A catalytic process to selectively break carbon-carbon bonds within the polymer chains of polyethylene and polypropylene could allow the use of waste plastics to make biodegradable surfactant molecules. Researchers led by the Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics (iCOUP) at…
Although the oceans contain about 5,000 times more lithium than what is found on land, the low concentrations (about 0.2 parts per million (ppm)), as well as the predominance of other larger ions (sodium, magnesium and potassium) makes Li extraction…
Sulzer Chemtech Ltd. (Winterthur, Switzerland) has completed the delivery of key polymerization technologies to Denka’s styrenics resin plant in Singapore. This will allow the chemical manufacturer to quickly expand its production capacity. The company is now in a stronger position…
LyondellBasell (Rotterdam, the Netherlands) has acquired 100 percent of PolyPacific Polymers Sdn. Bhd. (PPM) in Port Klang, Malaysia. PPM operates a 25,000-ton manufacturing facility producing reinforced and modified polyolefin compounds. Upon completion of the acquisition, the facility will undergo a…
Celanese Corp. (Dallas) announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the Santoprene TPV elastomers business of Exxon Mobil Corp. (Irving, Tex.). Celanese will acquire the Santoprene brand as part of a comprehensive thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) product portfolio, along…
Röhm GmbH (Darmstadt, Germany) has started on the detail engineering and construction of a new production plant for methyl methacrylate (MMA) in Bay City, Texas. The final budget for construction has now been approved by the Supervisory Board. The plant…
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced that Reliance Industries Ltd.(Reliance), has signed an agreement to join a new world-scale chlor-alkali, ethylene dichloride and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production facility at TA’ZIZ in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi. The agreement capitalizes on growing…
AkzoNobel (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) will further expand its long-term position in South and Central America after reaching an agreement to acquire Colombia-based paints and coatings company Grupo Orbis. Completion is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected by end of…
KBR, Inc. (Houston) announced that it has been awarded a contract by Raízen Argentina for modernizing the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit at its Buenos Aires Refinery. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide a basic engineering package…
Air Liquide (Paris) will invest around €70 million to build a state-of-the-art gases plant in Wuhan, Central China, to supply a major memory chipmaker. Air Liquide has been producing ultra-pure industrial gases for this leading Chinese high-tech company for more…