Evonik opens applied technology center in Brazil to support innovative solutions for more sustainable future

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik has opened Applied Technology Center in Brazil. The Applied Technology Center (ATC) was designed to support the development of modern, innovative and essential solutions for a more sustainable future, according to SpecialChem.

The completion of the investment in a modern building, which combines eight state-of-the-art laboratories, two pilot plants, and the entire necessary infrastructure to support industries in their developments, strengthens Evonik’s strong commitment to its clients and partners across the Central & South America region.

“The works started at the end of 2020 and were completed successfully on schedule, in spite of the challenges of the market We remain committed to providing the best experience to our clients and developing innovative solutions that allow for a better future for all,” says Elias Lacerda, president of Evonik for the Central & South America region.

The application laboratories are aimed at industries in several strategic markets for Evonik, such as agriculture, construction, crosslinkers, personal care & home care, pharmaceuticals, animal nutrition, polyurethanes, and paints, in addition to two pilot plans catering to the animal nutrition and polyurethanes segments.

As MRC reported before, Evonik is investing a three-digit million-euro sum in the construction of a new production plant for bio-based and fully biodegradable rhamnolipids. The decision to build the plant follows a breakthrough in Evonik's research and development. Rhamnolipids are biosurfactants and serve as active ingredients in shower gels and detergents. Demand for environ-mentally friendly surfactants is growing rapidly worldwide.

We remind that in February, 2020, Dow and Evonik entered into an exclusive technology partnership. Together, they plan to bring a unique method for directly synthesizing propylene glycol (PG) from propylene and hydrogen peroxide to market maturity.

Propylene is the main feedstock for the production of polypropylene (PP).

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.
Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of EUR12.2 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of EUR1.91 billion in 2020. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for customers. About 33,000 employees work together for a common purpose: to improve life today and tomorrow.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ampacet introduces UVProtect, a new generation of long-lasting UV stabilizers designed to extend the life of polyolefin-based plastics used in outdoor applications, according to SpecialChem.

When exposed to UV radiation, nearly all polymers degrade, leading to deterioration of physical and mechanical properties such as loss of elongation and tensile strength, discoloration and cracking.

UV stabilizers, such as UVProtect, when added to polymers, extend the life of plastic parts by protecting them from sun exposure. Proper selection of UV stabilizers, however, is crucial to provide appropriate protection to plastic items.

Ampacet UVProtect 1248 efficiently protects the critical physical and mechanical properties of outdoor polyolefin-based plastic items with long-term exposure to UV radiation.

UVProtect dramatically extends the life of plastic items, outperforming commonly-used hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) with the same additive content. It achieves similar results as HALS with half the additive content, thus enabling reduction of the letdown ratio for better process control.

As MRC informed earlier, burgeoning demand for plastics along with declining feedstock prices were together set to drive the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Color Masterbatches Market to USD5.1 bln & Global Market to USD9.8 bln by 2021 at a CAGR of around 11.8% while the market volume is estimated to reach 3.2KT by 2021, as per IndustryARC.

The number of manufacturers across the world for Color Masterbatches has increased manifold. These manufacturers are actively investing in scaling up their position in the market and are able to attract profitable deals. Some of the major players are: Ampacet Europe, Cabot Plastics International, Clariant Masterbatches, Hubron (International), Kunststof Kemi, Plastika Kritis, PolyOne.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,487,450 tonnes in 2021, up by 13% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market totalled 1,494.280 tonnes, up by 21% year on year. Deliveries of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whreas shipments of PP random copolymers decreased significantly.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Brazil's Braskem said it expects a slight growth in sales of petrochemical products and high margins, despite oil price volatility as a result of the Ukraine crisis, reported Reuters.

Braskem had on Wednesday reported a 51% rise in revenue and a 53% rise in cash generation in the fourth quarter over the same period a year earlier.

Pedro Teixeira de Freitas, Braskem's Chief Financial Officer, told analysts on Thursday that he expects growth of up to 3% in polyolefins sales in 2022, which is close to last year's growth.

Braskem said shareholders will vote on a potential extraordinary dividend that may reach up to 2 B reais (USD397 MM) as it is not planning any capacity expansion.

It said it may also consider a stock buyback program.

Braskem's Mexican unit will begin to build a USD400 MM ethane terminal to support polyethylene (PE) production by Braskem Indesa. Braskem is looking for a partner in the unit, which is expected to begin production in 2024.

The CFO said Braskem is planning to migrate its shares to the Novo Mercado, the highest governance segment in the B3 stock exchange, in the first half of the year.

A condition, however, is the sale of preferred shares by Braskem's controlling shareholders, oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, known as Petrobras, and conglomerate Novonor, previously known as Odebrecht. The sale was canceled earlier this year due to lackluster demand.

As MRC wrote earlier, in late 2020, Braskem announced its latest sustainability ambitions to significantly expand its efforts to eliminate plastic waste in the environment by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,487,450 tonnes in 2021, up by 13% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers 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

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Hyosung Vina Chemical has reportedly restarted its propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit in Vietnam earlier this week after taking the unit offline on 4 February 2022 for maintenance, said Commonplast.

The 600,000 tons/year PDH plant is currently ramping up operating rates. However, market sources said that the producer might opt to keep the utilization rate at about 70% capacity amid the sluggish PP demand and high feedstock costs.

In addition, Hyosung has also restarted the No. 2 PP plant at the same complex. The unit with an annual output of 300,000 tons/year was taken offline together with the cracker in February.

As per MRC, Hyosung Vina Chemicals, a subsidiary of a large petrochemical manufacturer in South Korea - Hyosung Corporation, on February 4 stopped production at a propane dehydrogenation plant in Cai Mep (Vietnam) in order to carry out planned preventive measures to repair equipment. Maintenance at this unit with a capacity of 600 thousand tons of propylene per year continued until the beginning of March this year.

Hyosung Corporation is a Korean industrial conglomerate founded in 1957. The company operates in various fields, including the petrochemical industry, heavy equipment manufacturing, IT, trade and construction.
mrchub.com

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Vitol has entered into a strategic partnership with Danish company WPU, which recycles waste plastic into plastic oils, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Vitol will offtake and market the recycled plastic oils generated by WPU’s new pyrolysis plant in Faarevejle in Odsherred Municipality north of Copenhagen, which is expected to open in early 2023, with an additional two plants to be opened by Q3 2023. The combined capacity of these plants will be 160,000 metric tpy of waste plastic.

Plastic can be recycled mechanically up to 6-7 times. At this point, the building blocks in the plastic are so damaged that they need to be incinerated or deposited in landfill. However, through pyrolysis WPU can now convert obsolete plastic into new products. The transformation from waste to sustainable energy is based on a technology called pyrolysis that processes the plastic at high temperatures. The plastic oils can be used in the production of new plastic products or as recycled carbon fuels.

Chris Bake, head of origination, Vitol said, “Each year over 17 MMt of waste plastic is generated in the EU, recycling plastics locally minimizes transport emissions and supports European chemicals businesses. We intend to be an integral part of Europe’s circular economy and are delighted to be taking this important step with WPU."

Niels Stielund, Chairman of the Board at WPU said, “The strategic partnership with Vitol enables WPU to continue a strong future production line. We could not have wished for a better partnership. Vitol, with its deep knowledge of the global energy markets and sustainable fuels, is in a perfect position to support us in our further development and expansion."

As per MRC, Phillips 66, Uniper and Vitol-owned VPI Immingham have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to install post-combustion CO2 capture equipment on two of VPI Immingham's three gas-fired power generators and selected processing units at the Humber and Lindsay refineries. Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas with the addition of carbon capture. Green hydrogen is produced via electrolysis using renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

We remind, Unipec and Vitol have won a tender to supply Bangladesh Petroleum Corp (BPC) with up to 1.06 million tons of oil products in the first half of 2020 after placing the lowest offers. State-owned BPC is seeking 760,000-880,000 tons of gasoil with a sulfur content of 500 parts per million, 110,000 tons of jet fuel, 40,000 tons of 180-centistoke high-sulfur fuel oil and 30,000 tons of 95-octane gasoline.

mrchub.com