Koppers brought on-stream its phthalic anhydride unit in USA

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Koppers has restarted its phthalic anhydride (PA) unit following a maintenance turnaround, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in the US informed that the company has resumed operations at the unit on October 10, 2019. The unit remained under maintenance for about 40 days.

Located in Stickney, Illinois, USA, the unit has a production capacity of 100,000 mt/year.

Phthalic anhydride is widely used in for the production of paints and varnishes and plasticizers for PVC products. In a small amount it is used in the manufacture of rubber products, tires. In addition, it is used in the light, pharmaceutical and electrical industries.

According to MRC's DataScope report, exports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Russia totalled about 142,100 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, up by 48% year on year. Imports increased by 211% year on year to 43,100 tonnes.
MRC

Air Liquide is partnering with ArcelorMitta

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Air Liquide is partnering with ArcelorMittal in the first industrial scale demonstration plant to capture carbon gas from the steelmaking process and recycle it into chemicals, specifically advanced bioethanol, said the company.

In this project, Air Liquide Engineering & Construction will provide a technology solution that purifies the offgas coming from the blast furnace. These gases will then be injected into a bioreactor to produce bioethanol. This technology leverages Air Liquide’s extensive know-how and illustrates its capacity to develop sustainable solutions supporting its customers in the steel industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The project is led by the world-leading steel company ArcelorMittal together with its partner Lanzatech, and supported by EU Horizon 2020, the EU research and innovation program. Located at ArcelorMittal’s steel plant in Ghent, Belgium, this first industrial scale demonstration plant will produce advanced bioethanol from waste gases from the steelmaking process. Construction of the facility is underway at the ArcelorMittal site in Ghent Belgium and the plant is planned to become operational at the end of 2020. It is expected to produce 80 million litres of bioethanol annually.

Francois Venet, Senior Vice President Strategy and member of the Air Liquide group’s Executive Committee supervising the Large Industries Business Line and Engineering & Construction stated:

”This new partnership with ArcelorMittal demonstrates our shared commitment to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is also a clear illustration of the initiatives Air Liquide has committed to as part of its Climate Objectives. We strive to push the boundaries of innovation to lower the carbon footprint of the industry and develop technology solutions for our customers to contribute to the energy transition."

As MRC said earlier, Air Liquide signs new long term contract with Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries (KPI) to build, own and operate a new nitrogen unit in the growing chemical basin of Karabatan, close to the Atyrau refinery.

As MRC informed earlier, Air Liquide in 2018 signed a new long-term agreement with LyondellBasell, one of the world’s largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies, to supply oxygen to LyondellBasell’s new large-scale petrochemical plant which will be constructed in Channelview, Texas. LyondellBasell’s new propylene oxide/tertiary butyl alcohol plant (PO/TBA), is expected to be the largest of its kind plant in the world when completed.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,436,390 tonnes in the first eight months of 2019, up by 9% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. At the same time, the PP consumption in the Russian market was 909,260 tonnes in January-August 2019, up by 10% year on year. Shipments of PP block copolymer and homopolymer PP increased.
MRC

Braskem America launches green recycled PP

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and leading producer of biopolymers in the world, formally launched its new I'm green TM Recycled polypropylene (PP) in the United States, reported Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The roll-out of Braskem's new I'm green TM Recycled polypropylene represents one of the first new offerings under the expanded I'm green TM product portfolio. Braskem recently announced the expansion of its I'm green TM brand to encompass the company's full range of circular economy products as part its commitment to help transform the plastics chain from a linear economy into a Circular Economy, a concept where materials are used, disposed of and then recycled in a circular way. The I'm green TM master brand now includes Braskem's product developments in bio-based resins, post-consumer-recycled (PCR) resins, as well as mixed bio-based plastics and PCR solutions.

Mark Nikolich, Braskem America CEO, commented, "In launching Braskem America's first ever 100% post-consumer recycled product, we are working closely with our partners to create innovative new solutions to promote the Circular Economy. Today, our new I'm green TM Recycled polypropylene utilizes plastic destined for landfills to produce new alternative materials for manufacturing. This will create improved sustainable solutions for clients, consumers and the environment."

Feedstock for Braskem's new I'm green TM Recycled PP is derived from polypropylene twine typically used for hay bales in the agricultural sector, which would otherwise be directed to landfills after use. In redirecting these polypropylene twine waste streams from landfills, the twine is reused as a raw material offering a circular source of feedstock with consistent material characteristics. The twine is processed, dyed black for product color uniformity, and then tested for purity and quality. The resulting sustainably focused homopolymer polypropylene pellets are well suited for use in compounding and packaging applications including uses in automotive, housewares and consumer goods. I'm green TM Recycled polypropylene has properties similar or as good as virgin PP.

With a global vision focused on the future, Braskem works every day to improve people's lives by creating sustainable solutions in chemicals and plastics through innovation. Today's announcement directly supports Braskem's overall vision that 100% of plastic packaging be reused, recycled or recovered by 2040.

We remind that, as MRC informed before, Braskem is no longer pursuing a petrochemical project, which would have included an ethane cracker, in West Virginia. And the company is seeking to sell the land that would have housed the cracker. The project, announced in 2013, had been on Braskem's back burner for several years.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, the PP consumption in the Russian market was 909,260 tonnes in January-August 2019, up by 10% year on year. Shipments of PP block copolymer and homopolymer PP increased.

Braskem S.A. produces petrochemicals and generates electricity. The Company produces ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, xylenes, butadiene, butene, isoprene, dicyclopentediene, MTBE, caprolactam, ammonium sulfate, cyclohexene, polyethylene theraphtalat, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
MRC

Lotte Chemical shut No. 3 HDPE unit in Yeosu for unplanned turnaround

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lotte Chemical has halted operations at its high density polyethylene (HDPE) unit owing power failure, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the unit was taken off-stream on October 17, 2019. It is expected to remain shut for around one week.

Located in Yeosu, South Korea, the No. 3 HDPE unit has a production capacity of 150,000 mt/year.

As MRC wrote previously, Lotte Chemical has shut down its Deasan cracker for maintenance turnaround. A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the company started maintenance at the cracker on October 14, 2019. The cracker is expected to resume production on November 10, 2019. Located at Daesan in South Korea, currently the cracker has an ethylene capacity of 1.1 million mt/year and propylene capacity of 540,000 mt/year.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, August imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) into Russia reached a record high since 2014 and exceeded 35,900 tonnes. Overall imports of this polyethylene (PE) totalled 232,400 tonnes in January-August 2019.
MRC

Henkel to invest in recycling start-up Saperatec

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Henkel is making a strategic investment in recycling start-up Saperatec, said the company.

The startup company has developed an innovative, patented technology that among others allows the separation and recycling of flexible packaging that contains aluminum foil. The two companies have already been involved in a technical collaboration for over two years, with the aim of developing and enhancing a range of customized recyclable adhesive solutions. With this strategic investment in Saperatec, the Adhesive Technologies business unit is confirming its dedication to sustainability: Henkel aims to provide its industrial customers with comprehensive and efficient recycling solutions for flexible packaging especially in the food industry.

The two companies have already been involved in a technical collaboration for more than two years to develop a range of customised recyclable adhesive solutions.

Sapertac – founded in 2011 in Bielefeld, Germany – has developed a patented technology to separate and recycle flexible packaging that contains aluminium foil.

The technology separates individual layers of composite material – such as polyethylene, (PE) aluminium and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) – which are then sorted after the separation process and reintroduced into the value chain as single-origin materials, suitable for a wide range of applications.

This has been carried out at the pilot facility since 2014, and now the company is starting to build its first production plant in Europe after closing the fund-raising round. It has not been specified how much Henkel has invested, nor where the site of the plant will be.

Henkel are also partnering with Borealis and plastics solutions company Borouge to develop flexible packaging solutions for detergents containing both virgin polyethylene (PE) and high amounts of post-consumer recyclate (PCR) in efforts to increase sustainability.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,436,390 tonnes in the first eight months of 2019, up by 9% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased.

Henkel operates in three business units, including laundry and home care, beauty care and adhesive technologies.
MRC