Chemical

Sky Plastic becomes PreZero Polymers. Welcoming the recycling specialist into the unified brand identity successfully completes their integration into the globally active waste disposal and recycling company PreZero. The Sky Plastic Group had already been taken over by the Schwarz Group’s environmental services provider with retroactive effect to 1 January…

India’s largest petrochemical and second largest oil refining company Reliance Industries has confirmed plans to invest US$9.75 billion to build a crude-oil-to-chemicals complex at the company’s Jamnagar, India, site. Commenting, Afsar Hussain, Wood Mackenzie Senior Research Analyst, said: “The project will have a combined capacity to produce 8.5 million tonnes…

Chemical firms are claiming firsts in the industry, against the back of the drive for further sustainability. Inovyn has launched its latest generation of PVC under the brand name Biovyn, becoming the world’s first commercial producer of bio-attributed PVC using a supply chain fully certified by The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB),…

US-based biomaterials firm Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) and South Korean chemical firm LG Chem are to tie up to create biobased acrylic acid, a foundational element required in the manufacture of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) used in a range of hygiene products, including diapers. Under the terms of this agreement,…

Flame retardants (FRs) are continuously being improved to offer consumers the best choice to ensure overall safety, however, green alternatives are facing challenges, says Angelica Buan in this report. If we had to choose between fire safety or safety from health risks, which would it be? Obviously, the choice would…

Saudi Aramco’s US refining arm, Motiva Enterprises, has signed an agreement to acquire a 100% ownership interest in Flint Hills Resources chemical plant that is adjacent to its Port Arthur, Texas, oil refinery. The potential acquisition is targeted to close in the fourth quarter of 2019, subject to satisfaction of…

Chinese chemicals maker Hengli Group has started up what is said to be the world’s largest on-purpose olefin production plant with a capacity of 1 million tonnes/year. The mixed-feed dehydrogenation plant in Dalian, China, is utilising Swiss chemical firm Clariant’s Catofin catalyst. The new unit combines propane dehydrogenation (PDH) with…

Chinese chemicals maker Wanhua Chemical Group has, through its Hungarian subsidiary, acquired Swedish manufacturer of MDI, TDI, hydrogen peroxide and bioethanol-derived chemicals Chematur Engineering for around EUR120 million. Wanhua acquired a 75% stake in Chematur from Chinese chemical group Jilin Connell Investment. The remaining 25% equity was from Hong Kong-registered…

Swiss chemicals maker Clariant’s catalysts business has set up a new services and support office in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Located in the eastern coast of the country, Jubail is the world’s largest industrial city and an important site for the petrochemicals market. Clariant’s new office is thus ideally positioned to…

Styrenics maker Ineos Styrolution held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new 100 kilotonne ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate) plant in Bayport, Texas, recently. The development of the new site is part of a bigger expansion plan for the Americas, which includes increased ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) capacity at the Altamira site…