Petrochemicals
US ethylene costs recovering after 20-month low
The US spot ethylene price touched 39.5 cents/lb on June 13, extending its drop from a seven-year high of 75.12 cents/lb on April 5 after unplanned plant outages and scheduled maintenance caused supply to fall short of demand, according to the pricing service.
Reliance picks CB&I for paraxylene technology on India aromatics project
The complex includes proprietary BP paraxylene technology offered for license exclusively by Lummus Technology, which uses a novel crystallization step and other features to provide for low capital and operating costs. Paraxylene is an intermediate in the manufacture of polyester.
BASF acquires US cast elastomers producer ITWC
With more than 80 employees, including business management, manufacturing, R&D, sales, and administrative functions, ITWC operates sites in Malcom, Iowa, and Riverside, California. BASF is acquiring the assets of ITWC, including those obtained during ITWC's purchase of Hydroseal Polymers.
NKNH awards engineering deal to Linde for revamp of Russia olefins plant
Linde Engineering is set to build a new Alpha-SABLIN plant for the production of linear alpha olefins (LAO) in Nizhnekamsk, Russia. NKNH awarded Linde contracts for license, basic/detail engineering and supply of equipment and materials for revamping of NKNH’s existing LAO plant.
Grace signs catalyst deal with Braskem for 'green' chemicals production
WR Grace signed a multi-year deal with Braskem to develop process technologies and catalyst solutions to produce green chemicals. The technology being developed is based on carbon sources from renewable agricultural processes that contribute to lower carbon emissions than traditional feedstocks.
Eastman completes $4.8bn acquisition of Solutia
The $4.8 billion acquisition supports Eastman’s growth strategy to increase revenues and profit margins by expanding the company’s geographic reach, especially in emerging markets, and by establishing a more diverse and sustainable product portfolio, the company said.
HallStar buys Dow Chemical plasticizer product line
The deal uses both the trade names and proprietary manufacturing technology of the globally established TP-series brand of plasticizers, which includes TP-90B, TP-759 and TP-95. The deal provides HallStar with a broader range of ester technology principally used in rubber modification.
Catalyst developments: The past 90 years
While catalysis has made many advances in the last 90 years, the application of new technologies developed in other areas may offer great promise for future breakthroughs.
Impact of advanced engineering and design software on the HPI
Future industry innovations may include more integration of tools and information, improved hardware/software access, and the development of new energy resources.
Process control in the HPI: A not-so-sentimental journey
As long as there have been hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) facilities to process crude oil and intermediates, there have been instruments in place to assist plant operators in measuring, recordi..
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