Drawing inspiration from the enzymatic breakdown of macromolecules in cellular systems, scientists at Ames Laboratory (Ames, Iowa; www.ameslab.gov) have developed a nanostructured catalyst that can break down high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other polyolefins into a narrow distribution of diesel- and…
TechnipFMC (Houston) has successfully completed the remaining conditions required to enable work to commence on the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract with Assiut National Oil Processing Company (ANOPC) for the construction of a new Hydrocracking Complex for the Assiut…
BASF SE (Ludwugshafen, Germany) announced the technical completion of the newly constructed plant for the plastic additives business at its site located in Pontecchio Marconi, Italy. The state-of-the-art facility will deliver a wider range of NOR solutions to support BASF’s…
Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. (Milan, Italy) announces that its subsidiary KT – Kinetics Technology S.p.A. has been awarded an EP contract by a global engineering and construction company, consisting in the detailed engineering, procurement and delivery of three large-scale Delayed Coker…
Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany) announced a collaborative partnership with Siemens (Munich, Germany) for the digitalization of production. This partnership is to result in the development of a process control system for the modular production of innovative materials and products for…
Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany) has made a second investment in HPNow, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, through its venture capital unit. Evonik participated in the first financing round of the start-up as early as 2017. Co-investor is the London-based venture…
Samsung Engineering Co. (Seoul, South Korea) announced that it received an LOI (Letter Of Intent) for a $ 1.07 billion contract from Sarawak Petchem Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Petchem) for the construction of a methanol plant in Sarawak, Malaysia. Samsung Engineering…
Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium) has reached an agreement with Latour Capital to sell its technical-grade barium and strontium business in Germany, Spain and Mexico as well as its sodium percarbonate business in Germany. Solvay’s barium and strontium business includes a joint venture…
Ineos (London) announced that INEOS Olefins and Polymers USA that it has agreed to principle terms with Sasol Chemicals North America LLC to acquire its 50% membership interest in Gemini HDPE LLC (Gemini) for $404 million. Gemini is a toll-manufacturer…
Arkema SA (Colombes, France) has started up its 50% capacity increase of Kynar fluoropolymer for the lithium-ion battery business at its Changshu plant in China in December 2020, with the first commercial supplies for January 2021. Driven by strong growth…