Mobile Navigation

Business & Economics

U.S. chemical production fell in November, ACC says

According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), the U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI) fell by 0.8 percent in November after gains the previous three months. During November, chemical output declined across all regions, ACC says.…

2019 CEPCI Updates: October (prelim.) and September (final)

The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; the most recent available) for October 2019 decreased from the previous month’s value, the seventh decline in the last nine months. The decrease in the overall CEPCI was driven by…

ACC Chemical Industry Outlook predicts slower growth amid headwinds

U.S. chemical production expanded at a slower pace in 2019 due to trade challenges and slower growth in several key end-use markets for chemistry, according to the American Chemistry Council's (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) Year-End 2019 Chemical Industry Situation and…

Standard Lithium to commission Li-extraction demonstration plant

Standard Lithium Ltd. (Vancouver, B.C.; www.standardlithium.com), a technology and lithium development company, today announced the successful installation of the company’s industrial-scale Direct Lithium Extraction Demonstration Plant at Lanxess’ South Plant facility in southern Arkansas.  Standard Lithium’s project team has also…

Member Exclusive

Plant Watch: December 2019

Plant Watch Wacker starts up new silicon-metal production plant in Norway November 15, 2019 — Wacker Chemie AG’s (Munich, Germany; www.wacker.com) new silicon-metal production plant officially went on stream at the Holla site in Norway, following over two years of…

Workforce 4.0: The Human Side of Digital Transformation

As chemical process industries (CPI) companies continue to experiment with, invest in, and implement a host of digitalization tools, workforce engagement and involvement is the key determinant of success Chemical process industries (CPI) companies are entering a critical stage in…

Member Exclusive

Technology Profile: Ethylene oxide production from ethylene

This column is based on “Ethylene Oxide Production from Ethylene – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/ethylene-oxide-production-cost. Ethylene oxide (also known as EO, oxirane and epoxyethane) is the simplest cyclic ether. Because it…

Member Exclusive

Interpreting Normalized Profitability Metrics

Normalized profitability metrics provide a basis for comparing the efficiency of capital investments, but they are often misunderstood. New interpretations of these metrics can help engineers to make more informed decisions In a financial sense, a large capital project can…

Pursuing the potential of hydrogen

Hydrogen’s potential for playing a significant role in the global search for clean, secure energy sources is garnering much attention from a growing number of industries and governments. Driven by concerns about climate change, investors as well as policy makers…

Chemical Activity Barometer is stable in November, ACC says

The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB) a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), was stable (0.0 percent change) in November on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis following a 0.3 percent decline in October.…