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U.S. specialty chemical markets soft at Q4 start, ACC says

The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes started the fourth quarter on a mixed note, with no change in October. Of the 28 specialty chemical segments ACC monitors, 14 expanded in October,…

ACC announces initial TSCA risk-evaluation consortia

The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) today announced the formation of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Risk Evaluation Consortia to inform the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) risk evaluation of five chemicals: 1,3-butadiene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB), formaldehyde, phthalic anhydride, and…

U.S. chemical production up in October, but growth slows, 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) edged higher by 0.2 percent in October, following gains of 0.5 percent in September and 0.2 percent in August. During October, chemical…

Shell announces chemicals produced from plastic waste

Today Shell (The Hague, the Netherlands; www.shell.com) announced it has successfully made high-end chemicals using a liquid feedstock made from plastic waste. The technique, known as pyrolysis, is considered a breakthrough for hard-to-recycle plastics and advances Shell’s ambition to use…

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

The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; the most recent available) for September 2019 increased from the previous month’s value by 0.7, reversing a trend of declining values this year. Three of the four major subindices —…

MOL Group acquires German compounder Aurora

Following satisfaction of customary transaction approvals, MOL Group (Budapest, Hungary; www.molgroup.info) announced that effective 31 October 2019, it has acquired 100% shareholding in Aurora, a German plastic compounder company. As a result of the acquisition, MOL Group is strengthening its…

Total revises industry association memberships with strategy report

In its fourth "Integrating Climate Into Our Strategy" report, released today, Total (Paris, France; www.total.com) reviews the 30 most significant industry associations of which it is a member to verify that their stances on climate issues are aligned with the…

Axchem USA and Novel Industrial Solutions combine for pulp-and-paper chemicals

Axchem USA, Inc. (Greensboro, N.C.; www.axchemgroup.com) and Novel Industrial Solutions LLC (New Albany, Ohio; www.novelindustrial.com) today announced the combination of business operations, assets, people and customer contracts under the Axchem USA brand to offer chemicals and solutions to the pulp-and-paper…

Altivia completes acquisition of Dow’s acetone-derivatives business

Altivia Ketones & Additives, LLC (Houston, Tex.; www.altivia.com) an affiliate of Altivia Petrochemicals, today announced that it acquired Dow's Acetone Derivatives Business and associated chemical manufacturing assets at Institute, W.Va., as well as the Institute Industrial Park. Altivia successfully assumed…

Books for the CPI: November 2019

The following is a list of selected titles that have been recently published and may have relevance for chemical process industries (CPI) professionals: Data Analytics: Effective Methods for Presenting Results. Edited by Subhashish Samaddar and Satish Nargundkar, Auerbach Publications, 2019,…