DATE : 2014-10-29
China’s Shandong Wanda Chemical has delayed the restart its on-purpose 100,000 tonne/year butadiene (BD) plant at Dongying in Shandong province to early November, from its original schedule on 28 October, because of technical issues, market sources said on Friday.
The plant was shut on 6 October for maintenance, they added.
The plant uses butene as a feedstock to produce BD through dehydrogenation.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2014-10-29
South Korea’s Lotte Chemical plans to shut its 580,000 tonne/year styrene monomer (SM) plant in March 2015 for maintenance, a company source said on Wednesday.
The facility in Daesan is expected to be down for two to three weeks.
“The plant will restart in April,” the source said.
Other SM producers in South Korea include Samsung Total Petrochemicals, SK Global Chemicals and LG Chem.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2014-10-29
Acrylic acid (AA) production at Momentive Specialty Chemicals’ plant in Sokolov, Czech Republic, is now running at full rates, following planned maintenance on one of its two lines, a source from the company confirmed on Wednesday.
Maintenance began in early October and the plant restarted over the course of last week, the source said.
Momentive has the capacity to produce around 55,000 tonnes/year of AA.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2014-10-28
Le géant canadien de l'énergie Hydro-Québec s'apprête à ouvrir un laboratoire de recherche à Lacq (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) pour y transférer une technologie révolutionnaire permettant de produire d'ici à 2020 la batterie du futur.
Ce laboratoire, qui va employer dans les semaines à venir six personnes dans un premier temps avant de passer à 30 à 40 salariés d'ici 2017, aura pour mission de faire de la recherche fondamentale et de la recherche appliquée visant à l'industrialisation à grande échelle de ce type de batterie.
L'investissement et les frais de fonctionnement devraient s'élever à 5,5 millions d'euros, pris en charge par la Région Aquitaine qui devrait s'appuyer sur des fonds européens.
Le but est de développer les batteries à base de lithium-fer-phosphate (LFP) utilisant des nanoparticules permettant de créer des batteries électriques plus petites et plus légères.
Leur capacité de stockage sera dix fois supérieure à celles disponibles sur le marché et elles pourront supporter 30.000 recharges au lieu de 3.500 pour les batteries les plus en pointe aujourd'hui, celles à base de lithium-métal-polymère (LMP).
Ces batteries LMP sont également issues d'un brevet de l'Institut de Recherche Hydro-Québec produites en Bretagne et au Canada pour les Bluecar du groupe Bolloré.
"Au-delà des batteries pour les véhicules légers, ces caractéristiques supérieures permettent de travailler à destination des véhicules de transports en commun, mais aussi sur le stockage d'énergie de masse au pied des éoliennes, des fermes photovoltaïques", a expliqué à Reuters Patrice Bernos, directeur général de Chempark.
SOURCE Reuters
DATE : 2014-10-27
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) and Royal Dutch Shell (Shell), partners in the SADAF, have abandoned expansion plans. SADAF, announced in 2012, was a proposed expansion of the Jubail petrochemical complex on the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia.The expansion was planned for the additions of polyols, propylene oxide (PO) and styrene monomer processing capacity.
According to a Shell spokesman, SABIC and Shell have agreed not to pursue this investment further. Both parties are open to future discussions to explore other business opportunities. A SABIC spokesman commented that the feasibility study results were not encouraging to continue the SADAF project further.
SOURCE Plastemart
DATE : 2014-10-26
Planned maintenance at European methyl methacrylate (MMA) major Lucite International is commencing at its UK facility, a source from the company confirmed on Friday.
Market sources said the turnaround would last a few weeks.
The facility is based in Billingham, in the northeast of England, and has an MMA nameplate capacity of 200,000 tonnes/year.
Nearly all MMA is polymerised to make homopolymers and copolymers, with the largest application being the casting, moulding or extrusion of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or modified polymers.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2014-10-23
Abstract
Pro-oxidant effects of phenolic compounds are usually correlated to the one-electron redox potential of the phenoxyl radicals. Here we demonstrated that, besides their oxidizability, hydrophobicity can also be a decisive factor. We found that esterification of protocatechuic acid (P0) provoked a profound influence in its pro-oxidant capacity. The esters bearing alkyl chains containing two (P2), four (P4) and seven (P7) carbons, but not the acid precursor (P0), were able to exacerbate the oxidation of trolox, α-tocopherol and rifampicin. This effect was also dependent on the catechol moiety, since neither gallic acid nor butyl gallate showed any pro-oxidant effects. A comparison was also made with apocynin, which is well-characterized regarding its pro-oxidant properties. P7 was more efficient than apocynin regarding co-oxidation of trolox. However, P7 was not able to co-oxidize glutathione and NADH, which are targets of the apocynin radical. A correlation was found between pro-oxidant capacity and the stability of the radicals, as suggested by the intensity of the peak current in the differential pulse voltammetry experiments. In conclusion, taking into account that hydroquinone and related moieties are frequently found in biomolecules and quinone-based chemotherapeutics, our demonstration that esters of protocatechuic acid are specific and potent co-catalysts in their oxidations may be very relevant as a pathway to exacerbate redox cycling reactions, which are usually involved in their biological and pharmacological mechanisms of action.
Authors
Maria Luiza Zeraik, Valdecir F. Ximenes Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil
Luis Octavio Regasini, Dulce H. S. Silva, Vanderlan S. Bolzani Department of Organic Chemistry, Nuclei of Bioassays, Ecophysiology and Biosynthesis of Natural Products (NuBBE), Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
Maicon S. Petrônio, Luiz Marcos da Fonseca Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
Dyovani Coelho, Sergio A. S. Machado Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos, São Paulo University (USP), São Carlos, SP, Brazil
SOURCE Plos One
DATE : 2014-10-23
Jilin Petrochemical plans to restart its 120,000 tonne/year No 3 and 120,000 tonne/year No 4 acrylonitrile (ACN) plants in northeastern China on 25 October, a company source said on Friday.
The units had been shut on 8 october for maintenance the source said.
The company has a total ACN capacity of 452,000 tonnes/year in Jilin and is the biggest producer of the material in China.
During the shutdown period, the other two units will be running at full capacity, the source added.
Jilin Petrochemical’s spot ACN prices were stable at yuan (CNY) 14,600-14,900/tonne ($2,386-2,435/tonne) EXW (ex-works) on 24 October from last month, market sources said.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2014-10-23
Taiwan Styrene Monomer Corp (TSMC) plans to shut its 180,000 tonnes/year styrene monomer (SM) facility in Linyuan, Kaohsiung, for maintenance in August 2015, a company source said on Thursday.
“The unit is expected to be shut for three weeks,” the source said at the sidelines of the 13th SM Market Forum in Chengdu, China on 22-23 October.
The company also operates a 160,000 tonne/year SM unit at the same location. The plant was shut in the middle of September because of a mechanical issue.
The unit is expected to restart in March 2015 after replacement parts are delivered early next year and should achieve normal operations in April.
The other two SM producers in Taiwan are Formosa Chemical & Fibre Corp and Grand Pacific Petrochemical Corp.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2014-10-23
South Korea’s Samsung Total Petrochemical plans to shut its styrene monomer (SM) units for maintenance in April 2015, a company source said at the sidelines of the 13th SM Market Forum in Chengdu, China on 22-23 October.
The company operates one 280,000 tonne/year and one 650,000 tonne/year SM plants in Daesan.
“The plants will be shut for around one month,” the source added.
Following the maintenance, the smaller plant will increase its capacity to 400,000 tonnes/year.
Other SM producers in South Korea include LG Chem and Lotte Chemical.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2014-10-21
With this, Arkema has access to a modern and competitive 160,000 tpa acrylic acid production capacity in Asia for the sum of $ 240 million
French specialty chemicals company Arkema has finalised the first stage of its acrylics assets acquisition project in Taixing, China, and now has access to a modern and competitive 160,000 tonne per annum (tpa) acrylic acid production capacity in Asia for the sum of $ 240 million. This investment will enable the Group to serve its customers in China and in Asia in growing markets such as superabsorbents, paints, adhesives and water treatment.
Arkema has finalised the creation of Sunke, a joint venture with Jurong Chemical, in which Arkema has a majority interest, and which consists in particular of two acrylic acid production lines each amounting to 160,000 tpa located on the Taixing site in China. With the closing of this first stage, Arkema has access to half of the site’s installed production.
“This new site will enable us to meet our customers’ growing demand for acrylic acid and esters in China and in Asia, and to support the growth of our Coating Solutions segment in this region of the world. The successful integration of these new assets will be a priority for the Group and its personnel over the next few months,” stated Marc Schuller, member of Arkema’s Executive Committee.
Jurong Chemical is the world’s fifth largest producer of acrylic acid and the acrylics leader in China.
SOURCE Business Standard
DATE : 2014-10-21
To help landscape managers more effectively manage areas of unwanted weeds and grasses, Environmental Science, a division of Bayer CropScience LP, today announced Specticle(R) Total -- a non-selective herbicide with unparalleled residual control. Specticle Total not only kills existing weeds, it prevents new ones for up to six months. It is easily mixed in a backpack sprayer and can be used in both landscapes and hardscapes.
"Landscape managers struggle to maintain effective, season-long control of weeds in landscape and hardscape areas," said Jeff Michel, herbicides business manager for Bayer's professional turf and ornamentals business. "Specticle Total helps them save time and money by delivering effective, long-lasting control in a convenient application -- thereby reducing the need for re-treatments."
Specticle Total provides lawn care professionals and golf course superintendents fast, effective control with visible results in hours. It is rainproof in 30 minutes and uses less active ingredient, which results in less herbicide in the environment. Specticle Total can be used in a variety of landscape and hardscape areas, including mulched areas and around ornamental plants and grasses. It can be used around buildings, fence rows, decorative gravel and lava rock areas, as well as in parking lots, paths and walkways, driveways and sidewalks, patios, rocky or sandy areas in desert climates and bare-ground, non-crop areas.
SOURCE PRN Newswire
DATE : 2014-10-21
Russia's Lukoil will restart its 150,000 mt/year acrylonitrile plant in Saratov, southern Russia, on November 11 after a scheduled shutdown, a source close to the company said Tuesday.
In addition, the Norsi refinery in Nizhny Novgorod is currently undergoing partial maintenance, and is also expected back online in November, traders said.
The ACN plant began a scheduled shutdown later than expected in October and was due to restart in November 3 but was delayed to coincide with a postponed shutdown at the company's Norsi facility.
In early September, Lukoil's CEO Vagit Alekperov said the company would postpone maintenance at its Russian refineries to November from September in order to secure sufficient gasoline supply in the domestic Russian market.
Norsi has one FCC with a capacity of 41,000 b/d. Lukoil is planning to launch a second catalytic cracking unit at the facility in June 2015, with a capacity of around 2.6 million mt/year.
SOURCE Platts
DATE : 2014-10-21
South Korea’s SK Global Chemicals (SKGC) will likely keep its 350,000 tonne/year styrene monomer (SM) unit idle in November and December, said a company source at the sidelines of the 13th SM Market Forum in Chengdu, China.
The unit, located in Ulsan, has been shut since August amid weak margins for SM.
“Margins will remain uneven in the near term given the volatility in SM prices and upstream benzene and ethylene values”, the source said.
The company has intention to lift the capacity of the plant to 500,000 tonnes/year in order to improve cost dynamics but no concrete plans have been formulated yet.
Other SM producers in South Korea include LG Chem, Samsung Total Petrochemical and YNCC.
SOURCE Icis News
DATE : 2014-10-17
Quatre minibus à batterie LMP sont mis en service lundi pour relier l’Étoile au musée Louis Vuitton, dans le bois de Boulogne. La RATP va également en tester à partir du 1er novembre.
Lundi, ils circuleront en silence depuis la bruyante place de l'Étoile jusqu'au paisible bois de Boulogne… Sans bruit car ces quatre petits bus sont électriques. Ils feront le voyage tous les jours entre la Fondation pour l'art contemporain Louis Vuitton, inaugurée le 20 octobre, et les Champs-Élysées, aller et retour. Avec 22 passagers à leur bord, pour un ticket coûtant 1 euro. S'ils portent le nom du célèbre malletier inscrit bien en évidence sur leurs flancs, ces navettes appartiennent au groupe Bolloré, qui livre au nouveau musée un service clés en main, dont la gestion des chauffeurs, l'entretien, la billettique, la recharge. Les bus ont une autonomie de 120 km et feront le plein d'énergie le soir à Puteaux (92).
Ces navettes sont des Bluebus, un nom calqué sur celui des Bluecar, les voitures du réseau Autolib' à Paris, conçu et exploité par le même Bolloré. Et ce n'est pas un hasard : ces véhicules disposent tous de la même technologie de batteries LMP (lithium métal polymère). Pour le groupe, ces quatre premiers bus constituent une belle vitrine (tout comme ceux qui circulent au très touristique Mont-Saint-Michel). "C'est un transport doux en vogue, les collectivités locales sont de plus en plus demandeuses", reconnaît Julien Varin, porte-parole d'Autolib'.
Les épisodes de pics de pollution de l'air, qui ont duré plusieurs jours en mars et en septembre, se répètent de plus en plus dans la capitale. Pour lutter contre cette augmentation des particules fines, provoquée en grande partie par le diesel, les agglomérations étudient les moyens afin de passer à des transports verts : les municipalités de Vaucresson et Rambouillet utilisent déjà quelques Bluebus électriques.
Des Bluebus testés pendant un mois
Mais, à Paris, c'est surtout la RATP avec ses 4.500 bus diesel qui pourrait changer la donne. La Régie veut se positionner sur un braquet moins polluant (poussée notamment par le Stif et, tout récemment, par la mairie de Paris). Le PDG, Pierre Mongin, a annoncé il y a quelques mois le "plan 2025" : "Un basculement de l'ensemble des bus à l'électrique (à hauteur de 80% de son parc et au biogaz pour le reste)", d'ici à dix ans. Quatre-vingt-dix cars fonctionnant au gaz et 46 autres hybrides (diesel/électrique) circulent actuellement, mais c'est peu en regard de l'importance de la flotte. Deux lignes de minibus électriques – les traverses – ont aussi déjà été créées.
À partir du 1er novembre et pendant un mois, la RATP va tester les Bluebus sur deux lignes. En juin 2014, la Régie a en effet décidé l'achat de 20 à 40 de ces véhicules. Et pourquoi pas de grands cars électriques transportant 80 passagers ou plus? Pour l'instant, "seuls les minibus font l'objet d'un développement industriel à grande échelle", précise-t-on à la Régie. Le problème principal étant encore celui de l'autonomie des batteries, pas encore au point sur des véhicules de 12 m de long. Plusieurs constructeurs planchent sur ce dossier.
En attendant, ce sont des "hybrides" qui vont occuper le bitume parisien très rapidement : d'ici à 2017, près de 600 à 700 bus de grande taille, roulant alternativement au diesel et au moteur électrique, vont être mis en circulation dans la capitale. Ils consomment moins d'essence (20% de moins), mais polluent encore. Un pis-aller, en attendant 2025…
SOURCE LeJDD