Evonik to install electrolyzer for green-hydrogen production at Herne site

Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany) is investing in a pilot electrolyzer at its site in Herne (Germany) to produce green hydrogen as a starting product for isophorone diamine (IPDA), a key raw material for rotor blades for wind turbines, said Chemengonline.

In an accompanying project, Siemens Energy is researching how this new electrolysis technology stands up in industrial use. The project consortium started at the end of 2022 and runs until mid-2025. Both the investment and the research project receive funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Judith Pirscher, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF): “Green hydrogen is the missing piece in the energy transition puzzle. By funding the H2annibal project, we are supporting research into innovative hydrogen technologies in real conditions in a chemical plant. In this way, we are speeding up the transfer from science to industry and supporting the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Germany. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is providing total funding of around EUR9.3 million for these two projects."

Maike Schuh, CFO of Evonik: “We are investing massively in green growth to position ourselves more sustainably. To reduce our carbon footprint, we intend to invest a total of EUR700 million in production processes and infrastructure group-wide by 2030. Hydrogen electrolysis in Herne is a key element in that.”

Evonik and Siemens Energy are therefore driving forward the industrial transformation in the area of climate protection precisely where the Hannibal mine extracted hard coal until about 50 years ago. Rainer Stahl, manager of the Herne site: “In the H2annibal project, we are testing a new type of electrolysis technology and therefore making a contribution to reducing CO2 emissions and, at the same time, safeguarding the sustainable supply of hydrogen and oxygen to our production facilities in the mid-term.”

We remind, Evonik is doubling its global capacity for VESTAMID E, polyether block amide (PEBA), with a twofold approach including a major expansion of its production plant at the Multi-User-Site (MUSC) in Shanghai and an optimization project at its production facility in Marl, Germany, said the company. Construction at the Shanghai site starts in Fall 2023 and will increase the company’s ability for the polymerization of PEBA, a key step in producing the raw material, which is highly demanded by the global, athletic footwear market.

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CJ Biomaterials, Inc., a division of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang and a primary producer of polyhydroxyalkanoates has appointed the Netherlands-based Helian Polymers as a distributing partner, said Sustainableplastics.

Going forward, Helian will distribute CJ Biomaterials’ proprietary PHACT A1000P amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate - aPHA - biopolymer in Europe.

CJ Biomaterials launched its biopolymer activities in 2010. As part of the CJ Corporation, CJ Biomaterials plays a significant part in its global operations with production sites in Indonesia, Malaysia, China, the USA, and Brazil.

It is the first company in the world to produce aPHA, a softer, more rubbery version of PHA that offers fundamentally different performance characteristics than crystalline or semi-crystalline forms of the biopolymer. A 5,000-ton-per-year dedicated PHA plant in Indonesia was commissioned in 2022; aPHA has been available from the plant since Q1 of 2022.

CJ Biomaterials’ aPHA is TuV certified home and industrial compostable and marine and soil (ambient) biodegradable It can be used as a modifier with PLA and other biopolymers to improve their mechanical properties, such as toughness and ductility, while maintaining clarity. aPHA can also be used to tune the biodegradability of PLA, which could potentially lead to a home compostable product.

Helian Polymers is a materials company headquartered in the southern part of the Netherlands that specialises in the development of PHA biopolymers. The company has been active for over fifteen years in the biobased raw materials space and has proven capabilities to develop new custom-tailored biodegradable compounds, to meet specific needs.

“Helian possesses impressive research and development capabilities along with manufacturing expertise in introducing innovative solutions to market, and we are confident that they will greatly enhance our presence and expansion in the region,” said Max Senechal, Chief Commercial Officer at CJ Biomaterials.

CJ BIO and Helian previously collaborated on the development of a sustainable 3D printing filament consisting of 100% PHA-based building blocks. Working with CJ Biomaterial’s flexible and amorphous PHA grade, Helian Polymers was able to fine-tune the material’s mechanical properties and overcome problems with crystalline PHA like brittleness and shrinkage. In 2021, Helian Polymers, working together with CJ BIO and Helian sister company colorFabb, successfully launched a portfolio of PHA-based filaments with different properties.

We remind, Origin Materials and SCGP Packaging are considering building a plant in southeastern Asia that would use Origin's process technology to convert woody biomass into feedstock that can make polyester and carbon black, the companies said. Origin and SCGP have a strategic partnership that includes a joint development agreement. Under it, the two will explore licensing Origin's technology for a plant that could be built in one of the 10 countries that belong to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

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MRC) -- South Korea’s DL E&C announced that it has taken over a 26% stake in package 1 construction of Shaheen Project from Hyundai E&C consortium. The construction period is 42 months, and the project is scheduled to be completed in 2026, said Oilandgasmiddleeast.

In November 2022, Aramco announced its biggest-ever investment in South Korea to develop one of the world’s largest refinery-integrated petrochemical steam crackers through its S-OIL affiliate, in line with the company’s strategy to maximise the crude to chemicals value chain.

Hyundai E&C, Hyundai Engineering, Lotte E&C, and DL E&C are key contractors in the project, which seeks to increase petrochemical products’ output ratio from 12% to 25% by building oil refining and petrochemical facilities in the Ulsan Onsan National Industrial Complex.

DL E&C noted in a press release that the construction is the first attempt in the world, which requires advanced design technological capabilities. Various high temperature and pressure facilities need to be set up, and experience in carrying out the relevant project is essential. DL E&C will work on the project based on its experience gained from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu oil refinery and Oman’s Sohar refinery improvement projects.

“We will prove our technological and project performing capabilities built up in many parts of the world through Korea’s largest petrochemical project. We will do our very best to commercialize the TC2C technology for the first time in the world by concentrating our EPC performing competence,” an official from DL E&C said.

We remind, Saudi Aramco and its Chinese partners aim to start full operations at a refinery and petrochemical project in northeast China in 2026 to meet the country's growing demand for fuel and petrochemicals. The project in Liaoning's Panjin city, expected to cost USD10 B, will be Aramco's second major refining-petrochemical investment in China.

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More than 120 European packaging industry associations issued a joint letter urging co-legislators to preserve the internal market legal basis of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation in its entirety, as the best way to achieve the environmental and economic objectives of the proposal, said Europen-packaging.

The internal market legal basis addresses the differences among the various national rules on the management of packaging and packaging waste and resulting internal market barriers, while providing a high level of environmental protection.

The letter comes as a response to discussions by co-legislators to move away from an internal market legal basis or opt for a dual one, Europen said. The packaging industry “stresses” in the letter that taking this route would further exacerbate the pressures the packaging value chain has been experiencing in recent years due to an increase of unilateral and divergent national packaging requirements, such as packaging bans, reuse and recycled content targets, and labeling requirements, according to Europen.

The European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink and Artists' Colours Industry (CEPE), European Bioplastics (EUBP), Association of the European Adhesive & Sealant Industry (FEICA) and Plastics Europe are among the industry associations that have co-signed the letter.

We remind, Chandra Asri announced their collaboration with Borouge, a petrochemical company from the United Arab Emirates, at the B20 (Business 20) event in Nusa Dua, Bali, said the company. The commitment agreed by both of petrochemical companies were based on a joint circular economy initiative which cover the management of polyolefin waste and recycling facilities to produce new products; as well as opportunities in co-marketing and market development initiatives, including developing non-metallic applications in certain market segments in oil and gas amalgamation, automotive, construction, and else, to promote the use of polyolefins.

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PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk (Chandra Asri; Jakarta, Indonesia) and Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaboratively develop a world-scale chlor-alkali plant in Indonesia, said Chemengonline.

INA, along with other potential international investors, will explore taking an equity stake in PT Chandra Asri Alkali (CAA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chandra Asri that has been established as a special purpose vehicle to invest in the development of the world-scale chlor-alkali plant. Once operational, the plant will produce more than 400,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) of caustic soda (also known as sodium hydroxide), and 500,000 m.t./yr of ethylene dichloride (EDC). As part of the accelerated development of this plant, Chandra Asri has signed an basic engineering and licensing agreement with Asahi Kasei Corp. (AKC; Tokyo), leading licensor with state-of-the-art intellectual property for the development of world-scale chlor-alkali plants.

The combined value of the global cosmetic, beauty and personal care markets is estimated to be in excess of $500 billion a year, and continues to grow at a rate of around 4% p.a. From shampoo to sun tan oil, from nail varnish to night creams, this is an industry afloat on an ocean of lotions, colours, moisturising and cleansing products.

We remind, Chandra Asri announced their collaboration with Borouge, a petrochemical company from the United Arab Emirates, at the B20 (Business 20) event in Nusa Dua, Bali. The commitment agreed by both of petrochemical companies were based on a joint circular economy initiative which cover the management of polyolefin waste and recycling facilities to produce new products; as well as opportunities in co-marketing and market development initiatives, including developing non-metallic applications in certain market segments in oil and gas amalgamation, automotive, construction, and else, to promote the use of polyolefins.

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