Serving the chemical, life sciences, and laboratory worlds
VOLUME 91, NUMBER 33 AUGUST 19, 2013
COVER STORY
TRACES OF TROUBLE Controversial new guidelines on trace metal drug impurities will make the pharma industry alter detection strategies. PAGE 10
BUSINESS 14 16
CONCENTRATES CHEMICAL FIRMS’ FINANCIAL RESULTS
With little growth in the chemical sector, companies say divestments will help them reward shareholders and support future expansion. 18
REINVENTION OF A FINE COMPANY
Italy’s ZaCh System, a fine chemicals maker, fights its way back to profitability.
GOVERNMENT & POLICY 21 22
CONCENTRATES WHITE HOUSE CALLS FOR SAFETY REVIEW
Executive order demands improved safety and security at U.S. chemical plants after two explosions.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It’s time to modernize chemical facility safety and security regulations to improve performance and accountability by industry and to ensure that no facilities slip through the regulatory gaps.”
NEWS OF THE WEEK 5
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
LET THE SUNSHINE IN—OR NOT
Electrochromic glass window can block nearinfrared light or darken completely at the flip of a switch. 6
24 26
Directed evolution of computationally designed enzymes ramps up their catalytic activity.
BIOBASED STRUGGLES
Publicly traded chemical and fuel firms work to improve production and stem losses. 6
28
Chemist and Nobel Laureate is one of this year’s recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. BIOFUEL-FRIENDLY PLANTS
AN ANTITERRORISM EXPERIMENT
Airflow study in the New York City subway could aid response to chemical attacks or accidents.
OBAMA HONORS MARIO MOLINA
7
CONCENTRATES EVOLVING ENZYME DESIGN
BOOKS 30
SHORT STORIES BY CARL DJERASSI
Chemist’s semiautobiographical short stories are sophisticated, delectable fun.
New way to limit lignin formation could ease extraction of sugars used for ethanol.
5
CAROL LANDRY, INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, UNITED STEELWORKERS PAGE 22
7
Administration is weighing a package of incentives for industry to do more. 8
CHINA’S ANTIBRIBERY CAMPAIGN
Sanofi, Novartis are latest Western drug firms to face government scrutiny. 8
THE DEPARTMENTS
ENCOURAGING CYBERSECURITY 2 3 32 33
LETTERS EDITOR’S PAGE ACS COMMENT AWARDS
34 35 40
OBITUARIES CLASSIFIEDS NEWSCRIPTS
A FUSS OVER A PHRASE
Was a note in a chemistry paper an innocent misuse of words or an inducement to fraud?
28
COVER: Shutterstock/Wikimedia Commons/C&EN CENEAR 91 (33) 1–40 • ISSN 0009-2347
