Shin-Etsu Chemical developed a high-strength inorganic thin-film coating liquid

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. рas developed “Tersus RN,” an inorganic thin-film coating liquid which possesses antibacterial/antivirus functions, envisioning its application for building materials for housing and buildings, said the company.

The Tersus Series, which uses Shin-Etsu Chemical’s own unique silicate as an ingredient, is a coating liquid that forms a transparent thin film of natural finish that does not interfere with the building materials’ design. The newly developed Tersus represents a new line-up in the series, and it has 2 kinds of nano particles as active ingredients, titania and silver, which can realize antivirus functions.

In the background leading to the development of this new product, there has been a rising of hygiene consciousness towards building materials in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. At an external testing laboratory test*1, it was verified that on the surfaces where these products were applied, there was a high antivirus function exhibiting a strong inhibitory effect against the novel corona virus (SARS-COV-2), of 99.94% (R=3.2).

In addition, with regard to the general antibacterial/antivirus performance, Shin-Etsu has also obtained the certification of The Society of International sustaining growth for Antimicrobial Articles (SIAA).

This product is a water-based coating liquid and there is no worry about offensive odors or adverse effects on the human body at the time of application operation, which in the case with an organic-solvent-base becomes an issue.

This product will meet your expectations by realizing a highly hygienic environment, not only for use in environments where large numbers of unspecified people gather, such as offices, hospitals, public facilities, nursing facilities, automobiles and railway cars, but also for use as a coating liquid for various residential building materials.

We remind, on 16 Feb 2022, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd announced plans to invest over $695 M to expand its silicone manufacturing plants across Japan to meet a very strong demand for advanced functional products. According to the company, the new plant investments will expand the manufacturing capacity of "highly diversified" kinds of silicone resins, fluids, and rubber end products by 2025. The expansion project will start with Shin-Etsu's main facility, the Gunma Complex in Gunma Prefecture, and will be followed by two other facilities in Naoetsu, Niigata Prefecture, and Takefu, Fukui Prefecture.
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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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