Unipar modernizes chlor-alkali plant in Brazil with BM2.7 technology from thyssenkrupp nucera

Unipar is modernizing its chlor-alkali plant at the Cubatao plant in Brazil by incorporating thyssenkrupp nucera electrolyzers, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

To modernize the plant, the Brazilian chemical company, a leader in the production of chlorine, caustic soda and PVC in South America, will replace the existing mercury and diaphragm plants with electrolyzers featuring thyssenkrupp nucera's highly efficient BM2.7 technology.

The company will have the largest operation in South America using the membrane technology, the most modern, sustainable and efficient on the market for the production of chlorine and soda. For the technological modernization of its Cubatao plant, Unipar invested more than R$ 1 billion (equivalent to about €190 million). The implementation of the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The electrolysis share was included in the order intake of thyssenkrupp nucera in the third quarter of fiscal 2022/23.

The optimized design features of the thyssenkrupp nucera 2.7v6 bipolar membrane (BM) allow very high energy and CO2 emission savings. The unification of technologies will guarantee a production capacity of 210,000 tons of chlorine per year. Unipar will reduce its CO2 emissions by 70,000 tons per year, as well as generate less solid waste, consume less energy (steam and electricity) and simplifying operations on site.

The chlor-alkali plant is also characterized by its ability to be built quickly, easily and cost-effectively, and the membrane technology from thyssenkrupp nucera is environmentally friendly. In addition to the chloralkali electrolyzers, the supplier of world-leading technologies for high-efficiency electrolysis plants will also provide engineering, equipment and consulting services during the plant's erection and commissioning.

We remind, Honeywell announced today that Embraer has successfully tested Honeywell's HTF7500 turbofan engine on its Praetor 600 aircraft using 100% SAF. The test marks a major milestone, as this is the first time 100% SAF has been flown in Honeywell's business jet engines.

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China's oil refinery throughput in September hit a record daily rate, data showed on Wednesday, up 12% from a year earlier as refiners increased run rates to cater for strong demand for transport fuel over the Golden Week holiday and improving manufacturing, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Total refinery throughput in the world's second-largest oil consumer was 63.62 million metric tons last month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed. That was equivalent to 15.48 million barrels per day (bpd), the highest on record. Processing rates rose month-on-month from August's 15.23 million bpd, which had been the highest on record.

Run rates were particularly strong at state-owned refiners, analysts said before the data was released. Refiners had been widely expected to build stocks ahead of the Golden Week travel period, which started at the end of September and ran through the first week of October.

Domestic travel over the holiday was resurgent, with 826 million trips made within mainland China, up 71.3% from a year ago and 4.1% higher than in 2019, according to data released by the Xinhua state media outlet. International travel picked up to 85% of pre-pandemic levels, according to data from the National Immigration Administration, helping to drive demand for jet fuel.

Improving manufacturing activity in September will also have supported demand for fuels such as diesel. The September manufacturing PMI edged up to 50.2, above the 50-point level demarcating a contraction in activity from expansion.

Customs data last week showed solid crude imports into China in September, which though down month-on-month were still well above 2022 levels. The NBS data also showed that domestic crude oil production in September was 16.87 million metric tons, or 4.1 million bpd, up 0.3% from 16.8 million tons in 2022. Natural gas production was up 9.3% from a year earlier to 17.9 bcm, from 16.4 bcm last year.

We remind, Proman has signed an MoU with Mitsubishi Corporation to explore building a world-scale ultra low-carbon ammonia facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The proposed plant would produce approximately 1.2 million tonnes per year of clean ammonia by incorporating state-of-the-art carbon capture and sequestration technology.

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Honeywell announced today that Embraer has successfully tested Honeywell's HTF7500 turbofan engine on its Praetor 600 aircraft using 100% SAF, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The test marks a major milestone, as this is the first time 100% SAF has been flown in Honeywell's business jet engines.

The test, with one engine using 100% SAF and the other using traditional jet fuel, was performed at the Embraer campus in Melbourne, Florida, and provided new insights into how the engine performs when utilizing a 100% SAF formulation. It successfully demonstrated that the HTF7500 engine running on 100% SAF performed just as flawlessly as when running on traditional jet fuel.

"We are pleased to be creating a more sustainable future for aviation with industry leaders like Embraer," said Dave Marinick, president, Engines and Power Systems, Honeywell Aerospace. "This testing milestone with our engine demonstrates the viability of SAF for Embraer and the overall aviation industry, as they work to meet carbon reduction commitments. Additionally, as we develop SAF solutions, we will be using these innovations in our own engines and APUs."

Honeywell's HTF7500 engine powers both the Embraer Praetor 600 and Praetor 500 aircraft models. The engine brings a combination of best-in-class dispatch reliability and a relentless focus on reducing noise and improving fuel efficiency.

We remind, KBR announced that it has developed an advanced green methanol technology, PureM, augmenting its leading portfolio of clean ammonia and hydrogen technologies. Utilizing bio or captured carbon-dioxide and green hydrogen as primary feed components, PureM provides a cleaner pathway for downstream production of fuels or high-value chemicals, which are key ingredients in sustainable coatings, adhesives, and other materials that support a net-zero transition.

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KBR announced that it has developed an advanced green methanol technology, PureM, augmenting its leading portfolio of clean ammonia and hydrogen technologies, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Utilizing bio or captured carbon-dioxide and green hydrogen as primary feed components, PureM provides a cleaner pathway for downstream production of fuels or high-value chemicals, which are key ingredients in sustainable coatings, adhesives, and other materials that support a net-zero transition.

“We are excited to add PureM to our suite of sustainable process solutions and provide greater flexibility to our clients for CO2 capture while diversifying their value chains”, said Doug Kelly, KBR President, Technology. “Our proven technology will provide the much-needed capability of converting bio or captured carbon dioxide into green methanol and ultimately other high-value downstream products.”

KBR is a world leader in ammonia technology with approximately 50% market share of licensed capacity. Since 1943, KBR has licensed, engineered, or constructed over 250 grassroot ammonia plants worldwide.

We remind, Honeywell announced today that Embraer has successfully tested Honeywell's HTF7500 turbofan engine on its Praetor 600 aircraft using 100% SAF. The test marks a major milestone, as this is the first time 100% SAF has been flown in Honeywell's business jet engines. The test, with one engine using 100% SAF and the other using traditional jet fuel, was performed at the Embraer campus in Melbourne, Florida, and provided new insights into how the engine performs when utilizing a 100% SAF formulation. It successfully demonstrated that the HTF7500 engine running on 100% SAF performed just as flawlessly as when running on traditional jet fuel.

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Rising concerns about the impact of PFAS on human health and the environment have led to a growing demand for PTFE alternatives, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

As part of this trend, Clariant has launched Ceridust 8170 M, a PFAS/PTFE-free agent with texturing effects for Architectural Powder Coatings. For use on window frame and fence surfaces to furniture and bicycle rims, the new additive delivers excellent performance in dark and light colors with no extrudate swelling, and with the ability for gloss and texturing levels to be adjusted.

Ceridust 8170 M complies with the European Union’s REACH legislation. It can also help to lower energy consumption during the extrusion process.

Regulations around the world are increasingly targeting PFAS-related compounds. Currently under public consultation, the European Union has developed legislation to further restrict or ban PFAS products from as early as 2026. Japan’s environment agency has approved a ban on the manufacture, import and use of 56 PFOA- related compounds under the country’s Chemical Substance and Control Law while the U.S. EPA wants to designate PFOAs and PFOS as “hazardous substances” under the federal Superfund law.

“As a sustainability front-runner, Clariant is taking a proactive, pro-safety and pro-environment approach to help customers navigate this uncertain and fast-moving landscape. With Ceridust 8170 M, the challenge was to create a product for texturing effects in powder coatings that was PTFE-free and that offered equal performance to PTFE-containing predecessors,” said Simon Bodendorfer, Technical Business Development Manager at Clariant.

We remind, Clariant, a sustainability focused specialty chemical company, today marks another milestone in its China Strategy with the official opening of its new state-of-the-art production facility for halogen-free flame retardants in Daya Bay, Huizhou.

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