- Email: [email protected]
Solvay opens innovation centre in Singapore to serve personal care market in Asia Pacific
F O C U S from natural oils that is targeted to displace solvents. According to the company, the new product fulfils the role of both a low HLB surfactant and a strong solvent. This powerful new cleaning solution is the first commercial product launched by Stepan as part of its joint development agreement with Elevance Renewable Sciences [Focus on Surfactants, Jan 2011]. The development agreement was established to develop and commercialize new surfactants and other products by combining Elevance’s novel Inherent building blocks [ibid, Jan 2014] with Stepan’s derivatization and application capabilities. This innovative solution utilizes a naturally derived, metathesized feedstock to form a nextgeneration bio-based surfactant that achieves sustainability goals while improving cleaning performance. The applications for Steposol MET-10U are broad, including adhesive removal, paint and coating removal systems, kitchen degreasers and allpurpose cleaners for both consumer and industrial uses. Stepan claims that, used in household cleaners, the new surfactant delivers better and faster cleaning performance at half the solvent loading with neutral pH in comparison to alkaline degreasers (pH 11-13). Original Source: Stepan Co, 22, West Frontage Road, Northfield, IL 60093, USA, tel: +1 847 446 7500, fax: +1 847 501 2100, website: http://www.stepan.com (24 Mar 2014) © Stepan Company 2014
Solvay opens innovation centre in Singapore to serve personal care market in Asia Pacific Belgium-based chemical firm Solvay has announced the opening of a new Research & Innovation Centre in Singapore, which will be the group’s core innovation ground for its consumer chemicals growth engine in the Asia-Pacific region. Located in Singapore’s Biopolis research hub, the 1100 sq m laboratory will lead worldwide innovation projects primarily for Solvay’s speciality surfactants business unit Novecare, as well as its Aroma Performance and Coatis business units. The centre will develop new formulations for the hygiene, beauty, detergents, coatings, gas and oil extraction, and agrochemicals sectors. It will also provide technical support to Solvay’s MAY 2014
O N
S U R FA C TA N T S
regional customers as well as the company’s production plants in the region. Solvay, which received strong support from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), has invested close to €2 M in the laboratory and expects to invest another €5 M in the next five years to boost the laboratory’s capabilities, including the hiring of an extra 30 researchers. The laboratory is Solvay’s latest investment in Singapore after Novecare announced in Apr 2013 the construction of a large-scale alkoxylation facility [Focus on Surfactants, Jun 2013]. More than 250 of Solvay’s 2000 current researchers are based in Asia. The figure is expected to double by 2016. Original Source: Solvay SA, website: http://www.solvay.com (11 Feb 2014) © Solvay 2014. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 17 Feb 2014, (665), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie) (in French) © ETAI Information 2014
BASF launches ingredients based on certified sustainable palm and palm kernel oils A new range of ingredients based on certified sustainable palm (kernel) oil has been introduced by BASF into the European home and personal care market. This is part of the firm’s effort to reach its goal of procuring all palm oil and palm kernel oil (PKO) from certified sustainable sources by 2015. Either the Segregation (SG) or the Mass Balance (MB) supply chain system of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is used to source the oils. The SG supply chain system guarantees that the palm (kernel) oils and their derivatives are free from uncertified oil in every step of the production process. In contrast, the MB supply chain system allows for mixing of RSPO-certified oil with oil from uncertified sources at any point in the supply chain, but a match between the purchased volumes of RSPO-certified palm (kernel) oil and processed derivatives needs to be guaranteed. The ingredients derived from these certified systems may be used by home and personal care manufacturers to develop valueadded formulations that satisfy the expanding market demand for certified, sustainable sourcing of raw materials. BASF has invested in setting up separate tanks, production
and transportation measures to establish a RSPO-SG supply chain system. Its certified offering includes the main surfactants to formulate products for personal care or household cleaners as well as emollients for skin care formulations. BASF has been an active member of RSPO since its foundation in 2004. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 4 Mar 2014, (Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2014. Original Source: ChemistryViews, 17 Feb 2014, (Website: http://www.chemistryviews.org) © WILEYVCH Verlag GmbH & Co KGaA 2014
Surfychem acquires 75% share of ACME In China, Surfychem has acquired a 75% share in ACME Tech Co Ltd for $13 M. Both companies are involved in the manufacture of water-based additives, primarily acetylenic diol derivatives. The company to be formed through the merging of these two firms will be the largest in China to manufacture, sell and service acetylenic diol derivatives. The integration will bring Surfychem’s production of acetylenic diol-based surfactants (TMDD, TMDOD) to 4000 tonnes/y and of ethoxylated acetylenic diol to 3000 tonnes/y. Surfychem’s Toynol and Surfadol brands will be offered worldwide. Surfychem says it will also discontinue some uncompetitive and older products, and will introduce products with more functional advantages and more eco-friendly applications. Original Source: APCJ, Asia Pacific Coatings Journal, Feb 2014, 27 (1), 7 (Website: http://www.asiapacificcoatingsjournal.com/) © dmg events 2014
ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS Solvay battles for soda ash Belgium-based Solvay has developed an improvement plan for its sodium carbonate (also known as soda ash) business and created a new global business unit (GBU) structure, which was launched in Jan 2014. The company has decided to divide its essential chemicals business unit into two GBUs, since soda ash and peroxide have different success 3
Solvay opens innovation centre in Singapore to serve personal care market in Asia Pacific Belgium-based chemical firm Solvay has announced the opening of a new Research & Innovation Centre in Singapore, which will be the group’s core innovation ground for its consumer chemicals growth engine in the Asia-Pacific region. Located in Singapore’s Biopolis research hub, the 1100 sq m laboratory will lead worldwide innovation projects primarily for Solvay’s speciality surfactants business unit Novecare, as well as its Aroma Performance and Coatis business units. The centre will develop new formulations for the hygiene, beauty, detergents, coatings, gas and oil extraction, and agrochemicals sectors. It will also provide technical support to Solvay’s MAY 2014
O N
S U R FA C TA N T S
regional customers as well as the company’s production plants in the region. Solvay, which received strong support from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), has invested close to €2 M in the laboratory and expects to invest another €5 M in the next five years to boost the laboratory’s capabilities, including the hiring of an extra 30 researchers. The laboratory is Solvay’s latest investment in Singapore after Novecare announced in Apr 2013 the construction of a large-scale alkoxylation facility [Focus on Surfactants, Jun 2013]. More than 250 of Solvay’s 2000 current researchers are based in Asia. The figure is expected to double by 2016. Original Source: Solvay SA, website: http://www.solvay.com (11 Feb 2014) © Solvay 2014. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 17 Feb 2014, (665), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie) (in French) © ETAI Information 2014
BASF launches ingredients based on certified sustainable palm and palm kernel oils A new range of ingredients based on certified sustainable palm (kernel) oil has been introduced by BASF into the European home and personal care market. This is part of the firm’s effort to reach its goal of procuring all palm oil and palm kernel oil (PKO) from certified sustainable sources by 2015. Either the Segregation (SG) or the Mass Balance (MB) supply chain system of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is used to source the oils. The SG supply chain system guarantees that the palm (kernel) oils and their derivatives are free from uncertified oil in every step of the production process. In contrast, the MB supply chain system allows for mixing of RSPO-certified oil with oil from uncertified sources at any point in the supply chain, but a match between the purchased volumes of RSPO-certified palm (kernel) oil and processed derivatives needs to be guaranteed. The ingredients derived from these certified systems may be used by home and personal care manufacturers to develop valueadded formulations that satisfy the expanding market demand for certified, sustainable sourcing of raw materials. BASF has invested in setting up separate tanks, production
and transportation measures to establish a RSPO-SG supply chain system. Its certified offering includes the main surfactants to formulate products for personal care or household cleaners as well as emollients for skin care formulations. BASF has been an active member of RSPO since its foundation in 2004. Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 4 Mar 2014, (Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © Sevak Publications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2014. Original Source: ChemistryViews, 17 Feb 2014, (Website: http://www.chemistryviews.org) © WILEYVCH Verlag GmbH & Co KGaA 2014
Surfychem acquires 75% share of ACME In China, Surfychem has acquired a 75% share in ACME Tech Co Ltd for $13 M. Both companies are involved in the manufacture of water-based additives, primarily acetylenic diol derivatives. The company to be formed through the merging of these two firms will be the largest in China to manufacture, sell and service acetylenic diol derivatives. The integration will bring Surfychem’s production of acetylenic diol-based surfactants (TMDD, TMDOD) to 4000 tonnes/y and of ethoxylated acetylenic diol to 3000 tonnes/y. Surfychem’s Toynol and Surfadol brands will be offered worldwide. Surfychem says it will also discontinue some uncompetitive and older products, and will introduce products with more functional advantages and more eco-friendly applications. Original Source: APCJ, Asia Pacific Coatings Journal, Feb 2014, 27 (1), 7 (Website: http://www.asiapacificcoatingsjournal.com/) © dmg events 2014
ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS Solvay battles for soda ash Belgium-based Solvay has developed an improvement plan for its sodium carbonate (also known as soda ash) business and created a new global business unit (GBU) structure, which was launched in Jan 2014. The company has decided to divide its essential chemicals business unit into two GBUs, since soda ash and peroxide have different success 3