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Joint venture formed for production of bio-based levulinic acid

Towell Engineering Group (Muscat, Oman; www.towellengineering.com) and GF Biochemicals (Geleen, the Netherlands; www.gfbiochemicals.com) announced the formation of a joint venture (JV) for the production and marketing of biochemicals using GF Biochemicals proprietary technology.The aim of the JV, NXTLEVVEL Biochem (Geleen,…

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Business News – February 2020

Plant Watch Enterprise Products starts up isobutane dehydrogenation plant January 13, 2020 — Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (Houston; www.enterpriseproducts.com) announced that its isobutane dehydrogenation (iBDH) plant in Mont Belvieu, Tex. began operations. The plant will ultimately have the capability to…

Genomatica produces renewably sourced caprolactam for nylon production

Eighty years after nylon's first commercial production, clean manufacturing technology leader Genomatica (San Diego, Calif.; www.genomatica.com) achieved a new milestone for the material — its production of the world’s first renewably-sourced ton of caprolactam, a key ingredient for nylon-6, made…

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

The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for November 2019 (the most recent available) decreased from the previous month’s value, the eighth decline in the last ten months. All four major subindices of the overall CEPCI (Equipment,…

U.S. specialty chemical markets end 2019 on soft note, ACC says

The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes ended 2019 on a soft note, with a 0.3 percent decline in December following a 0.1 percent gain in November. All changes in the data…

Chemical Activity Barometer rose in January, ACC says

The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), jumped 0.6 percent in January on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis, following a 0.1 percent gain in December. On a…

Vertellus acquires Bercen Chemicals, maker of alkyl succinic anhydrides

Vertellus (Indianapolis, Ind.; www.vertellus.com) announced today it has acquired Bercen Chemicals, a leading U.S. supplier of alkyl succinic anhydrides and additives used in the fuel, lubricant, and paper industries. “This acquisition expands the range of products Vertellus is able to…

CPI outlook slower, but positive

Despite a slowdown in global manufacturing, the U.S. chemical process industries (CPI) have continued to expand and remain a positive contributor to growth. In its “Year-End 2019 Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook,” which was issued in December, the American Chemistry…

Recently Published Books for Chemical Process Industries: January 2020

The following are selected recently published books that may be relevant for chemical process industries (CPI) professionals Dispelling Chemical Engineering Myths, 3rd ed. (electronic book edition). By Trevor Kletz, CRC Press, 2019, $57.95, e-book. Guide for Making Acute Risk Decisions.…

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Plant Watch: January 2020

Plant Watch Messer to build onsite gas facility for MOL polyols plant in Hungary December 12, 2019 — Messer Group GmbH (Bad Soden, Germany; www.messergroup.com) will construct a new onsite gas facility for MOL Group (Budapest, Hungary; www.molgroup.info) in Tiszaújváros,…