May 2020

Electronics Weekly

A quantum radar using entangled microwave photons has been created at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria. Also known as ‘microwave quantum illumination’, the demonstration detected objects in a noisy thermal environment – and there are potential applications for it in low-power biomedical imaging and security scanners, according to the Institute.

Biofuels Digest

The impact of the coronavirus lockdowns on the oil, gas and chemicals industries’ integrated value chains is radically shifting relationships and profitability. It is also making planning virtually impossible, as BASF suggested last week. The environment around refining and chemical margins remains challenging, Shell CEO Ben van Beurden also said this week.

PR Newswire

BASF has introduced a digital sales platform for its OPPANOL® polyisobutene product family. The company designed and built the new e-commerce portal in collaboration with Agilis Chemicals, a technology company headquartered in Short Hills, NJ. The digital distribution channel will enable customers located in the U.S. to place orders, track status and make payments through an intuitive, easy-to-use, secure online interface.

Biofuels Digest

In Indonesia, Reuters reports the economic affairs ministry is looking at how it can continue to support its biodiesel industry in the face of reduced fuel demand from COVID-19 impacts. With B30 already in place and plans for B40 before the end of 2022, low oil prices have weighed heavily on the country’s capacity to continue with the plans.

Biofuels Digest

 In Singapore, National University of Singapore scientists have discovered a new mechanism for selective electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to ethanol using copper-silver (Cu-Ag) composite catalysts. Results show that an influx of CO molecules, provided by silver (Ag) co-catalysts, activates an otherwise-locked mechanistic pathway on Cu which converts CO2 gas to ethanol.

MINING.com

China on Thursday announced changes to purchase incentives for electric and hybrid cars, locally referred to as new energy vehicles (NEV), which earlier this month was extended for two years until the end of 2022. Under the modified policy, subsidies are reduced year-on-year through to 2022, starting at a 10% cut this year.

Electronics Weekly

3PEAK, an eight year-old Shanghai analogue vendor, is to IPO on the tech-focussed Shanghai STAR Market, reports Digitimes. 3PEAK’s investors include Huaxin Venture Capital and Hubble Technology Investment. Hubble is wholly owned by Huawei. Huaxin is a Chinese semiconductor investment fund whose include TSMC, Toshiba, ARM and SMIC.

MINING.com

Mines around the world are cutting output due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving top metals consumer China fretting over supply, as it starts to recover from the initial demand shock that the outbreak inflicted on its economy. A recent report by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence showed how China has a stranglehold on the EV battery supply chain. While China only mines 6% of the globe’s manganese, the country is responsible for 93% of its chemical refining.