Solvay affiliates Rhodia Operations and Anan Kasei have filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the High Court of Justice of England and Wales against UK-based Molycorp Chemicals and Oxides (Europe) Ltd on April 13, 2016, claiming infringement of Anan Kasei’s patent by Molycorp. The patent covers certain high surface-area ceric oxides and catalysts for purifying automotive exhaust gases containing such ceric oxide.
Solvay has already won, in first instance, two rare earth mixed oxide patent cases against UK-based Molycorp Chemicals & Oxides (Europe) Ltd in the German District Court of Dusseldorf in March 2016. These decisions have been appealed by Molycorp.
Rare earth oxides are used in applications including the manufacturing of automotive catalysts to abate noxious gases from engine exhaust. Ever stricter air quality standards require increasingly complex formulated rare earth oxides. Solvay’s Optalys and Actalys rare earth oxide product range offers tailor-made solutions for all types of automotive catalysts and contributes significantly to cleaner mobility.