Alvega completes the basic design of slurry alkylation unit

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Alvega LLC as subsidiary of Alvega Technologies Inc. completes the basic design of the world's first 3,500 bpd slurry alkylation unit, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

In November 2021, the company started developing basic design engineering package for a 3,500 bpd alkylation unit based on a slurry reactor technology.

The company has developed a solid catalyst without noble metals that allows processing any C2-C4 olefin feedstocks, and 100% isobutylene (which is important in connection with the rejection of MTBE) into a high-octane alkylate with RON up to 100. Estimated CAPEX will be approximately 1.5-3 times lower than existing processes on the market (acids, solids, ionic liquids).

In 2017, the Finnish investment company Innovestor took part in the investment round of the Russian startup Alvega Technologies, the total amount of which was €800,000.

Alvega Technologies develops environmentally friendly technologies in the field of oil processing and filtration. The company has developed a new alkylation technology (SALT). Alkylate is a key component in the process of refining and turning oil into end products.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Kraton Corporation announces its CirKular+ performance enhancement series C2000 and C3000 have been approved as fully compatible with recycling of polypropylene (PP) containers in Europe according to RecyClass, reported SpecialChem.

Pellets containing 5 wt.% of either CirKular+ C2000 or C3000 resin blended in an injection molding PP grade matrix were tested according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) critical guidance for PP rigid containers.

By enabling a holistic approach to the plastic product life cycle, CirKular+ solutions can enhance plastics upcycling and circularity across the entire plastics value chain. Additionally, CirKular+ can offer improved plastic packaging recyclability and durability suitable for a wide range of end-use applications.

Activities within RecyClass include the development of recyclability evaluation protocols and the scientific testing of innovative materials. RecyClass supports the industry in redesigning plastic packaging to improve recycled plastic quality, aiming to harmonize the existing approaches.

"We are honored to achieve RecyClass certification for our CirKular+ Performance Enhancement Series," said Holger Jung, SVP & polymer segment president, Kraton. "This recognition reinforces our commitment to enable sustainable high-performance solutions to address the plastics industry needs for design recyclability and the advancement of the circular economy."

As MRC wrote before, in April, 2021, The American company Kraton announced that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted an emergency exemption for the use of its new sulfonated polymer, which rapidly inactivates the coronavirus. The Environmental Protection Agency has issued an emergency permit for the use of the polymer in the states of the United States, Georgia, Utah and Minnesota for specific applications to protect against the COVID-19 virus.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., comprised of the functional division of Kraton Polymers LLC and its subsidiaries, is the world's leading manufacturer of specialty polymers and styrene block copolymers (SBCs). The company's manufacturing base consists of five factories, including a central plant in Belpre, Ohio, as well as factories in Germany, France, Brazil and a joint manufacturing venture in Japan.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC)'s net profit fell by 49% year on year to Thai baht (Bt) 3.25bn in the fourth quarter as petrochemicals output fell due to maintenance shutdowns, said the company.

For 2022, the company expects the recovery in downstream demand from external markets to continue supporting its aromatics as well as olefins and derivatives businesses throughout the year. The company's overall sales surged by 59% year on year to Bt139.3bn in the fourth quarter, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation were up by 20%, PTTGC said in a statement.

PTTGC's overall sales in the fourth rose on the back of higher petroleum product prices which tracked the increase in the crude prices as well as a demand recovery from the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, it said. The company's petrochemical prices increased on tightening supply from maintenance shutdowns and a slowdown in production at some producers in the region, the company said.

The rise in feedstock prices weighed on the company's olefins and aromatics businesses in the fourth quarter, with EBITDA margins for both units falling in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared with the same period in the previous year.

The adjusted EBITDA margin for the company's aromatics business fell to 5% in the fourth quarter from 3% in Q4 2020. The adjusted EBITDA margin for the olefins and derivatives unit fell sharply to 12% in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 23%. PTTGC expects its olefins plants utilization rate to be around 91% this year.

As per MRC, Thai PTTGC is planning a capital investment of USD608 million over five years, including two start-ups this year. PTTGC's joint venture with Austrian packaging and recycling company ALPLA, called ENVICCO Ltd, is expected to produce recycled polymers at Map Ta Phut in Rayong Province. The ENVICCO plant, which can produce 30,000 tons per year of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) and 15,000 tons per year of recycled low-density polyethylene (R-HDPE), is expected to enter commercial operation in the first quarter of 2022.

PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) was founded on October 19, 2011 after the merger of PTT Chemical Company and PTT Aromatics and Refining Company to become the flagship of the PTT chemical group. As a result of the integration, the company's total capacity for the production of olefins and aromatics reached 8.2 million tons per year, and oil products - 280 thousand barrels per day, which makes it the largest integrated petrochemical and oil refining company not only in Thailand, but also in Asia.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- North American weekly chemical railcar shipments rose 5.8% year on year, marking their first increase in six weeks and the first so far this year, according to the latest data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

For the first six weeks of 2022 ended 12 February, North American chemical rail traffic was down 1.1% year on year to 278,794 railcar loadings.

With the exception of coal and non-metallic minerals, shipments are down in all the major commodities categories so far this year.

In the US, chemical railcar loadings represent about 20% of chemical transportation by tonnage, with trucks, barges and pipelines carrying the rest. In Canada, producers rely on rail to ship more than 70% of their products, with some exclusively using rail.

As per MRC, North American chemical railcar traffic came in flat year on year for the week ended 5 February, following four weeks of declines. A 1% increase in the US was offset by declines in Canada and Mexico. For the five weeks of 2022 ended 5 February, North American chemical rail traffic was down 2.4% year on year to 231,266 railcar loadings. With the exception of coal and non-metallic minerals, shipments are down in all the major commodities categories so far this year.

As per MRC, North American chemical railcar traffic fell by 3.3% year on year for the week ended 15 January, as a small increase in US shipments was more than offset by declines in Canada and Mexico. The decline followed a 6.7% decline in the previous week, ended 8 January. For the first two weeks of 2022, ended 15 January, North American chemical railcar loadings were down 5.0% year on year to 91,437.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Hempel has acquired the coatings division of the Omani conglomerate, Khimji Ramdas, to expand its Oman operations and further establish itself as a market leader, said the company.

Following an exclusive dialogue, Hempel has completed the acquisition of Khimji Paints LLC. This is Hempel’s first acquisition in the Decorative segment in the Middle East, supporting its strategy to double Hempel by 2025. Hempel’s Double Impact strategy will be realized through both acquisitions and organic growth, as well as ambitious investments in sustainability, innovation and digitalization.

Khimji Paints is a leading paint and coatings manufacturer in Oman, with a strong distribution network of more than 50 own and independent retailers. Khimji Paint was built on a solid foundation of superior quality, true value and excellent customer service, which matches perfectly with Hempel’s purpose and values.

"This transaction marks a significant milestone for Hempel in our global growth journey,” says Joe Devitt, EVP of Decorative at Hempel. “We will now be better equipped to meet the needs of our customers with an extensive offering of products and services."

"With this acquisition, I am thrilled to welcome the entire Khimji team - over 70 new employees - into the Hempel family and a production facility, enabling us to increase capacity in the region,” added Devitt. “This gives Hempel a much bigger foothold in the Omani market."

Hempel is at the forefront when it comes to innovation and quality. Adding Khimji to the Hempel family forms a leading player in decorative paints and coatings, bringing award-winning solutions to a wider market. "We are excited that Hempel is in a strong position to offer better value propositions to Khimji Paints’ loyal customers and we wish them all the best,” says Hritik Khimji, director, Khimji Ramdas.

As MRC informed earlier, Hempel has broken ground on a new 200,000 tonne/year plant at the Yangtze International Chemical Industrial Park in Zhangjiagang, China. Production is due to start in 2022, when the plant will replace an existing facility at Kunshan. It will produce various coating types, including: high-solids, solvent-free, waterborne, antifouling. Together with another coatings project at Yantai, Hempel expects to invest a combined USD270m to expand its production capacities in China.

Hempel is a global company with strong values, working with customers in the protective, marine, decorative, container and yacht industries. Hempel factories, R&D centres and stock points are established in every region. Across the globe, Hempel’s coatings protect surfaces, structures and equipment. They extend asset lifetimes, reduce maintenance costs and make homes and workplaces safer and more colourful. Hempel was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1915. It is proudly owned by the Hempel Foundation, which ensures a solid economic base for the Hempel Group and supports cultural, social, humanitarian and scientific purposes around the world.
MRC