Danimer with Chevron Phillips on bioplastics manufacturing technology

Danimer with Chevron Phillips on bioplastics manufacturing technology

MOSCOW (MRC) -- US bioplastics company Danimer Scientific is working with Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) on developing technology for lower-cost manufacturing of biodegradable polymers, said the company.

Through this collaboration, Danimer will evaluate the use of CPChem’s loop slurry reactor design to develop a continuous reactor system in the manufacturing process for Rinnovo™. If successful, this reactor design is expected to increase utilization of future manufacturing plants, drive higher production volumes and lower overall costs, as compared to the polymerization reactor design currently used in the production of Rinnovo™.

Stephen E. Croskrey, Chief Executive Officer of Danimer, said, “CPChem’s loop slurry technology is one of the world’s most renowned processes for producing polyolefins efficiently and economically. This collaboration enhances our strategy of accelerating the production of our biodegradable polymers to better serve our customers and reduce the environmental impacts of plastic waste."

First introduced in 1961, CPChem’s loop slurry processes produce a wide range of resins for a variety of applications. Today, the technology, through CPChem and its licensees, accounts for a significant portion of high-density polyethylene production worldwide. Jim Telljohann, Senior Vice President, Research & Technology of CPChem noted that, “This collaboration with Danimer is illustrative of CPChem’s commitment to advance programs in support of our product sustainability, circularity and climate efforts."

Jeff Uhrig, General Manager and President of Danimer Scientific Catalytic Processes, said, “As the proven industry standard of efficient, reliable polyethylene production for 60 years, CPChem’s loop slurry design is believed to be well suited to provide similar benefits for the production of Rinnovo™".

Danimer, which recently went public through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), has a plant in Winchester, Kentucky, and last month it expanded with the acquisition of November.

As per MRC, Chevron signed a memorandum of understanding with carmaker Toyota to explore the development of "commercially viable, large-scale" hydrogen businesses in the US. The partners would investigate the market potential for light-duty and heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles, along with the supply options for such demand.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,396,960 tonnes in the first seven months of 2021, up by 7% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 841,990 tonnes in the first seven months of 2021, up by 29% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

Danimer is a pioneer in creating more sustainable, more natural ways to make plastic products. For more than a decade, its renewable and sustainable biopolymers have helped create plastic products that are biodegradable and compostable and return to nature instead of polluting our lands and waters. Danimer’s technology can be found in a vast array of plastic end products that people use every day. Applications for its biopolymers include additives, aqueous coatings, fibers, filaments, films and injection-molded articles, among others.
MRC

Ineos confirms green investment in Grangemouth

Ineos confirms green investment in Grangemouth

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ineos has announced GDP1bn of investment in its Grangemouth site, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045 - building on a 37% reduction in net CO2 emissions already delivered since acquiring the site in 2005, said the company.

The company has already committed more than ?500m on projects which are currently being implemented, including a New Energy Plant, which is due for completion in late 2023 and will supply energy to all site operations. The latest plans should deliver a reduction in excess of 60% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 through a series of investments, partnerships and 'innovative engineering'.

This involves a move to the production and use of hydrogen by all businesses at the Grangemouth site, accompanied by carbon capture and storage of at least one million tonnes per annum of CO2 by 2030. Additional contributions to driving down emissions will come from further investments in energy reduction and optimisation, along with electrification of key equipment. There will also be a shift in polymer product portfolio to include higher levels of post-consumer recycled content.

Andrew Gardner, chairman Ineos Grangemouth, said: “We actually have to go much further than the significant CO2 reductions we’ve achieved already - by 2045 we have to be net zero equivalent and we have to set some really ambitious but achievable targets for ourselves for 2030."

Net Zero Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Low-carbon hydrogen offers the swiftest decarbonisation route for our industrial sector and today’s commitment by Ineos makes an even stronger case for the UK Government to select the Scottish Cluster, which Ineos partnered with in the summer, to be among the first CCS clusters to be awarded funding through its current cluster sequencing process

“Grangemouth, and Ineos itself, already holds a wealth of experience in engineering solutions and hydrogen production, and this new investment holds great potential for the future of Grangemouth, as well as the vital jobs that are located there, as part of our just transition to net zero.”

Petroineos operates the Grangemouth refinery and is a joint venture formed between Ineos and PetroChina in 2011. As Scotland’s only crude oil refinery, Petroineos is the primary supplier of aviation fuel for Scotland’s main airports and the major supplier of petrol and diesel across Scotland’s central belt, as well as in Northern Ireland and Northern England.

Ineos O&P UK operates the olefins and polymers petrochemical plants at Grangemouth. The raw materials used by this business present an outlet for North Sea gases, delivered via the co-located Forties Pipeline System.

Its finished products of ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, polypropylene and ethanol are used as the building blocks in a multitude of sectors. Ineos acquired the Forties Pipeline System from BP in October 2017.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.
MRC

Sinopec, Cosco Shipping, and China Eastern to certify first carbon-neutral cargo of crude oil

Sinopec,  Cosco Shipping, and China Eastern to certify first carbon-neutral cargo of crude oil

MOSCOW (MRC) -- China's refining giant Sinopec Corp said it has jointly certified the country's first carbon-neutral crude oil cargo with shipping giant Cosco Shipping and China Eastern, said Reuters.

The 30,000-tonne cargo was produced by Sinopec in Angola and shipped by Cosco Shipping to an east China-based Sinopec refinery for processing, Sinopec said.

To offset the carbon dioxide produced during the process from crude production to shipping to consumption by vehicles and airplanes, the three state firms bought Chinese Certified Emissions Reductions credits.

These credits that will go to investing in carbon-reducing projects such as tree planting, solar, wind and biomass power generation in China.

As per MRC, Sinopec Sabic Tianjin Petrochemical, a major producer of petrochemicals in the country, shut production at its polypropylene (PP) plant in Tianjin province, China on 13 September for planned preventive measures. It is expected that maintenance at this plant with a capacity of 450,000 tonnes of PP per year will continue for seven days.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

Sabic is a diversified company manufacturing chemicals, industrial polymers, fertilizers and metals. It is the largest state-owned company in Saudi Arabia. Sabic is currently the world's second largest producer of ethylene glycol, the third largest polyethylene producer, and the fourth largest polypropylene producer.
MRC

MEGlobal Americas aims for 100% renewable electricity at Oyster Creek site in early 2023

MEGlobal Americas aims for 100% renewable electricity at Oyster Creek site in early 2023

MOSCOW (MRC) -- MEGlobal Americas Inc. (MEGlobal) has entered into an agreement with Calpine Energy Solutions, LLC to purchase renewable energy to fulfill 100% of the expected power needs at MEGlobal's Oyster Creek, TX, site beginning in 2023, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The deal highlights the strong commitment made to sustainability by the EQUATE Petrochemical Group, of which MEGlobal is a part.

"Purchasing energy from renewable resources such as wind and solar makes good sense for our company and our environment," said EQUATE CEO Naser Aldousari. "This agreement exemplifies EQUATE's dedication to delivering responsible product growth that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs."

MEGlobal will purchase more than 1.5 million MWh of renewable electricity over the five-year term of the agreement, resulting in the displacement of more than 600,000 MT of carbon dioxide. That is the equivalent of taking more than 156,000 cars off the road for a year or diverting at least 28 million bags of trash from a landfill. When compared to common carbon offsets, the amount of displaced CO2e from this purchase is equal to the amount of carbon sequestered by more than 1.8 million acres of forest in a year.

The MEGlobal Oyster Creek Site began operations in 2019 and was designed with energy efficiency in mind, according to Site Leader Scott Daigle. Adding renewable electricity to the site's infrastructure is another progressive step.

"We pride ourselves on our cutting-edge technology and we are constantly seeking ways we can make a great facility even better," said Daigle. "Now, in addition to providing a valuable product that helps meet world demand, we are also working to optimize the way we integrate sustainability into our day-to-day operations."

Daigle said MEGlobal will begin transitioning to renewable electricity in 2022.

As MRC reported earlier, MEGlobal announced its October ACP for MEG at USD880/MT CFR Asian main ports, up by USD10/tonne from September.

MEG is one of the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

According to ICIS-MRC Price report, the deficit for PET remained in the Russian domestic and foreign markets. Spot PET prices have been increasing since the beginning of the month, and spot buyers of the material have to pay a much higher price for PET chips at the end of the third quarter than contractual ones.

MEGlobal is a fully integrated supplier of monoethylene glycol (MEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG), collectively known as ethylene glycol (EG).
MRC

China PVC market hits record-high on supply concerns amid power-consumption curbs

China PVC market hits record-high on supply concerns amid power-consumption curbs

MOSCOW (MRC) -- China's domestic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) market hit a record-high Sept. 22 following the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, due to concerns over supply after the government ordered some provinces to cut power consumption, reported S&P Global with reference to market sources.

Several provinces including Xinjiang, Ningxia, and Shaanxi, where major carbide-based PVC producers are based, were asked to shut, or reduce industrial operations due to higher-than-planned energy consumption in the first half of 2021, according to sources.

China is the world's largest PVC producer, and about 80% of its total 25-26 million mt/year PVC capacity uses coal-based carbide as feedstock, with the rest using ethylene-based feedstock.

"Carbide-based PVC operations are particularly affected as major carbide-based PVC makers are based in these provinces," a market source said.

In Xinjiang, the two major carbide-based PVC producers - Xinjiang Zhongtai and Xinjiang Tianye - have a combined PVC capacity of around 3 million mt/year.

As MRC informed before, in September 2012, Chinese company Xinjiang Zhongtai began a trial run of the third plant for suspension PVC production with the capacity of 900,000 tonnes per year.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall production of unmixed PVC totalled 580,500 tonnes in the first seven months of 2021, up by 4% year on year. At the same time, one producer reduced its output.
MRC