Sabic and Sinopec announce commercial operation of PC plant at joint venture SSTPC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sabic and Sinopec announced the commercial operation of a new polycarbonate (PC) plant at their 50-50 joint venture (JV) - Sinopec Sabic Tianjin Petrochemical Co Ltd (SSTPC), said the company.

Established in 2009, SSTPC is a mega-size petrochemical complex that already consists of nine world-scale production plants producing chemicals, polyethylene, and polypropylene. With an annual designed capacity of 260 KT, the new PC plant is a vital component of Sabic's PC growth strategy in China, allowing for further collaborations with global and local customers.

The development of the PC plant marks the next chapter of the JV and strengthens the partners' capability to meet regional PC market demands. The availability of SABIC's polycarbonate will primarily be for customers in the Greater China region, targeting major PC-related industries such as Electricals & Electronics, Consumer Goods & Appliances, automotive, healthcare products and Building and Construction applications. SABIC's portfolio of PC materials produced at SSTPC will be marketed under its LEXAN™ resin brand.

We remind, Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic), one of the leading global petrochemical companies, today (August 3) reported a 85% plunge in its net profit for the second quarter which fell to SR1.18 billion (USD315 million) from SR7.9 billion (USD2.1 billion) last year mainly due to lower average sales prices. The net profit beat analysts’ mean estimate of SR1.05 billion, according to data compiler Refinitiv. Announcing its results for the three-month period ended June 30, 2023, Sabic said the group's average selling prices fell by 26%, while sales volumes were 4% lower due to scheduled maintenance activities.

mrchub.com

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SK Chemicals and Ottogi are actively taking the lead in reducing carbon emissions by applying 100% circular recycled materials to food containers for the first time in Korea, said Petnology.

SK chemicals announced on the 5th that it applied 100% of its circular recycled PET (CR-PET) to Ottogi's renewed pork cutlet and steak sauce packaging.

Circular recycle is SK chemicals' "chemical recycling" technology that enables infinite reuse by breaking down waste plastic to a molecular level and remanufacturing it into raw materials. Compared to the "mechanical recycling" method that cleans or cuts waste plastic into smaller sizes (flake form) for reuse, it has the advantage of maintaining the high-quality physical properties and safety.

Ottogi's renewed meat sauce containers use 100% "SKYPET CR," which were jointly developed by SK chemicals and Poonglim P&P, a food packaging subsidiary of Ottogi, after signing an MOU last year.

By applying SKYPET CR to meat sauce containers, greenhouse gas emissions can be significantly reduced compared to previous petroleum-based PET, meeting the needs of consumers who prefer eco-friendly products. In addition, there is an advantage in exporting to overseas countries such as in Europe where greenhouse gas regulations are strengthening.

We remind, Coca-Cola India recently launched its new 100 % rPET bottle for water – a significant milestone as it is the first time that a packaging made of 100 % recycled plastic is used for food or beverages in India. The food-grade rPET for the new bottles is produced by Srichakra Polyplast (India) Pvt Ltd on a Starlinger PET bottle-to-bottle recycling line.

mrchub.com

MOSCOW (MRC) - TotalEnergies restarted the coker at its 238,000-bpd Port Arthur, Texas, refinery, said people familiar with plant operations, said Reuters.

TotalEnergies restarted the 150,000-pd ACU-1 crude distillation unit (CDU) and 60,000-bpd vacuum distillation unit-2 (VDU-2), the sources said. A TotalEnergies spokesperson was not immediately available to comment.

The shutdown of ACU-1 because of a malfunction forced the shutdowns of VDU-2 and the 60,000-bpd coker on Aug. 23, the sources said.

CDUs operate at atmospheric pressure to perform the initial breakdown of crude oil into feedstocks for all other units at the refinery. Vacuum distillation units break residual crude oil from the CDU at vacuum pressure, increasing the yield from a barrel of oil.

Cokers convert residual crude oil from the CDUs and VDUs into either motor fuel feedstocks or petroleum coke, which can be used as a coal substitute.

The refinery's 40,000-bpd ACU-2 CDU was also shut on Aug. 23 but for planned work as part of a two-month multi-unit overhaul that includes the 76,000-bpd gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker-2, and 5,000-bpd alkylation unit, the sources said.

mrchub.com

MOSCOW (MRC) -- As a partner of the Foundation since 2016, Arkema reinforces its commitment to developing the interest of middle and high school students in science, technology, and digital engineering by introducing them to related careers. Arkema is also a member of the Foundation's board of directors, said the company.

Education and science, integration and inclusion are major issues for Arkema, which has been involved with Fondation CGenial for many years. In September 2023, Arkema will join the circle of "Genialissimes" patrons of the Foundation, multiplying the number of classroom visits and presentations by its employees and supporting new programs such as gender workshops to promote the feminization of scientific careers.

"As a leader in Specialty Materials, it's essential that we support pedagogical and educational initiatives that give young people a taste for science. We share the Foundation's mission to promote science and showcase industrial careers to encourage the professions of tomorrow. In line with the initiatives of recent years, it seemed natural for us to invest even more by becoming a major sponsor, thus reinforcing, and extending the impact of our actions alongside Fondation CGenial", asserts Thierry Parmentier, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Communication.

"Arkema has become a major partner of Fondation CGenial by involving its employees in our activities and opening its sites throughout France. We're delighted to have taken this next step, which will allow us to increase our impact." Helene Chahine, General Delegate of Fondation CGenial.

We remind, Arkema plans to acquire Polytec PT, a Germany-based company that develops thermal interface materials for batteries and engineering adhesives for the electronics market. The acquisition would strengthen the product offering of Arkema’s Bostik adhesives business to the fast-growing batteries and electronics markets, it said.

mrchub.com

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Solvay, a leading global supplier of specialty materials, has entered into a strategic partnership with Hegen Pte Ltd for the use of sustainable Duradex™ polyphenyl sulfone (PPSU) mass balance attributed in Hegen’s premium line of Press-to-Close, Twist-to-Open™ (PCTO™) baby feeding bottles, said the company.

The circular, non-fossil feedstock content of the PPSU grade is third-party mass balance certified, meeting the end customers' expectations for more sustainable products. Duradex™ PPSU is an amorphous, naturally amber-transparent polymer, free of artificial pigments, phthalates and bisphenols, such as BPA.

“Brand owners and manufacturers in the child care market are increasingly seeking to improve the sustainability of their products without compromising safety, efficiency or convenience,” says Guillaume Meunier, Head of Marketing, Life Solutions at Solvay Materials. “Hegen’s baby feeding and drinking bottles are widely acknowledged for their high quality and use the highest-purity materials to ensure a healthy and comfortable feeding experience for both mother and child. We are very pleased to announce that the company has decided to adopt our mass-balance certified PPSU for molding their iconic bottles.”

“We are excited about this strategic material partnership with Solvay, which will help us further reduce the environmental impact of our baby feeding bottles in line with our ambitious sustainability roadmap,” adds Yvon Bock, founder and CEO of Hegen. “The circular Duradex™ polymer exhibits the same high-performance properties as the previous material used in molding our premium Hegen PCTO™ bottles, including excellent processability and uncompromising durability, which makes it a very efficient drop-in alternative to all-fossil PPSU solutions.”

Duradex™ PPSU MB is linked to 54% allocated circular, non-fossil feedstock, which is third-party mass-balance (MB) verified under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification PLUS (ISCC PLUS) mass balance accounting regime.The MB accounting approach provides a reliable method of tracing the feedstock content from the material production to the final application.

In addition, Solvay’s Duradex™ PPSU MB polymer is high scratch resistant and stain resistant, does not absorb odors and delivers an inherently non-stick surface. It combines exceptional hydrolytic stability and shatter-proof toughness with high heat resistance. These properties also qualify the lightweight, ergonomically shaped and wide-opening bottles for more than 1,000 steam or hot water sterilization as well as dishwasher cycles without the risk of any damage.

Hegen’s PCTO baby feeding bottles will be showcased at Solvay’s booth at the Fakuma 2023 show (Booth 4213 in Hall B4) and both companies are committed to bringing the first mass balanced PPSU baby bottle to the market by 2024.

We remind, Solvay, a leader of high-performance and sustainable polyamide 6.6 polymers, continues to drive innovation in its portfolio with the introduction of a new, specialized grade of Rhodianyl, made of 100% pre-consumer recycled polyamide, which is produced at its Santo Andre plant in Brazil.

mrchub.com