Dear friends! The tenth anniversary of our journal fell on 2011, proclaimed by the UN as the year of chemistry, the broadest field of theoretical and practical knowledge related to the transformation of matter.

Last years, biomass is considered as a feed material for fuels and chemicals production. This review discusses the reasons for the increased interest in biomass, lignocellulosic mainly. Gasification, pyrolysis and depolymerization by hydrolysis as the key technology of biomass were analyzed. Also review discusses what sugars obtained as result of depolymerization by hydrolysis, can be processed into fuel or key intermediates of the chemical industry. Lignocellulosic biomass contains such cotton extractants as fatty acids and terpenes, and therefore overview gives catalytic reactions of these substances for the synthesis of fuels and chemicals. Some typical reactions of biomass processing: oxidation, hydrogenation, cracking, and others are close conceptually to the process widely known in the refining and chemical industries. However, there are certain characteristics due to, for example, a large number of functional (eg, hydroxyl) groups, and therefore the biomass components processing requires the dehydration, aldol condensation, ketanizatsiya, decarboxylation, etc. Overview covers the basics of the approaches to the selection of catalysts for these reactions.

There is review of scientific and technical achievements of the last 15 years in the deoxygenation process of fat and oil feed material for hydrocarbon biofuels production. The most advanced processing methods of triglycerides to hydrocarbons associated with the use of pyrolysis, catalytic cracking and hydrotreatment what similar to already used in petrochemical plants and refineries. Hydrotreatment technology, embedded or ready for implementation in the industry considered attentively. There are promising non-sulfide catalysts for single-step process of waxy diesel fractions from vegetable oils and combined technologies to improve the yield of hydrocarbon products, flexibility in obtaining different types of fuel and reduction of hydrogen consumption.

Synthesis of Pt-, Ru- and Pd-containing nanoparticles in the pores of the hypercrosslinked polystyrene polymer matrix, their structure and catalytic properties are under consideration. Physico-chemical studies have shown that the metal nanoparticles formation depends on properties of the polymer matrix porous structure, the nature of metal precursors and the synthesis conditions. Study of catalytic properties of metal nanoparticles stabilized in mesoporous matrices, showed promising applications of these systems in the reactions of selective oxidation and hydrogenation, which are intermediate stages in the synthesis of precursors of vitamins and medicines. In order to solve environmental problems nanocatalysts were investigated in the processes of oxidative degradation of phenol and reducing nitrate denitrification for sewage and natural waters purification.

There are major scientific and technological aspects of some largetonnage processes organochlorine synthesis, operating in Russia. Analysis of organochlorine production and development prospects was hold. It is shown that vinyl chloride as intermediate in the production of polyvinyl chloride is the most demand among organochlorine products now and in the medium term. Development of other production is unlikely in view of their low power consumption and significant cost to receive them. Some promise in obtaining of organochlorine products such as intermediates in lower olefins production can be associated with the development of gas chemistry.

The cheapest way to upgrade existing production lines is to reconstruct a catalytic reactors with axial flow into radial reagents. Purpose of the article – to attract attention of developers of ammonia synthesis reactors and engineering companies to hydrodynamic problems encountered when upgrading. Considered alternative approaches to the design of switching devices that provide radial flow input to catalyst bed and an equal distribution of reagents. Our results allow us to estimate the proposed technical solutions and to choose a reliable and technically feasible options for upgrading.

The paper discusses prospects for the innovative development in «Nizhnekamskneftekhim». Only the innovative technologies are identified from a variety of research and development activities of last years and their development and industrial implementation is analyzed in a number of examples. Key participants of innovative technologies market briefly noted, also Russian academic institutions (Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS) in the development and research, development and implementation of their own new catalysts development take more active involvement. Successful aspects of the integration of university research, and sciencetechnical services of corporation is exemplified by the cooperation of Kazan (Volga) Federal University and «Nizhnekamskneftekhim». Problems of innovation development in other universities and the effectiveness of Russian state policies in the development of an innovative economy briefly reviewed.

May 24, 2011 marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of GIAP (now JSC GIAP) and 20 years of the formation of the holding JSC ALVIGO.