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Honeywell UOP to provide technologies for expansion of Al-Zour Refinery in Kuwait
Honeywell announced that Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC) has awarded reconfiguration of refining and petrochemicals sections of its Al-Zour refinery to Honeywell UOP (Des Plaines, Ill.; www.uop.com). The newly designed complex will increase the plant’s output capacity of fuels…
U.S. specialty chemical markets end 2nd quarter on positive note, ACC says
The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes rose 0.3 percent in June after rising only 0.1 percent in May, falling 0.3 percent in April and showing a weak first quarter. In June,…
How to design agitators for desired process response
Effective agitation of fluids for blending and motion requires a detailed analysis of capacity, viscosity and dynamic response for the fluid system, in order to find power and shaft speed of the agitator and corresponding sized of the turbine impeller.…
Leading economic indicator, the CAB, fell in July, ACC says
The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), eased 0.2 percent in July on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis following three months of gains in March-May and weak…
New database to monitor national energy use and CO2 emissions
The new on-line World Input-Output Database (WIOD) environmental accounts (www.wiod.org/release16) was launched today by the Joint Research Centre (JRC; https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en). The database contains figures on the industrial and household energy use of residents in more than 40 countries and their…
Sekisui begins production of PP foams at new plant in China
Sekisui Chemical Co. (Osaka, Japan; www.sekisuichemical.com) announced that SEKISUI YOUNGBO HPP (WUXI) CO., a consolidated subsidiary of Sekisui located in Jiangsu Provine, China, commenced mass production and sales in May 2019. Sekisui Youngbo is a company that primarily manufactures polypropylene…
Stora Enso to build pilot plant for lignin-based carbon products
Stora Enso Oyj (Helsinki, Finland; www.storaenso.com) is investing €10 million to build a pilot facility for producing bio-based carbon materials based on lignin. Wood-based carbon can be utilized as a crucial component in batteries typically used in consumer electronics, the…
Airgas opens CO2 facility in Stockton, California
Airgas, an Air Liquide company (www.airgas.com), announced the grand opening of its new liquid carbon dioxide and dry ice facility in Stockton, California. The facility, which was engineered to have minimal environmental impact, is a zero runoff/discharge site. Technology at…
BP and Bunge create bioethanol JV in Brazil
Food and ingredients manufacturer Bunge Ltd. (White Plains, N.Y.; www.bunge.com) announced an agreement with BP plc (London; www.bp.com) to form a 50:50 joint venture (JV) that will create a leading bioenergy company in Brazil, one of the world’s largest fast-growing…
PPG acquires specialty materials manufacturer Dexmet
PPG (Pittburgh, Pa.; www.ppg.com) announced that it has reached a definitive agreement with private equity firm Sverica Capital Management LP to acquire Dexmet Corporation, a manufacturer of specialty materials for surfaces in aerospace, automotive and industrial applications. The company is…