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Polymers

Dow polypropylene process technology chosen for new Qinghai unit in China

The Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Co. has selected the UNIPOL polypropylene process technology from Dow Chemical for its new 160,000 tpy polypropylene unit in China. The unit will provide polypropylene as part of Qinghai’s integrated magnesium metal project to produce homopolymers, random copolymers and impact copolymers.

Hurricane Irene forms in Atlantic, may hit Carolina polymer sites by weekend

Hurricane Irene formed early Monday near Puerto Rico, making it the first such storm of the 2011 Atlantic tropical season, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). Irene is expected to strike the southeastern US coast near South Carolina or North Carolina over the upcoming weekend as a major hurricane, with winds of at least 115 miles/hour.

BASF to build €500mn acrylic acid plant in Brazil

BASF will invest in a world-scale production site for acrylic acid, butyl acrylate and superabsorbent polymers (SAP) in Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil, it said on Friday. It will be the first acrylic acid and superabsorbents plant in South America. With an investment of more than €500 million, it is the largest investment in BASF’s century-long history in South America.

INEOS technology for PVC, VCM chosen by Qingdao Haijing project in China

Qingdao Haijing Chemical has selected technology from INEOS to use in the production of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and suspension polyvinyl chloride (S-PVC) technologies for a project at its new site in Dongjia-kou Pro Port Industrial Zone, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China.

Fluor wins EPC deal for Saudi Arabia polymer plant

Fluor has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract by SAPCo, a joint venture company being formulated between Saudi Acrylic Acid Co. and Evonik Industries, for the super absorbent polymer project (SAP) in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

Eastman completes Sterling Chemicals acquisition

Eastman Chemical has completed its acquisition of Sterling Chemicals, a single-site North American petrochemical producer, for $100 million in cash. This acquisition includes Sterling’s plasticizer and acetic acid manufacturing assets in Texas City, Texas.

HP Construction: North America

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Meche, Helen

Air Products will supply Valero Energy Corp. with a combined additional 200 million scfd of hydrogen for Valero’s refineries in St. Charles, Louisiana, and Port Arthur, Texas. As part of this awa..

HP Construction: Europe

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Meche, Helen

Alfa Laval has received an order for compact heat exchangers from a refinery in Russia. The order value is about SEK 70 million and delivery is scheduled for 2012. The heat exchangers will be used in ..

HP Construction: Asia-Pacific

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Meche, Helen

SKC Co., Ltd. and Uhde Inventa-Fischer have a contract for the supply of a plant for producing high-quality polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for the manufacture of films in Jincheon, Republic of Korea..

Amyris partners with Kuraray for development of renewable polymers

Renewable products firm Amyris has signed a collaboration agreement with Kuraray to develop innovative polymers from Biofene, a renewable hydrocarbon building block made using Amyris technology. Under the agreement, Kuraray will use Biofene to replace petroleum-derived feedstock such as butadiene and isoprene in the production of specified classes of high-performing polymers.