Both in the area of chemistry and in businesses related to chemical technology, we can observe a dynamic development, especially as regards sustainable development, digital technologies and advanced materials. The European Union's strategic agenda for 2024–2029 focuses on three key areas, i.e. a free and democratic, yet strong and secure, as well as prosperous and competitive Europe. Ensuring high European competitiveness requires innovation, dynamic and sustainable economic development and creating an environment conducive to innovation and enterprise by supporting scientific research and investing in modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and renewable energy.
无论是在化学领域，还是在与化学技术相关的企业中，我们都能看到蓬勃的发展态势，尤其是在可持续发展、数字技术和先进材料方面。欧盟2024年至2029年的战略议程聚焦于三个关键领域，即打造一个自由且民主、强大且安全，同时繁荣且具有竞争力的欧洲。要确保欧洲的高度竞争力，就需要创新、充满活力且可持续的经济发展，并通过支持科学研究以及对人工智能和可再生能源等现代技术进行投资，来营造一个有利于创新和企业发展的环境。
Patent trends in the field of chemistry for 2025 are predicted based on the analysis of current technological, regulatory and market trends. The year 2025 promises to be a continuation of dynamic changes occurring in the chemical industry in EU Member States. The trends in the chemical industry observed for several years will be reinforced and companies, following these trends and required to adapt their activities to new restrictive regulations, will be forced to introduce further innovations. It is predicted that the industry will be dominated by sustainable chemistry, the circular economy, new materials and nanotechnology, as well as green energy and energy chemistry. As part of their efforts to limit CO2emissions and fight climate change, many chemical companies are increasingly implementing policies related to environmental protection, social responsibility and a new business model that supports developing technological innovations, such as fuel cells, energy storage systems and green hydrogen, which is likely to play an increasing role. The growing popularity of biobased and renewable materials is an alternative to traditional petrochemical raw materials. In turn, the use of advanced catalysts will allow for the use of more efficient processes for capturing and converting CO2 into fuels or chemicals.
基于对当前技术、监管和市场趋势的分析，对2025年化学领域的专利趋势做出了预测。2025年有望延续欧盟成员国化学工业中正在发生的动态变化。多年来观察到的化学工业趋势将得到加强，企业为顺应这些趋势并使其业务活动适应新的严格法规，将不得不进一步推出创新举措。据预测，可持续化学、循环经济、新材料和纳米技术，以及绿色能源和能源化学将在该行业占据主导地位。作为限制二氧化碳排放和应对气候变化努力的一部分，许多化工企业正越来越多地实施与环境保护、社会责任以及支持技术创新发展的新商业模式相关的政策，比如燃料电池、储能系统和绿色氢能等，绿色氢能可能会发挥越来越重要的作用。生物基和可再生材料日益受到青睐，它们是传统石化原料的替代品。反过来，使用先进的催化剂将能够采用更高效的工艺来捕获二氧化碳，并将其转化为燃料或化学品。
For example, international application WO2022217191A1 owned by LANZATECH INC provides an interesting combination, or rather the integration of a fermentation process with an industrial process, in which the produced gases are transferred to a bioreactor for gas fermentation, and then the produced energy is stored. Since most renewable energy sources are periodic/intermittent, cannot be transported and largely depend on meteorological and geographical conditions, energy storage is particularly important. The above-mentioned application provides a method and system for storing energy in the form of biopolymers. The method comprises periodically processing at least part of the electricity generated from a renewable and/or non-renewable energy source in an electrolysis process and then periodically passing at least H2, O2 or CO from the electrolysis process to a bioreactor comprising a culture including a liquid nutrient medium and microorganisms capable of producing a biopolymer and fermenting the culture. In some cases, oxygen is a byproduct of the electrolysis process, therefore, to prevent it from inhibiting the fermentation process of bacterial cultures (e.g., autotrophic or hydrogenotrophic bacteria), it needs to be removed earlier.
例如，LanzaTech公司拥有的国际申请WO2022217191A1提供了一种有趣的组合，确切地说是一种发酵工艺与工业流程的整合，在这个过程中，所产生的气体被输送至生物反应器进行气体发酵，然后将产生的能量储存起来。由于大多数可再生能源具有周期性/间歇性，无法进行输送，并且在很大程度上依赖于气象和地理条件，因此能量储存尤为重要。上述申请提供了一种以生物聚合物形式储存能量的方法和系统。该方法包括在电解过程中对可再生和/或不可再生能源所产生的至少部分电力进行周期性处理，然后将电解过程中产生的至少氢气、氧气或一氧化碳周期性地通入包含一种培养物的生物反应器中，该培养物含有液体营养培养基以及能够产生生物聚合物的微生物，并对该培养物进行发酵。在某些情况下，氧气是电解过程的副产物，因此，为了防止其抑制细菌培养物（例如，自养型或氢营养型细菌）的发酵过程，需要提前将其去除。
American application US2024392331A1 presents a genetically modified Pseudomonas strain which is capable of metabolizing lactose as a sole carbon source in the production of medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are naturally produced by many bacteria as intracellular carbon stores, with these biopolymers gaining popularity mainly due to their wide range of physical properties and potential as a substitute for traditional plastics obtained from petrochemical products. The natural biodegradability of PHAs, combined with the use of biomass as a feedstock for production, makes them a key platform within the circular economy framework. However, compared to fossil-based plastics, PHA production is more expensive. In the said application, the microorganisms have been genetically modified to use primarily simple carbohydrates, in particular lactose, as a carbon source for PHA synthesis.
美国专利申请US2024392331A1展示了一种经过基因改造的假单胞菌菌株，该菌株在生产中链长度聚羟基脂肪酸酯（PHA）的过程中，能够将乳糖作为唯一碳源进行代谢。PHA是许多细菌在细胞内自然合成的碳储存物质，这些生物聚合物之所以受到广泛关注，主要是因为它们具有广泛的物理特性，并且有望替代从石化产品中获取的传统塑料。PHA具有天然的生物可降解性，再加上可以利用生物质作为生产原料，这使得它们成为循环经济框架内的一个关键平台。然而，与化石基塑料相比，PHA的生产成本更高。在上述专利申请中，对微生物进行了基因改造，使其主要利用简单的碳水化合物，尤其是乳糖，作为合成PHA的碳源。
International application WO2024238960A1 filed by UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO REGENTS discloses a method of electrochemical degradation of polyester polymers that uses an electrochemically-generated superoxide anion radical to break down polyesters into their monomers. The method allows for chemical recycling carried out under mild conditions without the need for the use of stoichiometric amounts of strong bases and/or catalysts. Typical examples of polar aprotic solvents that can be used in the above method include, but are not limited to, acetonitrile, dimethyl formamide (DMF), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). In the application, superoxide anion radical (with air as O2 source) has been shown to act as an effective nucleophile in aprotic organic environments, and its use to affect electrophilic ester bond within polyester backbones (e.g., PET) appears very promising.
由科罗拉多大学董事会提交的国际专利申请WO2024238960A1披露了一种电化学降解聚酯聚合物的方法，该方法利用电化学产生的超氧阴离子自由基将聚酯分解为其单体。这种方法能够在温和的条件下进行化学回收，无需使用化学计量的强碱和/或催化剂。可用于上述方法的典型极性非质子溶剂示例包括但不限于乙腈、二甲基甲酰胺（DMF）和二甲基亚砜（DMSO）。在该申请中，超氧阴离子自由基（以空气作为氧气来源）已被证明在非质子有机环境中可作为有效的亲核试剂，并且使用它来作用于聚酯主链（如聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯，PET）内的亲电酯键似乎很有前景。
The use of Guerbet reaction in the method for producing "green" isobutanol also shows considerable potential. International application WO2024235791A1 filed by BASF SE provides a process for the preparation of polyisobutene from olefins and isobutanol obtained by the mixed Guerbet reaction of ethanol and methanol. The presented solution is particularly important as low-carbon alcohols are significant chemical intermediates used in many production processes. Currently, their synthesis is mainly based on the OXO synthesis process, which involves the hydroformylation of olefins followed by their hydration, which is associated with the use of noble metals and harsh reaction conditions of high pressures. As part of the attempts to shift from the use of fossil-based raw materials to biobased raw materials due to their reduced carbon footprint, a preferred method comprises the condensation of methanol, preferably at least partially derived from renewable raw materials, and a second alcohol in the gas phase, yielding an isobutanol-containing reaction mixture, followed by the dehydration of isobutanol to isobutene and polymerization of the thus obtained isobutene to polyisobutene.
在生产“绿色”异丁醇的方法中使用盖尔贝反应（Guerbet reaction）也显示出了相当大的潜力。由巴斯夫股份公司（BASF SE）提交的国际专利申请WO2024235791A1提供了一种由烯烃和通过乙醇与甲醇的混合盖尔贝反应制得的异丁醇来制备聚异丁烯的工艺。所提出的解决方案尤为重要，因为低碳醇是许多生产过程中使用的重要化学中间体。目前，它们的合成主要基于羰基合成工艺，该工艺包括烯烃的氢甲酰化反应，随后进行水合反应，这涉及到使用贵金属以及高压的苛刻反应条件。由于生物基原料的碳足迹较低，在尝试从使用化石基原料转向使用生物基原料的过程中，一种优选的方法包括将甲醇（优选至少部分来自可再生原料）与另一种醇在气相中进行缩合反应，生成含异丁醇的反应混合物，然后将异丁醇脱水生成异丁烯，并将由此得到的异丁烯聚合成聚异丁烯。
The condensation of methanol and a second alcohol, preferably ethanol at least partially obtained from renewable raw materials, is carried out in the gas phase in the presence of a catalyst for the condensation of alcohols, which comprises a support material in contact with copper as a promoter, wherein a) the support material includes hydrotalcite-like compounds, preferably hydrotalcite, b) the proportion of the copper promoter is in the range from 0.05 to 5.0 % by weight, c) the support material has a Mg/Al ratio in the range from 90/10 to 70/30, wherein the ratio is based on the weight of the respective oxides, wherein the catalyst may optionally include at least one further promoter element from the group consisting of Pt, Rh, Ru, Pd, Co, Ni, Pd, Cu, Ag, and Au, and the content of the further promoter is in the range from 0.01 to 2 % by weight, preferably from 0.01 to 1 % by weight, provided that the amount of the copper promoter is greater than the amount of the further promoter.
甲醇与另一种醇（优选至少部分来自可再生原料的乙醇）的缩合反应是在一种醇缩合催化剂的存在下于气相中进行的，该催化剂包含一种与作为助剂的铜接触的载体材料，其中：a）载体材料包括类水滑石化合物，优选水滑石；b）铜助剂的比例在0.05至5.0重量百分比的范围内；c）载体材料的镁/铝比例在90/10至70/30的范围内，该比例基于各自氧化物的重量，其中该催化剂可任选地包含至少一种选自铂（Pt）、铑（Rh）、钌（Ru）、钯（Pd）、钴（Co）、镍（Ni）、钯（Pd）、铜（Cu）、银（Ag）和金（Au）的其他助剂元素，且其他助剂的含量在0.01至2重量百分比的范围内，优选在0.01至1重量百分比的范围内，前提是铜助剂的用量大于其他助剂的用量。
Biomass, which is considered a valuable source of renewable energy, when unprocessed and stored often emits hazardous pollutants. Thus, biomass processing methods will also be an area playing an increasing role in the circular economy and a sustainable power industry. Patents relating to biomass may include various solutions ranging from new processing methods such as thermal processes (pyrolysis, gasification), fermentation or enzymatic processes, through devices and installations, e.g., reactors, fermentors, which will be improved through the development of new systems of automation and control of processes taking place in them, to final products, i.e., biofuels, biogas, biochar or bioplastics and their new applications. For example, international application WO2024220848A2 filed by Bruso LLC describes a method and system for the treatment of raw biomass (e.g., green, wood-plant derived) or waste biomass (e.g., industrial wastes, pulp and paper process wastes, construction materials) to produce valuable products such as wood composites, bioplastics, fertilizers, fuels, glues, resins, and bio-based carbon fibre, while limiting the emission and decarbonization of biomass.
生物质被视为一种宝贵的可再生能源来源，然而未经处理和储存的生物质常常会排放有害污染物。因此，生物质处理方法也将在循环经济和可持续电力行业中发挥日益重要的作用。与生物质相关的专利可能涵盖各种解决方案，从热解、气化等热加工过程、发酵或酶促过程等新型处理方法，到通过开发新的自动化系统以及对设备（如反应器、发酵罐）内发生的过程进行控制来改进的设备和装置，再到最终产品，即生物燃料、生物沼气、生物炭或生物塑料及其新应用。例如，布鲁索有限责任公司（Bruso LLC）提交的国际专利申请WO2024220848A2描述了一种处理原始生物质（如绿色的、源自木本植物的生物质）或废弃生物质（如工业废料、纸浆和造纸过程废料、建筑材料）的方法和系统，以生产有价值的产品，如木材复合材料、生物塑料、肥料、燃料、胶水、树脂和生物基碳纤维，同时限制生物质的排放并实现脱碳。
Biomass compositions can be mixed with a reagent (e.g., ammonia) to form a mixture which may be reacted to separate one or more components from the biomass (e.g., lignin, polylactic acid, carbon oxides, methane, minerals, volatile or semi-volatile substances) and form a treated biomass composition. The treated biomass can be dried and processed into heating pellets that have a higher calorific value and fewer emissions than conventional heating chips.
生物质组合物可以与一种试剂（如氨）混合形成一种混合物，该混合物可以发生反应，从生物质中分离出一种或多种成分（如木质素、聚乳酸、碳氧化物、甲烷、矿物质、挥发性或半挥发性物质），并形成一种经过处理的生物质组合物。经过处理的生物质可以进行干燥，并加工成加热颗粒，这些颗粒的热值比传统的加热木屑更高，排放也更少。
Further advancement is also expected in the sector of specialist chemistry, e.g., chemistry for the pharmaceutical industry or cosmetic chemistry, due to growing consumer awareness regarding the composition of preparations and their safety. Such an approach stimulates the development of natural and eco-friendly products and the need to develop novel solutions.
由于消费者对制剂成分及其安全性的认识不断提高，专业化学领域，如制药行业的化学领域或化妆品化学领域，预计也将取得进一步的发展。这种情况推动了天然且环保产品的开发，也产生了对研发新解决方案的需求。
To remain competitive on the global market, the chemical industry in Europe must invest in research& development, innovation and new technologies. The entire European plan, and Polish companies from the chemical sector are also obliged to take appropriate measures in this respect, needs to incorporate EU green transition regulations, which on the one hand strictly limit the freedom of activities and impose high costs on companies to adapt their production processes to these requirements, and on the other hand constitute a driving force for technological progress and innovation. In addition, we can see a growing threat from Asian companies that offer lower production costs. These are the reasons why the chemical industry must focus on innovations and protect such innovations from being copied by competitors by securing its interests, e.g., through patent protection.
为了在全球市场上保持竞争力，欧洲的化学工业必须在研发、创新和新技术方面进行投资。整个欧洲的规划，以及波兰化工领域的企业在这方面也有责任采取适当措施，需要纳入欧盟的绿色转型法规。这些法规一方面严格限制了企业的经营自由度，并让企业承担高昂的成本以使生产流程适应这些要求，另一方面又成为了技术进步和创新的驱动力。此外，我们可以看到来自亚洲的企业构成了越来越大的威胁，这些亚洲企业的生产成本更低。正因如此，化学工业必须专注于创新，并通过保障自身利益（比如通过专利保护）来防止这些创新被竞争对手抄袭。