Latest News: Business
RAC adopts scientific opinions on harmonized classification and labeling
The European Chemicals Agency announced that The Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) has adopted the following opinions on harmonized classification and labeling across Europe. Cymoxanil Cymoxanil, used as a fungicide, already has a harmonized classification as toxic through both…
High-tech plastic from Bayer driving investment
The sharply rising global demand for the high-tech plastic Apec from Bayer MaterialScience AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.bayermaterialscience.de) is spawning major investment in eastern Germany. Another plant for the production of a key precursor for Apec is currently under construction in…
Evonik to increase production capacity for 1-butene
Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) plans to increase the production capacity for 1-butene at its Marl site by 75,000 metric tons (m.t.) per year, and start-up is scheduled for 2015. With a total capacity of 310,000 m.t., Evonik would…
Successful startup of Datang Phase 1 SNG plant in China
Davy Process Technology (Davy; London, U.K.; www.davyprotech.com), a wholly owned Johnson Matthey subsidiary, and Johnson Matthey announce the successful startup of a new substitute natural gas (SNG) plant owned and operated by Datang Energy Chemical Co. (Datang) in Keshiketeng County,…
Durable goods orders down 13.2% in August, ACC report notes
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau that were included in the latest American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) Weekly Chemistry and Economic report indicate that orders for durable goods fell by 13.2% in the U.S in August, the largest…
KBR to provide license and design package for olefins recovery unit in China
KBR (Houston; www.kbr.com) was awarded a license and process-design package contract for a new Olefins Recovery Unit in Yulin city, Shanxi Province, China. The client owns an existing commercial plant of coal-to-olefins which was put into production in 2011 and…
Air Products to build new ASU for enhanced natural-gas recovery in the Netherlands
Air Products (Lehigh Valley, Pa.; www.airproducts.com) says it will build and operate a new air separation unit (ASU) for Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij B.V. (NAM), a joint venture between Shell and Esso. The company has secured the necessary environmental and permit…
Evonik plans for the first MMA production plant using the Aveneer process
Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) is starting basic planning for a new methyl methacrylate (MMA) production plant using the Aveneer process at its Mobile, Ala. site. The capital expenditure involved will be in the three-digit million euro range. The…
Solvay launches rare-earth-recycling activities in France
Today, Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) officially opened two rare earth recycling units in France. In order to diversify its sources of supply and preserve resources, the Group has developed a process for recovering rare earths contained in end-of-life equipment…
Biofuels coalition defends Renewable Fuel Standard
A large coalition of advanced and traditional renewable fuel stakeholders today joined forces to defend America’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the economic, employment, domestic renewable energy and national security benefits the RFS provides. The new coalition, Fuels America, spans…