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RELEASED ON 11/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
PTT, Asahi Kasei Chemicals and Marubeni today jointly opened the world's first acrylonitrile plant in Thailand, to produce raw materials for plastic and acrylic fibre manufacturing. Using propane as feedstock, this plant is expected to reduce Thailand's imports.
"I believe that such collaboration between Thailand and Japan has brought in combining strength in technology, know-how and natural resources especially the natural gas to develop the petrochemical industry to accommodate the current high rising demand in energy. This occasion will mark the beginning of cooperation development to efficiently use the technology and natural resources for highest benefits in the future. The commercial operation will reduce imports of raw materials and increase export of the products to augment the country's overall export income," said Police Major General Lattasanya Piansomparn, advisor to Minister of Energy.
Lattasanya presided over the opening ceremony with Kiminori Iwama, Economic Minister of Embassy of Japan in Thailand.
The project is carried out by PTT Asahi Chemical Co Ltd (PTTAC), a 48.5:48.5:3 joint venture of the three companies. Established in 2006, PTTAC built the plant at Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate (Map Ta Phut), Rayong. It will use propane from PTT Gas Separation Plant to produce 200,000 tonnes of Acrylonitrile (AN), a raw material for plastic and acrylic fibre, 70,000 Tons of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA), a raw material for Poly Methyl Methacrylate (PMMA), and 160,000 tonnes per year of Ammonium Sulfate (AMS), a raw material for fertiliser.
PTT will additionally supply acetone feedstock from its newly-completed PTT Phenol plant, and other utilities via its PTT Utility.
SOURCE The Nation
PTT, Asahi Kasei Chemicals and Marubeni today jointly opened the world's first acrylonitrile plant in Thailand, to produce raw materials for plastic and acrylic fibre manufacturing. Using propane as feedstock, this plant is expected to reduce Thailand's imports.
"I believe that such collaboration between Thailand and Japan has brought in combining strength in technology, know-how and natural resources especially the natural gas to develop the petrochemical industry to accommodate the current high rising demand in energy. This occasion will mark the beginning of cooperation development to efficiently use the technology and natural resources for highest benefits in the future. The commercial operation will reduce imports of raw materials and increase export of the products to augment the country's overall export income," said Police Major General Lattasanya Piansomparn, advisor to Minister of Energy.
Lattasanya presided over the opening ceremony with Kiminori Iwama, Economic Minister of Embassy of Japan in Thailand.
The project is carried out by PTT Asahi Chemical Co Ltd (PTTAC), a 48.5:48.5:3 joint venture of the three companies. Established in 2006, PTTAC built the plant at Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate (Map Ta Phut), Rayong. It will use propane from PTT Gas Separation Plant to produce 200,000 tonnes of Acrylonitrile (AN), a raw material for plastic and acrylic fibre, 70,000 Tons of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA), a raw material for Poly Methyl Methacrylate (PMMA), and 160,000 tonnes per year of Ammonium Sulfate (AMS), a raw material for fertiliser.
PTT will additionally supply acetone feedstock from its newly-completed PTT Phenol plant, and other utilities via its PTT Utility.
SOURCE The Nation
RELEASED ON 07/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Maruzen Petrochemicals, Japan, is operating its No.1 and No. 2 butadiene extraction units at reduced capacity levels, according to a Polymerupdate source in Japan.
Both the units are running at 80% of production capacity.
The company’s No. 1 and No. 2 butadiene extraction units at Ichihara in Chiba, Japan, have a combined production capacity of 200,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
Maruzen Petrochemicals, Japan, is operating its No.1 and No. 2 butadiene extraction units at reduced capacity levels, according to a Polymerupdate source in Japan.
Both the units are running at 80% of production capacity.
The company’s No. 1 and No. 2 butadiene extraction units at Ichihara in Chiba, Japan, have a combined production capacity of 200,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
RELEASED ON 07/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Yeochun Naphtha Cracking Center (YNCC) is likely to shut operations at its butadiene extraction unit.
Located at Yeosu in South Korea, the unit has a production capacity of 240,000 mt/year.
The unit will be taken off-stream for a maintenance turnaround in May 2013 and will remain shut for around one month, according to a Polymerupdate source in South Korea.
SOURCE Polymer Update
Yeochun Naphtha Cracking Center (YNCC) is likely to shut operations at its butadiene extraction unit.
Located at Yeosu in South Korea, the unit has a production capacity of 240,000 mt/year.
The unit will be taken off-stream for a maintenance turnaround in May 2013 and will remain shut for around one month, according to a Polymerupdate source in South Korea.
SOURCE Polymer Update
RELEASED ON 07/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Bangkok Synthetics will be starting a new solution-styrene butadiene runner (SSBR) plant in Thailand.
A Polymerupdate source in Thailand informed that the SSBR plant will start production in mid-2013. It will be built jointly with JSR Corp, Japan.
To be located in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, the S-SBR plant will have a production capacity of 50,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
Bangkok Synthetics will be starting a new solution-styrene butadiene runner (SSBR) plant in Thailand.
A Polymerupdate source in Thailand informed that the SSBR plant will start production in mid-2013. It will be built jointly with JSR Corp, Japan.
To be located in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, the S-SBR plant will have a production capacity of 50,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
RELEASED ON 06/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Formosa Plastics Corp. (FPC) is likely to shut operations at its ethylene vinyl acetate/ low density polyethylene (EVA/LDPE) swing plant.
Located at Mailiao in Taiwan, the swing plant has a production capacity of 72,000 mt/year.
The swing plant will be taken off-stream in the first week of March 2013 for safety inspections and will remain shut for 3-4 weeks, according to a Polymerupdate source in Taiwan.
SOURCE Polymer Update
Formosa Plastics Corp. (FPC) is likely to shut operations at its ethylene vinyl acetate/ low density polyethylene (EVA/LDPE) swing plant.
Located at Mailiao in Taiwan, the swing plant has a production capacity of 72,000 mt/year.
The swing plant will be taken off-stream in the first week of March 2013 for safety inspections and will remain shut for 3-4 weeks, according to a Polymerupdate source in Taiwan.
SOURCE Polymer Update
RELEASED ON 07/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
BASF has announced that it is no longer seeking EU marketing approval for its controversial genetically modified (GM) potatoes.
The company already has approval for one type of GM potato. In 2010, the European commission granted approval for Amflora potatoes, which are used for industrial production of starch, a biopolymer of two monomers: amylose and amylopectin. The latter is the important monomer for industrial purposes. Potatoes typically produce starch that is 20% amylose and 80% amylopectin, but – thanks to genetic modification – Amflora potatoes produce only amylopectin.
BASF had been planning more approvals. But it says that continued investment in Fortuna, Amadea, and Modena potatoes cannot be justified because of ‘uncertainty in the regulatory environment and threats of field destructions’.
The 2010 approval of Amflora potatoes was hailed at the time as key breakthrough for agrichemical companies, which historically had struggled to gain public approval for GM products in Europe. But it proved to be something of a one off, and in January 2012 the company decided to halt development and commercialisation of GM crops in Europe and move its biotech R&D operations to the US, citing consumer and political resistance.
Meanwhile, BASF is also dropping its research into nutritionally enhanced corn, resulting in the closure of six field sites across the midwestern US and the loss of 40 jobs. This will coincide with increased focus on modification for higher yields and improved resistance to stress conditions.
SOURCE chemistry World
RELATED STORIES
EU freezes approval of GM crops to 2014
BASF has announced that it is no longer seeking EU marketing approval for its controversial genetically modified (GM) potatoes.
The company already has approval for one type of GM potato. In 2010, the European commission granted approval for Amflora potatoes, which are used for industrial production of starch, a biopolymer of two monomers: amylose and amylopectin. The latter is the important monomer for industrial purposes. Potatoes typically produce starch that is 20% amylose and 80% amylopectin, but – thanks to genetic modification – Amflora potatoes produce only amylopectin.
BASF had been planning more approvals. But it says that continued investment in Fortuna, Amadea, and Modena potatoes cannot be justified because of ‘uncertainty in the regulatory environment and threats of field destructions’.
The 2010 approval of Amflora potatoes was hailed at the time as key breakthrough for agrichemical companies, which historically had struggled to gain public approval for GM products in Europe. But it proved to be something of a one off, and in January 2012 the company decided to halt development and commercialisation of GM crops in Europe and move its biotech R&D operations to the US, citing consumer and political resistance.
Meanwhile, BASF is also dropping its research into nutritionally enhanced corn, resulting in the closure of six field sites across the midwestern US and the loss of 40 jobs. This will coincide with increased focus on modification for higher yields and improved resistance to stress conditions.
SOURCE chemistry World
RELATED STORIES
EU freezes approval of GM crops to 2014
RELEASED ON 06/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Dreamliner battery damaged by heat build up, says probe
TOKYO Japanese officials probing the emergency landing of a Boeing Dreamliner said on Tuesday its lithium-ion battery was damaged by a build up of heat that resulted in uncontrollably high temperatures.
“The battery was destroyed in a process called thermal runaway, in which the heat builds up to the point where it becomes uncontrollable,” said a Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) official.
“But it is still not known what caused the uncontrollable high temperature,” he added.
Pictures released by the JTSB showed the wire that was intended to earth the pack to avoid problems with static had severed.
“This means the wire suffered unusual levels of electric current, which it should never experience in a normal state,” said an investigator.
A fire risk from overheating powerpacks emerged as a major concern after pilots were forced to land the domestic All Nippon Airways flight in western Japan on January 16 due to smoke thought to be linked to the plane’s battery.
Investigators had already released a picture showing the blackened remains of the battery in the ANA plane.
And the JTSB on Tuesday revealed more photos showing details of the damaged power pack, including those of eight individual lithium-ion cells.
Officials have said there were no signs of a battery fire, while data gleaned from the flight’s digital data recorder showed the powerpack did not suffer a rapid surge in voltage.
The pack’s voltage, in fact, had been at normal levels before it rapidly plunged just before the system alert that forced the emergency landing, the JTSB said.
In New York, Boeing has asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for permission to conduct test flights of Dreamliner.
Boeing said it has submitted an application to conduct test flights, confirming a report in the Seattle Times. The newspaper reported that the FAA might grant permission as soon as Monday night, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. The FAA said it is evaluating Boeing’s request.
Boeing would test a potential fix for the problem that caused two batteries to burn on 787s last month, the paper said. But passenger flights would still be weeks if not months away, the paper said, citing two sources.
Goto also said CT scans showed six of the main battery’s eight cells on the ANA Dreamliner were badly damaged, charred and deformed.
Launch customer ANA is the world’s biggest Dreamliner operator with 17 of the jets. With local rival JAL owning seven, Japan accounts for almost half the 50 787s that have been grounded since January 17.
GS Yuasa, the Japanese firm that makes batteries for the Boeing 787, said its April-December net profit fell 3.6 per cent to 5.52 billion yen ($59.55 million) on revenue that slipped 4.6 per cent to 196 billion yen.
SOURCE Omantribune
RELATED STORIES
Boeing problems put spotlight on battery technology (lithium-ion)
Dreamliner battery damaged by heat build up, says probe
TOKYO Japanese officials probing the emergency landing of a Boeing Dreamliner said on Tuesday its lithium-ion battery was damaged by a build up of heat that resulted in uncontrollably high temperatures.
“The battery was destroyed in a process called thermal runaway, in which the heat builds up to the point where it becomes uncontrollable,” said a Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) official.
“But it is still not known what caused the uncontrollable high temperature,” he added.
Pictures released by the JTSB showed the wire that was intended to earth the pack to avoid problems with static had severed.
“This means the wire suffered unusual levels of electric current, which it should never experience in a normal state,” said an investigator.
A fire risk from overheating powerpacks emerged as a major concern after pilots were forced to land the domestic All Nippon Airways flight in western Japan on January 16 due to smoke thought to be linked to the plane’s battery.
Investigators had already released a picture showing the blackened remains of the battery in the ANA plane.
And the JTSB on Tuesday revealed more photos showing details of the damaged power pack, including those of eight individual lithium-ion cells.
Officials have said there were no signs of a battery fire, while data gleaned from the flight’s digital data recorder showed the powerpack did not suffer a rapid surge in voltage.
The pack’s voltage, in fact, had been at normal levels before it rapidly plunged just before the system alert that forced the emergency landing, the JTSB said.
In New York, Boeing has asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for permission to conduct test flights of Dreamliner.
Boeing said it has submitted an application to conduct test flights, confirming a report in the Seattle Times. The newspaper reported that the FAA might grant permission as soon as Monday night, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. The FAA said it is evaluating Boeing’s request.
Boeing would test a potential fix for the problem that caused two batteries to burn on 787s last month, the paper said. But passenger flights would still be weeks if not months away, the paper said, citing two sources.
Goto also said CT scans showed six of the main battery’s eight cells on the ANA Dreamliner were badly damaged, charred and deformed.
Launch customer ANA is the world’s biggest Dreamliner operator with 17 of the jets. With local rival JAL owning seven, Japan accounts for almost half the 50 787s that have been grounded since January 17.
GS Yuasa, the Japanese firm that makes batteries for the Boeing 787, said its April-December net profit fell 3.6 per cent to 5.52 billion yen ($59.55 million) on revenue that slipped 4.6 per cent to 196 billion yen.
SOURCE Omantribune
RELATED STORIES
Boeing problems put spotlight on battery technology (lithium-ion)
RELEASED ON 06/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Wacker Chemie has launched its new 40,000 tonnes/year vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer (VAE) dispersions plant at its Ulsan site in South Korea, the German specialty chemicals maker said on Wednesday.
The second reactor line increases the site’s VAE dispersion capacity to 90,000 tonnes/year, making the plant one of its biggest of its kind in South Korea, the company said.
The expansion comes as a response to rising demand for high-quality VAE dispersions, it said.
The second reactor line’s additional capacity is particularly aimed at reliably meeting the strong growth in the paints and coatings sector, as well as in construction, paper, carpet and nonwovens applications.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
Wacker Chemie has launched its new 40,000 tonnes/year vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer (VAE) dispersions plant at its Ulsan site in South Korea, the German specialty chemicals maker said on Wednesday.
The second reactor line increases the site’s VAE dispersion capacity to 90,000 tonnes/year, making the plant one of its biggest of its kind in South Korea, the company said.
The expansion comes as a response to rising demand for high-quality VAE dispersions, it said.
The second reactor line’s additional capacity is particularly aimed at reliably meeting the strong growth in the paints and coatings sector, as well as in construction, paper, carpet and nonwovens applications.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
RELEASED ON 29/01/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Chongqing Fuan Pharmaceutical (Group) is engaged in the manufacturing, research, and sale of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and formulations. Its products include penicillin, cephalosporin , and other intermediates. The company primarily operates in China, where it is headquartered in Chongqing.
The company recorded revenues of CNY358.5 million (approximately $55.6 million) in the fiscal year ended December 2011. Its net profit was CNY95.2 million (approximately $14.8 million) in fiscal 2011.
SOURCE MarketLine
Chongqing Fuan Pharmaceutical (Group) is engaged in the manufacturing, research, and sale of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and formulations. Its products include penicillin, cephalosporin , and other intermediates. The company primarily operates in China, where it is headquartered in Chongqing.
The company recorded revenues of CNY358.5 million (approximately $55.6 million) in the fiscal year ended December 2011. Its net profit was CNY95.2 million (approximately $14.8 million) in fiscal 2011.
SOURCE MarketLine
RELEASED ON 06/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Brazil’s polystyrene (PS) producer Unigel is shutting down one of its PS plants in Brazil on 8 February for an indefinite period, a company source said on Wednesday.
Unigel will stop the 190,000 tonne/year PS plant located in Sao Jose dos Campos, which was formerly owned by BASF.
The plant has a 110,000 tonne/year high impact polystyrene (HIPS) unit and an 80,000 tonne/year unit for general purpose polystyrene (GPPS).
Restart of the plant will depend on market reaction to the current price increases and on domestic and regional PS demand.
Unigel will increase operating rates at the similarly sized PS plant located in Guaruja – formerly owned by Dow Chemical – and expects to maintain its position in the domestic market with the production from this plant.
The Sao Jose dos Campos plant could restart around 15 March, but a date has not been set, according to company estimates, the source said.
This action has not taken market participants by surprise, considering that Brazil’s domestic market has been historically oversupplied with PS resins – a factor that may have driven Dow Chemical and BASF to exit the Brazilian PS market.
When Unigel acquired this plant from BASF, there were resin shortages in the region – such as the one caused by a labour strike in Argentina that paralysed production for about a month. These shortages have since been corrected.
PS is a mature commodity with global growth estimated at about 0.5% annually, according to ICIS Consulting data.
The main producers in Brazil are Unigel, Innova and Videolar.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
Brazil’s polystyrene (PS) producer Unigel is shutting down one of its PS plants in Brazil on 8 February for an indefinite period, a company source said on Wednesday.
Unigel will stop the 190,000 tonne/year PS plant located in Sao Jose dos Campos, which was formerly owned by BASF.
The plant has a 110,000 tonne/year high impact polystyrene (HIPS) unit and an 80,000 tonne/year unit for general purpose polystyrene (GPPS).
Restart of the plant will depend on market reaction to the current price increases and on domestic and regional PS demand.
Unigel will increase operating rates at the similarly sized PS plant located in Guaruja – formerly owned by Dow Chemical – and expects to maintain its position in the domestic market with the production from this plant.
The Sao Jose dos Campos plant could restart around 15 March, but a date has not been set, according to company estimates, the source said.
This action has not taken market participants by surprise, considering that Brazil’s domestic market has been historically oversupplied with PS resins – a factor that may have driven Dow Chemical and BASF to exit the Brazilian PS market.
When Unigel acquired this plant from BASF, there were resin shortages in the region – such as the one caused by a labour strike in Argentina that paralysed production for about a month. These shortages have since been corrected.
PS is a mature commodity with global growth estimated at about 0.5% annually, according to ICIS Consulting data.
The main producers in Brazil are Unigel, Innova and Videolar.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
RELEASED ON 06/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Biofuel mandates and growth in the biochemicals industry are expected to triple demand for biomass by 2030, placing pressure on available feedstocks, according to a report by Lux Research.
The report, “Finding Feedstocks for the Bio-Based Fuels and Chemicals of Today and 2030,” said today biofuels and biochemicals need more than a billion metric tons of biomass material each year to replace about three percent of total petroleum products. The report predicts that figure will skyrocket to 3.7 billion mt of biomass needed annually by 2030.
Biofuels mandates, which require large masses of sugars, cellulosic biomass and waste feedstocks, will cause several regions will encounter major stress on available biomass, the report said. For instance, the EPA is proposing a 62 percent increase in the amount of cellulosic biofuels that refiners must blend into their gasoline and diesel, despite a federal court’s decision last week to strike down its 2012 standard for the fuel. The chart above shows Lux’s projections for cellulosic feedstock supply and demand. (BBFM stands for “bio-based fuels and materials.”)
This month, the agency proposed the 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards for four fuel categories including biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuels, cellulosic biofuels and total renewable fuels.
Feedstock innovations such as crop modification, new value chain configurations and agronomic technology improvements like irrigation and biosensors can help meet growing demand and take pressure off those regions, said Kalib Kersch, a Lux Research analyst and one of the lead authors of the report.
The report found that municipal solid waste and waste gases like carbon dioxide and flue gas have potential as feedstocks. LanzaTech, which aims to make ethanol and 2,3-butanediol from flue gas, and Fulcrum BioEnergy, which is financing its first MSW gasification facility, are both poised to advance this technology.
The report also said novel logistics methods, like those being developed by companies Sweetwater Energy and BlackGold Biofuels, can lower the cost of meeting biomass demands. Both companies are developing “hub-and-spoke” models to build satellite intermediate conversion facilities that feed into a central processing facility, cutting transportation costs.
Dozens of companies and universities are working on ways to modify crops to cut down on agriculture’s material inputs. For example, BASF, Mendel Biotechnology and Evogene are developing crop strains that provide resistance to drought and pests, or can fix their own nitrogen.
SOURCE http://www.environmentalleader.com
Biofuel mandates and growth in the biochemicals industry are expected to triple demand for biomass by 2030, placing pressure on available feedstocks, according to a report by Lux Research.
The report, “Finding Feedstocks for the Bio-Based Fuels and Chemicals of Today and 2030,” said today biofuels and biochemicals need more than a billion metric tons of biomass material each year to replace about three percent of total petroleum products. The report predicts that figure will skyrocket to 3.7 billion mt of biomass needed annually by 2030.
Biofuels mandates, which require large masses of sugars, cellulosic biomass and waste feedstocks, will cause several regions will encounter major stress on available biomass, the report said. For instance, the EPA is proposing a 62 percent increase in the amount of cellulosic biofuels that refiners must blend into their gasoline and diesel, despite a federal court’s decision last week to strike down its 2012 standard for the fuel. The chart above shows Lux’s projections for cellulosic feedstock supply and demand. (BBFM stands for “bio-based fuels and materials.”)
This month, the agency proposed the 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards for four fuel categories including biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuels, cellulosic biofuels and total renewable fuels.
Feedstock innovations such as crop modification, new value chain configurations and agronomic technology improvements like irrigation and biosensors can help meet growing demand and take pressure off those regions, said Kalib Kersch, a Lux Research analyst and one of the lead authors of the report.
The report found that municipal solid waste and waste gases like carbon dioxide and flue gas have potential as feedstocks. LanzaTech, which aims to make ethanol and 2,3-butanediol from flue gas, and Fulcrum BioEnergy, which is financing its first MSW gasification facility, are both poised to advance this technology.
The report also said novel logistics methods, like those being developed by companies Sweetwater Energy and BlackGold Biofuels, can lower the cost of meeting biomass demands. Both companies are developing “hub-and-spoke” models to build satellite intermediate conversion facilities that feed into a central processing facility, cutting transportation costs.
Dozens of companies and universities are working on ways to modify crops to cut down on agriculture’s material inputs. For example, BASF, Mendel Biotechnology and Evogene are developing crop strains that provide resistance to drought and pests, or can fix their own nitrogen.
SOURCE http://www.environmentalleader.com
RELEASED ON 07/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
New Delhi: H1N1 influenza is back to haunt Delhi after three years.
The disease, which gained epidemic proportions in 2009, has claimed three lives so far this year.
At least 57 people have taken ill this time around, according to government data.
Path labs and hospitals say there is a sudden increase in the number of patients seeking blood tests and treatment for the disease, characterized by a sore throat, body ache and upper respiratory infection among other symptoms.
"We have issued directions to all designated hospitals to follow the H1N1 protocol, including readying isolation wards with dedicated staff.
The availability of Tamiflu medicines at all centres is being ensured," state health minister A K Walia said.
57 TAKE ILL
'Little chance of epidemic'
New Delhi: H1N1 influenza has claimed three lives in the city, and at least 57 people have contracted it, says government data.
Doctors at AIIMS, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Apollo and Max Hospital, Saket confirmed that they have been getting regular cases of swine flu this year."We have got more than 13 confirmed cases in the last one month.
Five of these patients are still hospitalized," said Dr Aroop Basu, senior consultant chest medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
He said two patients are in serious condition and they have been put on ventilator support.
"We are not testing everyone for the influenza virus.
Only those with severe symptoms are being asked to undergo the test," Basu added.
According to Dr Rajesh Chawla, a specialist in respiratory medicine and critical care at the Apollo Hospitals, there is little chance of swine flu turning into epidemic as was witnessed in 2009."Only those with severe symptoms like breathing difficulty need admission.
We have come across several patients with symptoms of the disease, but they recovered within a week without any specific medication," he said.
Chawla added that precautionary measures like vaccinating those at high risk - the elderly, those with kidney problems, cancer patients, pregnant women and children - for the viral influenza is advised.
Dr Monica Mahajan, senior consultant internal medicine at Max, Saket echoed similar views."There is no chance of an epidemic being caused by the virus as a large population has been exposed to it already," she said.
Hony (Brig) Dr Arvind Lal, chairman and Managing director of Dr Lal Pathlabs, said that till January third week, the lab were getting about 10 samples a day but it has doubled over the last few days."We are getting 20 samples daily for three weeks and 30% of them are positive," he said.
Lal added that the trend needs to be followed for at least a month to confirm if it is turning into another outbreak.
Dr Navin Dang, consultant microbiologist and director of Dr Dang's Pvt Ltd, said swine flu cases had almost stopped over the last two years."In the last one month, there has been a noticeable increase.
We are getting three to four confirmed cases daily," he said.
Swine flu was at its most virulent form when it initially spread in 2009.
Till May 2010,1,035 people had died of the disease in India and more than 10,000 were infected.
"One should wash hands frequently to avoid infection.
Also stay away from infected persons," said D S Chadha, senior consultant, internal medicine at Fortis, Vasant Kunj.
He added that high-risk patients, including those with heart diseases need to be extra careful.
SOURCE The Times of India - Delhi Edition
New Delhi: H1N1 influenza is back to haunt Delhi after three years.
The disease, which gained epidemic proportions in 2009, has claimed three lives so far this year.
At least 57 people have taken ill this time around, according to government data.
Path labs and hospitals say there is a sudden increase in the number of patients seeking blood tests and treatment for the disease, characterized by a sore throat, body ache and upper respiratory infection among other symptoms.
"We have issued directions to all designated hospitals to follow the H1N1 protocol, including readying isolation wards with dedicated staff.
The availability of Tamiflu medicines at all centres is being ensured," state health minister A K Walia said.
57 TAKE ILL
'Little chance of epidemic'
New Delhi: H1N1 influenza has claimed three lives in the city, and at least 57 people have contracted it, says government data.
Doctors at AIIMS, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Apollo and Max Hospital, Saket confirmed that they have been getting regular cases of swine flu this year."We have got more than 13 confirmed cases in the last one month.
Five of these patients are still hospitalized," said Dr Aroop Basu, senior consultant chest medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
He said two patients are in serious condition and they have been put on ventilator support.
"We are not testing everyone for the influenza virus.
Only those with severe symptoms are being asked to undergo the test," Basu added.
According to Dr Rajesh Chawla, a specialist in respiratory medicine and critical care at the Apollo Hospitals, there is little chance of swine flu turning into epidemic as was witnessed in 2009."Only those with severe symptoms like breathing difficulty need admission.
We have come across several patients with symptoms of the disease, but they recovered within a week without any specific medication," he said.
Chawla added that precautionary measures like vaccinating those at high risk - the elderly, those with kidney problems, cancer patients, pregnant women and children - for the viral influenza is advised.
Dr Monica Mahajan, senior consultant internal medicine at Max, Saket echoed similar views."There is no chance of an epidemic being caused by the virus as a large population has been exposed to it already," she said.
Hony (Brig) Dr Arvind Lal, chairman and Managing director of Dr Lal Pathlabs, said that till January third week, the lab were getting about 10 samples a day but it has doubled over the last few days."We are getting 20 samples daily for three weeks and 30% of them are positive," he said.
Lal added that the trend needs to be followed for at least a month to confirm if it is turning into another outbreak.
Dr Navin Dang, consultant microbiologist and director of Dr Dang's Pvt Ltd, said swine flu cases had almost stopped over the last two years."In the last one month, there has been a noticeable increase.
We are getting three to four confirmed cases daily," he said.
Swine flu was at its most virulent form when it initially spread in 2009.
Till May 2010,1,035 people had died of the disease in India and more than 10,000 were infected.
"One should wash hands frequently to avoid infection.
Also stay away from infected persons," said D S Chadha, senior consultant, internal medicine at Fortis, Vasant Kunj.
He added that high-risk patients, including those with heart diseases need to be extra careful.
SOURCE The Times of India - Delhi Edition
RELEASED ON 06/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
INVISTA and Arzeda have entered into an agreement to develop bio-based butadiene (BD) and other feedstock, the US-based companies said on Wednesday.
INVISTA produces adipic acid, which uses BD as a feedstock.
In the US, the advent of shale gas has encouraged several producers to crack light feeds instead of heavier naphtha. Lighter feeds produce much less crude C4, from which BD is extracted.
“As we seek innovative solutions to increase the global supply of butadiene, we believe developing a cost-competitive bio-derived route will help assure ample supply and reduce price volatility,” said Bill Greenfield, executive vice president of INVISTA’s nylon intermediates business, in a company statement.
Under the agreement, INVISTA and Arzeda will collaborate to develop each of their bio-based technologies with the ultimate goal of developing bio-based processes for several products, the companies said. The initial focus will be on bio-BD.
INVISTA already has capabilities and biotechnology and catalysis, the companies said. Arzeda designs enzymes.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
INVISTA and Arzeda have entered into an agreement to develop bio-based butadiene (BD) and other feedstock, the US-based companies said on Wednesday.
INVISTA produces adipic acid, which uses BD as a feedstock.
In the US, the advent of shale gas has encouraged several producers to crack light feeds instead of heavier naphtha. Lighter feeds produce much less crude C4, from which BD is extracted.
“As we seek innovative solutions to increase the global supply of butadiene, we believe developing a cost-competitive bio-derived route will help assure ample supply and reduce price volatility,” said Bill Greenfield, executive vice president of INVISTA’s nylon intermediates business, in a company statement.
Under the agreement, INVISTA and Arzeda will collaborate to develop each of their bio-based technologies with the ultimate goal of developing bio-based processes for several products, the companies said. The initial focus will be on bio-BD.
INVISTA already has capabilities and biotechnology and catalysis, the companies said. Arzeda designs enzymes.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
RELEASED ON 06/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
OJSC KAMAZ plans to be building electric urban trucks under a new-product program by 2020, a company press statement says.
"Today the development of the electronic automobile is constrained by the cost of battery systems, but it is expected that in the next few years the issues of profitability will be resolved," it says.
KAMAZ press service chief Oleg Afanasyev did not specify for Interfax the timeframe for the project's realization or technical particulars. He said that the project is already being developed and that various options for implementing it are under consideration. And a search for solutions that would make it possible to create an energy-efficient automobile is underway.
KAMAZ is also designing a 'pilot-less' vehicle. The company has worked through algorithms for the long-distance management of trucks operating in areas dangerous to humans.
The press service said that the company is investing more than five billion rubles in the development of production this year. Investments will run to sixty billion rubles by 2020.
Bashkortostan-based NefAZ, part of the KAMAZ group, certified last year Russia's first electric bus - the NefAZ-52992. The driver-less route is planned at more than 200 kilometers. On its roof, in the body of the bus, and in its rear are lithium iron phosphate batteries with energy capacity of 313.6 kWh. The electric bus is equipped with recharging units of 48 kWt capacity, and the vehicle takes eight hours to fully recharge. Special power units are installed that allow rapid (20-30 minutes) recharging from a grid with tension up to 500 kilovolts
The Russian Industry and Trade Ministry worked up a draft governmental resolution last year that fleshes out the list of grounds for the extension of investment tax credits for projects involving the creation of energy-efficient production of hybrid cars and electric vehicles, as well as recharging infrastructure.
Kamaz is one of Russia's
largest producers of heavy duty trucks . The company's principal shareholders are Rustec (the former Russian Technologies), Troika Dialog and Daimler AG.
SOURCE Interfax: Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
OJSC KAMAZ plans to be building electric urban trucks under a new-product program by 2020, a company press statement says.
"Today the development of the electronic automobile is constrained by the cost of battery systems, but it is expected that in the next few years the issues of profitability will be resolved," it says.
KAMAZ press service chief Oleg Afanasyev did not specify for Interfax the timeframe for the project's realization or technical particulars. He said that the project is already being developed and that various options for implementing it are under consideration. And a search for solutions that would make it possible to create an energy-efficient automobile is underway.
KAMAZ is also designing a 'pilot-less' vehicle. The company has worked through algorithms for the long-distance management of trucks operating in areas dangerous to humans.
The press service said that the company is investing more than five billion rubles in the development of production this year. Investments will run to sixty billion rubles by 2020.
Bashkortostan-based NefAZ, part of the KAMAZ group, certified last year Russia's first electric bus - the NefAZ-52992. The driver-less route is planned at more than 200 kilometers. On its roof, in the body of the bus, and in its rear are lithium iron phosphate batteries with energy capacity of 313.6 kWh. The electric bus is equipped with recharging units of 48 kWt capacity, and the vehicle takes eight hours to fully recharge. Special power units are installed that allow rapid (20-30 minutes) recharging from a grid with tension up to 500 kilovolts
The Russian Industry and Trade Ministry worked up a draft governmental resolution last year that fleshes out the list of grounds for the extension of investment tax credits for projects involving the creation of energy-efficient production of hybrid cars and electric vehicles, as well as recharging infrastructure.
Kamaz is one of Russia's
largest producers of heavy duty trucks . The company's principal shareholders are Rustec (the former Russian Technologies), Troika Dialog and Daimler AG.
SOURCE Interfax: Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
RELEASED ON 06/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
China's Markor Chemical, a subsidiary of Markor Group, plans to start building an integrated coal-based fine chemical industries project at Xinjiang in March, a company source said on Wednesday.
The project, which will cost yuan (CNY) 13bn ($2.1bn), includes a 100,000 tonne/year 1,4-butanediol (BDO) unit , a 50,000 tonne/year polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) unit, a 400,000 tonne/year monoethylene glycol (MEG) unit, and a 60,000 tonne/year polyformaldehyde unit, the source said.
The company has already completed preliminary works including initial design, environmental assessment and has won the approval from National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the source added.
The company currently has a 60,000 tonne/year 1,4-BDO unit at the same site, which came on line in August 2008 and uses natural gas as feedstock.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
China's Markor Chemical, a subsidiary of Markor Group, plans to start building an integrated coal-based fine chemical industries project at Xinjiang in March, a company source said on Wednesday.
The project, which will cost yuan (CNY) 13bn ($2.1bn), includes a 100,000 tonne/year 1,4-butanediol (BDO) unit , a 50,000 tonne/year polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) unit, a 400,000 tonne/year monoethylene glycol (MEG) unit, and a 60,000 tonne/year polyformaldehyde unit, the source said.
The company has already completed preliminary works including initial design, environmental assessment and has won the approval from National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the source added.
The company currently has a 60,000 tonne/year 1,4-BDO unit at the same site, which came on line in August 2008 and uses natural gas as feedstock.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only