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DATE : 2013-11-28
Pemex has shut its acrylonitrile (ACN) plant owing to shortage of feedstock propylene.
A Polymerupdate source in Mexico informed that the plant is under closure since November 21, 2013.
A restart date for the plant could not be ascertained.Located in Morelos, Mexico, the plant has a production capacity of 60,000 mt/year.
SOURCE : PolymerUpdate
Pemex has shut its acrylonitrile (ACN) plant owing to shortage of feedstock propylene.
A Polymerupdate source in Mexico informed that the plant is under closure since November 21, 2013.
A restart date for the plant could not be ascertained.Located in Morelos, Mexico, the plant has a production capacity of 60,000 mt/year.
SOURCE : PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2013-11-27
Nihon Oxirane’s production of styrene monomer (SM), propylene oxide (PO) and propylene glycol (PG) at Chiba Works in Japan will end by May 2015, the top executive of the company’s parent firm Sumitomo Chemical said on Wednesday.
Nihon Oxirane – which is 60:40 joint venture between Sumitomo Chemical and Lyondell Basell – can produce 425,000 tonnes/year of SM, 181,000 tonnes/year of PO and 100,000 tonnes/year PG at Sodegaura in Chiba prefecture.
The joint venture company will halt sales of these chemicals by May 2015, Sumitomo Chemical president Masakazu Tokura said at a press conference.
Sumitomo Chemical further plans to buy out its partner in the joint venture in December 2013, to make Nihon Oxirane a wholly owned subsidiary.
The move is part of Sumitomo Chemical’s efforts to restructure its businesses to respond to declining domestic petrochemical demand, Tokura said.
The company, however, plans to continue manufacturing PO at its other 200,000 tonne/year PO unit at Chiba Works, Tokura said.
In February 2013, the company announced it would permanently shut its 415,000 tonne/year cracker at Chiba Works by September 2015. However on Wednesday, Tokura said Sumitomo Chemical would bring this closure forward to May 2015.
In April 2012, Sumitomo Chemical has exited from Chiba Styrene Monomer, its former joint venture with Denka.
SOURCE Icis News
Nihon Oxirane’s production of styrene monomer (SM), propylene oxide (PO) and propylene glycol (PG) at Chiba Works in Japan will end by May 2015, the top executive of the company’s parent firm Sumitomo Chemical said on Wednesday.
Nihon Oxirane – which is 60:40 joint venture between Sumitomo Chemical and Lyondell Basell – can produce 425,000 tonnes/year of SM, 181,000 tonnes/year of PO and 100,000 tonnes/year PG at Sodegaura in Chiba prefecture.
The joint venture company will halt sales of these chemicals by May 2015, Sumitomo Chemical president Masakazu Tokura said at a press conference.
Sumitomo Chemical further plans to buy out its partner in the joint venture in December 2013, to make Nihon Oxirane a wholly owned subsidiary.
The move is part of Sumitomo Chemical’s efforts to restructure its businesses to respond to declining domestic petrochemical demand, Tokura said.
The company, however, plans to continue manufacturing PO at its other 200,000 tonne/year PO unit at Chiba Works, Tokura said.
In February 2013, the company announced it would permanently shut its 415,000 tonne/year cracker at Chiba Works by September 2015. However on Wednesday, Tokura said Sumitomo Chemical would bring this closure forward to May 2015.
In April 2012, Sumitomo Chemical has exited from Chiba Styrene Monomer, its former joint venture with Denka.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2013-11-29
By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Chemicals & Chemistry -- Researchers detail new data in Quinones. According to news reporting originating in Dalian, People's Republic of China, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, "In the present study, tetramethylammonium hydroquinone (HQ)/benzoquinone (BQ) were developed for use as a redox couple, with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) being proposed for use as counter electrode (CE) catalysts in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Both metal-complex N719 and metal-free organic dye CM309 were employed to fabricate devices."
The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the Dalian University of Technology, "For the devices sensitized by N719, when using PEDOT and MWNT CEs, power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 5.2 and 4.9% were obtained, respectively, which were much higher than that of the device using the traditional Pt CE (4.7%) when HQ/BQ electrolyte was employed. However, with the HQ/BQ redox shuttle, the efficiency of the devices sensitized by N719 is much lower than that of the devices when the traditional I(-)/I3(-) based electrolyte and Pt CE were employed (7.9%)."
According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "While for the CM309 sensitized solar cells, when the HQ/BQ redox shuttle was employed, PEDOT and MWNT performed much better than Pt, the DSSC using the PEDOT CE showed an efficiency of 6.2%, which was close to that of the DSSC using the traditional I(-)/I3(-) electrolyte and Pt CE (6."
For more information on this research see: Dye-sensitized solar cells based on hydroquinone/benzoquinone as bio-inspired redox couple with different counter electrodes. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2013;15(36):15146-52. ( Royal Society of Chemistry - www.rsc.org/ ; Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics - pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/journalissues/cp)
Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting M. Cheng, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Dalian University of Technology (DUT), 2 Linggong Rd, 116024 Dalian, People's Taiwan. Additional authors for this research include X. Yang, C. Chen, J. Zhao, F. Zhang and L. Sun.
SOURCE : Chemicals & Chemistry
By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Chemicals & Chemistry -- Researchers detail new data in Quinones. According to news reporting originating in Dalian, People's Republic of China, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, "In the present study, tetramethylammonium hydroquinone (HQ)/benzoquinone (BQ) were developed for use as a redox couple, with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) being proposed for use as counter electrode (CE) catalysts in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Both metal-complex N719 and metal-free organic dye CM309 were employed to fabricate devices."
The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the Dalian University of Technology, "For the devices sensitized by N719, when using PEDOT and MWNT CEs, power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 5.2 and 4.9% were obtained, respectively, which were much higher than that of the device using the traditional Pt CE (4.7%) when HQ/BQ electrolyte was employed. However, with the HQ/BQ redox shuttle, the efficiency of the devices sensitized by N719 is much lower than that of the devices when the traditional I(-)/I3(-) based electrolyte and Pt CE were employed (7.9%)."
According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "While for the CM309 sensitized solar cells, when the HQ/BQ redox shuttle was employed, PEDOT and MWNT performed much better than Pt, the DSSC using the PEDOT CE showed an efficiency of 6.2%, which was close to that of the DSSC using the traditional I(-)/I3(-) electrolyte and Pt CE (6."
For more information on this research see: Dye-sensitized solar cells based on hydroquinone/benzoquinone as bio-inspired redox couple with different counter electrodes. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2013;15(36):15146-52. ( Royal Society of Chemistry - www.rsc.org/ ; Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics - pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/journalissues/cp)
Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting M. Cheng, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Dalian University of Technology (DUT), 2 Linggong Rd, 116024 Dalian, People's Taiwan. Additional authors for this research include X. Yang, C. Chen, J. Zhao, F. Zhang and L. Sun.
SOURCE : Chemicals & Chemistry
DATE : 2013-11-27
SK Global Chemical, through a strategic alliance with Mitsubishi Chemical, plans to build an acrylic acid plant at Ulsan, Korea by 2016. The plant will be designed to produce 160,000 m.t./year. SK is also considering construction of a superabsorbents polymers (SAP) plant using acrylic acid from the plant. The SAP market is showing a high demand growth in China, Southeast Asia and other developing countries, SK says. The development plan may also include other products within this business line. If the business plan is executed, SK Global Chemical will acquire the production capability of a fully integrated production chain of naphtha, propylene, acrylic acid and SAP. In addition, the company expects to penetrate the acrylic acid and acrylic esters markets in the short term through a strategic alliance with Mitsubishi Chemical.
In addition to these ongoing projects, SK Global Chemical has started constructing a new plant at Ulsan for Nexlene, a high-performance polyethylene, with completion planned for next year. The company is also partnering with local firms in China to commercialize ethylene propylene diene monomer, butanediol and other premium petrochemicals. In additon, commercialization of GreenPol, an eco-friendly material that utilizes carbon dioxide, is imminent. As petrochemical products from low cost feedstock or shale gas are entering the market, SK Global Chemical’s strategy is differentiating itself by adding high value-added products to its portfolio. SK Global Chemical‘s officials said, “Although we are seriously reviewing to expand the acrylic acid and other premium petrochemical line-up, it is difficult for us to reveal the details of the projects.”
SOURCE : Chemweek's Business Daily
SK Global Chemical, through a strategic alliance with Mitsubishi Chemical, plans to build an acrylic acid plant at Ulsan, Korea by 2016. The plant will be designed to produce 160,000 m.t./year. SK is also considering construction of a superabsorbents polymers (SAP) plant using acrylic acid from the plant. The SAP market is showing a high demand growth in China, Southeast Asia and other developing countries, SK says. The development plan may also include other products within this business line. If the business plan is executed, SK Global Chemical will acquire the production capability of a fully integrated production chain of naphtha, propylene, acrylic acid and SAP. In addition, the company expects to penetrate the acrylic acid and acrylic esters markets in the short term through a strategic alliance with Mitsubishi Chemical.
In addition to these ongoing projects, SK Global Chemical has started constructing a new plant at Ulsan for Nexlene, a high-performance polyethylene, with completion planned for next year. The company is also partnering with local firms in China to commercialize ethylene propylene diene monomer, butanediol and other premium petrochemicals. In additon, commercialization of GreenPol, an eco-friendly material that utilizes carbon dioxide, is imminent. As petrochemical products from low cost feedstock or shale gas are entering the market, SK Global Chemical’s strategy is differentiating itself by adding high value-added products to its portfolio. SK Global Chemical‘s officials said, “Although we are seriously reviewing to expand the acrylic acid and other premium petrochemical line-up, it is difficult for us to reveal the details of the projects.”
SOURCE : Chemweek's Business Daily
DATE : 2013-11-18
Michelin has formed an alliance with IFPEN (the French oil and new energies institute) and Axens (a company specializes in technologies, catalysts and adsorbents created by IFPEN in 2001). The partners have launched a reach project (called BioButterfly) to develop and market a process for making biosourced butadiene .
This technology will be capable of producing synthetic rubbers (mainly for the tyres industry) from biomass feedstock. The project will cover all technology research and development stages. The partners also want to prepare the way for an industrial network of biosourced rubbers in France.
They hope to open a 150,000 tonnes/y production unit by 2020. BioButterfly has an 8-year budget of EUR 52 M. It was chosen by French environment agency Ademe for EUR 14.7 M in funding.
SOURCE Chimie Pharma Hebdo
Michelin has formed an alliance with IFPEN (the French oil and new energies institute) and Axens (a company specializes in technologies, catalysts and adsorbents created by IFPEN in 2001). The partners have launched a reach project (called BioButterfly) to develop and market a process for making biosourced butadiene .
This technology will be capable of producing synthetic rubbers (mainly for the tyres industry) from biomass feedstock. The project will cover all technology research and development stages. The partners also want to prepare the way for an industrial network of biosourced rubbers in France.
They hope to open a 150,000 tonnes/y production unit by 2020. BioButterfly has an 8-year budget of EUR 52 M. It was chosen by French environment agency Ademe for EUR 14.7 M in funding.
SOURCE Chimie Pharma Hebdo
DATE : 2013-11-25
Asahi Kasei Corp. is in plans to shut its methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant. A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the plant is likely to be shut on December 11, 2013. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located in Kawasaki, Japan, the plant has a production capacity of 100,000 mt/year.
SOURCE : PolymerUpdate
Asahi Kasei Corp. is in plans to shut its methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant. A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the plant is likely to be shut on December 11, 2013. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located in Kawasaki, Japan, the plant has a production capacity of 100,000 mt/year.
SOURCE : PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2013-11-25
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) has restarted a methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant following maintenance turnaround. A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the plant restarted on November 20, 2013. It was under a maintenance turnaround for around 45 days.
Located in Niigata, Japan, the plant has a production capacity of 40,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) has restarted a methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant following maintenance turnaround. A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the plant restarted on November 20, 2013. It was under a maintenance turnaround for around 45 days.
Located in Niigata, Japan, the plant has a production capacity of 40,000 mt/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2013-11-23
Tongsuh Petrochemical is in plans to shut its No. 3 acrylonitrile (ACN) plant for maintenance turnaround.
A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the plant is likely to be shut in H2 December 2013. It is slated to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located at Ulsan, South Korea, the plant has a production capacity of 230,000 mt/year.
SOURCE : PolymerUpdate
Tongsuh Petrochemical is in plans to shut its No. 3 acrylonitrile (ACN) plant for maintenance turnaround.
A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the plant is likely to be shut in H2 December 2013. It is slated to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located at Ulsan, South Korea, the plant has a production capacity of 230,000 mt/year.
SOURCE : PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2013-11-23
Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical has shut an acrylonitrile (ACN) plant for maintenance turnaround. A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant was shut on November 20, 2013.
It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month.Located in Shanghai, China , the plant has a production capacity of 130,000 mt/year.
SOURCE : PolymerUpdate
Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical has shut an acrylonitrile (ACN) plant for maintenance turnaround. A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant was shut on November 20, 2013.
It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month.Located in Shanghai, China , the plant has a production capacity of 130,000 mt/year.
SOURCE : PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2013-11-21
South Korea’s Tongsuh Petrochemical plans to shut its No 3 acrylonitrile (ACN) line in Ulsan in the second half of December for maintenance, a company source said on Thursday.
During the shutdown, which could last for about a month, the company will work on resolving a mechanical issue at the 245,000 tonne/year plant, the source said.
Tongsuh, a wholly owned subsidiary of Asahi Kasei, has two other ACN lines with a combined capacity of 315,000 tonnes/year at the Ulsan site.
SOURCE Icis News
South Korea’s Tongsuh Petrochemical plans to shut its No 3 acrylonitrile (ACN) line in Ulsan in the second half of December for maintenance, a company source said on Thursday.
During the shutdown, which could last for about a month, the company will work on resolving a mechanical issue at the 245,000 tonne/year plant, the source said.
Tongsuh, a wholly owned subsidiary of Asahi Kasei, has two other ACN lines with a combined capacity of 315,000 tonnes/year at the Ulsan site.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2013-11-21
Kuraray and DuPont today announced they have signed a definitive agreement for DuPont to sell Glass Laminating Solutions/Vinyls (GLS/Vinyls), a part of DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers, to Kuraray for US$543 million, plus the value of the inventories. The sale is expected to close during the first half of 2014 pending customary regulatory approvals.
GLS/Vinyls is a leading supplier of polyvinyl butyral and ionomer sheets for safety glass, and vinyl acetate monomer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) products used in a variety of architectural, automotive and industrial applications. GLS/Vinyls delivered full-year 2012 net sales of more than US$500 million. It has about 600 employees with six manufacturing sites in the U.S., Europe and Asia that serve more than 350 customers worldwide.
Keiji Murakami, president of Kuraray's Vinyl Acetate Company said, "Kuraray was one of the first to successfully industrialize and globally market PVA. As a pioneer of Vinyl Acetate related business, Kuraray has a global presence in the business area of PVA resin, PVB resin and film, PVA film that is used for LCD and detergent unit packing, EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) resin (trademarked as EVAL) used for food packaging and gasoline tanks, and PVA fiber (vinylon) that is used for a substitute of asbestos and a reinforcing material of cement.
"We will benefit from DuPont's talented global GLS/Vinyls team and their technology, R&D, manufacturing and sales network that has supported it over the years. I am convinced these areas of expertise will allow us to continue to expand our Vinyl Acetate business going forward," said Murakami.
"GLS/Vinyls will have a good home with Kuraray. That company's focus on PVA as a central part of its core Vinyl Acetate business, its strong global market position and its capacity to invest in GLS/Vinyls all make this a good fit," said William J. Havey, president, DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers.
Kuraray was established in 1926. In 1950, the company achieved a corporate milestone as the first in the world to bring polyvinyl alcohol synthetic fiber to market. In subsequent years, Kuraray used its proprietary technology in the area of polymer chemistry and synthetic chemistry to develop resins, chemicals, fibers and textiles and others. Kuraray has overseas subsidiaries in 19 countries and regions outside Japan, as a global specialty chemical company.
DuPont has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements which may be identified by their use of words like "plans," "expects," "will," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "anticipates" or other words of similar meaning. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company's growth strategy, product development, regulatory approval, market position, anticipated benefits of acquisitions, outcome of contingencies, such as litigation and environmental matters, expenditures and financial results, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events which may not be realized. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control. Some of the important factors that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those projected in any such forward-looking statements are: fluctuations in energy and raw material prices; failure to develop and market new products and optimally manage product life cycles; significant litigation and environmental matters; failure to appropriately manage process safety and product stewardship issues; changes in laws and regulations or political conditions; global economic and capital markets conditions, such as inflation, interest and currency exchange rates; business or supply disruptions; security threats, such as acts of sabotage, terrorism or war, weather events and natural disasters; ability to protect and enforce the company's intellectual property rights; and successful integration of acquired businesses and separation of underperforming or non-strategic assets or businesses. The company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements as a result of future developments or new information.
SOURCE DuPont
Kuraray and DuPont today announced they have signed a definitive agreement for DuPont to sell Glass Laminating Solutions/Vinyls (GLS/Vinyls), a part of DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers, to Kuraray for US$543 million, plus the value of the inventories. The sale is expected to close during the first half of 2014 pending customary regulatory approvals.
GLS/Vinyls is a leading supplier of polyvinyl butyral and ionomer sheets for safety glass, and vinyl acetate monomer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) products used in a variety of architectural, automotive and industrial applications. GLS/Vinyls delivered full-year 2012 net sales of more than US$500 million. It has about 600 employees with six manufacturing sites in the U.S., Europe and Asia that serve more than 350 customers worldwide.
Keiji Murakami, president of Kuraray's Vinyl Acetate Company said, "Kuraray was one of the first to successfully industrialize and globally market PVA. As a pioneer of Vinyl Acetate related business, Kuraray has a global presence in the business area of PVA resin, PVB resin and film, PVA film that is used for LCD and detergent unit packing, EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) resin (trademarked as EVAL) used for food packaging and gasoline tanks, and PVA fiber (vinylon) that is used for a substitute of asbestos and a reinforcing material of cement.
"We will benefit from DuPont's talented global GLS/Vinyls team and their technology, R&D, manufacturing and sales network that has supported it over the years. I am convinced these areas of expertise will allow us to continue to expand our Vinyl Acetate business going forward," said Murakami.
"GLS/Vinyls will have a good home with Kuraray. That company's focus on PVA as a central part of its core Vinyl Acetate business, its strong global market position and its capacity to invest in GLS/Vinyls all make this a good fit," said William J. Havey, president, DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers.
Kuraray was established in 1926. In 1950, the company achieved a corporate milestone as the first in the world to bring polyvinyl alcohol synthetic fiber to market. In subsequent years, Kuraray used its proprietary technology in the area of polymer chemistry and synthetic chemistry to develop resins, chemicals, fibers and textiles and others. Kuraray has overseas subsidiaries in 19 countries and regions outside Japan, as a global specialty chemical company.
DuPont has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements which may be identified by their use of words like "plans," "expects," "will," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "anticipates" or other words of similar meaning. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company's growth strategy, product development, regulatory approval, market position, anticipated benefits of acquisitions, outcome of contingencies, such as litigation and environmental matters, expenditures and financial results, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events which may not be realized. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control. Some of the important factors that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those projected in any such forward-looking statements are: fluctuations in energy and raw material prices; failure to develop and market new products and optimally manage product life cycles; significant litigation and environmental matters; failure to appropriately manage process safety and product stewardship issues; changes in laws and regulations or political conditions; global economic and capital markets conditions, such as inflation, interest and currency exchange rates; business or supply disruptions; security threats, such as acts of sabotage, terrorism or war, weather events and natural disasters; ability to protect and enforce the company's intellectual property rights; and successful integration of acquired businesses and separation of underperforming or non-strategic assets or businesses. The company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements as a result of future developments or new information.
SOURCE DuPont
DATE : 2013-11-19
INEOS has restarted its butadiene (BD) extraction unit in Grangemouth, the UK, a spokesman for the Swiss-headquartered producer said on Tuesday.
The BD unit which has the capacity to produce 71,000 tonnes/year was shut down alongside the refinery and all the other petrochemical units in mid-October in reaction to threats of strike action.
The issues were resolved and restart of the site commenced on 25 October.
INEOS also owns and operates a 245,000 tonne/year BD unit at its site in Cologne, in Germany.
SOURCE Icis News
INEOS has restarted its butadiene (BD) extraction unit in Grangemouth, the UK, a spokesman for the Swiss-headquartered producer said on Tuesday.
The BD unit which has the capacity to produce 71,000 tonnes/year was shut down alongside the refinery and all the other petrochemical units in mid-October in reaction to threats of strike action.
The issues were resolved and restart of the site commenced on 25 October.
INEOS also owns and operates a 245,000 tonne/year BD unit at its site in Cologne, in Germany.
SOURCE Icis News
Date: 2013-11-13
The pesticides production capacity of FMC Agricultural Solutions will be tripled, since there is an increasing demand and the expansion was necessary to meet it. As part of the US$ 20 million,to be spent in three years, it has invested in this expansion, new production lines with all automation packaging, environmental protection equipment, restaurant with capacity for over a thousand meals a day, renewal of the entire park infrastructure and expansion locker.
"With the expansion, we will have capacity to produce 250 million liters per year, which includes all the existing portfolio of FMC and over 50 new products to be released in the next three years. It needs to be prepared to meet customer demand and to continue quality growth, as well as to have the required infrastructure, especially with security, "says the FMC’s director of Supply Chain, Andrew Lamb.
Growth with safety
Security is FMC’s main value and it is considered in all business decisions made by the company, including continued investment in this area. It is estimated that Brazil lost annually from 2.5-4 % of GDP in accidents due to the payment of social security payments. Approximately 700,000 cases of accident at work are recorded on average in Brazil every year, not including cases not officially reported, according to the Health Department. "For all of this we celebrate 20 years without an accidents and it makes FMC so proud," says Lamb.
He also explains that FMC develops several activities to increase awareness of safety in the workplace as a continual development of staff training, analysis of processes and facilities of FMC by the top security experts in the market, best engineering practices and modern equipment, besides frequent analysis of indicators and performance.
"It is a great achievement and we thank all the staff for the collaborative attitude, because our investment was designed with the best engineering practices for safe operating condition, comfortable working environment and the latest equipment in order to focus on the sustainability of our operations," says the director.
FMC’s Latin America president, Antonio Carlos Zem, congratulates all employees who contributed with this result. "Safety is important to everyone's life and it is FMC’s culture. This way, all staff feels involved in the issue and they help to prevent accidents and to control risks. This proves that everyone can contribute to a safer environment, and also healthy, productive and profitable. Thank you for this achievement, we want to grow forever, but with safety and quality," said Zem.
http://news.agropages.com/News/NewsDetail---10961.htm
The pesticides production capacity of FMC Agricultural Solutions will be tripled, since there is an increasing demand and the expansion was necessary to meet it. As part of the US$ 20 million,to be spent in three years, it has invested in this expansion, new production lines with all automation packaging, environmental protection equipment, restaurant with capacity for over a thousand meals a day, renewal of the entire park infrastructure and expansion locker.
"With the expansion, we will have capacity to produce 250 million liters per year, which includes all the existing portfolio of FMC and over 50 new products to be released in the next three years. It needs to be prepared to meet customer demand and to continue quality growth, as well as to have the required infrastructure, especially with security, "says the FMC’s director of Supply Chain, Andrew Lamb.
Growth with safety
Security is FMC’s main value and it is considered in all business decisions made by the company, including continued investment in this area. It is estimated that Brazil lost annually from 2.5-4 % of GDP in accidents due to the payment of social security payments. Approximately 700,000 cases of accident at work are recorded on average in Brazil every year, not including cases not officially reported, according to the Health Department. "For all of this we celebrate 20 years without an accidents and it makes FMC so proud," says Lamb.
He also explains that FMC develops several activities to increase awareness of safety in the workplace as a continual development of staff training, analysis of processes and facilities of FMC by the top security experts in the market, best engineering practices and modern equipment, besides frequent analysis of indicators and performance.
"It is a great achievement and we thank all the staff for the collaborative attitude, because our investment was designed with the best engineering practices for safe operating condition, comfortable working environment and the latest equipment in order to focus on the sustainability of our operations," says the director.
FMC’s Latin America president, Antonio Carlos Zem, congratulates all employees who contributed with this result. "Safety is important to everyone's life and it is FMC’s culture. This way, all staff feels involved in the issue and they help to prevent accidents and to control risks. This proves that everyone can contribute to a safer environment, and also healthy, productive and profitable. Thank you for this achievement, we want to grow forever, but with safety and quality," said Zem.
http://news.agropages.com/News/NewsDetail---10961.htm
DATE : 2013-11-14
Styrolution has shut a styrene plant for maintenance turnaround. A Polymerupdate source in the US informed that the plant was shut last weekend. It is likely to remain off-stream for around two months.Located in Texas City, Texas, the plant has a production capacity of 1 billion lbs/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
Styrolution has shut a styrene plant for maintenance turnaround. A Polymerupdate source in the US informed that the plant was shut last weekend. It is likely to remain off-stream for around two months.Located in Texas City, Texas, the plant has a production capacity of 1 billion lbs/year.
SOURCE PolymerUpdate
DATE : 2013-11-16
Technology Marketing Summary
A team of Berkeley Lab battery researchers led by Elton Cairns (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) has invented an advanced lithium/sulfur (Li/S) cell that, for the first time, offers both long cycle life and a high discharge rate in addition to the inherently low cost and light weight of Li/S batteries.
Description
The researchers developed a sulfur-graphene oxide (S-GO) nanocomposite cathode that vastly improves the cycle life of Li/S cells by immobilizing sulfur and inhibiting polysulfides during operation. Tests show that the Berkeley Lab Li/S cell had an estimated specific energy of ~500 Wh/kg, more than double that of current Li-ion cells (~200 Wh/kg). It maintained a high capacity through 1,500 charge/discharge cycles, and also maintained capacity during high discharge and charge rates, such as those required of batteries serving cordless power tools.
In earlier Li/S cells, capacity faded rapidly due to sulfur loss from the cathode by formation of soluble polysulfides in the electrolyte during the charge/discharge cycle. The Berkeley Lab cell avoids this effect through a process that deposits sulfur on ultra-thin cathode surfaces made of nanoporous graphene oxide (GO). Modifying the S-GO composite with a cationic surfactant, CTAB (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide) adds a layer of protection for the sulfur attached to the GO.
In addition, a flexible adhesive, or binder, holds the cathode materials in place despite the electromechanical expansion and contraction that occurs during the charge/discharge cycle. Finally, the Berkeley Lab cell employs an improved ionic liquid electrolyte that further reduces polysulfide formation and blocks trace amounts from binding to the lithium metal anodes of the Li/S cells. The combination of features in the Berkeley Lab cell provides an unprecedented level of performance and reliability for Li/S cells.
Benefits
Technology Marketing Summary
A team of Berkeley Lab battery researchers led by Elton Cairns (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) has invented an advanced lithium/sulfur (Li/S) cell that, for the first time, offers both long cycle life and a high discharge rate in addition to the inherently low cost and light weight of Li/S batteries.
Description
The researchers developed a sulfur-graphene oxide (S-GO) nanocomposite cathode that vastly improves the cycle life of Li/S cells by immobilizing sulfur and inhibiting polysulfides during operation. Tests show that the Berkeley Lab Li/S cell had an estimated specific energy of ~500 Wh/kg, more than double that of current Li-ion cells (~200 Wh/kg). It maintained a high capacity through 1,500 charge/discharge cycles, and also maintained capacity during high discharge and charge rates, such as those required of batteries serving cordless power tools.
In earlier Li/S cells, capacity faded rapidly due to sulfur loss from the cathode by formation of soluble polysulfides in the electrolyte during the charge/discharge cycle. The Berkeley Lab cell avoids this effect through a process that deposits sulfur on ultra-thin cathode surfaces made of nanoporous graphene oxide (GO). Modifying the S-GO composite with a cationic surfactant, CTAB (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide) adds a layer of protection for the sulfur attached to the GO.
In addition, a flexible adhesive, or binder, holds the cathode materials in place despite the electromechanical expansion and contraction that occurs during the charge/discharge cycle. Finally, the Berkeley Lab cell employs an improved ionic liquid electrolyte that further reduces polysulfide formation and blocks trace amounts from binding to the lithium metal anodes of the Li/S cells. The combination of features in the Berkeley Lab cell provides an unprecedented level of performance and reliability for Li/S cells.
Benefits
- 1,500 charge/discharge cycles demonstrated
- High specific energy – approximately 500 Wh/kg
- High discharge and charge rates
- Li metal anode: 90 percent less weight than carbon anodes
- Low-cost, Earth-abundant materials
- Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles
- Portable electronics, e.g., mobile phones, cameras
- Cordless power tools