BASF SE has inaugurated its new EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) application center for plastic additives in Kaisten, Switzerland. The new facility, located in the existing BASF production site, includes a state of the art compounding extruder, stretch film and tape lines as well as an injection molding unit capable of simulating the polymer production and processing technology. The facility can combine intelligent process automation and expertise that will increase the quality of plastics produced. Read more
BASF Venture Capital GmbH said that it is to invest in LanzaTech, a biotech company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, US. Using special microbes, LanzaTech has developed a technology for gas fermentation that first enables ethanol to be produced from residual gases containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. By re-using waste streams instead of incinerating them, industrial companies can reduce carbon dioxide emissions. LanzaTech’s patented technology is now being deployed at commercial scale in the steel industry where carbon monoxide. Read more
AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals has broken ground for a demonstration plant to showcase a revolutionary and more sustainable technology platform for producing ethylene amines and their derivatives from ethylene oxide. Located at its Stenungsund site in Sweden, the facility marks the next step towards commercialization of the patented technology. In parallel to the construction, the company has already started to explore options for a world-scale manufacturing facility. The new technology will significantly reduce raw material consumption and substantially improve cost and environmental performance. Read more
Phillips 66 (PSX) said that it is proceeding with an expansion of the company’s Sweeny Hub. This project includes the construction of two 150,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionators in Old Ocean, Texas. Additional NGL storage capacity, and associated pipeline infrastructure. The project is expected to cost up to $1.5 billion and begin commercial operations in late 2020. Supply agreements have been secured for Y-grade NGL feedstock, including an agreement with DCP Midstream LP (DCP) which has an option to acquire up to a 30 percent ownership interest in the new fractionators. Read more
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