical- parabolic solar collector. It allows concentrating solar radiation onto a central tube through which a heat transfer fluid circulates.

ABELLÓ LINDE Hydrogen refueling station. Its ionic compression technology compresses hydrogen to 700 bar.

SHALE GAS ESPAÑA Hydraulic fragmentation safety system. It ensures maximum protection of aquifers in the process.

AQUALOGY Electrochemical water treatment technology. It treats the most difficult wastewater.

SMART CITIESMORE EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES

PRAXAIR Carbon fiber products. Exhibition of different vehicle parts.

DOW CHEMICALSmart Cities model. Recreation of an entire small-scale smart city.

ERCROS Bioplastics exhibition. Simulation of the biodegradation of a final product made from bioplastics with a low environmental impact.

REPSOL Repsol Campus. Model of this cutting-edge sustainability building, the first in Spain to get a LEED certification

BASF Smart Car. Smart Forvision Prototype which maximizes energy efficiency.

REPSOLElectric motorbike. Easier battery charge system with more autonomy.

DOW CHEMICAL Recyclable carpet. With the latest technology in polypropylene fibers.

AIR LIQUIDE Alphagaz bottle. For pure gases and mixtures at the laboratory.

CEPSAFormula 1 Car. With chemicals in the car frame, fuel and tires.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES 4UCHEMISTRY FOR ICT

REPSOL Graphene wafers. Recent advances applied to grapheme, a material suitable for the development of batteries, supercapacitors, solar cells and thermal management devices.

AIR LIQUIDE Weon glasses. They contain microcomponents through technology and materials provided by chemistry

3D printer and pen. Capable of generating volumetric parts from plastics

Ultra high purity vector gases for manufacturing smartphones. For smaller and smarter mobile devices design.

LIFE: HEALTH AND FOODDRUG DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD PRESERVATION

BAYERBrazil 2014 World Cup ball. With impranil coating, five coats of polyurethane, and an adhesive that binds the coats thermally.

PRAXAIR Materials manufactured with gases. Display of some examples.

BASF Adidas boost sneakers. Made from polyurethane.

DOW CHEMICAL Olypimpic sled. It reaches speeds of 145 km/h thanks to the high performance material used in its manufacture.

BASF Polyurethane Refrigerator. With new possibilities that will be key in the future of the sector.

BAYER Exoskeleton (robot suit). Chemistry and robotics go together to help disabled people.

AIR LIQUIDE Food CO2 for cooling drinks. Instantly generates a thin layer of dry ice at -70 ° C.

ABELLÓ LINDE Cryogenic super cooling system. It keeps the quality and flavour of food subject to his type of cooling.

Projects shown at The Smart PlaceSMART CHEMISTRY, SMART FUTURE



The structure of the chemical in-dustry is well established: small and medium enterprises predomi-nate. More than half (56%) of the 3,100 companies in the sector have

less than 10 employees and 29% do not ex-ceed 49. Only 11 companies have more than 1,000 employees. Another feature that does not change over the years is the high terri-torial concentration of economic activity in the sector with three very prominent prov-inces -Barcelona, Tarragona, and Huelva- and other relevant poles in the Mediterranean and Cantabrian coast, with the exception of Puertollano and Aragon in the inland.

RESISTANCE TO THE CRISIS According to Feique’s report the Spanish chemical sector remains crucial in the coun-try’s economy since it represents 10.8% of industrial GDP, slightly above the 9.5% it rep-resented in 2007 when the current economic crisis officially began.

Resistance to the crisis also can be seen in the evolution of turnover since 2007. The sector has experienced only two years of negative growth in the last seven years: in 2009 with the loss of 9 points, and in 2012 with a drop of 1%. In 2013 growth, albeit very modestly, recovered with 0.3%. It is also important to note that in a wider perspective, if the turnover is observed since 2000, the increase so far has been slightly above 54%.

The sectors with the highest percentage of business are in this order: medicinal products,

plastics and rubber, and organic chemistry. Only these three account for almost 57% of the total.

SECOND EXPORTER The evolution of exports since 2007 shows that the external market makes the Spanish chemical industry stronger. In the last 7 years,

SPAIN HAS QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES, COMPE-TITIVE LABOUR COSTS, A SAFE AND DIVERSI-FIED ENERGY SUPPLY AND EXCELLENT IN-FRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT LOGISTICS

A key sector for the economyFeique published by in 2014 a snapshot on the Spanish chemical sector provides key figures to understand the relevant contribution of this sector to the Spanish economy. This makes it a very attractive area for foreign investment

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN SPAIN

INVEST IN SPAIN

Feique with collaboration from ICEX-Invest in Spain has de-veloped the report Invest in Chemicals. Invest in Spain. This report points out that the chemical industry integrates dif-ferent sectors, supplying raw materials for 98% of productive economic activities in the country. It also highlights that 40% of the sector’s output goes to the final consumer, making it a tractor industry that benefit other sectors of the manufactur-ing industry and the economy as a whole.

Invest in Chemicals. Invest in Spain stresses that innovation is a very prominent feature of the sector, without forgetting safety and the environment. In 2014, Spain joined the United States and Italy as the only countries in which it is possible to get a certification for the implementation of the Responsible Care programme for businesses.

The agency Invest in Spain advises international investors and offers incentives and support lines from different na-tional and regional agencies that adapt to different types of demand.





this figure has been positive in all years except in 2009. In 2013 exports increased 5.5%, dou-bling 2012 figures. If data are taken from 2000 the foreign sales increase has been 156%. This makes the chemical industry the second larg-est exporter in the Spanish economy.

In terms of occupation, it has to be noted that the induced employment has been estimated at half a million jobs. While the average an-nual number of employees has been declin-ing since 2007, it is an industry that provides

quality employment. In fact it has a very high relative job security compared to other sec-tors. About 95% of contracts are permanent, when the industrial sector average is 85% and the average for the Spanish economy is 77%.

Finally, the industry looks to the future with a clear commitment to research. Personnel en-gaged in this activity compared to the whole industrial sector is 21% -slightly above the 2007 figure- In absolute terms the Spanish chemical industry has now 8,000 researchers.

Turnover

55,300 M EUROS Evolution of Chemical Industry Turnover2000 - 2013 (Million E)

Annual Growth

2000

35,717

2007

5.5%

49,743

2008

5.7%

52,585

2009

-9.3%

47,714

2010

11.4%

53,153

2011

4.7%

55,657

2012

-1.0%

55,171

2013

0.3%

55,228

Growth2000 - 2013

54.5%

FUENTE: INE. ENCUESTA INDUSTRIAL DE EMPRESAS, ÍNDICE DE PRODUCCIÓN Y PRECIOS, Y ELABORACIÓN PROPIA

Radiografía de la Industria Química Española





Ambient mass spectrometry:the whole world in your handsA series of contemporary revolutions have moved mass spectrometry out from “the hell of complexity” to “the heavens of simplicity”, making MS easier and simpler than ever. One of the most revolutionary ones is the Easy Ambient Sonic-spray Ionization (EASI) method developed by Dr. Marcos Eberlin, and he was at the 14th Instrumental Analysis Conferences to explain its details and applications.

Mass spectrometry is generally viewed as a highly complex and demanding technique, and some still think that de-manding sample preparation

protocols may be required to acquire a useful mass spectrum. But all that belongs to the past now, according to the plenary talk that Dr. Mar-cos Eberlin dictated during the 14th Instrumental Analysis Conference (JAI) within Expoquimia. “MS has moved out from “the hell of complexity” to “the heavens of simplicity””, said one of the maxi-mum world experts in the field.

Dr. MARCOS N. EBERLIN is the founder of the Thomson Mass Spectrometry Laboratory –named after the 1906 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the electron- at the University of Campinas, in Brazil. This lab is pioneering mass spectrometry research in many areas such as ambient mass spectrometry, MS imaging, and MS fingerprinting for forensic investigations.

He has authored close to 600 scientific papers and the quality and relevance of his scientific work is recognized throughout the world. He is co-founder and currently the President of the International Mass Spectrometry Foundation.

MS provides a wide range of information on mol-ecules: from mass and composition to structure, connectivity and physicochemical properties such as acidity. Selectivity, sensibility and separa-tion are clue factors in MS, as well as high speed. And now simplicity is a new attribute that allows MS to be successfully performed out in the real world, in the natural environment where chemical analysis might be needed.

THE EVOLUTION OF IONIZATION METHODSThat has been possible thanks to a new ionization technique known as EASI, or Easy Ambient Son-ic-spray Ionization, developed by Dr. Eberlin in

“THE BEST SAMPLE PREPARATION IS NONE AT ALL. AND THAT IS POSSIBLE NOW”

“WE CAN ANALYSE THE WHOLE WORLD”

14th INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS CONFERENCE (JAI) SPECIAL COVERAGE



2006, as a revolutionary evolution from previous methods, as he thoroughly explained in his talk.

Ionization is the base for MS, and by the end of the last century it had all become a very complex process. Some solutions arrived by combining different innovations. First, the development of Electrospray Ionization (ESI) by John Fenn (Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2002), was “revolutionary, we should consider that mass spectrometry has two eras: before and after John Fenn”, said Dr. Eberlin. The second new important technique was MALDI, the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization, which allows analysing molecules that are too fragile to be ionized by other methods.

The size revolution was also an important step: from complex big structures the size of a room a few years ago, to new mass spectrometers that are just handy 5-kilo machines.

SAMPLE PREPARATION: ONE MORE PROBLEM TO SOLVE“The best sample preparation is none at all”, stressed Dr. Eberlin, “just being able to analyse any sample directly. And that is possible now”. DART (Direct Analysis in Real Time) developed by Robert Cody in 2005, and DESI (Desorption Electrospray Ionization), by R. Graham Cooks just one year lat-er, have been the two first techniques to facilitate real ambient mass spectrometry. But two chal-lenges were still remaining at this stage: the need for high voltage and heat for ionization.

EASI SOLUTIONWith all these techniques in mind, Dr. Eberlin fi-nally got an answer from the Sonic Spray Ioniza-

tion developed by Atsumu Hirabayashi in Japan in 1994, a method that does not require voltage or heat to produce ions, just sonic velocity.

Therefore, the EASI method for ambient mass spectrometry designed by Dr. Eberlin is way much simpler that all its predecessors, and it actually just needs compressed N2 and spray solvent to bombard any surface at open atmos-phere. “All you need is a gas cylinder and a sy-ringe pump, and you are doing mass spectrom-etry”, he clarified.

COUNTLESS APPLICATIONSAmbient MS can be used for drug analysis, identi-fying ingredients in a very fast and easy way. It is also useful for oils, biodiesel or gasoline, to name a few: just one drop is enough to verify purity, identify counterfeits or detect mixtures. In the same way, it is being used to identify real per-fumes or aged liquors. In forensic investigation, it has simplified the analysis of fingerprints and the detection of fake dollar o euro bills.

“In-situ reactions can be monitored in real time”, said Dr. Eberlin, making it also possible to apply MS to waters in lakes and rivers, identifying wood or plants, fish or caviar. Medicine is another im-portant field of application: “MS in a surgery room can now analyse the extent of a tumor in real time and help to determine what to remove. We can actually analyse the whole world”.

SIMPLICITY IS THE NEW ATTRIBUTE OF MASS SPECTROMETRY



Bioelectronics: towards smart biosensors and implantable devicesSmart bioelectronic systems are extremely interesting for medical, environmental and homeland security applications. Professor Evgeny Katz is one of the main developers in this area, and he explained his team’s latest research results during a plenary talk in the 14th Instrumental Analysis Conference within Expoquimia.

Biomolecular computing, biosensors and bioactuators, and implantable bi-ofuel cells are the three main research lines that are conforming a promising future in bioelectronics, according

to Dr. Evgeny Katz. This world leading researcher addressed all these three interconnected fields in his talk before quite an astonished audience, es-pecially when he got to explain his ‘cyborg snails’ that are able to provide energy from the glucose in an animal’s tissue.

BIOMOLECULAR COMPUTING“We are not pretending to make a computer from molecules”, started Dr. Katz, “just some specific kind of sensors”. The goal of this line of research is to get information processing based on en-

EVGENY KATZ is a full professor at the Department of Chem-istry and Biomolecular Science at Clarkson University in Post-dam, New York, since 2006, and has also researched at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in Israel (2001-2006) and the Institute of Photosyntesis of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1983-1991).

He is a specialist in biofuel cells, biofunctionalized nanomate-rials for bioelectronic and biomedical applications, bionano-engineering and biosensors, with outstanding achievements in all fields of biochemistry.

Dr. Katz has authored over 380 scientific papers and book chapters, and he has been included in the Thomson Reuters list of the world’s top 100 chemists, ranked by the impact of their published research, as #63 from approximately a million chemists indexed.

zyme-catalyzed biochemical reactions. That is, to create biosensors with biomolecular logic pro-cessing of input signals, able to analyse several chemicals in a cascade mode in a way that gives only one output signal: yes or no. “It is obviously not useful for complex situations, but it is excel-lent for getting immediate conclusions that allow instant reaction”, said Dr. Katz.

The main problem is to specify the exact meaning of ‘yes’ and ‘no’ in each case, considering that ‘no’ does not always mean ‘complete lack of’ but ‘levels

“IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET ELECTRICAL POWER FROM A LIVING BODY? YES!”




under certain amount’, for example. One obvious application would be to determine the medical condition of soldiers in the battlefield (most of the funding for this research actually comes from the US Department of Defense): to quickly determine if certain drugs should be administered immedi-ately, in cases of liver or soft tissue injuries, or ab-dominal trauma, for instance. More experiments have to be conducted yet in this area, according to the speaker.

BIOSENSORS AND BIOACTUATORSWhat if those biosensors were able to actuate too? The main idea of this line of research is to translate several signals into chemical reactions and an applicable yes/no output. That is, if the biosensors get to analyse and determine a result in which a drug release is needed, the very same biomolecular computing system would be able to take action.

The problem is that a system like that would need power to function, as some electrodes would have to activate the drug release. And that is were biofuel cells could be extremely useful.

IMPLANTABLE BIOFUEL CELLSThe third and most innovative line of research presented by Dr. Evgeny Katz in his talk is the implantable biofuel cells. “Is it possible to get electrical power from a living body, including a

human body? Yes!”, said Dr. Katz, “For example, from glucose”. One clear application would be to provide energy to implanted devices such as pacemaker, that now have a battery life of about ten years.

Dr. Katz’ team has been working with biofuel cells operating in vivo in the lab, adapted to several kinds of enzymes, and have applied it to snails, clams and lobsters so far. Although the first ex-periments were disappointing, as the voltage decreases quickly, they soon found out that it got back when glucose came up again. “Snails got to produce electricity from regular feeding for sever-al months”, said Dr. Katz, about this research that has been published in Nature under a ‘Cyborg snails’ title.

The results are promising, but there is still a ma-jor problem: the medical electronic devices work with several batteries and higher voltage than the one these biofuel cells can provide so far. So, be-sides improving the cells, Dr. Katz hopes that elec-tronic designers might also adapt to lower voltag-es. Those are the challenges in bioelectronics for the next years.

Implanted biofuel cells for operating in vivo in invertebrates: (a) snail, (b) clam, and (c) lobster.

DR. KATZ’ TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH BIO-FUEL CELLS OPERATING IN VIVO IN THE LAB



Successful comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography methodsLCxLC is developing fast and has already proved to be successful. Although comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography is still used rather sporadically and some might consider the technique relatively immature, professor Peter Schoenmakers explained all its potential during his plenary talk within the JAI Conference.

Two-dimensional liquid chromatog-raphy (LCxLC) is much more useful than its gas chromatography (GCxGC) counterpart, because most known chemicals are not volatile and stable

enough to render them compatible with GC. That was the first statement from Dr. Peter Schoenmak-ers during his talk during the 14th Instrumental Analysis Conference (JAI). LC is itself more suitable for polar molecules (like carbohydrates and pep-tides), and also for large molecules (like polymers or proteins).

DR. PETER SCHOENMAKERS is a full professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Amsterdam and he has special-ized in developing and applying successful comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LCxLC) methods. He is also the editor of Journal of Chromatography A (since 2003) and has published over 200 papers, as well as edited several books. Dr. Schoenmakers has received several inter-national awards of chromatography science.

But the real change arrives with LCxLC and ultra-high pressure systems in terms of productivity: whereas a one-dimensionsal liquid chromato-gram can accommodate up to 1,000 peaks at a rate of about one peak per minute, a contem-porary two-dimensional liquid chromatogram can accommodate the same quantity at a rate of about one peak per second. LCxLC is therefore 60 times faster than LC. And time is crucial, because “too long time frames are not appropriate in the industry sector. Slow methods might be ok for students and researchers,” stressed Dr. Schoen-makers, “but it is not something that the industry could use”.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LC AND LCxLC IN PRACTICEAccording to the talk by Dr. Schoenmakers, per-forming LCxLC is only slightly more difficult than performing one-dimensional LC separations. What actually happens in LCxLC is that a sam-

LCxLC PROVIDES COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SAMPLE




ple is first separated into many fractions on a first-dimension column. Each of these fractions is subsequently separated on a second-dimension column. It therefore needs two mobile-phase de-livery systems instead of one, two columns, and some interface between the two dimensions. The interface is normally one or two switching valves. Collecting and analysing the data is more complicated though, but not more difficult than in two-dimensional gas chromatography and it is expected to get easier now that some fully con-trolled and reliable LCxLC instruments are becom-ing commercially available. LCxLC provides com-plete information about the sample.

SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF LCxLC METHODS“Almost all trial-and-error experiments are a com-prehensive waste of time,” stated Dr. Shoenmak-ers. Developing correct LCxLC methods is there-fore crucial. That includes considering not one but two good one-dimensional LC methods from the available repertoire. Ideally, the two chosen meth-ods should exhibit different selectivities for the sample in order to obtain rigorous interpretation and quantitation and all physical parameters, the modulation time and the chromatographic condi-tions need to be carefully optimized.

It goes without saying that method development is so far the most difficult and tricky aspect of LCx-LC, but new advances on friendly strategies and software will hopefully help analysts to imple-ment the technique successfully.

SYNTHETIC POLYMERS OFFER CLEAR DEMON-STRATIONS OF THE VALUE OF LCxLC

LCxLC IS 60 TIMES FASTER THAN LC

APPLICATIONSDr. Schoenmakers stressed that he and his team in the University of Amsterdam have been especial-ly successful in applying LCxLC for the separation and characterisation of synthetic polymers. And “this is a showcase area for the application of LCx-LC, because it provides the selectivity that is badly needed. Synthetic polymers offer clear demon-strations of the value of LC×LC”. Other main suc-cessful applications of this method are in food sci-ence: the separation of proteins digests, peptides and anthocyanins.

In the next few years, Dr. Schoenmakers expects that especially the separation of peptides and pro-teins with LCxLC in combination with high-resolu-tion MS techniques will gain much more attention. In general, there is certainly room for improvement in terms of separation speed and efficiency, detec-tion and calibration in LCxLC methods. New oppor-tunities are just around the corner.



Sustainable Chemical Engineeringwill shape the futureAdisa Azapagic, professor of Chemical Engineering Sustainable showed through various statistics that we are still far from sustainability in most areas. This deficit becomes a challenge for chemical engineers and also a great opportunity to not repeat past mistakes.

She began by reviewing the main issues related to sustainability in a world map in a clearly holistic ap-proach including environmental (global warming, pollution, water

shortages) social (education, health) and eco-nomic areas (investment, value added, costs and benefits). Professor Azapagic remem-bered that “the idea of sustainable develop-ment has gone a long way since its emergence in the 80s to become a widely-accepted goal in many countries”. But she also said that this acceptance has not been as fast in all areas of knowledge. Chemical engineers commited in

ADISA AZAPAGIC is Professor of Sustainable Chemical Engineering at the University of Manchester where she heads Sustainable Industrial Systems, an internationally-leading research group applying the principles of sustainable de-velopment and life cycle thinking in industrial practice. Professor Azapagic has received several awards for her re-search work, including the IChemE top prize for Outstanding Achievements in Chemical and Process Engineering (2010) and GSK Innovation Award (2011).

2001 with the Melbourne Communiqué: “to use our skills to strive to improve the quality of life, foster employment, advance economic and social development and protect the envi-ronment”.

WATER, ENERGY AND FOOD“The world continues to speed down an unsus-tainable path, despite over 500 internationally agreed goals and objectives to support the sus-tainable management of the environment and improve human wellbeing”, highlighted pro-fessor Azapagic. Certainly chemical engineers cannot tackle all of the sustainability issues alone, underlined Adisa Azapagic, but she also stressed that “we can help reverse some of the unsustainable trends and make key contribu-tions in turning sustainable development from aspiration into a genuine path to progress”. For

“CHEMICAL ENGINEERS PROFESSION CAN PLAY A KEY ROLE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”

13th MEDITERRANEAN CONGRESS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SPECIAL COVERAGE



turning challenges into opportunities three ar-eas are important for chemical engineers: wa-ter, energy and food.

For water the global challenges are: scarcity, access to clean water, access to sanitation, the inefficient water use and pollution. These chal-lenges can be tackled with reduction and re-use (efficiency) new management, new water sources (desalination, waste water). For ener-gy are: fossil fuels, climate change, security of supply and fuel poverty. A low carbon energy system must be developed and has to be flex-ible, locally relevant and affordable. And finally relevant difficulties lie in: greenhouse effect emissions, eutrophication, waste, land compe-tition, food security, GMO and stem cells. These problems can be overcome by improving agri-cultural practices with more efficiency and new technologies.

COMPLEXITY: THE BIGGEST CHALLENGEIdentifying the key issues is just the beginning. Professor Azapagic went into the real complex-ity of the matter when she spoke about “the dif-ficult interplay between technology, economy, environment and society”. This is so due to the existence of the three dimensions of sustain-

ability. She gave brilliant examples on how a solution in a field is not necessarily the best in another. For instance photovoltaic energy can be good to diversify energy sources and lower emissions, but considering social impacts it has a bigger human toxicity potential in panels manufacturing than gas or coal, and the statis-tics show much more worker injuries than coal, gas or nuclear.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESPONSIBILITYAdisa Azapagic called for an “outward-looking chemical engineering that will play its role fully in building a more sustainable future”. This role cannot be played in a consistent way unless professionals open to social sciences and non-technical disciplines, engage with the public and work to provide scientific evidence to soci-ety and more specifically to policy makers. This paradigm change –she said- “requires educat-ing the next generation of chemical engineers with sustainability in mind”.

“SUSTAINABILITY IS A COMPLEX INTERPLAY BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMY, ENVIRON-MENT AND SOCIETY”



Process System Engineering current and future contributions to Chemical EngineeringThe evolution of Process System Engineering (PSE) has undoubtedly been linked to the development of computer applications on chemistry for the last half century. And it has now a fundamental role in the most important research directions. Professor Gintaras V. Reklaitis offered an extensive overview on current and future PSE during his plenary talk at the 13MCCE.

The impact of Process System Engi-neering gets back over 50 years, and several milestones along the decades have been crucial to take chemical engineering to what it is nowadays.

PSE is behind the production of chemicals and materials, and also of the use of fuels and energy, both from fossil and renewable sources. It is also involved in ensuring the quality of water and in providing diagnostics and therapies for treating disease.

GINTARAS V. REKLAITIS is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University (USA) and deputy director of the NSF En-gineering Research Center on Structured Organic Particulate Systems. At Purdue he has served as the Head of the School of Chemical Engineering and Director of the Computer Integrated Process Operations Center.

He is an expert in process systems engineering, the application of information and computing technologies to process and prod-uct design, process operations and supply chain management. Current research interests include applications of process sys-tems methodology to improve pharmaceutical product design, development, manufacture and administration as well as sys-tems studies of integrated energy networks and supply chains.

The PSE industrial impact goes from modelling predictive control (creating standards especially in the refinery and petrochemical sector) and dy-namic systems to process integration (for heat ex-change and power networks, for example), plan-ning and scheduling, and real time process opti-mization as well. And the future of Process System Engineering, according to Professor Reklaitis’ talk, is focusing on four interesting and complementa-ry directions: energy and sustainability, product and process design, enterprise-wide optimization and healthcare applications.

PSE HAS A CENTRAL ROLE IN CHEMICAL ENGI-NEERING

13th MEDITERRANEAN CONGRESS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SPECIAL COVERAGE



ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITYThe list of PSE applications on the energy and sustainability area is extensive, including energy savings through process integration, integrated and flexible electric grids, water resource man-agement, CO2 capture and sequestration and community energy infrastructures, to name a few.

That is, there is a need of PSE behind the man-agement of electric power systems, including the different options of production and the crucial development of energy storage. All these factors might help reduce significantly the price of ener-gy, a clue factor for the chemical industry. In the same way, PSE is used to design district energy systems and the use of biomass superstructures, and also in the combination of several energy sources to optimize results and resources.

PROCESS AND PRODUCT DESIGNThe integration of product and process design has changed the way of working in some fields of the chemistry industry. By combining mechanical and molecular design the whole process is optimized.

COMPANY-WIDE OPTIMIZATIONMaximizing company performance needs large-scale optimization of development, design, capaci-ty planning, supply, production and distribution. It is obviously a complex approach, but that is exactly what Process System Engineering can solve.

Some current sophisticated applications are found on complex supply chains, like shale gas, for example, which includes key factors such as water process, well-pads, compressor stations,

gas plants and electric and methane demand centers. Another complex example is the clinical trial supply chain, not only because of its many steps involved (active ingredient production, new drug development, packaging and labelling, and distribution to multiple clinical sites in multiple countries) but also because of its limitation in time, the need to avoid unused inventory and the difficulty of doubling all that process with a place-bo to compare.

HEALTHCARE APPLICATIONSThe role of Process System Engineering in the healthcare field includes applications on systems biology and bioinformatics, for holistic model-ling and analysis of cells, organisms and tissues. On the pharmaceutical sectors, PSE is helping to make the transition from batch to continuous manufacturing as well as on the product and pro-cess design.

One of the most innovative applications on PSE is on the growing trend of individualized medicine. Given the variability in the therapeutic response of different patients to a same dose, the solution is found on dynamic models that might adapt to pa-tients data, and obviously in a quicker and easier way than the trial-and-error method that doctors have been using to adjust doses. Some even more sophisticated medical application include, for ex-ample, artificial pancreas systems personalized to patients.

“With all that, it is clear that PSE has effectively en-trenched its central role in the Chemical Engineer-ing”, concluded Professor Reklaitis.



The PharmaProcess seminar analysedthe new challenges of the marketProfessionals from the pharmaceutical industry had the chance to know the latest developments in pharma production from the leading companies in the sector. A new PharmaProcess Forum is getting prepared for October 2015.

The PharmaProcess seminar ‘An-swering the new challenges of the market’ was held within Expoquim-ia a gathered around sixty industry specialists and five first line speak-

ers in one morning. “The presence of five inter-national speakers –from France, Italy and Ger-many- is a great success for the seminar”, said Santiago Alsina, coordinator of this technical seminar and scientific director of PharmaPro-cess, the forum specialised on pharmaceutical processes that takes place every two years at Fira Barcelona. The talks focused on the recent technological developments in all the production phases. The main topics were the bottom spray systems, hy-drogen peroxide sterilisation systems, powder dosing products for asthma treatments, the lat-

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR

est developments on cleanroom environments and sterilisation and the current tendencies on micronización, reducing particles to one-mi-cron sizes.

LEADING COMPANIESLeading companies were in charge of present-ing all these novelties: German Bosch Hüttlin (represented in Spain by IMCO); Italian Food Pharma Systems; Spanish EMTE Cleanroom Technology; German Harro Höflinger (repre-sented in Spain by Farma-Alimenta; and Italian Fedegari Autoclavi (represented by IMCO).

THE NEXT DATE, A YEAR FROM NOWAfter the success of this seminar, final dates are being decided for the next PharmaProcess Fo-rum. It will be held in mid-October 2015 at Fira Barcelona, and this will be the second edition of specialised event. It started in 2013 to fulfil the need of an exclusive exhibition event for the pharmaceutical industry.

“The forum will include two whole days of talks and activities focused on the science related to the production processes of this industry”, re-veals its scientific director Santiago Alsina.

PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE BY LEADING COMPANIES



Shale gas: an opportunity for the industryThis is the title of the conference organized by Shale Gas España in Expoquimia 2014 that brought together representatives of industry, trade unions, business organizations and experts to assess the impacts of the exploration and production of unconventional gas in the country.

Participants noted that it was an “absolute necessity” to promote exploration to find new resources of natural gas in the territory. They also agreed that a potential pro-

duction of these resources could reduce our dependence on foreign energy, create jobs and improve the position of the Spanish industry in the market, now burdened by the high price of energy compared to the United States.

David Alameda, CEO of Shale Gas España, Juan Garcia Portero, geologist from the Euskadi Hydrocarbons Geological Society (SHESA) and Carmen Farré Solsona, director of domes-

DISCUSSION ON AN UNEXPLOITED RESOURCE IN SPAIN

70 PERMITS GRANTED

Currently there are over 70 research and exploratory permits in Spain pending resolution by the national authorities, who have already granted permits to search for conventional oil. Both Feique as sector unions favour the exploration of shale gas in the country.

Exploratory studies indicate that Spain could have enough unconventional natural gas to meet the domestic demand for the next 50-70 years at current rates of consumption, which would amount to 13,000 million euros in annual savings, as reflected in the Invest in Chemicals. Invest in Spain report by Feique and supported by ICEX-Invest in Spain The use of these resources would significantly reduce electrical and gas costs of consuming companies.

tic market in Aqualogy, reviewed the major technological advances and recent legislative developments that allow exploration and pro-duction to be carried out with all guarantees in environmental protection.

PART OF THE SOLUTION David Alameda said that “shale gas may be part of the solution to balance our trade balance, create jobs and revitalize the competitiveness of our industry”. He added that “natural gas is

DAVID ALAMEDA, “SHALE GAS CAN LEVEL OUR TRADE BALANCE, CREATE NEW JOBS AND REVIVE OUR INDUSTRY COMPETITIVENESS”



also the perfect complement to renewable en-ergy to keep the commitment to reduce CO2

emissions. If we want this to become a reality, we need to explore and define the sooner the potential of our resources. No time to lose. “

Juan Labat, CEO of the Spanish Business Federation of the Chemical Industry (Feique), insisted that “we must invest in the develop-ment of this energy source to revitalize the industrial fabric of Spain, investment and job creation.”

Augustín Martin, secretary general of the indus-try area of the union Workers Commissions, and Antonio Deusa Pedrazo, secretary general of FITAG-UGT (industry area and agricultural area of General Union of Workers) have supported oil exploration as a way to increase the share of industry in the Spanish economy. Both recalled the statement “Explore to decide” signed last January in which both unions advocated for the awareness on national resources.

PRICE DROP Finally, Mariano Marzo, professor of Stratigraphy at the University of Barcelona, said the European

FRACKING & ENVIRONMENT

According to Shale Gas España, organization that has been creat-ed for the operation and development of this resource, hydraulic fracturing or fracking is compatible with maintaining normal ac-tivities of any area as may be agriculture or tourism.

The Environmental Law which came into force in December 2013 required a full environmental impact assessment (EIA in Spanish) for any operation where the using of hydraulic frac-turing technique is required, including the exploration phase (this does not happen in many other EU countries). This implies that the proposed exploration and development of shale gas in Spain are subject to the highest environmental protection even further than the recommendations of the European Commission presented on 22 January 2014. On the other hand, constant in-vestment in R & D has resulted in a dramatic improvement in ef-ficiency and reduction of potential effects on the environment.

Union has a serious problem with the price of energy, which is causing the relocation of in-dustry to other areas of the world, including the United States, where the shale gas revolu-tion slashed prices. “Shale gas has not changed the game rules. It has changed the game itself”, he concluded.



Nanomedicine: more personalizedand efficient treatmentsThe seminar, organized by Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) from Barcelona dealt with trends that are developing at the moment and that will mark the coming decades in this field.

Nanotechnology applied to medi-cine has several advantages but the most significant is the ability to act on matter at nanoscale with the high accuracy that this implies.

This facilitates the treatment of very specific ar-eas of the body while avoiding the possible side effects on other nearby areas. Dr. Victor Puntes, iCREA researcher (Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies) and CSIC, explained how today “it is possible to direct drug to kill tumour cells so that they have effects on cells only really affected.” Nanomedicine is already a reality for other problems such as anaemia or hyperthermia. In this case gold nanoparticles or iron oxide are directly injected into specific cells.

PERSONALIZED MEDICINE Dr. Josep Tabernero, director of Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO,) spoke about the paradigm shift that means going from the ad-ministration of the same drug to anyone affected by cancer to a treatment designed to the specific

NANOMED SEMINAR

characteristics of each tumour. This is a clear ex-ample of personalized medicine that focuses on the core of the problem with a clear empiric ap-proach to the disease.

Tabernero recalled that the incidence of cancer has increased in recent years but at the same time mortality from this disease has declined. “This is due to new treatments and especially to the Nanomedicine contribution”. According to Victor Puntes, nanomedicine “not only provides more in-dividualized diagnoses and treatments, but it also makes many existing therapies more efficient”.

ACTING ON THE NANOMETRIC SCALE MEANS HIGH PRECISION

NANOMEDICINE IS ALREADY A REALITY FOR PRO-BLEMS SUCH AS ANAEMIA OR HYPERTHERMIA



The first seminar on logistics and chemistry, a successful experts’ forumUnder the title ‘Chemical products storage and distribution’, the first seminar on logistics held within Expoquimia gathered highly specialised professionals that could share the latest news on the regulations about managing, transportation and storage of chemical goods.

Jaime Mira, technical director at Fundación ICIL and coordinator and moderator of the seminar, stressed the high level of the contents: “All in all the seminar has been extremely interesting, and the participants admitted to being satisfied”, he said.

This first seminar on ‘Chemical products storage and distribution’ had a participation of about fif-ty registered attendees, with a high specialised profile. This true experts’ forum counted on the presence of Teresa Pallarés, general director of the Associació Empresarial Química de Tarragona (AEQT) and of the chemical cluster ChemMed, the general director of the Tarragona Port, Francesc Sánchez, and Pedro Roca, executive chairman of Fundación ICIL, the organisation that planned this event.

CURRENT REGULATIONThe first talks focused on the several logistical as-pects within the chemical industry, both in the oil sector and other fields. A lot of attention was paid

ATTENDEES HAD A HIGH ESPECIALISED PROFILE

to the legal regulation on road freight transporta-tion and the storage of chemical products, Seveso I and Seveso II directives and the management of hazardous goods, among others.

Other topics were effective ways of preventing risks in the industry and the evacuation plan of the Tarragona Port (the only one in Spain with this kind of protection). Repsol presented a sophis-ticated system for detecting slicks by leaks that the company has just put on the market, and that combines cameras and laser technology.

Some other topics during the seminar were the issues related to operational performance in con-tainer terminals with hazardous goods and the future prospects for harbours.

PROSPECTS FOR CONTINUITYThe balance of this first seminar “is very positive”, according to its coordinator, who thinks possible to repeat the experience in next Expoquimia edi-tions: “We would like to participate again, and to develop further seminars on chemistry and logis-tics when the time comes. We at Fundación ICIL are willing to cooperate in the outreach of knowl-edge and in professional training”, concluded Jaime Mira.

FIFTY PEOPLE WITH A VERY SPECIALISED PROFILE ATTENDED THE EVENT



Expoquimia opens to cooking, in collaboration with HarvardIt was a unique opportunity: the ‘Science and Cooking’ event held within Expoquimia allowed to learn first-hand some of the contents from the prestigious Harvard course that has transformed the scientific understanding of haute cuisine. And nobody wanted to miss it.

It is not easy at all to organise a seminar in Barcelona in collaboration with Harvard University. The proposal of ‘Science and Cooking’ within Expoquimia was therefore a unique opportunity, difficult to repeat

soon. Therefore, no one wanted to miss it: over 200 previously registered attendees enjoyed a seminar that ended up being much longer than expected because of the several questions from a highly motivated audience. “The experience has been very interesting and beneficial to everyone”, values Pere Castells, organizer of this seminar ‘Sci-ence and Cooking’, head of the Chemistry and Cooking Research Unit at Universitat Barcelona, and collaborator with Bullipedia and with the fa-mous Harvard course that has transformed the scientific understanding of haute cuisine.

The seminar was actually based on that course, named ‘Science and Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science’, which includes the partic-ipation of several of the most important chefs in the world.

HIGH ATTENDANCE AT THE ‘SCIENCE AND COOKING’ EVENT

The seminar ‘Science and Cooking’ invited mas-ter chocolatier Enric Rovira, who focused on the science of chocolate, a topic that caused a lot of technical questions among the attendees. The team from the restaurant Les Cols in Olot, which has two Michelin stars and is leaded by chefs Fina Puigdevall and Pere Planagumà, explained the use of flours as thickeners. The other participants were Pere Castells and, by videoconference from Massachusetts, Professor of Applied Mathematics and Applied Physics and one of the founders of the course at Harvard University.

“I think that everybody really enjoyed it”, says Pere Castells, “and I would certainly like to repeat the experience in next editions of Expoquimia”, con-cludes the coordinator of ‘Science and Cooking’.

T H E E V E N T WA S A N A L M O S T U N I Q U E O P P O R TUNITY



In the Biotechnology category, the award went to IPR19 a new drug for the treatment of cognitive deficits associated with schizo-phrenia. This drug is the result of joint work of Teresa Tarragó and Ernest Giralt from

the Iproteos company located in the Barcelona Science Park. Currently, medication for the treat-ment of schizophrenia affects some of the symp-toms, but not in the patient’s cognitive disorder, which alters the functions of execution, memory and attention.

PROVEN EFFECTIVENESSThe IPR19 is a last generation cognitive enhancer that has proven effective, with very positive re-sults in animal models. Specifically, it has achieved an improvement of the capabilities of learning and memory affected by schizophrenia, a fact that does not occur with current treatments. It is a third-generation drug based on peptides that block the action of proteases and that are able to cross the blood brain barrier, a protective sys-tem in the brain that until now the vast majority of drugs have not managed to cross. The clinical stage in human patients will be launched in 2016.

For the development of these drugs, Iproteos combines research experience in peptides and proteases with in silico design techniques and the most innovative technologies in peptide syn-thesis, such as IPRO technology, a combination of IT and biotechnology tools developed by the Iproteos research team. AGAINST INFECTIONS The “Antimicrobial biomaterials for bone re-placement and regeneration project” presented

Expoquimia Awards 2014A new drug against the effects of schizophrenia and an innovative antimicrobial biomaterial are the winners of the fourth edition of Expoquimia R & D Awards endowed with 5,000 euros in each of the two categories.

THE JURY HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE GREAT QUA-LITY OF THE FOURTEEN WORKS SUBMITTED TO THIS EDITION

Biotechnology awards

Chemistry awards



by Xavier Gil and Maria Pau Ginebreda from the Research Group in Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), received the award in the cat-egory of Chemistry. The research objective is to propose a comprehensive strategy to deal with infections associated with dental implants. In this sense, the research team from UPC has presented an innovative project that improves the resistance of bone-implant system to bacterial infections through the development of bone regeneration materials capable of releasing antibacterial chem-ical elements locally.

Expoquimia Award winners in the Chemistry cat-egory have worked to fight periimplantitis, pre-venting leakage between the connections of the dental implant body (inside the bone contact) and prosthesis (outside), improving the biological sealing in the collar of the dental implant, intro-ducing silver particles in the implant collar to in-hibit bacterial colonization and biofuncionalizing the titanium surface with antimicrobial molecules.

THIS CONTEST HAS MAJOR RE-COGNITION WITHIN THE SCIENTI-FIC SPANISH COMMUNITY

ERNEST GIRALT - BIOTECHNOLOGY

What prospects opens this new drug for patients with schizophrenia?

This drug would treat cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia. Recent psychiatric studies conclude that these disorders have a major impact on the quality of life of patients. Unfortunately, the drugs currently used to treat schizophrenia - antipsychotics - have virtually no effect on these cognitive deficits. In 2016 human clinical trials will begin. When could it reach the market?

In the best case, by 2020

XAVIER GIL - CHEMISTRY

Would it be possible to talk about before and after in the field infections associated with dental implants as this project develops?

Yes. The treatment with silver nanoparticles is an easy to implement, efficient, very durable in time and cytocompatible solution, with very good bactericidal properties. Besides the cost of the implant will not grow significantly, since a very little amount is needed to get an implant with bactericidal properties.

What steps need to be taken for this treatment to become standard?

After the protection of this treatment we have signed a contract with a Catalan implants company (Klockner Implant System), which is the leader in Spain, so that different parts of the prosthesis and their connections with the implant can have these nanoparticles that avoid bacterial adhesion and colonization. This will be the first set of dental implants that will have this property. At this time, we are in the final stages of approval for CE standard.



Under the theme “Chemical Engineering in a global world: a tool for cooperation and develop-ment”, the congress will address a wide range of topics: from the development of new products and processes, integrated resource management and health to energy or bioengineering.

The 10th World Congress of Chemical Engineering (WCCE) is chaired, in its scientific committee, by Felix Garcia-Ochoa, Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Madrid Complutense University (UCM). The International Committee of the congress will be chaired by Angel Irabien, Professor of the University of Cantabria.

Barcelona’s bid was submitted to the European Federation of Chemical Engineering jointly by the National Association of Chemists of Spain (ANQUE), the Association of Chemical Engineers and the Chemical Institute of Sarrià (AIQS), the College of Industrial Engineers of Catalonia (AEIC) and the Spanish Society of Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (SEQUI). The bid won the final vote to the cities of Florence (Italy) and Omoroz (Slovenia).

HISTORIC OPPORTUNITYThe president of ANQUE Carlos Negro said that “the designation involves writing one of the fu-ture pages of history of the Spanish chemical en-gineering and an opportunity to improve the vis-ibility of an area of knowledge in which Spain is an international reference “. The President and CEO

of SEQUI, Jaume Soley, stated that “participants will present their projects to the main actors of international chemistry.” Oriol Martinez, represen-tative of SAIC, will assume the leadership of the exhibition committee and emphasizes that this congress “will be the largest showcase for chemi-cal engineering that has never been in our coun-try and this is a great opportunity for the industry and the profession.”

The director of World Chemical Summit, Pilar Navarro, notes that “hosting the World Congress of Chemical Engineering provides a great value to Expoquimia. And these two events combined will turn Barcelona into the most important meeting point between science and industry in Southern Europe”.

PILAR NAVARRO: “THE TWO EVENTS COMBINED WILL TURN BARCELONA INTO THE MOST IM-PORTANT MEETING POINT BETWEEN SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY IN SOUTHERN EUROPE”

World Congress of Chemical Engineering 2017The International Chemistry Event at Fira de Barcelona, which will be held from 1 to 5 October 2017, will host the 10th World Congress of Chemical Engineering. This congress will bring together more than 3,000 chemical engineers from all over the world at a big meeting that, for the first time, will take place in our country.




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