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Polyethylene from sugar
FOCUS WR Grace 2Q 2007: core operations: Grace Davison WR Grace & Co has reported that 2Q 2007 (period ends 30 Jun 2007) sales for the Grace Davison operating segment, which includes silica- and alumina-based catalysts and materials used in a wide range of industrial applications, were $438.7 M (+15.4% on its 2Q 2006). The primary factors contributing to the sales increase were: selling price increases that partially offset higher raw material costs; higher volume of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts in most geographic regions from stronger economic activity and from the success of strategic growth initiatives; and favourable translation effects from sales denominated in foreign currencies. Pre-tax operating income was $60.6 M ($46.3 M) and operating margin was 13.8% (12.2%). The improvement in operating income and margin is principally attributable to higher selling prices and higher volumes, a better product mix, and successful productivity initiatives. Sales of the Grace Davison operating segment for 1H 2007 were $826.4 M (+12.2% on its 1H 2006), operating income was $105.6 M (+28.3%), with operating margins at 12.8% (11.2%). Year-to-date operating results reflect higher sales in most product groups and in regions other than North America, partially offset by the negative effects of higher raw material costs. Grace Interim Financial Results 2Q 2007, 25 Jul 2007, 2-3 (WR Grace & Co, 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. Website: http://www.grace.com)
NEW PLANTS BASF Catalysts expands Georgia plants BASF Catalysts is boosting the fluid catalytic cracking catalyst capacity of two manufacturing facilities in Savannah and Attapulgus, GA, USA, to cope with increasing demand from petroleum refiners. The additional capacity will come online at the start of 2008. Hydrocarbon Processing, Aug 2007, 86 (8), 35
Catalysts & Chemicals starts up new catalyst facilities Catalysts & Chemicals Industries is wrapping up several capital
OCTOBER 2007
ON
C ATA LY S T S
investment projects to boost catalyst output. The projects are under the company’s medium-term business scheme, which ends in fiscal 2010 and has an interim sales target of Yen 40 bn/y ($333 M). The new facilities comprise a hydrogenation catalyst building that commenced construction in spring 2007 at the Kita-Kyushu site. Completion is scheduled in Oct 2007 with commercial startup before end of 2007. The company will now have three lines, raising the current capacity by 50%. The expansion will cater to the Japanese and international markets. A new research wing was also completed at the site in Jul 2007, merging some of the dispersed research facilities. Capacity for chemical catalyst contract work has been increased twofold to 300 tonne/y, raising the company’s total capacity for the petroleum product catalyst by 10%. The new output will serve the high demand for zeolitebased catalysts centered on Asia. Japan Chemical Week, 16 Aug 2007, 48 (2428), 2
Shell issues general planner contract to Triplan KataLeuna Catalysts, part of the Shell/CRI-Criterion Group, has commissioned Triplan in the general planning for its new plant for the manufacture of catalysts for fuel production. Production of catalysts is to begin at the start of 2009. Chemie Technik (Heidelberg), 16 Aug 2007 (Website: http://www/chemietechnik.de) (in German)
Polyethylene from sugar An integrated plant for making polyethylene from ethylene made from ethanol by fermenting sugar is to be built in Brazil by a jv between Dow Chemicals and Crystalsev (a Brazilian ethanol producer).The 350,000 ton/year plant should start producing in 2011. Chemistry and Industry, 30 Jul 2007, (14), 11
Shenyang to build polyethylene recycling unit Shenyang Chemical intends to set up its first polyethylene (PE) facility in Shenyang, Liaoning Province by the end of 2008. The undertaking, which will require an investment of about
Yuan 3 bn ($396.3 M), will involve the construction of a 500,000 tonne/y catalytic pyrolysis process (CPP) plant. The company has started work on the CPP unit, which will produce 260,000 tonne/y of ethylene and propylene. ICIS Chemical Business, 6 Aug 2007 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com)
BP, DuPont, and ABF propose UK biofuels plants BP plc, DuPont and Associated British Foods plan to build a 420 M litre/y bioethanol facility in Saltend, Hull, UK. The project is in line with efforts to guarantee that the UK will have 5% biofuel content in its transportation fuel by 2010. The proposed bioethanol plant will be fed with wheat and is slated for commissioning in late 2009. The three companies also intend to set up a 20,000 litre/y biobutanol demonstration plant at the Saltend site by early 2009. The two projects are expected to require a total investment of $400 M. The front-end engineering and design work for the bioethanol facility will be done by Aker Kvaerner and its jv partner Praj Industries. Praj will also provide technology and process expertise to the project. Oil and Gas Journal, 2 Jul 2007, 105 (25), 10 & TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), Aug 2007, (794), 10
Dow and Solvay proceed with Thai HPPO plans Dow Chemical and Solvay have partnered to establish a 50:50 jv that will involve the construction of a hydrogen peroxide plant at the Asian Industrial Estate near Map Ta Phut, Thailand. Due for completion in 2010, the 330,000 tonne/y plant will make use of Solvay’s high-yield system and will provide feedstock to a propylene oxide (PO) complex announced earlier and which will also be erected at the Asian Industrial Estate. The 390,000 tonne/y PO unit will feature sophisticated hydrogen peroxide-topropylene oxide (HPPO) technology that Dow and BASF jointly developed. The PO unit’s completion is expected in 2010 and the plant will be equally owned by the partners. Propylene feedstock for the HPPO unit will come from a previously announced liquids cracker being constructed by Dow and Siam Cement at Map Ta Phut.
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NEW PLANTS BASF Catalysts expands Georgia plants BASF Catalysts is boosting the fluid catalytic cracking catalyst capacity of two manufacturing facilities in Savannah and Attapulgus, GA, USA, to cope with increasing demand from petroleum refiners. The additional capacity will come online at the start of 2008. Hydrocarbon Processing, Aug 2007, 86 (8), 35
Catalysts & Chemicals starts up new catalyst facilities Catalysts & Chemicals Industries is wrapping up several capital
OCTOBER 2007
ON
C ATA LY S T S
investment projects to boost catalyst output. The projects are under the company’s medium-term business scheme, which ends in fiscal 2010 and has an interim sales target of Yen 40 bn/y ($333 M). The new facilities comprise a hydrogenation catalyst building that commenced construction in spring 2007 at the Kita-Kyushu site. Completion is scheduled in Oct 2007 with commercial startup before end of 2007. The company will now have three lines, raising the current capacity by 50%. The expansion will cater to the Japanese and international markets. A new research wing was also completed at the site in Jul 2007, merging some of the dispersed research facilities. Capacity for chemical catalyst contract work has been increased twofold to 300 tonne/y, raising the company’s total capacity for the petroleum product catalyst by 10%. The new output will serve the high demand for zeolitebased catalysts centered on Asia. Japan Chemical Week, 16 Aug 2007, 48 (2428), 2
Shell issues general planner contract to Triplan KataLeuna Catalysts, part of the Shell/CRI-Criterion Group, has commissioned Triplan in the general planning for its new plant for the manufacture of catalysts for fuel production. Production of catalysts is to begin at the start of 2009. Chemie Technik (Heidelberg), 16 Aug 2007 (Website: http://www/chemietechnik.de) (in German)
Polyethylene from sugar An integrated plant for making polyethylene from ethylene made from ethanol by fermenting sugar is to be built in Brazil by a jv between Dow Chemicals and Crystalsev (a Brazilian ethanol producer).The 350,000 ton/year plant should start producing in 2011. Chemistry and Industry, 30 Jul 2007, (14), 11
Shenyang to build polyethylene recycling unit Shenyang Chemical intends to set up its first polyethylene (PE) facility in Shenyang, Liaoning Province by the end of 2008. The undertaking, which will require an investment of about
Yuan 3 bn ($396.3 M), will involve the construction of a 500,000 tonne/y catalytic pyrolysis process (CPP) plant. The company has started work on the CPP unit, which will produce 260,000 tonne/y of ethylene and propylene. ICIS Chemical Business, 6 Aug 2007 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com)
BP, DuPont, and ABF propose UK biofuels plants BP plc, DuPont and Associated British Foods plan to build a 420 M litre/y bioethanol facility in Saltend, Hull, UK. The project is in line with efforts to guarantee that the UK will have 5% biofuel content in its transportation fuel by 2010. The proposed bioethanol plant will be fed with wheat and is slated for commissioning in late 2009. The three companies also intend to set up a 20,000 litre/y biobutanol demonstration plant at the Saltend site by early 2009. The two projects are expected to require a total investment of $400 M. The front-end engineering and design work for the bioethanol facility will be done by Aker Kvaerner and its jv partner Praj Industries. Praj will also provide technology and process expertise to the project. Oil and Gas Journal, 2 Jul 2007, 105 (25), 10 & TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), Aug 2007, (794), 10
Dow and Solvay proceed with Thai HPPO plans Dow Chemical and Solvay have partnered to establish a 50:50 jv that will involve the construction of a hydrogen peroxide plant at the Asian Industrial Estate near Map Ta Phut, Thailand. Due for completion in 2010, the 330,000 tonne/y plant will make use of Solvay’s high-yield system and will provide feedstock to a propylene oxide (PO) complex announced earlier and which will also be erected at the Asian Industrial Estate. The 390,000 tonne/y PO unit will feature sophisticated hydrogen peroxide-topropylene oxide (HPPO) technology that Dow and BASF jointly developed. The PO unit’s completion is expected in 2010 and the plant will be equally owned by the partners. Propylene feedstock for the HPPO unit will come from a previously announced liquids cracker being constructed by Dow and Siam Cement at Map Ta Phut.
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