- Email: [email protected]
Borealis aims to dodge oversupply
FOCUS performance of the 5000 L fermenter exceeded those performed on a pilot plant in Pomacle, France. Success in this phase of the process' scale-up was obtained less than five months after start-up of the fermentation unit at the Leuna demo plant in Dec 2016, according to Global Bioenergies. New strains and new protocols to improve performance have recently been discovered in the laboratory and will soon be transferred to the demo plant. In addition, the company said that the purification unit has received TUV approval. After commissioning of the filling station, the demo plant will be fully certified for operation. Delivery to partners of the first batches of isobutene for testing is expected in Jun 2017. Original Source: PetroChemical News, 8 May 2017, 55 (18), 4 (Website: http://www.petrochemical-news.com) © William F. Bland Co. 2017.
INEOS mulls PDH unit in Europe INEOS is investigating the possibility of constructing a propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant in Europe. The company has a propylene deficiency of 700,000 tonnes/y at its European operations. At present, Austria's Borealis and Poland's Grupa Azoty have intentions to construct PDH facilities in the region. According to INEOS director, there would not be enough demand for the chemical produced by all three plants. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 12-18 May 2017, 291 (19), 7 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2017.
Dongguan chooses Clariant and CB&I for Chinese project Dongguan Grand Resource Science and Technology has awarded contracts for a propane dehydrogenation unit at Dongguan City, China to Clariant and the US engineering firm CB&I. CB&I will design the 600,000 tonnes/y unit which use Catofin technology based on Clariant's catalysts. Catofin technology can be used to produce light olefins, including propylene, isobutylene, and amylenes. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 27 Feb 2017, (791), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie) © ETAI Information 2017.
BASF expands mobile emissions catalysts capacity in India with new facility BASF Catalysts India Pvt Ltd has launched a new 47,000-sq m production site for mobile emissions catalysts in Chennai, India. The facility marks the completion of the company's three-year expansion project, and doubles its manufacturing capacity for mobile emission catalysts. The site makes BASF Empro emissions control solutions such as the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, three-way catalyst (TWC), catalyzed soot filler (CSF) and diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC). Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, Mar 2017, 52 (3), 18 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com) © Jasubhai Group 2017.
June 2017
ON
C ATA LY S T S
BASF invests in sustainable production for high performance silica adsorbents in Germany BASF, the world's leading chemical company, announced on 20 Apr 2017 the mechanical completion of a significant investment at its adsorbents production site in Nienburg, Germany. Two new state-of-the-art dryers at the site support BASF's long-term commitment to its customers and underline BASF's corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. This investment increases annual output and reduces CO2 emissions from operations. At the Nienburg site, BASF produces a variety of silica adsorbents and catalyst carriers which set the performance standard for the industry. These include the leading brands KC Trockenperlen, internationally known as Sorbead, as well as Perlkat and Sorbead Orange Chameleon. The robust, durable and high performance adsorbents from BASF are used for drying air, technical gases and liquids. Primary areas of application are compressed air systems, natural gas drying, hydrocarbon dew point adjustment and the recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas. BASF adsorbents are used in many industries, including automotive, chemical, natural gas, steel, power plants, electrical transmission and packaging. BASF's Sorbead products are known for their high quality and high performance in various applications. Sorbead helps customers save money by reducing operational cost; it is more durable in harsh conditions and lasts longer than any other material on the market. BASF presented its adsorbents solutions for compressed air applications at COMVAC, the leading trade fair for compressed air and vacuum technology, which takes place during the Hannover Messe on 24-28 Apr 2017. Original Source: BASF, 20 Apr 2017, (Website: http:// www.basf.com/) © BASF 2017.
HPCL to use Honeywell UOP technology to meet rising domestic demand for clean fuels Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is utilizing Honeywell UOP's technologies to expand and modernize its refinery in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. The project covers the basic engineering design, licensing and other related services for a Unicracking hydrocracking line for diesel fuel production, and a Penex isomerization unit for high-octane gasoline production. Chemical Engineering World, Mar 2017, 52 (3), 24 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com) © Jasubhai Group 2017.
Axens increases capacity at site in France French company Axens (a supplier of advanced technologies for industry) has announced a €35 M investment in its site in Salindres, France. The project will strengthen Axens' production capacity for the clean fuels, petrochemicals and gas treatments markets. Its subsidiary IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN) commented that the investment would lead to the creation of new
jobs and reflected the company's desire to strengthen its operations in Salindres. It is also part of Axens' development strategy to expand its catalysts and adsorbents business. Since 2001 Axens has invested €180 M in the Salindres site (including €25 M+ in environmental protection). The site currently employs 375 people. The company has recruited 330 people in the region since its creation and has created 115 jobs. In addition, Axens is planning to recruit 20 additional people in 2017. The group has 2 other sites in France: RueilMalmaison and Solaize. Its subsidiary IFPEN acquired French engineering company Heurtey Petrochem at end 2016. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 24 Apr 2017, (798), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie/) © ETAI Information 2017.
ExxonMobil announces $20 bn investment in US Gulf Coast ExxonMobil is spending $20 bn on a project that will expand its operations in the US Gulf Coast and will produce about 45,000 jobs for the next decade. Most of the added production will be sold to Asia, with some to be exported in other countries. ExxonMobil will expand its ultra-low sulfur diesel and polyethylene capacity at Beaumont, TX. The firm will also add a new steam cracker and synthetic lubricants unit at its site in Baytown, TX. A new state-of-the-art lubricants plant has been established along a sulfur emissions reduction project at ExxonMobil's site in Baton Rouge, LA. Together with SABIC, ExxonMobil aims to construct a plastics production plant. ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum International intends to build export facility and natural gas liquefaction operations at ExxonMobil's Golden Pass LNG import terminal in Sabine Pass, TX. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), Apr 2017, (910), 9 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2017.
Borealis aims to dodge oversupply Austrian polymers firm Borealis said on 5 May 2017 that the company's proposed large-scale joint venture polyethylene (PE) facility on the US Gulf Coast will dodge the forthcoming oversupply in that market, which will recover to a more balanced demand and supply situation by the time it commences. The forthcoming wave of PE facilities to commence in the Gulf will result in an oversupplied market, but a healthy US economy and exports to Asia or Latin America will aid in balancing the markets by 2021, when Borealis intends to inaugurate its own 625,000 tonne/y facility. Borealis, which is privately owned by the Austrian energy firm OMV (with a 36% stake) and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company (64%), will construct the PE facility in partnership with its sister firm NOVA Chemicals, owned 100% by Mubadala and French energy firm Total, which will further construct a 1 M tonne/y ethane cracker at the same site. The joint venture's ownership arrangement will be split among Borealis and NOVA with a 25% stake each and Total (50%). Total announced that it would allocate a capex of $1.7 bn for the cracker. The final investment decision will be made by end2017.
5
FOCUS Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 12-18 May 2017, 291 (19), 9 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2017.
Honeywell technology and controls selected for largest petrochemical project in China On 10 May 2017, Honeywell UOP announced that Zhejiang Petrochemical Co Ltd (ZPC) will use four of its Polybed pressure swing adsorption (PSA) units to supply high-purity hydrogen for its new integrated refining and petrochemical complex in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province. The complex will use Honeywell Experion distributed control systems from Honeywell Process Solutions, and the PSA units will be controlled by Honeywell C300 controllers integrated with the Experion system. Zhejiang Petrochemical earlier awarded petrochemical process technology licensing, engineering design and catalysts to Honeywell UOP. When completed, the new plant will be the largest crude-to-chemicals complex in China and one of the largest in the world, manufacturing petrochemicals to make plastic resins, films and fibres, as well as fuels. Polybed PSA systems are skid-mounted, modular units complete with hardware, adsorbents, control systems and embedded process technology, enabling quick and efficient installation to reduce cost and downtime. The PSA process uses proprietary UOP adsorbents to remove impurities at high pressure from hydrogen-containing process streams, allowing hydrogen to be recovered and upgraded to more than 99.9% purity to meet refining needs. In addition to recovering and purifying hydrogen from steam reformers and refinery off-gases, the Polybed PSA system can be used to produce hydrogen from other sources such as ethylene offgas, methanol off-gas and partial-oxidation synthesis gas. Original Source: Honeywell, 10 May 2017, (Website: http://honeywell.com/) © Honeywell International Inc 2017.
Honeywell UOP signs agreement to provide technology and equipment for expansion of Jordanian refinery On 8 May 2017, Honeywell UOP announced that it has signed an agreement with the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company (JPRC) to facilitate a $1.6 bn expansion of its refinery in Zarqa, Jordan. This expansion will increase the capacity of the facility to 120,000 barrels/d and will allow JPRC to upgrade the quality of its product to meet Euro V emissions specifications. The expansion of the Zarqa refinery will help the company meet the rising demand for fuel, which is growing at an average of 3%/y. As part of the project, which is the fourth such expansion of the JPRC refinery, Honeywell UOP will provide managing licensor services, technology licensing, front-end engineering design consultancy services, and basic engineering design. It also will provide catalysts and process equipment, and training and start-up services. Technologies provided by Honeywell UOP will include crude and vacuum distillation units – designed by US-based Process Consulting Services Inc – for distilling crude oil into various fractions. Honeywell UOP also will provide Unicracking and hydrotreating units to create clean distillate, as well as CCR Platforming, Penex,
6
ON
C ATA LY S T S
MinAlk, Merox and Selectfining units for producing cleaner-burning high-octane motor fuels, and a Polybed PSA unit for purifying hydrogen. Original source: Honeywell, 8 May 2017, (Website: http://honeywell.com/) © Honeywell International Inc 2017.
LyondellBasell to supply ACP PE technology to Chinese project Hengli Petrochemical will use the Hostalen ACP polyethylene (PE) process technology of LyondellBasell for the development of a new 400,000 tonnes/y high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit in east China. The new facility will be constructed at the Hengli Petrochemical Industrial Park (HPIP) on Changxing Island in Dalian, Liaoning Province. With LyondellBasell's Hostalen ACP process technology, its clients can manufacture high-performance multimodal HDPE products with excellent stiffness/toughness balance, high stress cracking resistance, impact resistance and processing advantages used in blow moulding, pipe and film applications. Original Source: European Plastics News, 21 Apr 2017, (Website: http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2017.
Yantai Wanhua commences operation at single-train PDH facility in China Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes Group, a subsidiary of Wanhua Chemical Group, has begun operations at the "largest'' operating single-train propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit in China. The new PDH plant, located in Yantai, is using Honeywell UOP's C3 Oleflex process technology to convert propane into 750,000 tonnes/y of propylene. As China's largest Oleflex unit, this represents a significant expansion in the country's propylene capacity and a big step toward meeting local demand for propylene, according to the vice president and general manager of process technology and equipment at Honeywell UOP. Honeywell UOP also provided the engineering design, equipment, staff training, technical service and catalyst for the project. No other details were given. Original Source: PetroChemical News, 8 May 2017, 55 (18), 1 (Website: http://www.petrochemical-news.com) © William F. Bland Co. 2017.
universities and BASF established the California Research Alliance (CARA) in 2014. This multidisciplinary collaboration headed by the College of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) conducts research on new inorganic and other advanced materials, biosciences and their applications. To mark three years of CARA researchers working alongside BASF counterparts, members of these universities, guest professors, students and BASF convened an Anniversary Symposium on 24-25 Apr 2017 at UC Berkeley to address recent research advancements. During the event, leaders from UC Berkeley and BASF announced a five-year extension of the CARA collaboration at a signing ceremony. A CARA research team, working in the area of catalysis, achieved a recent breakthrough. The researchers developed a means to synthesize binary intermetallic nanoparticles from a combination of noble and base metals. This has the potential to be used in catalysis applications. Following successful tests at UC Berkeley, the synthesis of the nanoparticles and their potential application in catalysis are being further evaluated in BASF laboratories in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Original Source: BASF, 2017, Found on SpecialChem Adhesives and Sealants Formulation, 2 May 2017, (Website: http://www.specialchem4adhesives.com).
Ajinomoto Co Inc, UMI, and Tokyo Institute of Technology professors establish new company to implement the world’s first on-site production of ammonia Ajinomoto Co Inc and the No 1 UMI Limited Partnership managed and operated by Universal Materials Incubator Co Ltd Professor, Director of Materials Research Center for Element Strategy at Tokyo Institute of Technology, have established Tsubame BHB Co Ltd, which strives to achieve practical applications for the world's first on-site ammonia synthesis systems, with the support of Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and applying catalysts developed by the professor's research group. The new company began operations on 25 Apr 2017. The company intends to produce a low-cost, stable supply of amino acids and other fermentation materials, as well as agricultural fertilizers. Original Source: Ajinomoto, 27 Apr 2017, (Ajinomoto, website: http://www.ajinomoto.com/) © Ajinomoto Co Inc 2017.
Technip Zimmer: cooperation with METabolic Explorer
NEW TECHNOLOGY UC Berkeley and BASF announce five-year extension of CARA collaboration Many scientific discoveries and patent applications have resulted from more than 25 research projects underway since West Coast
Under a partnership, Technip Zimmer GmbH and METabolic Explorer SA will combine their respective 1, 3-propanediol (PDO) and polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) technologies into a bundled package. The PDO process involves the fermentation of vegetable or recycled oils to form crude glycerins. An engineering feasibility assessment will be conducted at the former's centre in Lyon, France. Original Source: Chemical Fibers International, Dec 2016, 66 (12), 172 (Website: http://www. chemical-fibers.com/) © Deutscher Fachverlag GmbH 2016.
June 2017
INEOS mulls PDH unit in Europe INEOS is investigating the possibility of constructing a propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant in Europe. The company has a propylene deficiency of 700,000 tonnes/y at its European operations. At present, Austria's Borealis and Poland's Grupa Azoty have intentions to construct PDH facilities in the region. According to INEOS director, there would not be enough demand for the chemical produced by all three plants. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 12-18 May 2017, 291 (19), 7 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2017.
Dongguan chooses Clariant and CB&I for Chinese project Dongguan Grand Resource Science and Technology has awarded contracts for a propane dehydrogenation unit at Dongguan City, China to Clariant and the US engineering firm CB&I. CB&I will design the 600,000 tonnes/y unit which use Catofin technology based on Clariant's catalysts. Catofin technology can be used to produce light olefins, including propylene, isobutylene, and amylenes. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 27 Feb 2017, (791), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie) © ETAI Information 2017.
BASF expands mobile emissions catalysts capacity in India with new facility BASF Catalysts India Pvt Ltd has launched a new 47,000-sq m production site for mobile emissions catalysts in Chennai, India. The facility marks the completion of the company's three-year expansion project, and doubles its manufacturing capacity for mobile emission catalysts. The site makes BASF Empro emissions control solutions such as the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, three-way catalyst (TWC), catalyzed soot filler (CSF) and diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC). Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, Mar 2017, 52 (3), 18 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com) © Jasubhai Group 2017.
June 2017
ON
C ATA LY S T S
BASF invests in sustainable production for high performance silica adsorbents in Germany BASF, the world's leading chemical company, announced on 20 Apr 2017 the mechanical completion of a significant investment at its adsorbents production site in Nienburg, Germany. Two new state-of-the-art dryers at the site support BASF's long-term commitment to its customers and underline BASF's corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. This investment increases annual output and reduces CO2 emissions from operations. At the Nienburg site, BASF produces a variety of silica adsorbents and catalyst carriers which set the performance standard for the industry. These include the leading brands KC Trockenperlen, internationally known as Sorbead, as well as Perlkat and Sorbead Orange Chameleon. The robust, durable and high performance adsorbents from BASF are used for drying air, technical gases and liquids. Primary areas of application are compressed air systems, natural gas drying, hydrocarbon dew point adjustment and the recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas. BASF adsorbents are used in many industries, including automotive, chemical, natural gas, steel, power plants, electrical transmission and packaging. BASF's Sorbead products are known for their high quality and high performance in various applications. Sorbead helps customers save money by reducing operational cost; it is more durable in harsh conditions and lasts longer than any other material on the market. BASF presented its adsorbents solutions for compressed air applications at COMVAC, the leading trade fair for compressed air and vacuum technology, which takes place during the Hannover Messe on 24-28 Apr 2017. Original Source: BASF, 20 Apr 2017, (Website: http:// www.basf.com/) © BASF 2017.
HPCL to use Honeywell UOP technology to meet rising domestic demand for clean fuels Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is utilizing Honeywell UOP's technologies to expand and modernize its refinery in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. The project covers the basic engineering design, licensing and other related services for a Unicracking hydrocracking line for diesel fuel production, and a Penex isomerization unit for high-octane gasoline production. Chemical Engineering World, Mar 2017, 52 (3), 24 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com) © Jasubhai Group 2017.
Axens increases capacity at site in France French company Axens (a supplier of advanced technologies for industry) has announced a €35 M investment in its site in Salindres, France. The project will strengthen Axens' production capacity for the clean fuels, petrochemicals and gas treatments markets. Its subsidiary IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN) commented that the investment would lead to the creation of new
jobs and reflected the company's desire to strengthen its operations in Salindres. It is also part of Axens' development strategy to expand its catalysts and adsorbents business. Since 2001 Axens has invested €180 M in the Salindres site (including €25 M+ in environmental protection). The site currently employs 375 people. The company has recruited 330 people in the region since its creation and has created 115 jobs. In addition, Axens is planning to recruit 20 additional people in 2017. The group has 2 other sites in France: RueilMalmaison and Solaize. Its subsidiary IFPEN acquired French engineering company Heurtey Petrochem at end 2016. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 24 Apr 2017, (798), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie/) © ETAI Information 2017.
ExxonMobil announces $20 bn investment in US Gulf Coast ExxonMobil is spending $20 bn on a project that will expand its operations in the US Gulf Coast and will produce about 45,000 jobs for the next decade. Most of the added production will be sold to Asia, with some to be exported in other countries. ExxonMobil will expand its ultra-low sulfur diesel and polyethylene capacity at Beaumont, TX. The firm will also add a new steam cracker and synthetic lubricants unit at its site in Baytown, TX. A new state-of-the-art lubricants plant has been established along a sulfur emissions reduction project at ExxonMobil's site in Baton Rouge, LA. Together with SABIC, ExxonMobil aims to construct a plastics production plant. ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum International intends to build export facility and natural gas liquefaction operations at ExxonMobil's Golden Pass LNG import terminal in Sabine Pass, TX. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), Apr 2017, (910), 9 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2017.
Borealis aims to dodge oversupply Austrian polymers firm Borealis said on 5 May 2017 that the company's proposed large-scale joint venture polyethylene (PE) facility on the US Gulf Coast will dodge the forthcoming oversupply in that market, which will recover to a more balanced demand and supply situation by the time it commences. The forthcoming wave of PE facilities to commence in the Gulf will result in an oversupplied market, but a healthy US economy and exports to Asia or Latin America will aid in balancing the markets by 2021, when Borealis intends to inaugurate its own 625,000 tonne/y facility. Borealis, which is privately owned by the Austrian energy firm OMV (with a 36% stake) and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company (64%), will construct the PE facility in partnership with its sister firm NOVA Chemicals, owned 100% by Mubadala and French energy firm Total, which will further construct a 1 M tonne/y ethane cracker at the same site. The joint venture's ownership arrangement will be split among Borealis and NOVA with a 25% stake each and Total (50%). Total announced that it would allocate a capex of $1.7 bn for the cracker. The final investment decision will be made by end2017.
5
FOCUS Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 12-18 May 2017, 291 (19), 9 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2017.
Honeywell technology and controls selected for largest petrochemical project in China On 10 May 2017, Honeywell UOP announced that Zhejiang Petrochemical Co Ltd (ZPC) will use four of its Polybed pressure swing adsorption (PSA) units to supply high-purity hydrogen for its new integrated refining and petrochemical complex in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province. The complex will use Honeywell Experion distributed control systems from Honeywell Process Solutions, and the PSA units will be controlled by Honeywell C300 controllers integrated with the Experion system. Zhejiang Petrochemical earlier awarded petrochemical process technology licensing, engineering design and catalysts to Honeywell UOP. When completed, the new plant will be the largest crude-to-chemicals complex in China and one of the largest in the world, manufacturing petrochemicals to make plastic resins, films and fibres, as well as fuels. Polybed PSA systems are skid-mounted, modular units complete with hardware, adsorbents, control systems and embedded process technology, enabling quick and efficient installation to reduce cost and downtime. The PSA process uses proprietary UOP adsorbents to remove impurities at high pressure from hydrogen-containing process streams, allowing hydrogen to be recovered and upgraded to more than 99.9% purity to meet refining needs. In addition to recovering and purifying hydrogen from steam reformers and refinery off-gases, the Polybed PSA system can be used to produce hydrogen from other sources such as ethylene offgas, methanol off-gas and partial-oxidation synthesis gas. Original Source: Honeywell, 10 May 2017, (Website: http://honeywell.com/) © Honeywell International Inc 2017.
Honeywell UOP signs agreement to provide technology and equipment for expansion of Jordanian refinery On 8 May 2017, Honeywell UOP announced that it has signed an agreement with the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company (JPRC) to facilitate a $1.6 bn expansion of its refinery in Zarqa, Jordan. This expansion will increase the capacity of the facility to 120,000 barrels/d and will allow JPRC to upgrade the quality of its product to meet Euro V emissions specifications. The expansion of the Zarqa refinery will help the company meet the rising demand for fuel, which is growing at an average of 3%/y. As part of the project, which is the fourth such expansion of the JPRC refinery, Honeywell UOP will provide managing licensor services, technology licensing, front-end engineering design consultancy services, and basic engineering design. It also will provide catalysts and process equipment, and training and start-up services. Technologies provided by Honeywell UOP will include crude and vacuum distillation units – designed by US-based Process Consulting Services Inc – for distilling crude oil into various fractions. Honeywell UOP also will provide Unicracking and hydrotreating units to create clean distillate, as well as CCR Platforming, Penex,
6
ON
C ATA LY S T S
MinAlk, Merox and Selectfining units for producing cleaner-burning high-octane motor fuels, and a Polybed PSA unit for purifying hydrogen. Original source: Honeywell, 8 May 2017, (Website: http://honeywell.com/) © Honeywell International Inc 2017.
LyondellBasell to supply ACP PE technology to Chinese project Hengli Petrochemical will use the Hostalen ACP polyethylene (PE) process technology of LyondellBasell for the development of a new 400,000 tonnes/y high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit in east China. The new facility will be constructed at the Hengli Petrochemical Industrial Park (HPIP) on Changxing Island in Dalian, Liaoning Province. With LyondellBasell's Hostalen ACP process technology, its clients can manufacture high-performance multimodal HDPE products with excellent stiffness/toughness balance, high stress cracking resistance, impact resistance and processing advantages used in blow moulding, pipe and film applications. Original Source: European Plastics News, 21 Apr 2017, (Website: http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc 2017.
Yantai Wanhua commences operation at single-train PDH facility in China Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes Group, a subsidiary of Wanhua Chemical Group, has begun operations at the "largest'' operating single-train propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit in China. The new PDH plant, located in Yantai, is using Honeywell UOP's C3 Oleflex process technology to convert propane into 750,000 tonnes/y of propylene. As China's largest Oleflex unit, this represents a significant expansion in the country's propylene capacity and a big step toward meeting local demand for propylene, according to the vice president and general manager of process technology and equipment at Honeywell UOP. Honeywell UOP also provided the engineering design, equipment, staff training, technical service and catalyst for the project. No other details were given. Original Source: PetroChemical News, 8 May 2017, 55 (18), 1 (Website: http://www.petrochemical-news.com) © William F. Bland Co. 2017.
universities and BASF established the California Research Alliance (CARA) in 2014. This multidisciplinary collaboration headed by the College of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) conducts research on new inorganic and other advanced materials, biosciences and their applications. To mark three years of CARA researchers working alongside BASF counterparts, members of these universities, guest professors, students and BASF convened an Anniversary Symposium on 24-25 Apr 2017 at UC Berkeley to address recent research advancements. During the event, leaders from UC Berkeley and BASF announced a five-year extension of the CARA collaboration at a signing ceremony. A CARA research team, working in the area of catalysis, achieved a recent breakthrough. The researchers developed a means to synthesize binary intermetallic nanoparticles from a combination of noble and base metals. This has the potential to be used in catalysis applications. Following successful tests at UC Berkeley, the synthesis of the nanoparticles and their potential application in catalysis are being further evaluated in BASF laboratories in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Original Source: BASF, 2017, Found on SpecialChem Adhesives and Sealants Formulation, 2 May 2017, (Website: http://www.specialchem4adhesives.com).
Ajinomoto Co Inc, UMI, and Tokyo Institute of Technology professors establish new company to implement the world’s first on-site production of ammonia Ajinomoto Co Inc and the No 1 UMI Limited Partnership managed and operated by Universal Materials Incubator Co Ltd Professor, Director of Materials Research Center for Element Strategy at Tokyo Institute of Technology, have established Tsubame BHB Co Ltd, which strives to achieve practical applications for the world's first on-site ammonia synthesis systems, with the support of Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and applying catalysts developed by the professor's research group. The new company began operations on 25 Apr 2017. The company intends to produce a low-cost, stable supply of amino acids and other fermentation materials, as well as agricultural fertilizers. Original Source: Ajinomoto, 27 Apr 2017, (Ajinomoto, website: http://www.ajinomoto.com/) © Ajinomoto Co Inc 2017.
Technip Zimmer: cooperation with METabolic Explorer
NEW TECHNOLOGY UC Berkeley and BASF announce five-year extension of CARA collaboration Many scientific discoveries and patent applications have resulted from more than 25 research projects underway since West Coast
Under a partnership, Technip Zimmer GmbH and METabolic Explorer SA will combine their respective 1, 3-propanediol (PDO) and polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) technologies into a bundled package. The PDO process involves the fermentation of vegetable or recycled oils to form crude glycerins. An engineering feasibility assessment will be conducted at the former's centre in Lyon, France. Original Source: Chemical Fibers International, Dec 2016, 66 (12), 172 (Website: http://www. chemical-fibers.com/) © Deutscher Fachverlag GmbH 2016.
June 2017