Aptar Pharma relies on medical grade TPE for eye drop packaging

MOSCOW (MRC) -- With several functional components manufactured using a newly developed, medical grade TPE from KRAIBURG TPE, Aptar Pharma launched its ophthalmic squeeze dispenser (OSD), as per the company's press release.

The Thermoplastic Elastomer components come into direct contact with the medical eye drop formulation. Aptar Pharma requires classification as a medical grade plastic in compliance with the stringent regulations for the primary packaging of sensitive medications.

Dry eyes can be caused by various medical conditions, such as diabetes, rheumatism and thyroid disorders, and also by draughts or contact lenses, or by prolonged exposure to computer monitors. Moisturising eye drops are a time-proven remedy. However, they seldom contain preservatives, which cause allergic reactions in many people. Due to its microbiological safety as well as easy and precise dosing capabilities, the ophthalmic squeeze dispenser (OSD) from Aptar Pharma is in widespread use as dispenser for eye drops that contain no preservatives.

To further optimise the product, the manufacturer sought a thermoplastic processable material that allows direct contact with medications. KRAIBURG TPE supported Aptar Pharma in choosing the material through to series production with a comprehensive medical technology service package. The result is a new component manufactured from a new THERMOLAST M material developed by KRAIBURG TPE for the medical and pharmaceutical market. "In close cooperation with KRAIBURG TPE we were able to further improve the exemplary safety and integrity of the ophthalmic squeeze dispenser from Aptar Pharma, without compromising its intuitive and convenient use," says Stefan Ritsche, President Global Market Development at Aptar Pharma.

Compounds for medical technology or medical applications are manufactured at KRAIBURG TPE only on special equipment reserved for these products. The company offers its customers in the medical and pharmaceutical sector an extensive service package that ensures maximum control with respect to quality, safety and reliability.

KRAIBURG TPE has been working in cooperation with Aptar Pharma for a number of years. "Early integration in the project allowed us to contribute our full range of know-how and experience and to offer our customer a TPE solution that fulfils all requirements, including the specified sterilisation", says Oliver Kluge, Medical Product Consultant at KRAIBURG TPE.

As MRC informed before, in August 2017, a new material development was announced by Germain thermoplastics elastomer manufacturer Kraiburg TPE - a new TPE series with outstanding adhesion to EPDM. The new grades are part of the Thermolast K family and are said to combine excellent adhesion to EPDM with high UV resistance and very good weatherability, in addition to good flow properties. The new material series is ideal for automotive exterior applications. Kraiburg TPE mentioned pilot projects which include window seals consisting of EPDM profiles with moulded TPE corner joints.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Mexico’s national oil company Pemex’s biggest refinery has begun bringing plants back online following a prolonged stoppage caused by a major earthquake in September, reported Reuters with reference to the company spokesperson's statement.

A partial start-up of the facility’s plants began last week at the Salina Cruz refinery, located along the Pacific coast of southern Oaxaca state. But the facility has yet to begin production of any refined products, the official said, declining to be named in line with company policy.

When operational, Salina Cruz can process up to 330,000 bpd, the largest refining capacity of any of Pemex’s six domestic refineries.

"Hopefully in the coming days we’ll start production," the official said.

"But we don’t want to give precise dates (for when output from the facility will begin) because it’s been a very complex process due to the continuous aftershocks" following the September 7 earthquake, which damaged thousands of homes in Oaxaca and nearby Chiapas state, claiming 102 lives.

Pemex, officially known as Petroleos Mexicanos, has previously said that the quake caused electrical problems at the plants but no structural damage.

Last month, new electric turbogenerators were installed at the refinery to begin tests needed to bring the facility back online.

In June, Salina Cruz had been shut down due to a fire caused by flooding from a major storm and began operating briefly at the end of July.

As MRC informed before, in mid-June 2017, Pemex restarted operations at its Salina Cruz refinery in the southern state of Oaxaca. Pemex had said earlier that heavy rains, due to Tropical Storm Calvin, had prompted it to suspend operations and evacuate personnel at the refinery, which has a capacity of 330 Mbpd.

Pemex, Mexican Petroleum, is a Mexican state-owned petroleum company. Pemex has a total asset worth of USD415.75 billion, and is the world's second largest non-publicly listed company by total market value, and Latin America's second largest enterprise by annual revenue as of 2009. Company produces such polymers, as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS).
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) — Honeywell announced that Empresa Nacional del Petroleo (ENAP) has begun using Honeywell UOP’s HYT-6219 Unity hydrotreating catalyst in conjunction with Unity hydrocracking catalysts to produce cleaner-burning diesel fuel at its Bio Bio refinery in Hualpen, Chile, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The HYT-6219 catalyst pretreats the petroleum feed used to make diesel fuel, removing sulfur, nitrogen and aromatics that would otherwise hurt the performance and longevity of hydrocracking catalysts later in the refining process. The refinery also uses Honeywell UOP’s HC-130 and HC-120 Unity hydrocracking catalysts as part of its production process.

Hydrotreating is a critical step in the refining process where hydrogen and a proprietary catalyst are used to pretreat petroleum and other products by removing contaminants before conversion into transportation fuels. The process helps produce cleaner-burning gasoline and diesel that meet increasingly stringent global fuel regulations such as the Euro V standard, which specifies sulfur content of less than 10 parts per million in transportation fuels.

Honeywell UOP’s line of Unity catalysts includes more than two dozen hydrotreating catalysts for hydrocracking and fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) pre-treat, and diesel, kerosene and coker naphtha hydrotreating. Honeywell UOP also offers catalysts for naphtha hydrotreating and FCC gasoline desulfurization. The Unity portfolio is a total solution for hydrocracking loads.

According to the International Energy Association (EIA), global demand growth for transportation fuels is shifting toward emerging economies with a diesel bias, while quality specifications for international marine fuels will drive a shift from residual fuel oil to marine diesel. Trucks, which are a key enabler of commercial activity in emerging economies, will lead to a significant increase in carbon dioxide emissions of nearly 900 MMt through 2050, heightening the need for cleaner-burning diesel fuels.

ENAP is a public commercial enterprise owned by the State of Chile whose main activity is the exploration and production of hydrocarbons through its subsidiary Enap Sipetrol SA and the refining, transport, storage and commercialization of petroleum products through Enap Refinerias SA. The company develops activities and operations in Chile, Argentina and Egypt and is headquartered in Santiago de Chile.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) — Aspen Technology, Inc., the asset optimization software company, announced that the Dangote Group, the largest conglomerate in West Africa and one of the largest on the African continent, has selected Aspen PIMS-AO software for economic and operational planning, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

By standardizing on a best-in-class solution that leading refineries and olefins plants around the world use for feedstock selection, product slate optimization and production planning, Dangote further enhances its global presence as the organization builds the world’s largest single train refinery, the 650,000 bpd Dangote Oil Refinery.

The refinery will also house the world’s largest urea plant with a capacity of 3 MMtpy, in addition to a polyethylene plant and gas processing facilities for 3 Bscfd of natural gas transported through 1,100 km of subsea pipeline infrastructure built by the Dangote Group.

Aspen PIMS-AO software is part of the aspenONE suite of products that streamline downstream refining workflows to bridge the gap between planning and scheduling, create optimal production plans quickly and evaluate more scenarios to enable better decision-making. AspenTech has partnered with leading energy companies worldwide to develop a proprietary solving algorithm that ensures accurate results. PIMS-AO also offers nonlinear models which improve accuracy in refining reactors and olefins (pyrolysis) furnaces.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) — China National Petroleum Corp completed the last welding of a 941.8-km pipeline in northeast China, ready to start taking Russian oil from Jan. 1, said Reuters.

The pipeline that starts at the border town Mohe and ends in Daqing city, in Heilongjiang province, is part of the expansion program of the Russia-China pipeline project.

The expansion enables China to receive 30 MMt of Russian crude oil annually, double the current amount. CNPC started building the pipeline that passes Heilongjiang province and Inner Mongolia in August 2016.
MRC