Shell and Dow start up E-cracking furnace experimental unit

Shell and Dow have started up an experimental unit to electrically heat steam cracker furnaces at the Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam, The Netherlands, said Hudrocarbonprocessing.

This represents a key milestone in the companies’ joint technology program to electrify steam cracking furnaces, bringing the companies one step closer to decarbonizing one of the most carbon intensive aspects of petrochemical manufacturing.

Over the next year, the experimental unit will be used to test a theoretical electrification model developed for retrofitting today’s gas-fired steam cracker furnaces. Data generated by the unit will be used to validate the model and allow the electrification program to advance to the next phase; the design and construction of a multi-megawatt pilot plant, with potential start-up in 2025, subject to investment support.

Thomas Casparie, Senior Vice President of Shell’s Chemicals and Products business in Europe, said “Today, we have taken a great step forward in helping to decarbonize one of the central processes of our industry, while also supporting Shell’s goal to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050. I look forward to the results of the experimental unit and to continue this vital collaboration with Dow."

"This milestone demonstrates that low carbon emissions manufacturing technologies are within reach,” said Keith Cleason, Vice President Dow Olefins, Aromatics and Alternatives business. “The collaboration with Shell has the potential to reshape the way our industry manufactures products in future decades."

As the energy grid becomes increasingly renewables led, using renewable electricity to heat steam cracker furnaces could become one of the routes to decarbonize the chemicals industry. E-cracking furnaces operated using renewable electricity have the potential to reduce 90% of the scope 1 emissions at economically competitive costs with conventional crackers.

Last year, the program was awarded EUR3.5 MM (USD4.2 MM) in funding from the Dutch Government and incorporated The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and the Institute for Sustainable Process Technology (ISPT). The multi-company collaboration brings technical expertise and a common commitment to a low carbon-future. Furthermore, the collaboration aims to support emission reductions required to meet Shell and Dow’s targets to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

As per MRC, Shell is building larger vessels that can carry more carbon dioxide over longer distances as part of the company's plans to expand its carbon capture storage (CCS) business globally. The ability to ship large volumes of CO2 from industrial sites to offshore CCS hubs is critical in improving the economies of scale for these projects. CCS is aimed at decarbonising heavy industries such as refining, cement and steel.
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China is expected to register the highest xylene capacity additions in Asia, contributing around 66% of the region’s capacity additions through 2026, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, said Globaldata.

GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Xylene Industry Installed Capacity and Capital Expenditure (CapEx) Forecast by Region and Countries including details of All Active Plants, Planned and Announced Projects, 2022-2026’, reveals that China leads with the largest capacity additions of 21.83 million tons per annum (mtpa) from 13 planned and announced projects.

Sudarshini Ennelli, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, says: “In China, the main capacity addition will be from a planned project, Zhejiang Petrochemical Daishan Xylene Plant 2, which has a capacity of 4.80 mtpa. It is expected to commence production in 2022."

ShengHong Holding Group Lianyungang Xylene Plant will be the second-highest contributor with 2.8 mtpa capacity additions by 2026. The plant is expected to commence operations in 2022.

Ennelli concludes: “Petrochina Pdvsa Guandong Petrochemical Jieyang Xylene Plant will be the third-highest contributor in terms of capacity additions in the country with a capacity of 2.6 mtpa. The plant is expected to commence production of xylene in 2022."

As per MRC, Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, announced the commissioning and startup of a propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit at Shandong Ruize Chemical Technology Co., Ltd.'s complex in Zibo City, Shandong Province, China.
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Polynt Group started the process for the installation of a new esterification plant to produce special plasticizers, in particular trimellitates, at its site in Atlacomulco, Mexico, said the company.

Special high-performance plasticizers, with their superior technical performances in electrical and high temperature applications, are a main component for the electrification of cars and transportation, a general trend so important for improving environmental sustainability. Trimellitates represents the most effective family of products that can satisfy those outstanding performance characteristics.

Polynt has been developing and marketing a wide range of these products since a long time for different technical needs. To support their growth and demand, Polynt has started the process for the installation of a new esterification plant to produce Special Plasticizers, and among those mainly trimellitates, in its site in Atlacomulco (Mexico).

The design and permitting activities will begin during H2 2022. The erection of the plant is planned during 2023 and will take place also using part of the equipment of the Polynt trimellitates plant of the Changzhou site (China), closed in 2021. Mechanical completion is expected by the end of 2023 and the start-up is scheduled in Q1 2024.

As it was written earlier, Polynt Group employees, together with the Company, made a charitable donation to the “Amici del MoyaMoya ONLUS” association to help both the reception of Ukrainian children and women fleeing the war (Matrioska Association) and the transport of essential goods to the boarder regions. In addition, Polynt Composites Poland Sp. z o.o. made a further donation to the “Aiutiamoli a Vivere” association to help Ukrainian children.

We remind, Black Diamond Capital Management, L.L.C. has announced that Speciality Chemicals International Limited has agreed to repurchase Investindustrial’s shares in the of Polynt-Reichhold Group and following the completion of the transaction, Black Diamond will become the Group’s controlling shareholder.

Polynt Group is a global leader for thermoset composites and other specialty chemicals. The Company is specialized in the development and production of Unsaturated Polyester Resins, Trimellitic Anhydride and other Special Anhydrides, and derivatives of main organic acids. Through our worldwide presence with manufacturing, commercial and R&D facilities, Polynt Group provides its customers with innovative and sustainable solutions. Throughout its value chain, the Company combines eco-design, quality and progress while protecting the environment, as a responsible Company pioneering innovation.
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S-Oil Corporation's Oil Refining business sales from external customers stood at Won 20,190,770 M and Won 12,635,043 M for 2021 and 2020, respectively, said the company.

Inter-segment sales stood at Won 6,644,647 M and Won 3,746,009 M for 2021 and 2020, respectively. Total sales stood at Won 26,835,417 M and Won 16,381,052 M for 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Operating profit stood at Won 908,222 M and Won (1,704,106) M for 2021 and 2020, respectively. Property, plant, equipment and intangible assets stood at Won 6,748,840 M and Won 7,061,125 M for 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Depreciation and amortization and others stood at Won 395,387 M and Won 386,826 M for 2021 and 2020, respectively.

As per MRC, S-Oil Corporation has brought the residual fluidization catalytic cracking plant (RFCC) online. S-Oil Corporation has brought the residual fluidization catalytic cracking plant (RFCC) online on 24 May 2022, four days after an explosion rocked the company’s refinery unit in Ulsan, forcing the maker to take all downstream plants offline as a safety measure.

S-Oil Corp. engages in the operation of oil refineries. It operates through the following business divisions: Oil-Refining, Lube Oil, and Petrochemical. The Oil-refining includes the processing of liquefied petroleum that produces gas, naphtha, kerosene, diesel, and b-c Oils. The Lube Oil produces lube-based oil and marine lubricants. The Petrochemical provides benzene, toluene, xylene, and para-xylene. The company was founded on January 6, 1976 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.
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LANXESS’ ion exchange resins and iron oxide adsorbers are used in numerous industries and applications to purify water and other liquid media effectively, said the company.

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS will globally increase its basic prices for all Lewatit ion exchange resins and Bayoxide iron oxide adsorbers for water treatment applications by approximately 10 percent. The price increase will be valid for all new orders placed starting July 1, 2022.

Recently, the company announced the introduction of a monthly variable surcharge, to compensate the extraordinary cost increases in raw materials, energy and transportation. The monthly variable adder will be maintained and will be adjusted based on the most relevant input costs on a monthly basis. Customers will be contacted individually.

The LANXESS Liquid Purification Technologies business unit is one of the world’s leading global solution providers for water treatment and liquid purification. Ion exchange resins and iron oxide adsorbers are used in numerous industries and applications to purify water and other liquid media effectively.

As per MRC, LANXESS said it was suspending its business activities in Russia due to the war in Ukraine. Thus, the company had “suspended business activities with Russian customers as far as contractually possible until further notice” and had suspended all investments in Russia. Its sales in Russia and Ukraine made up less than 1% of its global sales, it said.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with about 19,200 employees in 25 countries. The company is currently represented at 74 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics. Through Arlanxeo, the joint venture with Saudi Aramco, Lanxess is also a leading supplier of synthetic rubber.
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