Chemical Today Magazine PDF April 2022 by worldofchemicals.com

April 2022 | Volume VI | Issue XIV

Expert Viewpoint Chlor-alkali Industry

Event Coverage Sustainability Circularity

IT In Chemicals Oil & Gas Industry Aluminium Industry

Equipment

Process Industry

Reports

DECARBONISING THE PLANET

WITH GREEN HYDROGEN

Braving the storm A

midst the growing international trade, the chemical industry continues to focus on improving their sustainable strategies and announces their approaches towards a carbon neutral environment. One of the strategies towards decarbonisation is developing green hydrogen as a source of fuel, rather than being dependent on fossil fuels. Green hydrogen is increasingly being promoted as a sustainable solutioin for climate concerns to decarbonize the environment by being used in heavy industry, long haul freight, shipping and aviation. Even the focus on circularity in chemicals and plastics is gaining momentum as we move forward as a more environmentconscious industry. Separately, the Russian-Ukraine war continues with Russia planning new attack strategies. But the country is definitely facing the heat of the global support for Ukraine. The Russian military is performing badly facing stiff opposition from Ukraine defenders and even the economy is seeing a setback owing to the sanctions against Russia. A good sign is that talks are going on between Russia and Ukraine to end the conflict. Ukraine presented its demands when negotiators from the two sides met in Turkey before adjourning to consult with their capitals. The Kremlin welcomed the fact that Kyiv has set out its demands in a written form, but said there was “no sign of a breakthrough” yet. As the world is opening up to global trade, international travel, and getting back on track economically, news from China is again sending shockwaves across geographies. The country has announced a plan for a lockdown in its biggest city Shanghai, effective Monday. Shanghai, is shutting down amidst data showing a surge in new COVID-19 cases of the Omicron variant. The 25 million residents of China’s financial capital will be locked down in two stages. The city is a global hub for finance and manufacturing and a major international port, so the two-phased approach is a bid by Chinese authorities to minimize the disruption to business and world trade, It is said that during the weekend, Shanghai citizens had flocked to the stores, rushing to stock up necessities, which led to emptying of the shelves. The shopping malls, stores and even gyms will be undergoing a lockdown moving ahead. Other than Shanghai, earlier curbs had also been announced in the cities of Xian and Changchun, as the less deadly but more infectious Omicron variant spread among the population. Further, Jilin, the second-biggest city in Jilin province, locked down about 4.5 million inhabitants for three days last week. Not only China, France and UK too have reported a rise in the number of Covid cases as per latest reports. Disruptions such as the Russia-Ukraine war and surging pandemic outbreaks are sure to significantly impact the global chemical industry and eventually lead to a new normal in the future.

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Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Chemical Today

is a monthly magazine focused on chemistry & the chemical industry.

CONTENTS SECTOR VIEW

QUOTES GREEN HYDROGEN

NEWS

NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL NEWS MOVERS & SHAKERS

CHEMICAL SECTORS

FOOTWEAR RECYCLED FABRIC AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLED OCEAN PLASTICS COPOLYMERS RENEWABLE MATERIALS

EXPERT VIEWPOINT

CHLOR-ALKALI INDUSTRY

EQUIPMENT INTERVIEW PROCESS INDUSTRY 73

GREEN CHEMISTRY

MARKET UPDATE

SECTOR VIEW GREEN HYDROGEN

BRAZILIAN BIOPESTICIDES MARKET CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS MARKET GLOBAL DYES MARKET PAINTS & COATINGS MARKET POLYPROPYLENE MARKET GLOBAL XYLENOLS MARKET

38 41 43 45 48 50

SUSTAINABILITY CIRCULARITY SUMMIT 2022 SUSTAINABILITY CIRCULARITY SUMMIT 2022

52 54

ACADEMIC R&D

IT IN CHEMICALS DECARBONIZATION SMART TECHNOLOGY CLOUD SERVICES

62 64 66

JOBS

PRODUCTS

EQUIPMENT INTERVIEW

Dean Segal

VP, Sales & Marketing, Pope Scientific Inc

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

15 17 19 22

EVENT COVERAGE Head, Global Business Unit, Fluoropolymers, Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited

04 08 11

CHLOR-ALKALI INDUSTRY

REPORT

Kapil Malhotra

PROCESS INDUSTRY

EQUIPMENT

Published for April 2022.

QUOTES

The rise of e-commerce and access to new technologies has accelerated counterfeiting and other forms of illicit trade. That makes fighting counterfeit medical products an ever-more urgent priority for pharma companies both in terms of patient safety and brand reputation. Yann Ischi Director, New Channels and Partnerships, SICPA

Within the Volkswagen Group, we have a clear strategy for how we want to put battery-electric vehicles into series production across our brands and in many different market segments. However, a major qualification for success in the volume market is more powerful battery concepts. In Volkswagen Group R&D we are focusing on close cooperation, not only with industrial partners but also with the smart minds of the scientific community. Dr Ulrich Eichhorn Head, Group R&D, Volkswagen AG.

India is a very important market for polyurethanes and has a wonderful potential for growth. When leaders of the industry from all over the world get together under one roof, it leads to better production and faster growth of the industry R C Bhargava Former CEO and current Chairman, Maruti Suzuki.

Indian Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA) members have expressed positive sentiments as manufacturing and Make in India initiative gathered momentum. The phenomenal growth opportunity of Renewal Energy is unparalleled in the world today, looking at current and future energy consumption in India over the next 2-3 decades. All stakeholders have immense opportunities especially those who make and develop products in India. K N Subramaniam CEO, Moserbear Solar Ltd and Treasurer, Indian Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA)

NEWS NATIONAL ADANI POWER, IHI, KOWA TO STUDY USING AMMONIA AS A FUEL IN MUNDRA PLANT

Adani Power Limited, IHI Corporation and Kowa Company Ltd, have signed a MoU to study the feasibility to achieve 20 percent liquid ammonia co-firing ratio and thereafter extend this to a ratio up to 100 percent mono-firing at the Adani Power Mundra Coal Fired Power Plant. (File Photo)

HMEDABAD, INDIA: Adani Power Limited (APL), IHI Corporation and Kowa Company Ltd (Kowa), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to study the feasibility on a modification to achieve 20 percent liquid ammonia co-firing ratio and thereafter extend this to a ratio up to 100 percent mono-firing at the Adani Power Mundra Coal Fired Power Plant. APL aims to lead India’s initiatives in achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets by evaluating the possibility of potential implementation of ammonia as a fuel in thermal power generation that will utilize Green Hydrogen-derived ammonia in the existing thermal power plant. Kowa supported APL by conducting a global survey of hydrogen and ammonia-related technologies being utilised for power generation. IHI Corporation has already successfully demonstrated its ammonia cofiring technology at a large-scale commercial coal-fired power plant in Japan and responded to many inquiries related to ammonia co-firing globally.

To achieve de-carbonization of APL’s coal-fired assets, the parties, by considering the possibility of ammonia co-firing through the studies, aim to de-carbonize APL’s coal fired assets with the objective to potentially implement the technology in other coal-fired units within India. These studies contribute to carbon neutrality in India in line with the “India-Japan Clean Energy Partnership (CEP)” announced by the Indian and Japanese governments on March 19, 2022. This will aim to promote energy cooperation between Japan and India through diverse and realistic energy transitions utilising all energy sources and technologies to ensure energy security, carbon neutrality and economic growth. In addition, the parties intend to conduct research and development, demonstration and commercial implementation in parallel with that in Japan to achieve early global implementation of fuel ammonia supply chain.

AUROBINDO PHARMA TO ACQUIRE VERITAZ HEALTHCARE BIZ FOR RS 171 CRORE

UMBAI, INDIA: Aurobindo Pharma said it will acquire the business and certain assets of Veritaz Healthcare for cash consideration of Rs 171 crore, in a regulatory filing on 28 March. “The transaction is agreed at a consideration of Rs 171 crore on debtfree cash free basis. The transaction comes into effect from 1 April and expected to close by May,” the company said. Veritaz sells branded generic formulations and other healthcare related products in the Indian market. Its sales and distribution network covers around 50,000 retailers, spread across 23 cities. The acquisition will help Aurobindo Pharma gain a launch pad for marketing biosimilars and other products in India and that the deal is

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

in line with the company’s target to expand its footprint in the Indian domestic formulations market, it said. Veritaz generated a turnover of Rs 1270.2 million in FY21 at a CAGR of 3.4 percent in previous 3 years, along with a revenue of Rs 1331.8 million, marking a 4.9 percent growth, for FY22 (up to December 2021). “The acquisition of select-assets of Veritaz will strengthen the company’s ability to built a product portfolio,” said Nithyananda Reddy, managing director, Aurobindo Pharma. “With the existing and expanding distribution network of Veritaz, we will be able to create a significant foot print in the domestic pharma market over the next few years,” Reddy added.

TWO INDIAN REFINERS TO BUY OIL FROM ONGC’S SAKHALIN-1 PROJECT IN RUSSIA

UMBAI, INDIA: Two Indian state-run refiners have won the contract to buy 1.4 million barrels of Russian oil from ONGC’s Sakhalin-1 project, according to people familiar with the matter, reported the Economic Times. ONGC Videsh, overseas arm of the state-run explorer, has a 20 percent stake in the Sakhalin-1 project in Siberia and is responsible for sale of its share of oil from the project. The company didn’t receive any bid for its tender to sell 700,000 barrels of oil from Sakhalin-1 two weeks ago. In a fresh tender last week, ONGC Videsh received multiple bids, according to the people cited above. The companies that bid include Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum and Mangalore Refinery, said the people cited earlier. Two state-run refiners won the bid to buy 700,000 barrels each from ONGC Videsh for May loading, they said. It’s not yet clear which companies have won the bids. Refiners are likely to pay ONGC Videsh in rupees for the oil purchased, they said. Indian refiners have been picking up Russian oil cargoes from various international commodity traders in the past few weeks but do not foresee any payment problems as the energy trade does not face western sanctions. The traders are non-Russian entities. All recent purchase deals are on a delivered basis, leaving sellers with the responsibility of arranging shipping and insurance for their cargoes.

Financiers and insurers have been reluctant to back Russian oil cargoes, fearing the effects of US-led sanctions. ONGC Videsh’s oil from Sakhalin is unlikely to face any shipping or insurance hurdle as it’s the equity oil of an Indian company, said a person familiar with the matter. There has been talk about creating an alternative mechanism that bypasses the SWIFT framework and dollars to pay for trade between Russia and India. Junior oil minister Rameswar Teli, however, told Parliament on Monday that there is no proposal under consideration from Russia or any other country for the purchase of crude oil in rupees. State-run GAIL, the country’s largest natural gas marketer, is continuing to pay in dollars for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) it imports from Russia’s Gazprom, a company executive has said. Russian oil has traditionally comprised barely 1-2 percent of Indian refiners’ annual crude diet. Its availability at a deep discount at a time when oil prices are going through the roof has made it attractive to Indian refiners. Russian oil is available at a discount of about $30 to dated Brent, the international benchmark, which helps offset the expensive freight. It takes about three weeks for Russian cargo to reach India, compared with a week from the Gulf.

YASHO TO EXPAND LUBRICANT ADDITIVES, RUBBER CHEMICALS CAPACITY IN GUJARAT

towards the project will be financed through a combination of internal accruals and debt.

Post expansion, the total manufacturing capacity will increase from 11,000 MTPA to 26,500 MTPA with a revenue potential of INR 500 crore to 550 crore in phase 1 at full capacity utilisation. The project is expected to be completed in 24 months. The capital expenditure

“The demand for lubricant additives and rubber chemicals is increasing globally. We foresee a reasonable demand for our products in the market. The enhanced capacity will also allow us to approach large multinational consumers who we could not approach in the past due to limited capacity. This investment will lay the foundation for the next phase of growth for the company,” said Parag Jhaveri, managing director & CEO, Yasho Industries Ltd.

UMBAI, INIDA: Yasho Industries Limited announced that the board of directors of the company has approved a capital expenditure of INR 350 crore in phase 1 for its greenfield project at Pakhajan (Dahej), Gujarat. The company intends to manufacture lubricant additives and rubber chemicals with a total capacity of 15500 MT per annum in phase 1 at this new facility.

GUJARAT POLYSOL TO RAISE RS. 414 CRORE THROUGH IPO

UMBAI, INDIA: Gujarat Polysol Chemicals Limited said it has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The company plans to raise funds by offering its equity shares aggregating up to Rs. 414 crore through Initial Public Offering route. The offer of equity shares comprises of fresh issue aggregating up to Rs. 87 crore (Fresh Issue) and offer for sale of equity shares aggregating up to Rs. 327 crore by the selling shareholders (Offer for Sale). The company is also amongst the leading supplier of dispersing agents in the Infra-tech, dye & pigments, textile and leather industries and a leading supplier of powder surfactants in India. The company propose to utilise the net proceeds towards funding (i) repayment or prepayment, in full or in part, of all or certain borrowings availed by the

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

company and (ii) general corporate purpose. The aggregate manufacturing capacity of 130,400 MT per annum across company’s manufacturing units which based on end use industry can be classified into (i) Infra-tech (construction) chemicals; (ii) Agrochemicals (pesticide formulations); (iii) Dyes, pigments and textile chemicals; and (iv) Leather chemicals. GPCL’s restated total income on for the 6 month period ended September 30, 2021, and for Fiscal 2021, Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2019, was Rs. 183 crore, Rs. 380 crore, Rs. 440 crore, and Rs. 439 crore respectively. Its restated profit for the year, grew at a CAGR of 76.42 percent between the fiscals 2019 and 2021. The book running lead manager is INGA Ventures Pvt Ltd. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on BSE and NSE.

NEWS NATIONAL HEMANI INDUSTRIES FILES FOR RS. 2,000 CRORE IPO

UMBAI, INDIA: Hemani Industries Limited, manufacturer of a range of agrochemicals and specialty chemicals, said it has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The IPO consists of a fresh issue of shares aggregating up to Rs. 500 crore and an offer for sale aggregating up to Rs. 1,500 crore, by the selling shareholders from the promoter and promoter group. The total IPO size is Rs. 2,000 crore. The company operates three strategically located manufacturing facilities at Dahej, Ankleshwar and Saykha. It intends to use the proceeds of the IPO to fund the capacity expansion at its Saykha facility, along with prepayment/repayment of debt and working capital. Hemani Industries is an agrochemicals and specialty chemicals manufacturer, which caters to the crop protection, wood protection, veterinary sciences, household health, and public health industries. The company is highly backward integrated, with most of its raw material being produced in-house. In addition to its products, the company also engages in contract research and manufacturing services (CRAMS). Hemani has catered to over 1,700 customers in the last 10 years. Some of its marquee clients include Alchemie Overseas, Arysta LifeScience Benelux, Bayer Vapi, Dhanuka Agritech, Jiangsu Yangnong Chemical, Shandong Rainbow Agrosciences and UPL Limited. It has grown from FY19-FY21, at a CAGR of 15.2 percent for FY19-FY21. Its operating

EBITDA margins have expanded significantly over the same period – operating EBITDA margin has grown from 15.92 percent in FY19 to 21.14 percent in FY21. Its PAT margin has also expanded from 8.49 percent in FY19 to 14.31 percent in FY21. The company is present across the entire value chain – technicals, formulations and intermediates. According to Frost & Sullivan, it is a leading player in the Indian pyrethroid market in Fiscal 2021. In CY2020, it was also the largest global producer by volume of Meta Phenoxy Benzaldehyde (MPBD) and the second largest producer by volume of Cypermethrin Acid Chloride (CMAC). It holds leadership position in technicals as well – in CY2020, it was the largest global producer by volume of Cypermethrin Technical, the second largest global producer by volume of Alpha Cypermethrin, the third largest global producer by volume of Permethrin Technical and the third largest manufacturer by volume of Dicamba in India. The company is predominantly focused on exports, with presence in high-growth regions such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, the United States, Russia, Africa and Australia and derives 60 to 70 percent of its revenue from exports. JM Financial Limited and Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited are the Book Running Lead Managers to the IPO.

UFLEX SETS UP ZERO LIQUID DISCHARGE TECHNOLOGY AT NOIDA FACILITY

OIDA, INDIA: Driven by the aim to attain water sustainability and reduce its consumption and pollution, the chemicals production unit of UFlex situated in Noida is now a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) facility. ZLD is a strategic waste water management system that ensures that there is no discharge of industrial wastewater into the environment, which is why UFlex has proactively adopted this technology to significantly reduce their freshwater consumption by recognizing the importance of wastewater purification and recycling. The chemicals plant that has adopted ZLD technology has started saving close to 20 kilolitres of water/day. UFlex’ Chemicals business develops eco-friendly, sustainable and foodsafe compliant inks, adhesives, coatings and biodegradable packaging solutions such as primers, barrier, gloss and heat-seal coatings which are ecologically conscious with a lower carbon footprint. While UFlex has been making a conscious effort to bring down the use of water while developing these solutions, with the implementation of ZLD technique the plant has ensured that no liquid waste is eliminated and its maximizes water usage efficiency. The zero liquid discharge chemical plant uses a 100 percent supply of effluent treated water of Sewage treatment plant (STP) as well as

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Effluent treatment plant (ETP). It is subsequently treated through the combination of technologies like Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR), Reverse osmosis (RO), and Agitated Thin Film Dryer (AFTD). The permeate good quality water which is the final product derived is thus re-used in boiler feed, cooling tower makeup water, and fume hoods; without being discharged into the municipal sewer thereby putting the discarded water back to use. The rejected water is converted in to solid waste residue via evaporation process which is in turn discarded as hazardous waste (as per the regulatory norms). “At UFlex Chemicals, we are proud to announce that our Noida Production has achieved the status of a Zero Liquid Discharge facility. We have adopted this technology to contribute positively to the environment by considerably reusing and recycling waste water in order to save groundwater consumption and is a big move for us in reducing our overall water consumption and ensuring that wastewater does not get discarded into the environment. We are working hard to follow the circular economy model at our facility. Progressing further, we look forward to implementing the ZLD technology in our other production facilities as well, in order to contribute towards a sustainable future,” said Rajesh Bhasin, joint president, chemicals business at UFlex.

STATE UNION MINISTER VISITS GALLIUM NITRIDE TECH CENTRE IN IISC, BENGALURU

is essential to realise the dream of Digital India and fabs in the nation,” Chandrasekhar said.

Gallium Nitride Ecosystem Enabling Centre and Incubator (GEECI) in Bengaluru on Sunday, reported the Business Today.

Creating strategic capabilities in emerging technologies is one of the core objectives of the Digital India Programme. To achieve these objectives, MeitY has drawn a 1,000 days vision that includes hi-tech/ strategic tech as an important component.

ENGALURU, INDIA: Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar visited the

Gallium Nitride (GaN) is believed to be the second most important material after silicon for electronics chips. The facility, jointly set up by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and IISc Bengaluru, is aimed at establishing GaN based development line foundry facility, especially for RF and power applications, including strategic applications. “The next 2 to 3 years offer a window of opportunity for Gallium Nitride (GaN) to play a key role in enabling e-vehicles and wireless communication,” Chandrasekhar said after reviewing the progress of the project and inspecting the facility. He also saw GaN transistors fabricated in IISc Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) fab. The fab model in IISc will be a state-ofthe-art incubation to promote indigenous development of technology, and thereby encourage final deployment into cellular infrastructure, and strategic technologies. “Research, technology development, education and training in our institutes like IISc and IITs in the area of semiconductor manufacturing

The minister also spoke about the Covid-induced disruptions in the global supply chains, and how the government is committed to capitalise on this narrow window of opportunity as the world is looking for a new and trusted supply chain partner. “There is tremendous opportunity in electronics manufacturing and in the field of electronics and semiconductor design,” he said. To leverage this opportunity, the government recently announced a $10 billion incentive package for setting up semiconductor fab units in India and to also position India as a global hub for electronics systems design and manufacturing (ESDM). Along with the semiconductor incentive package, the GaN ecosystem is also expected to drive innovation and encourage start-ups and entrepreneurs to look into business and technology seriously in the next two years. AGNIT Semiconductors Pvt Ltd, the first start-up, has already been incubated in TBI-InCeNSE, which is an incubator of SID, IISc. It has raised its first round of angel funding. It will be the first start-up to leverage the infrastructure created by GEECI.

Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar visited the Gallium Nitride technology centre in Bengaluru. He also saw GaN transistors fabricated in IISc Centre for Nano Science and Engineering fab.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

NEWS INTERNATIONAL SK ON, FORD, KOC JV TO PRODUCE ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES IN TURKEY

EOUL, SOUTH KOREA: On 14 March, SK On announced an MOU with Ford and Koc Holding to create a joint venture for electric vehicle (EV) battery production. Koc Holding is a leading Turkish company founded in 1926 and is the only one in Turkey on Fortune Global 500. By creating Ford Otosan in 1959 with Ford, the Turkish company has been manufacturing commercial vehicles (including business vans) in Kocaeli and others. Its annual capacity is 455,000 units. The new battery plant will be located near Ankara, Turkey. The plant will produce high-nickel NCM (nickel, cobalt, manganese) battery and the production with an annual capacity of 30-45 GWh will begin as early as 2025. These batteries will be supplied to power mostly commercial vehicles. SK On is the first, among the three leading Korean battery suppliers, to work with an automaker and create a joint venture for large scale production in Europe. SK On has established itself as a key partner and battery supplier to Ford. Especially, Ford recently said it will separate its electric vehicle business from its autos operations, accelerating its electrification plan, which heightens expectations for its cooperation with SK On. Ford plans to have 240 GWh of global battery capacity by 2030 and a fair amount of it will come from SK On Ford will source 140 GWh needed in North America from “BlueOval SK,” the joint venture it will form with SK On with plants in Tennessee and Kentucky, that has annual capacity of 129 GWh and 11 GWh from SK On’s second plant in Georgia. The remaining 100 GWh will be sourced from Europe and China with 30-45 GWh coming from the new plant of the joint venture between SK On and Koç, which amounts to in total more than 70 percent (170-185GWh) of Ford’s planned global capacity of 240 GWh. SK On is speeding up establishment of global production bases not only by creating joint ventures with external partners but also by building its own plants. The company is operating plants in Korea (Seosan), the US (Georgia), China (Changzhou and more) and Hungary (Komarom). Its second plant in Yancheng, China and its plant in Ivancsa, Hungary will being their operation before 2025. SK On aims at growing into a true global battery supplier with total capacity, coming from the joint ventures and its own production bases, of 220 GWh and 500 GWh by 2025 and 2030 respectively. “SK On won cumulative orders of 1,600 GWh at the end of 2021 and is receiving increased orders from its customers,” Dong Seob Jee, CEO of SK On, said in a recent interview with an

internal channel while talking about the company’s ambitious plan to become a global No.1 battery supplier. The joint venture with Turkey is expected to grow Ford’s presence in Europe as well as in the US Ford was named as the No. 1 commercial vehicle brand across Europe for the 7th consecutive year in 2021. Ford Transit Custom became the best-selling total vehicle in the U.K. with 40,000 units sold in 2020. “This proposed new battery joint venture is a prime example of how we are leveraging strategic partnerships to strengthen our business,” said Stuart Rowley, chairman of Ford of Europe. He continued, “It is also the first in a number of significant electrification and commercial vehicle announcements we will make this year as part of the ongoing redesign of our operations to create a leaner, stronger and sustainable all-electric Ford business in Europe.” Koç Holding, another partner in the alliance, operates in a number of key sectors including energy, automotive, finance, and consumer durables. It has considerable influence on the Turkish market, which makes it the best joint venture partner in Europe. It employs about 110,000 people and recorded 346.7 billion lira in consolidated revenue in 2021. “Today, we are very excited to announce the signing of a nonbinding MOU to look at a possible joint venture as a significant step for vertical integration in the electrified future of the auto industry. This strategic move is not only a testament to Turkey’s potential, but also brings our country a significant global competitive edge in battery production,” said Levent Cak?roglu, CEO of Koc. SK Innovation (the mother company of SK On) began its battery research in 1991. The energy company developed NCM811, a type of battery using an 8:1:1 ratio of nickel, cobalt and manganese, for the first time in the world in 2016. SK Innovation also successfully developed NCM9 batteries (that contain 90 percent nickel) which will be supplied to power Ford’s F-150 Lightning. “It is our great pleasure that SK On cooperates with Ford through BlueOval SK, the battery joint venture, as well as that we found the new partnership in Europe,” said Jee. “We will achieve successful joint ventures with great partners in Europe as well as in the United States.” SK On, Ford and Koç expect their battery joint ventures to provide benefits for commercial vehicle operators across Europe such as a saving in energy and operation.

SK On, Ford and Koc Holding will create a joint venture for electric vehicle (EV) battery production in Turkey. Shown here is Ford’s F-150 (left) equipped with SK’s NCM9 battery (right) displayed inside SK Innovation’s booth at Interbattery 2021. (File Photo)

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

TOTALENERGIES TO EXIT YADANA FIELD, GAS TRANSPORTATION CO MGTC IN MYANMAR

ARIS, FRANCE: On 21 January, TotalEnergies announced its decision to withdraw from the Yadana field and from gas

transportation company MGTC in Myanmar, both as operator and as shareholder, because the situation in this country no longer allowed TotalEnergies to make a sufficiently positive contribution. Since then, TotalEnergies has initiated a due diligence process to ensure a responsible withdrawal for its stakeholders in Myanmar. TotalEnergies’ withdrawal from Yadana and MGTC will be effective at the latest at the expiry of the 6-month contractual period ie. 20 July.

On 14 March, PTTEP International, a subsidiary of the Thai national energy company PTT, confirmed its willingness to take over as operator of Yadana and MGTC and, in line with this decision, to increase its direct stake in Yadana by taking over TotalEnergies’ equity share. Chevron has also decided to take over TotalEnergies’ equity share, thereby increasing its stake in Myanmar. As a reminder, in light of the exceptional situation, TotalEnergies has chosen to withdraw from Myanmar without seeking any financial compensation for its assets. In addition, PTTEP has expressed its willingness to take on all staff currently employed by the TotalEnergies affiliate in Myanmar.

BAYER SELLS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL BIZ TO CINVEN FOR $2.6 BN LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Bayer and Cinven said they have

non-agricultural areas such as vector control, professional pest

agreed for the sale of Bayer’s Environmental Science Professional

management, vegetation management, forestry, and turf and

business for a purchase price of $2.6 billion (2.4 billion euros). The

ornamentals.

transaction is expected to close in the second half of this year. Its

“Bayer’s Environmental Science Professional business is a global

net proceeds are to be used to reduce Bayer’s net financial debt. In 2021, the business had approximately 800 employees supporting operations and sales in more than 100 countries. It is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, USA. Bayer had announced its decision to divest the business in February 2021.

leader in a highly attractive and critical industry. We thank Bayer for the trust they have placed in Cinven and plan to build on the strong foundations established by Bayer by significantly investing in it,” said Pontus Pettersson, partner and head, industrial at Cinven. “As a long-established global investment firm, Cinven

“This divestment represents a very attractive purchase price

is well positioned to continue to drive innovation and accelerate

and allows us to focus on our core agricultural business and the

growth at Environmental Science Professional, including the

successful implementation of our crop science division growth

delivery of digital and data-enabled solutions, as well as make

strategy,” said Rodrigo Santos, member, management board, Bayer

the business more agile in responding to the unique needs of its

AG and president, Crop Science Division.

markets and customers.”

Environmental Science Professional is a global leader offering

BofA Securities acted as financial advisor to Bayer, while Hengeler

environmental solutions to control pests, diseases and weeds in

Mueller acted as legal advisor.

ASCEND, SAMSUNG END LI-ION BATTERY ADDITIVES PATENT PROCEEDINGS

OUSTON, US: Ascend Performance Materials and Samsung

As part of the agreement, Samsung SDI retains its US patent

SDI have reached an agreement to end their ongoing global

no. 9,819,057, continues to hold patents in any remaining

patent invalidation proceedings and enter into a patent license

jurisdictions and grants Ascend a non-exclusive license under

agreement regarding the sale and use of lithium-ion battery additives. Such additives include 1,3,6-hexanetricarbonitrile (HTCN), which is manufactured and sold by Ascend as Trinohex® Ultra.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

these patents. The specific terms and conditions of the agreement remain confidential. A unique, non-hazardous nitrile, Trinohex Ultra is used to significantly improve battery life, safety and overall performance across cathode chemistries and voltages, even in extreme conditions.

NEWS INTERNATIONAL ECOLAB ADDS ENERGY SURCHARGE DUE TO HIGHER OIL & GAS, LOGISTICS COSTS

T. PAUL, US: Ecolab Inc announced a temporary 8 to 12 percent energy surcharge on all of its global products, effective 1 April. This surcharge is intended to mitigate the dramatic rise in energy costs. “The protracted global environment for higher raw material and logistics costs, driven by the inflationary environment the world has experienced over the past year, have recently faced unprecedented surges resulting from the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” said Christophe Beck, Ecolab’s president and chief executive officer. “As a long-term business partner to our customers, we have taken continued actions to ensure supply chain resilience and reduce volatility by accelerating value engineering, optimizing supplier footprints, increasing strategic inventory and expanding our

end-to-end supply chain partnerships to help mitigate extreme raw material and logistics shortages. We have also taken a wide range of productivity actions to improve our efficiency and reduce our costs to help offset the strong inflationary challenges and subsequent pricing.” “Nonetheless, we now also need to implement this temporary energy surcharge to mitigate the dramatic rise in oil & gas costs and its impact on raw material and logistics inflation to ensure we can continue to provide reliable product supply, as well as continue to invest in the product innovation, digital technology and service expertise that is core to our differentiated global offering. We will monitor this situation monthly; when the current energy cost surge moderates, we expect to reduce or remove this surcharge,” added Beck.

SOLVAY TO INCREASE GUAR-BASED POLYMERS CAPACITY IN FRANCE

RUSSELS, BELGIUM: Solvay announced the expansion of the guar production capacity at its Melle plant, France, in response to growing demand from the beauty care market. The completion of capacity extension in Q2 2022 will ensure Solvay continues to fully support our beauty care customers with improved service and flexibility in the context of severely challenged and disrupted global supply chains. The guar seeds used to produce the Jaguar® range are sourced in India, partially through Solvay’s

service from us,” explained Ronald Lehman, senior vice-president,

Sustainable Guar Initiative program that empowers and helps improve the livelihood of guar farmers.

“Solvay demonstrates its long standing commitment to the guar

“This investment in increased capacity demonstrates our commitment to the partnerships built with our customers and our willingness to ensure they continue to receive the best possible

sustainable innovation in line with the Solvay One Planet vision,

global manufacturing at Solvay Novecare. Solvay’s Jaguar®, a range of polymers naturally derived from guar beans, provide beauty care formulators with an array of conditioning and texturizing features. As a bio-based product with strong sustainability features, Jaguar® clearly fits market needs for innovative products with more natural, responsible ingredients. technology and its Jaguar® range, supporting our customers with and reliable supply chains,” said Eric Leroy, global marketing, innovation director, Solvay.

BOREALIS DECLINES EUROCHEM’S NITROGEN BUSINESS ACQUISITION OFFER VIENNA, AUSTRIA: Borealis said it has decided to decline the binding offer from EuroChem on 2 February for acquisition of Borealis’ nitrogen business including fertilizer, melamine and technical nitrogen products. The transaction was expected to close in the second half of 2022. Borealis will now consider various options regarding the future of its nitrogen business. “We have closely assessed the most recent developments around the war in the Ukraine and sanctions that have been put in place,” commented Thomas Gangl, Borealis CEO. “As a consequence, we have decided to decline EuroChem’s offer for the acquisition of Borealis’ nitrogen business including fertilizer, melamine and technical nitrogen products.” Borealis received a binding offer from EuroChem for the acquisition of Borealis’ nitrogen business including fertilizer, melamine and technical nitrogen products, valuing the business on an enterprise

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

value basis at EUR 455 million ($514 million). EuroChem is a leading global fertilizer producer, and one of only three companies worldwide with manufacturing capacity in all three primary nutrient groups: nitrogen, phosphates and potash. A vertically integrated company, EuroChem is expanding its production and distribution capacities in key regions around the world. The group has key manufacturing facilities in Russia, Belgium, Kazakhstan, and Lithuania, employing more than 27,000 people in 40 countries, and with a product reach of more than 100 countries. The

transaction

would

significantly

enhance

EuroChem’s

nitrogen business in Europe, adding production assets in Austria, Germany and France as well as adding a comprehensive sales and distribution network utilizing the Danube river.

NEWS MOVERS & SHAKERS EXXONMOBIL APPOINTS FORMER STATE STREET CORP CEO AS LEAD DIRECTOR

RVING, US: The board of directors of Exxon Mobil Corporation said that lead independent director Kenneth Frazier has announced his intention not to stand for re-election to the board at the annual meeting of shareholders on May 25. Joseph (Jay) Hooley, former chairman and CEO of State Street Corp. and ExxonMobil director since 2020, has been selected by the independent directors to serve as lead director, effective after the annual meeting. “I look forward to working closely with Jay as we continue to strengthen ExxonMobil’s industry leadership position, responsibly meeting global needs while leading in the energy transition,” said Darren Woods, chairman and chief executive officer. Frazier, executive chairman and former chairman and CEO at Merck & Co Inc, will remain as independent lead director until the annual meeting. He was appointed to the role in 2020, and has been a member of the board since 2009.

Joseph (Jay) Hooley

SONGWON ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS director of the board of directors at Songwon’s annual general shareholders’ meeting held in Ulsan, Korea, on 18 March. Also the board of directors appointed Dongbek as Songwon’s new chairman of the board. Dongbek takes over from the previous chairman, Jongho Park, who will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors. Before retiring in 2014, Dongbek worked for many years for Songwon Industrial Group in various senior management positions. “We are very pleased to have Dongbek Park join us as chairman of our board. We welcome his broad background and vast experience in the industry, which will allow us to further strengthen the Songwon Group,” said Jongho Park, CEO and former chairman. Songwon’s board of directors now consists of four directors: Dongbek Park, newly elected chairman and outside director, as well as the three executive board members and inside directors, Jongho Park, Hans-Peter Wuest and Choung-Sik Kim.

Dongbek Park

LSAN, SOUTH KOREA: Songwon Industrial Co Ltd announced that Dongbek Park was appointed as new outside

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2022

Songwon’s board of directors thanks the former members of the board, Dieter Morath, Markus Oppliger and Gerhard Schlosser for their many years of commitment to Songwon.

LUBRIZOL NAMES BOARD CHAIR MARY RHINEHART AS INTERIM CEO

LEVELAND, US: The Lubrizol Corporation announced that Mary Rhinehart will serve as interim president and CEO, effective immediately. Rhinehart currently serves as the chair of Lubrizol’s board. She succeeds Chris Brown, who joined Lubrizol in 2021 to help the company with important work around safety and operational excellence. Rhinehart will lead the search and selection process for a new CEO and will continue to serve as Lubrizol’s board chair. Rhinehart also serves as board chair of Johns Manville, a global building and specialty products manufacturer and a Berkshire Hathaway company. She became Johns Manville’s president and CEO in 2012 and assumed the additional role of chair in 2014. Prior to these roles, she was the company’s chief financial officer for eight years.

Mary Rhinehart

“It is an honor to serve in this role for a company with such a rich heritage as a leader in the chemical industry,” Rhinehart said. “I look forward to working alongside Lubrizol’s dedicated employees to continue to deliver value for our customers and support our communities.”

BAYER APPOINTS NEW CFO OF CROP SCIENCE DIVISION reasons after 16 years with the company. Gast is currently CFO for Bayer’s US organization. “Kelly has tremendous experience in finance and a true passion for the agricultural sector. She will play a key role in driving our performance and business transformation,” said Rodrigo Santos, member, board of Bayer AG and president, company’s crop science division. Separately, Sara Boettiger, SVP, head of global sustainability & public affairs, shared her wish to leave the organization. During her time with Bayer she has made significant contributions to the crop science division by driving sustainability and public affairs agendas. Bayer will take this opportunity to further embed sustainability and public engagement at the heart of its crop science divisional roadmap by combining the sustainability and public affairs teams with the strategy team, under the leadership of Frank Terhorst, EVP, strategy & sustainability, effective 1 March.

Kelly Gast

ONHEIM, GERMANY: Bayer announced changes in the leadership team of its crop science division, with Kelly Gast assuming the position of chief financial officer (CFO) from Michael Schulz, effective 1 April. Schulz had been CFO for the crop science division for over a decade and decided to leave Bayer for personal

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

“Our ambition is to create a sustainable future for agriculture that will benefit our customers, as well as society, and I am absolutely convinced that Bayer has an important role to play in helping the sector to transform,” said Santos. “The integration of our business strategy with our sustainability agenda under Frank’s leadership will help us to achieve this goal faster and with even more success.”

NEWS MOVERS & SHAKERS EXXONMOBIL ELECTS BEST BUY EXEC AS NEW VP, PUBLIC & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

RVING, US: ExxonMobil said that it has elected Matt Furman as vice president of public and government affairs, effective 1 April, replacing Suzanne McCarron, who has elected to retire after 24 years of service. “We welcome Matt to ExxonMobil and will leverage his knowledge and experience to enhance our corporate communications,” said Darren Woods, chief executive officer and chairman. “I thank Suzanne for her many contributions to the company’s success during her career and wish her all the best in retirement.” Furman joins ExxonMobil from Best Buy Co Inc, where he was chief communications and public affairs officer since 2012. Previously, Furman was VP of corporate affairs at Mars Chocolate and held senior communications positions at Google and CNN. McCarron, who has been vice president since 2016, joined Mobil in 1998 as a manager in public affairs in Canada.

Matt Furman

AKZONOBEL NOMINATES NOVOZYMES CEO, EX-HENKEL-CEO TO ITS BOARD

MSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: AkzoNobel announced the nomination of Ester Baiget and Hans van Bylen to the supervisory board. The appointment will be put to shareholders for approval at the annual general meeting on 22 April. “With Ester and Hans onboard, we look forward to continuing to create long-term value for all our stakeholders. Ester brings a wealth of knowledge in science and sustainability, while Hans brings a deep understanding of the adhesives, sealants and functional coatings industry,” said Nils Andersen, chair, supervisory board, AkzoNobel. Baiget is CEO and president of Novozymes A/S. Earlier she was business president of Dow Industrial Solutions at The Dow Chemical Company. Bylen, recently retired at Henkel KgaA, is an experienced CEO who brings profound industrial and consumer sector expertise. He has supervisory board experience as chair of Ontex Group NV and non-executive member, Lanxess AG board.

Ester Baiget

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Hans van Bylen

BASF APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT FOR AGRICULTURAL SOLUTIONS DIVISION

UDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY: The board of executive directors of BASF said it has appointed a new president for the agricultural solutions division. Livio Tedeschi (50), senior vice president, agricultural solutions Europe, will take over as president of BASF’s agricultural solutions division, based in Limburgerhof, Germany, on 1 April. The current head of the division, Vincent Gros (59), is leaving the company at his own request, the company said.

Livio Tedeschi

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Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

FOOTWEAR RECYCLED FABRIC

REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF FOOTWEAR PRODUCTION

Magazinehave | April 2022 a material solution to produce high-quality running and athletic Covestro, Chemical HuafengToday and Cyclone developed shoes much more sustainably than before.

ovestro, textile technology company

lifestyle in the most environmentally friendly

for comparison. The use of fabric based on

Huafeng and green fiber technology

way possible,” said Tony Wu, global marketing

recycled PET yarns mitigates greenhouse

company Cyclone from China have jointly

manager, textile coatings, Covestro. He

developed a solution to produce high-quality running and sports shoes in a much more sustainable way than before: recycled fabric made from CYCLONE® recycled polyester

achieved does not compromise the durability, appearance or comfort of the footwear upper. In combination with Huafeng HAPTIC® printing technology, 3D shapes can be applied

(rPET) yarns is used as the shoe upper and

to textile fabrics creating trendy designs and

selectively coated using Huafeng’s HAPTIC®

high performance in athletic footwear.

technology. In the process, Huafeng uses

Impranil® eco DLS, as a partially bio-based

gas emissions by about 170 grams of CO equivalent per pair of shoes. “Sustainability is key to our market success at Huafeng. With the help of the partially biobased PU dispersion of Covestro, we were able to introduce more renewable ingredients into our HAPTIC® coatings, further improving

a polyurethane (PU) dispersion from the

binder, is part of the INSQIN® range of

their sustainability,” said Dr. Thomas Schmidt,

INSQIN® portfolio of Covestro, half of whose

waterborne textile coating resins. Its use

director of innovation at Huafeng.

carbon content comes from bio-based raw

contributes

materials. The greenhouse gas emissions for

emissions with around 60 grams of CO

each pair of shoes produced in this way are

equivalents per pair of shoes. The value

INSQIN® PU coating binder with Huafeng

comes from internal calculations verified by

HAPTIC® printing on recycled PET fabric

independent external experts.

shows how partners in the value chain can

dispersions and virgin PET fabric.

It is obvious that the difference in the

work together creating more sustainable

“This is good news for anyone who wants

CO footprint becomes even greater when

products,” added Dr. Torsten Pohl, head of

to maintain an athletically active, healthy

solvent-based PU textile coatings are used

global textile coatings at Covestro.

around 230 grams of CO equivalent less than a pair using conventional fossil-based PU

emphasizes that the increased sustainability

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

reduced

greenhouse

gas

“The combination of our partially bio-based

AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLED OCEAN PLASTICS

DRIVING GHOST FISHING NETS TO A NEW LIFE

Ocean-harvested is being used2022 in the wiring harness clips in Ford’s Bronco Sport – the result of a joint effort Chemical Todayplastic Magazine | January between DSM, Ford, and component manufacturer HellermannTyton.

BY LYDIA SWAN

the

automotive

industry

seeks

improve

its

served through the high-performance properties of Akulon®

environmental impact, a win-win solution has recently

RePurposed.. It is a strong, durable engineering material,

arrived in Ford showrooms: the Bronco Sport, containing wiring

with performance comparable to that of new petroleum-based

harness clips made from recycled ocean plastic. This is the first

plastics. It can withstand continuous exposure to sun, salt, water,

use of DSM’s Akulon® RePurposed in a major vehicle platform,

and sand. Today, Akulon® RePurposed is used in a wide range of

and DSM, Ford, and component manufacturer HellermannTyton

applications, including furniture, watches, electric switches and

have recently earned an Innovation Award from the Society of

even surfboards.

Plastics Engineers (SPE) for the application. So, how was this

A world-first automotive application

industry milestone delivered?

Now, this ocean-harvested plastic is being used in the wiring

Tackling the great plastic waste issue

harness clips in Ford’s Bronco Sport – the result of a joint

In recent years, the automotive industry has been trying to not

effort between DSM, Ford, and component manufacturer

only transition to more sustainable manufacturing operations,

HellermannTyton. The wiring harness clips fasten to the sides

but also to actively tackle existing environmental challenges

of the Bronco Sport’s second-row seats and guide wires that

through its choice of materials. With automotive vehicles

power various features in the vehicle’s cargo area, such as side-

containing tens of thousands of plastic parts, plastic waste is one

curtain airbags. Ford has recognized this application as the first

such challenge. And, each year, approximately 13 million tons of

time that a major vehicle platform has used 100 percent-recycled

plastic waste end up in the world’s oceans, much of it culminating

ocean plastic to produce car components. And this novelty hasn’t

in the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’. Abandoned fishing nets are

been lost on external stakeholders: together, Ford, DSM, and

a growing part of this problem: the World Wildlife Federation

HellermannTyton recently earned an Innovation Award from the

estimates they account for as much as 46 percent of the waste in

Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) for the application.

the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Ford’s testing shows that the Akulon® RePurposed ‘ghost gear’ is

To shape a more sustainable automotive future, DSM Engineering

as strong and durable as petroleum-based clips, despite having

Materials has developed a wide range of dedicated industry

been exposed to salt water and sunlight. In addition, the Akulon®

solutions to help its customers meet their sustainability goals.

Re-Purposed clips use less energy to produce and enable a 10

In line with our commitment to delivering bio- and/or recycled-

percent cost saving. As such, they are an important first step in

based alternatives for our entire portfolio by 2030, with specific

Ford’s exploration of recycled ocean plastics in its components.

grades already available for all major product lines, we launched

Indeed, this milestone illustrates the potential of recycled ocean

a high-performance polyamide 6 based on recycled ocean plastic

plastics to become more widely used in automotive applications

in 2018. This material, Akulon® RePurposed, is made using

– and for automotive companies to seize the commercial

nylon fishing nets collected from the Indian Ocean and Arabian

opportunities of low-carbon, recycled-based innovation.

Sea. The nets are thoroughly cleaned and processed into various

Making a circular economy a reality

grades using a proprietary process, together with DSM’s local

The harness clips may be small and invisible to vehicle occupants,

supplier in India.

Akulon® RePurposed: Adding stakeholders everywhere

value

for

but they mark an important step in the automotive industry’s transition to sustainability and embracing circular economy. This transition will be key to reducing the impact of plastics on the

Akulon® RePurposed delivers value for several stakeholders

environment, and to enabling products that are stronger, safer,

across the value chain. Firstly, by enabling over 3,000 metric

lighter, and more resilient. And, of course, it’s up to all industries

tonnes of abandoned fishing nets to be removed from India’s

to work together to make this transition successful. Ford is

coastal areas each year, it helps ensure cleaner beaches and oceans.

already planning additional parts using recycled ocean plastics,

The production process also benefits communities in India: it

including transmission brackets, wire shields and floor side

has created 300 jobs across the local value chain, from sourcing,

rails – all stationary parts with strength and durability demands

separation, and washing to extrusion, quality inspection, packing,

that the material can meet or exceed. So, at DSM, we’re looking

and shipping. And, by enabling a circular economy that mitigates

forward to continuing to work with Ford and HellermannTyton,

natural resource depletion, Akulon® RePurposed is also adding value for society at large. Of course, a key stakeholder is DSM’s customers: they are well

and to finding additional opportunities to both drive the sustainability of the automotive industry and to reducing plastic waste. Together, we can make it happen!

Author: Lydia Swan is Commercial Director, Americas at DSM Engineering Materials. 18

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

COPOLYMERS RENEWABLE MATERIALS

RENEWABLE BUTADIENE USED TO PRODUCE RENEWABLE STYRENIC BLOCK COPOLYMERS

ABIC and Kraton have collaborated to deliver certified renewable

alternatives. Additionally, each ton of the butadiene also cuts fossil

butadiene from its TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio for use in Kraton’s

depletion by up to 80 percent.

certified renewable styrenic block copolymers (SBC). This effort forms part of SABIC’s 2025 strategy, which includes a Sustainability Development Goal roadmap spanning the organization’s entire value chain and addressing 10 goals to help drive meaningful sustainable change. SABIC’s certified renewable butadiene is derived from animal-free and palm oil-free ‘second generation’ renewable feedstock, such as tall oil, a by-product from the wood pulping process in the paper industry. This

“Sustainability in SABIC is embedded across our organization and goes hand in hand with our commitment to helping our customers and their customers meet their own sustainability targets. Developing more sustainable solutions requires partnerships across the value chain,” said Mohammed Al-Zahrani, vice president, chemical at SABIC. “Our collaboration with Kraton for renewable butadiene as feedstock for Kraton’s polymers is another example of working together towards

feedstock is not in direct competition with human food and animal

our common goals and confirms the wide interest from the chemicals

feed production sources. According to the cradle-to-gate lifecycle

industry in developing sustainable solutions for the future. After

analysis, from sourcing the raw feedstock to producing the polymers,

SABIC’s earlier successes in developing certified renewable and circular

each kilogram of the company’s bio-based butadiene reduces CO2

ethylene, propylene, and benzene, we are delighted to add certified

emissions by an average of 4 kilograms compared to fossil-based virgin

renewable butadiene to our TRUCIRCLE portfolio.”

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

SABIC’s certified renewable butadiene will be used in Kraton’s newly

said Holger Jung, Kraton senior vice president and polymer segment

launched ISCC PLUS certified renewable CirKular+™ ReNew Series

president. “This is an exciting innovation for our customers as it can

to expand Kraton’s existing suite of solutions designed to advance the

help reduce the carbon footprint of fossil-based HSBC made in our

circular economy. With up to 70 percent certified renewable content,

Berre plant by up to 65 percent.”

the ReNew Series offers customers the opportunity to use the mass balance approach and adopt ISCC PLUS certification to produce renewable products. Kraton successfully produced CirKular+ ReNew Series Hydrogenated Styrenic Block Copolymers (HSBC) at the Berre plant earlier this year using SABIC’s renewable butadiene. “Kraton’s ambition is to enable the bioeconomy and play a role

International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification is a globally-recognized system that provides traceability of recycled and renewable-based materials across a complex supply chain, by following predefined and transparent rules. The TRUCIRCLE portfolio spans a range of products and services,

in advancing the circular economy. Value chain collaboration is

including design for recyclability, mechanically recycled products,

instrumental in achieving progress towards a circular economy. Kraton

certified circular products from feedstock recycling of used plastic,

is excited to collaborate with SABIC in using certified renewable

certified renewable products from bio-based feedstock and closed-loop

butadiene enables us to develop and produce styrenic block copolymers

initiatives to recycle plastic back into high quality applications and help

with up to 70 percent of certified renewable raw material content,”

prevent valuable used plastics from becoming waste.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

EXPERT VIEWPOINT CHLOR-ALKALI INDUSTRY

ADDRESSING GLOBAL DEMANDS IN THE CHLOR-ALKALI INDUSTRY Kapil Malhotra, Head, Global Business Unit, Fluoropolymers, Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited talks at length about the huge scope that the Indian chlor-alkali industry has in terms of innovation, demand and exports.

BY SHIVANI MODY

pportunities for chlor-alkali, soda ash, chlorovinyl in India.

This would require rationalization of duties on various products that can help drive the domestic manufacturing.

Chlor-alkali market in India has witnessed healthy growth in recent

R&D and innovations in chlor-alkali, soda ash, chloro-vinyl industry.

years, largely driven by increasing demand from end-use industries

The mercury cell process emits mercury through the discharge while

owing to higher output from the chemicals industry. The market is

manufacturing chlorine and caustic soda which can poison freshwater

expected to see high penetration rate in the Western and Northern

resources if not treated before disposing into the environment. The

regions of the country. At present, the market is highly fragmented and

Indian chlor-alkali industry has invested over INR 5,000 crores

is gradually moving towards consolidation, particularly with the entry

during the last ten years to phase out mercury cell technology and

of foreign players and expansion in distribution network of existing

adopt membrane cell technology. In 2017, the government mandated

players.

compliance to Bureau of India Standards (BIS) specifications, that

Increasing demand for chlorine, caustic soda and soda ash is expected to

necessitated the industry to produce and import superior-grade

drive growth of the chlor-alkali market. Growing demand of glass from

caustic soda using the modern and more energy efficient membrane-

construction, automotive, packaging and other industrial applications is

based technology that has no harmful impact on human health and

also expected to boost the market growth as soda ash forms an essential

environment. Emerging technologies are under development, for

component of glass products. Rising demand for vinyl polymers will

instance, a modified membrane cell using oxygen depolarized cathodes.

augment chlor-alkali market growth as vinyl manufacturing requires

This process requires pure oxygen to be fed to the unit, leading to the

the use of chlorine. Chlorine is used to produce a variety of downstream

production of water and allows energy savings as no hydrogen gas is

chemicals, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC usage in numerous

produced.

end-use sectors is rapidly rising, presenting profitable growth prospects

Chlor-alkali industry being an energy intensive sector strives to reduce

for chlor-alkali market participants.

energy consumption. A major part of energy is spent in electrolytic cell

The Indian Chlor-Alkali industry holds enough capacities to cater to

comprising of membranes and electrodes. Developments in membrane

its entire domestic demand. With more capacities scheduled in the

design/electrode coatings help enhance life of membranes/electrodes

future, the Indian government needs to reach a balance by increasing

and improved cell efficiency. Technology suppliers are making a

protection for the locally produced chemicals while relieving pressure

consistent effort towards R&D to bring forth more efficient cell designs

from the downstream industries to back larger manufacturing of goods.

through new advances.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

industries for myriad of problems such as:

Raw material requirements and sourcing for chloralkali industry.

•

The chlor-alkali industry has also enabled applications in diverse Super-conducting titanium dioxide nanofibers are used in air-

The value chain of the chlor-alkali products ranges from the sourcing

purification and solar cells. Titanium dioxide is also being used in

of raw materials (salt and limestone) to the delivery of the final product

augmented and virtual-reality devices and is purified using chlorine

to end-use industries such as EDC/PVC, glass, water treatment,

chemistry.

chlorinated intermediates, alumina refining and glass. The chlor-alkali

•

Caustic soda is used to harvest bioethanol from algae, recover

phosphates (valuable crop nutrients) from household wastewater and to recycle (semi-) precious metals from old electronics. • Combination of chlorine and UV radiation is used to purify and reuse wastewater in water-deprived areas.

manufacturers normally have mines for salt from which they get the raw material (salt). Raw materials of the chlor-alkali electrolysis are salt (NaCl or KCl) and water (H2O). Sources of salt include sea water (solar salt NaCl), mineral deposits (rock salt NaCl or KCl) or salt produced by brine evaporation (vacuum salt NaCl or KCl). Most of the major corporations

• Novel cancer-treatment drugs based on cisplatin (a chlorine-

that produce chlor-alkali, soda ash and chloro-vinyl are vertically

containing medicine) have shown promise in the fight against testicular

integrated and they produce products such as EDC/PVC and chemicals.

cancer.

Additionally, the products manufactured by these companies are used

• Concentrated caustic soda can be used to efficiently store heat in

by other industries such as pulp & paper, water treatment, food, and

our homes for later release when it gets cold at night.

metallurgy.

• Hydrogen, a valuable co-product of chlor-alkali production, could

Challenges faced by the chlor-alkali, soda ash, chlorvinyl industry.

be used as a potential power source.

International business activities in the chlor-alkali industry.

Challenges faced by chlor-alkali industry

The growing industrialization in emerging economies such as China,

invested substantially in setting up captive power plants due to

India, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil and

unreliable and expensive grid power. Power costs constitute nearly

Argentina is expected to drive the chlor-alkali market in the coming

60 percent of the overall cost of production. With power costs in

years. High demand from the packaging, building & construction,

India relatively high, the domestic industry is at a disadvantage when

consumer goods and automotive applications in these countries

compared to many countries from which imports come in.

increases the need for plastics, aluminum and others used in these

Inadequate trade protection measures result in unregulated imports

applications. The growth of the manufacturing industry in Malaysia,

and low-capacity utilization of the domestic industry. About one-fifth

Vietnam, Colombia and Chile is also expected to fuel market growth.

of the demand is met through imports and to an extent, the domestic

Both chlorine and caustic soda are in demand in Indian markets.

capacity utilization is curtailed.

Though Indian companies have chlorine in excess, they cannot

Ecological impact of the chlor-alkali industry is one of the deterrents

export it because of the major hazards associated with transportation.

for the industry. As chlorine is very toxic, its leakage and release in the

Chlorine is also listed as one of the toxic and hazardous substances

environment are closely monitored. The occurrence of dioxin in pulp

banned for trans-national transportation under the Basel Convention

and paper-based products and chlorinated organic compounds in

on hazardous wastes. As a result, India has to deal with the rising

pulp mill effluents are grave issues for environmental safety. Chlorine

chlorine stock that cannot be disposed while dumping of caustic soda

derivatives also have negative impact as they lead to ozone layer

is forcing the sector to compete with low global prices. This is unviable

depletion and thus, their use is being constrained. High concentration

for the sector as the production costs are high.

of caustic soda in water bodies has a harmful effect on marine life.

The present duty levels of 7.5 percent over caustic soda imports have

The synthetic soda ash manufacturing process leads to environmental

not been able to impact the imported volumes. Additionally, the

problems because of the effluents containing highly visible pollutants.

termination of anti-dumping duty (ADD) over imports from several

All these concerns act as restrictions for the development of the chlor-

countries has exposed the local industry to bigger risks at the time of

alkali market.

crisis. As per the recent trade statistics, the caustic soda import volumes

Challenges of the soda ash industry

have remarkably risen in the past few months.

The chlor-alkali industry is power-intensive and the industry has

The Indian soda ash industry has satisfactory capacity to completely

There is a good scope for exports as domestic industry is self-

meet domestic demand. Nevertheless, countries with huge excess

sufficient and can produce, as the demand grows either from domestic

capacities have an easy access to India for dumping their produce.

consumers or from other countries. In the current year 2021-22, after

Consequently, the Indian industry is confronting the challenge of

many years we are with positive trade balance with exports surpassing

under-capacity use. The availability of raw materials has encouraged

imports of caustic soda. With recent ease of business reforms by Indian

almost the entire capacity to be concentrated in Gujarat. However, the

government and single window clearance procedures, the investments

infrastructure constraints of freight on the delivery of soda ash limits

and licensing have been facilitated in the country.

the location-advantage.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Challenges of the Chlor-Vinyl industry

DGTR, Ministry of Finance did not accept the recommendations.

Availability of feedstock for the vinyl chain is a major challenge.

AMAI is running a series of training programs on “Chlorine Safety

Domestic manufacturers have to largely depend on imports of feedstock

and Emergency Preparedness” for local water treatment facilities and

and intermediaries. The comparatively low import duties on PVC also do not offer adequate margins to attract investments. The duty differential between intermediaries (EDC and VCM) for producing

municipalities in various Indian states. This initiative aims to help raise awareness on the benefits of chlorine, whilst demonstrating how

PVC and imported PVC does not offer an advantage for domestic value

chlorine can be safely handled, used and what to do in an emergency.

addition.

AMAI members are making adequate availability of chlorine at

Role of the AMAI association towards industry support and growth.

all locations to meet the enhanced demand for drinking water

Alkali Manufacturers Association of India (AMAI) actively interfaces

disinfection and the Alkali industry is fully committed to supporting the government’s effort.

with the government and other agencies at the centre and state levels.

AMAI is also advocating use of chlorine to disinfect water and waste-

The association also works closely with international professional

water. The association has been imparting free training to municipal

bodies like World Chlorine Council, Euro Chlor, The Chlorine Institute, American Chemistry Council-Chlorine Division and is also represented in these organizations. AMAI proactively promotes the industry through practices that are fair, inclusive and sustainable including but not limiting to following initiatives: •

Promote sustainable growth and development of the Indian Alkali

and Chloro-Vinyl industries •

Holistic development considering the local, regional & global

water treatment and sewage treatment personnel on chlorination techniques and safe handling chlorine. The chlor-alkali industry also produced sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite, recommended by WHO for cleaning of surfaces and disposal of infected masks. The industry is fully geared to meet the rise in demand.

Growth momentum of the industry post the pandemic outbreak.

perspectives to sustain the industry

In 2020, the Chlor-Alkali market saw a decrease in growth rate due

•

Improve Chlorine Safety Performance

to COVID-19 severely impacting the North American and European

•

Encourage Members to continuously improve performance through

nations. Numerous manufacturing activities were deferred as a

various methods including Responsible Care

precautionary measure. Supply-chain disruptions impacted the chlor-

•

Promote Resource Conservation

alkali and other end-use industries decreasing the demand by over 5

•

Promote sound management of Chemicals

percent in major application areas.

•

Disseminate information on rules, regulations, laws, Govt.

Expansion schemes across the globe were postponed resulting in a

notifications, Technological Developments and ensure compliance

decline in demand for chlor-alkali. The demand for the chemicals,

•

Educate Industry on current & emerging global issues impacting

organic and inorganic chemicals reduced across the world. Interruption

industry & Environment through Seminars/ Conferences/Plant Visits

in construction, infrastructure projects and water treatment projects

•

impacted the demand for PVC across the globe, in turn, impacting the

Address important areas like Sustainability of Chlorine Chemistry

through Chlorine molecule campaign

chlorine market. Decline in automotive industry further reduced the

•

demand for glass and polymers.

AMAI endeavours to promote the growth of the Alkali and Chloro-

Vinyl industries and thereby contributing to the country’s economic

To alleviate the effect, chemical companies need to emphasize on

growth.

operational efficiency, cost management, and asset optimization. Key

AMAI submitted the plea that alleged that low priced imports from

players also need to focus on long-term prospects such as emerging

Japan, Iran, Qatar and Oman are causing material injury to the

applications, innovations, reviewing customer buying behavior

domestic industry and are hence affecting the profitability of local producers. As a result, in 2020, commerce ministry’s investigation arm, Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) had issued a notification regarding initiation of anti-dumping probe on the Caustic Soda imports. However, despite positive recommendations from

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

patterns, and accepting new business models that help create continued growth. According to the Indian chlor-Alkali industry it may take longer than anticipated for the domestic chlor-Alkali demand to reach pre-covid levels.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

GREEN CHEMISTRY

NATURE-INSPIRED WAY FOR TURNING CO2 INTO CLEAN FUELS

Researchers have developed an efficient concept to turn carbon dioxide into clean, sustainable fuels, without any unwanted by-products or waste.

esearchers from the University of Cambridge, in their latest research has improved fuel production efficiency by 18 times in a laboratory setting, demonstrating that polluting carbon emissions can be turned into green fuels efficiently without any wasted energy. The results are reported in two related papers in Nature Chemistry and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The Cambridge-developed proof of concept relies on enzymes isolated from bacteria to power the chemical reactions which convert CO2 into fuel, a process called electrolysis. Enzymes are more efficient than other catalysts, such as gold, but they are highly sensitive to their local chemical environment. If the local environment isn’t exactly right, the enzymes fall apart and the chemical reactions are slow. The Cambridge researchers, working with a team from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa in Portugal, have developed a method to improve the efficiency of electrolysis by fine-tuning the solution conditions to alter the local environment of the enzymes. “Enzymes have evolved over millions of years to be extremely efficient and selective, and they’re great for fuel-production because there aren’t any unwanted by-products,” said Dr Esther Edwardes Moore from Cambridge’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, first author of the PNAS paper. “However, enzyme sensitivity throws up a different set of challenges. Our method accounts for this sensitivity, so that the local environment is adjusted to match the enzyme’s ideal working conditions.” The researchers used computational methods to design a system to improve the electrolysis of CO2. Using the enzyme-based system, the

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

level of fuel production increased by 18 times compared to the current benchmark solution. To improve the local environment further, the team showed how two enzymes can work together, one producing fuel and the other controlling the environment. They found that by adding another enzyme, it sped up the reactions, both increasing efficiency and reducing unwanted byproducts. “We ended up with just the fuel we wanted, with no side-products and only marginal energy losses, producing clean fuels at maximum efficiency,” said Dr Sam Cobb, first author of the Nature Chemistry paper. “By taking our inspiration from biology, it will help us develop better synthetic catalyst systems, which is what we’ll need if we’re going to deploy CO2 electrolysis at a large scale.” “Electrolysis has a big part to play in reducing carbon emissions,” said professor Erwin Reisner, who led the research. “Instead of capturing and storing CO2, which is incredibly energy-intensive, we have demonstrated a new concept to capture carbon and make something useful from it in an energy-efficient way.” The researchers say that the secret to more efficient CO2 electrolysis lies in the catalysts. There have been big improvements in the development of synthetic catalysts in recent years, but they still fall short of the enzymes used in this work. “Once we designed the concept, the improvement in performance was startling,” said Edwardes Moore. “I was worried we’d spend years trying to understand what was going on at the molecular level, but once we truly appreciated the influence of the local environment, it evolved really quickly.”

SUSTAINABLE BIOECONOMY: DETERMINING THE TOXICITY OF SUSTAINABLE BIOSURFACTANTS

Zebra fish eggs indicate for ecotoxicity to already reduce environmental burden during product development. The study is a step towards safe bioeconomy which uses sustainable resources and processes to reduce environmental burdens significantly.

ith the early assessment of sustainable, newly developed chemicals and products it is possible to assess a potential risk of toxic substances being released at a later point in product cascades. This has been revealed in a proof-of-concept study jointly coordinated by Goethe University Frankfurt and RWTH Aachen University. In the course of the study the toxicity of sustainable biosurfactants, potentially applied in, e.g., bio-shampoos, and of a new technology for the economical deployment of plant protection agents were analysed using a combination of computer modelling and laboratory experiments. The study is the first step towards a safe bioeconomy from an ecotoxicological stance, and which uses sustainable resources and processes to reduce environmental burdens significantly. The natural resources of the planet are running short, yet at the same time they are the basis for our prosperity and development. A dilemma which the EU intends to overcome with the aid of its revised bioeconomy strategy. Rather than relying on fossil-based materials, the economy is to be based on renewable materials. These include plants, wood, microorganisms and algae. At some point in time everything is to be found in closed loops, yet the implementation of a circular bioeconomy requires a shift in the manufacture of chemicals. These also have to be produced from bio-materials rather than crude oil. It is precisely here that the interdisciplinary project “GreenToxiConomy”, which is part of the scientific alliance Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), comes into play. The objective was to examine bio-based substances and innovative technologies with a view to their toxic impact on the environment at an early stage in product development and to incorporate the resulting findings into product design. Project

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

partners from Aachen, Julich and Dusseldorf provided two of their biobased product candidates for the analyses: microgel containers for crop protection agents and biosurfactants. The wash-active biosurfactants for use in shampoos and detergents at BioSC are based on the synthesis abilities of the Pseudomonas putida bacterium and the Ustilago maydis fungus, respectively, rather than on crude oil. The microgel technology allows for the controlled delivery of crop protection agents because the containers ensure that the active ingredients still adhere to the plants in the event of rain. Dr. Sarah Johann, the lead author for the study and the head of a working group in the department of evolutionary ecology and environmental toxicology at the Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity at Goethe University Frankfurt, explained: “For the analysis of novel substances and technologies we have selected a broad range of concentration to be able to adequately estimate potential hazards for humans and the environment. We wanted to examine whether the bio-based surfactants were more environmentally friendly than conventional chemical surfactants. In addition, we investigated whether the microgel containers per se induce any toxicity.” To ensure the ecotoxicological evaluation was as precise as possible, the project team combined two elements in the determination of the toxicity: computer-aided prognoses (in silico) and experiments in the laboratory (in vitro and in vivo). The result: both biosurfactants and microgels are highly promising candidates for use in a future bioeconomy whose products must be sustainably manufactured while not causing any environmental damage or harm to humans both during and after their utilisation.

GREEN CHEMISTRY

REUSABLE CATALYST MAKES C–H BOND USING OXYGEN EASIER AND MORE EFFICIENT

C–H bonds is an essential step in the production of many solvents, polymers, and surfactants.

he selective oxidation of C–H bonds using oxygen has become a much simpler and more sustainable endeavor, thanks to a novel manganese (Mn)-based catalyst developed by scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech). Consisting of reusable Mg6MnO8 nanoparticles with unprecedented surface area, their catalyst enables the desired oxidative reactions to occur at mild temperature and pressure conditions without the need for toxic additives, opening doors to more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly chemistry applications. In the chemical industry, the selective cleavage and oxidation of carbon– hydrogen (C–H) bonds, called “oxidative C–H functionalization” is an essential step in the production of many solvents, polymers, and surfactants, as well as intermediate compounds for agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Ideally, one would want to use oxygen (O2) as the only oxidant in this process to avoid using more expensive and environmentally taxing substances, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), chlorine (Cl2), or nitric acid (HNO3). However, using O2 as the oxidant entails some unresolved problems. While some progress has been made in the field of recoverable and reusable catalysts, most heterogeneous systems require high reaction temperatures, high O2 pressures, or the use of toxic additives. In turn, this cripples the scope of potential applications, scalability, and efficiency of these catalytic systems. Against this backdrop, a team of scientists from Tokyo Tech, led by associate professor Keigo Kamata, recently found a promising catalyst for oxidative C–H functionalization. As explained in their paper published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfacesouter, they inferred that isolated manganese (Mn) species fixed in a crystalline matrix could

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

constitute a high-performance heterogeneous catalyst even at mild reaction conditions, based on previous knowledge. Accordingly, they investigated the catalyst murdochite-type Mg6MnO8, a rock salt structure of magnesium oxide (MgO) with one eighth of the Mg2+ ions replaced with Mn4+ ions and another eighth replaced with vacancies, resulting in a crystal with Mn ions and vacancies orderly occupying alternating layers. Using a cost-effective sol–gel method aided by malic acid, the team prepared Mg6MnO8 nanoparticles with a very high surface area. Kamata elaborated: “The specific surface area of our Mg6MnO8 catalyst was 104 m2/g, about seven times higher than that of Mg6MnO8 synthesized using previously reported methods.” The researchers also demonstrated, through numerous experiments, that their Mg6MnO8 nanoparticles could efficiently catalyze the selective oxidation of C–H of various alkylarene compounds even under mild reaction conditions, namely 40°C and atmospheric pressure. The yield of the final products was also higher than that obtained using existing Mn-based catalysts. To top things off, the Mg6MnO8 nanoparticles could be easily recovered via filtration and then reused without any apparent loss in catalytic activity after multiple cycles. Finally, the team sought to understand why their proposed catalyst performed so well through a series of kinetic and mechanistic studies. They concluded that the isolation of redox sites (Mn species, in this case) in a crystalline base matrix (MgO) was a particularly important feature to achieve oxidative C–H functionalization using O2 at mild conditions. Satisfied with the results and their findings, Kamata speculated: “Our approach constitutes a promising strategy for the development of highly efficient heterogeneous oxidation systems with wide substrate scopes.”

NEW CATALYST-COATED MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY FOR GREEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION

The new CCMs show higher electrolyzer efficiency and higher electric current density and high activity catalyst during lab testing.

oneywell announced that it has developed new catalyst-coated membrane (CCMs) technology for Green Hydrogen production and will further test the technology with electrolyzer manufacturers. Green Hydrogen, which is produced using an electrolyzer powered by renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, is expected to play an important role in the energy transition in coming decades with overall hydrogen demand expected to grow 5-7x over the next 30 years according to the Hydrogen Council. The new Honeywell technology focuses on CCMs for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzers. Honeywell’s latest CCMs have been shown in lab testing to enable higher electrolyzer efficiency and higher electric current density enabled by a breakthrough proprietary high ionic conductivity membrane and high

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

activity catalyst. This is projected to provide a 25 percent reduction in electrolyzer stack cost. Honeywell’s Green Hydrogen program leverages decades of R&D and manufacturing experience in developing and manufacturing marketleading membranes and catalysts for gas processing, refining, steel, and petrochemical industries, as well as the experience in the most recent development of novel membranes for battery and power applications. “Honeywell’s latest technology has been validated in lab tests by third-party hydrogen electrolyzer technologists,” said Ben Owens, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions. “By accelerating the development of these high-performance CCMs, Honeywell is contributing to the transition to a hydrogen-based economy.”

ETHERS MAY HAVE A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE WITH HETEROGENOUS CATALYSIS

Researchers from Osaka University report a zirconium oxide-supported platinum-molybdenum catalyst for the preparation of unsymmetrical ethers from esters.

ptimizing chemical processes to ensure they are environmentally friendly and sustainable is becoming increasingly important and catalysts play a key role as they can make reactions more efficient. Researchers from Osaka University have reported a zirconium oxidesupported platinum-molybdenum catalyst that promotes the selective conversion of esters into valuable unsymmetrical ethers. Their findings are published in JACS Au. Catalysts have long been at the heart of making chemical reactions faster, improving their yields, and making them less wasteful and more energy efficient, leading to processes that are more cost effective and be tter for the environment. Ethers are organic molecules that have a range of uses in products such as fragrances, fuels, and pharmaceuticals. They contain an oxygen atom that can be thought of as a bridge between two parts. If the parts are the same, they are considered symmetrical; if they are different, they are unsymmetrical. Current routes to unsymmetrical ethers have various limitations. For example, some require specific starting materials, some produce large amounts of waste, and some need conditions—such as high pressure—that are expensive and/or polluting to produce. Using just hydrogen to convert esters into ethers through direct hydrodeoxygenation can be thought of a hydrogen molecule (H2) grabbing an oxygen atom out of the ester leaving the ether and a water

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

molecule (H2O). This is both efficient and clean; therefore, developing catalysts to promote this reaction under mild conditions has significant advantages. “Our zirconium oxide-supported platinum-molybdenum catalyst allowed us to obtain good yields of over 20 unsymmetrical ethers under mild conditions using hydrogen molecules,” explained co-author of the study Sho Yamaguchi. “This is very encouraging because there are numerous naturally occurring and low-cost esters that can be made into more valuable ether products.” The catalyst was easily separated from the reaction mixtures and could be reused without losing activity. It was also found to work when the hydrogen was at atmospheric pressure. In addition, the researchers showed that it was possible to convert a specific triglyceride derived from biomass into the corresponding triether. Biomass is a renewable resource, therefore processes appropriate for biomass-derived materials provide sustainable solutions. “Our catalyst has significant potential for the environmentally friendly and sustainable production of unsymmetrical ethers,” said study corresponding author Tomoo Mizugaki. “If we are to continue enjoying the variety of products available today and maintain development at the rate we are accustomed to, catalysts such as ours will be key to an efficient and clean future.”

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

MARKET UPDATE

TOTALENERGIES & PARTNERS START 3D CARBON CAPTURE PILOT IN DUNKIRK, FRANCE

UNKIRK, FRANCE: The “3D” industrial pilot to demonstrate an innovative process for capturing CO2 from industrial activities is now running at ArcelorMittal’s Dunkirk site. With support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program, the project aims to validate replicable technical solutions for carbon capture. The “3D” project, driven by a consortium including TotalEnergies, ArcelorMittal, Axens and IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN), is a major step towards decarbonizing industries that are highly emissive of CO2, such as steelmaking. The challenge for carbon capture researchers is making the processes more competitive and less energy intensive. This industrial pilot should allow the performance of the DMXTM carbon capture process developed in IFPEN’s labs over the last ten years to be verified. The project was launched in May 2019, and the building of the demonstrator began in 2020 under Axens’ supervision.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Last December, the pilot’s main modules, including a 22 meter tower, were delivered and assembled at ArcelorMittal’s site in Dunkirk. The phases of building the pilot and connecting it to the plant have now been completed, and the unit is ready for start-up. This demonstration, which is scheduled to last for 12 to 18 months, is the final stage before the technology’s full-scale deployment. The carbon capture facility will process steelmaking gases: it will demonstrate the effectiveness of the carbon capture process by separating the CO2 from other gases. During the demonstration stage, it will capture 0.5 tons of CO2 an hour ie. more than 4,000 tons a year. “This carbon capture pilot is a big step towards decarbonizing the industry: it is being tested in steelmaking, but can also be applied to refining processes, contributing to TotalEnergies’ net zero ambition for 2050, together with society. We need to capture

and store residual emissions: that’s why our R&D teams are working alongside our partners to develop expertise throughout the CO2 capture, storage and use process. So we are using existing technologies at our Zeeland refinery in the Netherlands, we are using pilots to validate the performance of technologies that are already advanced, as is the case here in Dunkirk, and we are looking further ahead, in our research centers, to those that will deliver tomorrow’s breakthroughs,” said MarieNoelle Semeria, chief technology officer at TotalEnergies. The project is a vital driver for reaching the targets of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. It includes twelve partners from research and industry in six European countries: ArcelorMittal, IFPEN, Axens, TotalEnergies and its affiliate GreenFlex, ETH, DTU, AirProducts, John Cockerill, Gassco, Brevik Engineering and Seqens. The project also has two sponsors: Suez and Lhoist.

BASF DOUBLES ACRYLIC DISPERSIONS CAPACITY IN MALAYSIA

ONG KONG: BASF said it has started up its new acrylic dispersions production line in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia, doubling its capacity. The state-of-the-art facility will produce acrylic dispersions serving the coatings, construction, adhesives, and packaging industries in Asia Pacific. The new production line complements the existing set-up and allows the production of new dispersions technologies under Acronal® EDGE, Acronal® PLUS, Joncryl® and next generation Acronal® ECO product ranges. We are committed to ensuring that our systems are environmentally-friendly. This new line is equipped with condensate stripping recovery technology that reduces freshwater consumption and wastewater generation. BASF began operating its first acrylics dispersions production line in Malaysia in 2015 at Pasir Gudang. The production site at Pasir Gudang is situated in the integrated multi-purpose Johor Port Free Trade Zone, thus making it a

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

strategic location for exports to the region. “With proximity to three world-class ports, the expansion will be a key supply point for our customers in Malaysia, Singapore and other ASEAN countries, also in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). The first commercial quantities will be produced for our customers in March this year,” said Peter van der Zwan, director of ASEAN & ANZ dispersions & resins, BASF. “As a growth business within BASF, we will continue to invest into enhancing our asset network for polymer dispersions in this region, which is strongly backed by our own R&D capabilities in Asia Pacific. The new production line enables us to capture growth opportunities in the fast-growing emerging markets, as well as enhance our reliability towards our customers in ASEAN and ANZ,” said Jeff Knight, senior vice president, dispersions & resins, Asia Pacific, BASF.

MARKET UPDATE

AKZONOBEL OPENS GLOBAL R&D CENTER IN UK

MSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: A new £10 million global research and development center has been opened by AkzoNobel at its Slough site in UK – adding to a growing list of similar facilities located in countries around the world. The facility – home to 120 specialists – will act as a major hub within the company’s worldwide R&D network and help to further advance AkzoNobel’s innovation capabilities, especially in the area of decorative paints. It’s the latest in a series of centers opened by AkzoNobel designed to further advance the company’s pioneering product development. These include an automotive facility in Poland, an Application Training Center in Dubai, an Innovation Campus in Felling, UK, and a global innovation, development and training center in Qatar for the Marine Coatings business.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

“The inauguration of this fantastic new center will help us to continue our long tradition of pioneering new products and developing more sustainable solutions for our customers through ground-breaking innovations,” said AkzoNobel CEO, Thierry Vanlancker. “As well as marking the start of a new chapter in the UK, it’s also a clear signal of our ongoing commitment to keep pushing boundaries as part of our People. Planet. Paint. approach to making a genuine and lasting difference to customers, communities and the world around us.” The opening of the Slough facility follows on from the 2019 UK launch of AkzoNobel’s R&D Innovation Campus in Felling, which is home to some of the company’s leading scientists and technical experts in marine and protective coatings.

“Our paints and coatings have a strong heritage in the UK and Ireland, touching so many aspects of our day-to-day lives. This modern, fit-for-purpose center will continue this legacy into the future. It will enable us to further our long-standing contributions to the paints and coatings industry, while helping to drive the local economy, both regionally and nationally,” added Fiona McLachlan, AkzoNobel’s technical director color. The new center is located close to the company’s flagship Dulux Academy, a purpose-built facility which – along with 12 other locations in Dulux Decorator Centers and colleges – provides painters and decorators with expertise to help improve product, application and technical knowledge and understanding.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

SECTOR VIEW GREEN HYDROGEN

DECARBONISING THE PLANET WITH GREEN HYDROGEN

BY DEBARATI DAS

he world has reached a threshold of accumulating pollution and

is being considered as an important pillar of a net zero economy and a

there is an urgent need to not just put an end to the release of

critical mode for storing energy.

pollution but also to find environmentally friendly ways to function for a cleaner future. Decarbonising the planet has become a global goal that all countries are trying to achieve by 2050. There are various ways in which every country, industry and organization are trying to achieve this. However, one of the forerunners in the decarbonizing technologies is ‘Green Hydrogen’. Green hydrogen is fast becoming a potential area of focus as it is regarded as a critical enabler for the global transition to sustainable energy while also being

Green hydrogen is based on the technology of generating hydrogen through electrolysis wherein electrical current is used to separate hydrogen from oxygen in water. In short, if electricity is obtained from renewable sources, we can produce energy without emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Like all fuels, hydrogen when burnt produces energy. But the by-product of burning hydrogen is water, making it the most environmentally friendly fuel.

more accessible, efficient, sustainable and driven by clean energies.

Sustainable Prospect

Green hydrogen is increasingly being promoted at climate conferences

According to IEA, this method of obtaining green hydrogen would save

as a sustainable means to decarbonize the environment by being used

the 830 million tonnes of CO2 that are emitted annually when this gas

in heavy industry, long haul freight, shipping, and aviation. Hydrogen

is produced using fossil fuels.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Today, there are various colours such as grey, blue, green or even pink, yellow or turquoise associated with hydrogen technologies depending on the way it is produced. Although hydrogen emits only water when burned, creating it can be carbon intensive. Green hydrogen is the only type produced in a climate-neutral manner, thus making it critical to reach the 2050 milestone. Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element in nature and has been used in industries for centuries to fuel cars, airships and spaceships etc. However, using the right hydrogen can make a huge difference in decarbonising the planet. Experts are optimistic about the potential of green hydrogen and have dubbed it as the ‘fuel of the future’!! Many countries including United States, Russia, China, France and Germany are making hydrogen fuel a reality. Japan is taking a step further to become a hydrogen economy. The US has invested $150 million in hydrogen fuel infrastructure and development every year since 2017. Europe and Asia are also investing more than $2 billion annually in hydrogen fuel production. China alone has committed over $217 billion of investment in hydrogenpowered transportation until 2023. India is still in its nascent stage in the green hydrogen revolution. Currently, the country’s entire production of hydrogen comes from fossil fuels. However, the country targets that by 2050, three-fourth of all hydrogen is projected to be green. In January this year, India launched National Hydrogen Mission in a bid to transform the country into a global hub for green hydrogen production and export. Many Indian companies are also working towards this goal. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) announced its plans to become a net carbon-zero firm by 2035 and will invest 750 billion over the next three years in renewable energy. Out of this, it will invest 600 bn in a 5,000-acre, green energy integrated complex called Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat. State-owned GAIL (India) also plans to build India’s largest green hydrogen plant as it looks to supplement its natural gas business with carbon-free fuel. It will take 12-14 months to set up the plant which will have a capacity of 10 MW, the largest announced so far in the country. NTPC too plans to produce green hydrogen on a commercial scale. The company will do that from its upcoming 4,750 MW renewable energy park at the Rann of Kutch. The capacity of the plant will be 5 MW (megawatts). Fusion Fuel Green, which has offices in Ireland and Portugal, has

Siemens Energy and TotalEnergies signed a collaboration agreement

signed an agreement with BGR Energy Systems, an engineering,

on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2022, to

procurement and construction firm headquarters in Chennai to develop

act as co-developers for a demonstrator plant project, which will be

green hydrogen projects in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. The projects will

established at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s flagship sustainable urban

be centered around supplying hydrogen for the production of green

development.

ammonia and bio-ethanol.

Going green ventures

“We are very pleased to partner with Masdar and Siemens Energy to meet the challenge of decarbonizing air transport through sustainable

Several companies across the world are making a foray into green

aviation fuel from green hydrogen. In this project, TotalEnergies

hydrogen. Here is an insight into the developments happening in the

brings its expertise in renewables energy as well as SAF manufacturing

area of green hydrogen globally.

and marketing advanced sustainable fuel production with the aim of

• TotalEnergies, Masdar, Siemens to produce green hydrogen join hands for green hydrogen, SAF:

acting directly on the carbon intensity of the energy products used by

TotalEnergies collaborated with Masdar, a leading renewable energy

energy company with the ambition to get to net zero by 2050 together

company, and Siemens Energies, in a Masdar-led initiative focused on

with society,” said Francois Good, senior vice president, Refining and

green hydrogen to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Masdar,

Petrochemicals Africa Middle East and Asia at TotalEnergies.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

our customers. This is in-line with our strategy of building a multi-

REPORTS BRAZILIAN BIOPESTICIDES MARKET

REDUCTION IN FARMING PROFITS TO HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MARKET

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Market Overview The biopesticide market in Brazil was valued at $173.7 million in 2020, and it is estimated to reach $269.2 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 7.4 percent during the period of 2021-2027. COVID-19 had a negative impact on the supply chains. Due to the restrictions in the movement of raw materials, the manufacturing industry suffered initially in terms of supply and cash flow. Moreover, there was reduced profitability of the Brazilian farmers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reduction in profits from farming in the country is expected to result in a negative impact on the biopesticides market. The manufacturers still need to take measures to tide over uncertainties from the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and work on innovations to grow the sales values. The key drivers for this market include the growing adoption of organic farming, negative impact of chemical pesticides and the governments’ integrated approach to promote the biopesticide industry in Brazil. Furthermore, the ministry is also actively promoting innovations in the fields of biopesticides resulting in introducing innovative biological based pesticide products in the country. The biopesticides segment is being driven by a growing awareness of sustainable food production, farmers’ concerns about excessive

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

chemical use, and the rising expense of chemical crop protection. This increased knowledge is reflected in the booming biological sector in Brazil.

Scope of the report Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from natural materials such as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. The biopesticides market in Brazil is segmented into Product Type (Bioherbicide, Bioinsecticide, Biofungicide, and Other Product Types), Formulation (Liquid and Dry), Ingredient (Microbial Pesticide, Plant Pesticide, and Biochemical Pesticide), Mode of Application (Foliar Spray, Seed Treatment, Soil Treatment, and Post Harvest), and Application (Crop-Based and Non-Crop Based).

Key Market Trends Adoption of organic farming is driving the market The demand for organically grown produce in Brazil increased in the past few years as the growing movement for sustainable agriculture has emerged in recent years, which is promoting practices that contribute to reducing social and environmental concerns over agricultural practices. The rising awareness about the benefits of organic produce among the Brazilian as well as global consumers is helping in increasing the demand for organic produce.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply, there were 17,075 registered organic farmers in the country in 2018, compared to 6,700 in 2013. The health-conscious consumers prefer organic food, in order to avoid the adverse health effects caused by chemical preservatives in inorganic food. This is driving the market for biopesticides in the country. Moreover, Karen Friederich of the Brazilian Association of Collective Health stated that agrochemicals contaminate approximately 70 percent of the food consumed by Brazilians. Therefore, the growing awareness about healthy food products with minimal environmental impacts is expected to drive the use of biopesticides for use in organic farming across the country, during the forecast period.

Bioinsectides is dominating the market The Brazil bioinsecticide market registered a CAGR of 7.7 percent for the forecast period, 2021-2027. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA) of Brazil approved 95 new biological pest control products in 2020. Mapa points out in a comment on their website that this number was high in contrast to past years. Biopesticides are also crucial instruments for making Brazilian agriculture more sustainable, according to the ministry. This creates a good opportunity for the bioinsecticide market to grow in the forecast period of 2027.

Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus for maize in Brazil. Furthermore, prominent firms have been launching authorized biopesticides, which is expected to support the bioinsecticide market’s growth rate, as well as increased product launches and expansions by enterprises in the country

Competitive Landscape The Brazilian Biopesticides Market is fairly consolidated with the major players occupying the major share of the market. The major players in the brazil biopesticides market are BASF SE, Vittia Group, FMC Corporation, Bayer AG, and UPL LTD. New product launches, partnerships, and acquisitions are the major strategies adopted by the leading companies in the market. Production innovation has been a key strategy adopted by most of the players and major players are also actively involved in partnership and distribution agreements to introduce and expand the product offering.

Various businesses are attempting to introduce items and services to the market such as the CABI BioProtection Portal is a free, webbased service that allows users to learn about registered biocontrol and biopesticide products in the country. In addition to that, the leading companies have been launching approved biopesticides. This is likely to boost the growth rate of the bio-insecticide market, alongside increasing product launches and expansions by companies in the country.

Recent Development In July 2021, Marrone Bio Innovations and Rizobacter, a subsidiary of Bioceres Crop Solutions expanded a strategic alliance to supply Rizonema, a biological seed treatment for nematodes and soil dwelling insects, in Brazil.

Several companies are emphasizing collaboration agreements and are conducting R&D activities, as well, in order to introduce new products in the segment. Vitae Rural Biotecnologia introduced

In October 2020, Grupo Vittia launched a new product, a Biopesticide, ‘Bioimmune’, to fight against Asian rust in Brazil. It acts on the arial part of the plant and improves the health and quality of soybean crops. In September 2019, FMC launched a new product, Presence, which is the first microbiological nematicide to be available in the Brazilian market.

Source: Mordor Intelligence 40

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

REPORTS CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS MARKET

RAPID URBANIZATION TO DRIVE GROWTH OF CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS MARKET

Construction chemicals are important elements Chemical Today Magazine | January 2022 in the global infrastructure development. These construction chemicals also reduce Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022 the quantity of cement and water usually required during construction. (Image © Pixabay GmbH)

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onstruction chemicals involve chemical formulations used with cement, concrete, or other construction material to accumulate the construction materials together. To achieve its aesthetic, functional, and design necessities of civil structures, these specialty materials are mixed in a definite quantity with the construction materials. As construction chemicals are the important elements of chemical industry, they perform an important function in the global infrastructure development. These construction chemicals also reduce the quantity of cement and water that are usually required during the construction. These chemicals are specialty chemicals which are used in constructing any buildings to give additional protection from environmental risks and to improve their life. Global construction chemicals market is estimated to reach $46.6 billion by 2024; growing at a CAGR of 6.3 percent from 2016 to 2024, as per the market report. Growing adoption in developing countries, rapid urbanization, rising global construction industry, rising quality of construction and economics, and growing conformity with recent manufacturing standards are the factors driving the growth of the construction chemicals market. However, changing economic cycles and low consumer responsiveness may hinder the growth of the market. Furthermore, growing responsiveness towards sustainable infrastructure & energy conservation and use of readyto-mix concrete (RMC) in several developing nations might provide with several growth opportunities in the forecasted years. The global construction chemicals market has been segmented into type and geography. The construction chemicals market is further segmented by type as concrete and mixture, adhesives and sealants, asphalt additives, protective coatings, and other types. By geography, the market has been bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). The US, Canada, Mexico are covered under North America wherein Europe covers UK, Germany, France Italy and rest of Europe. AsiaPacific covers China, Japan, India, South Korea and others. RoW covers South America, Middle East and Africa. The key players operating in the market are BASF SE, Ashland Inc, Arkema SA, MAPEI SpA, Fosroc International Ltd, RPM International Inc, The Dow Chemical Company, W R Grace & Co, Sika AG and Pidilite Industries Limited, among others.

Source: Variant Market Research

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2022

REPORTS GLOBAL DYES MARKET

SHIFT TOWARDS NATURAL OR ORGANIC DYES ON GROWING CONSUMER AWARENESS

The overall dyes market is dominated by reactive dyes both in terms of revenue and volume produced, owing to the widespread use in textile and leather industry. Disperse dyes have the second highest market share which is followed by direct, acid and vat dyes respectively. (Image © Pixabay GmbH)

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Global Dyes Market Size

By Market Structure: The organized

In terms of revenue, the global dyes market has registered a constant growth with positive CAGR in last five years 2012 to 2017. Region wise, APAC has been the largest producer followed by the Americas, Europe and Rest of the World (RoW). Country wise, China has been the largest producer followed by India, US, Brazil, UK and Germany. Rising environmental issues along with surging pollution levels have resulted in policy changes across the globe. A shift from using synthetic dyes to natural or organic dyes has been observed in recent years, majorly due to high presence of hazardous chemical content in synthetic ones and growing awareness among users of the end product.

players dominate the global dye industry in terms

Global Dyes Market Segmentation By Type of Dyes: The overall dyes market

of revenue as well as production volume. Major dye manufacturers in the organized sector include Bodal Chemicals, Atul Chemicals, Huntsman, Zhejiang Longsheng, Zhejiang Runtu Co Ltd, Jiangsu Yabang Dyestuff Co Ltd, Dystar and others whereas, the unorganized sector include a large number of small and medium scale dye manufacturers in each country across the globe. Some of the other major players of the global dyes market are DIC Corporation, Kiri Industries, Clariant AG, Cabot, Atul, AksharChem India Limited, Archroma, Zhejiang Jihua Group Co Ltd, Colourtex Pvt Ltd, Everlight Chemicals, Lanxess and BASF.

Competition in Global Dyes Market

is dominated by Reactive Dyes both in terms of revenue and volume produced, owing to the widespread use of reactive dyes in textile and leather industry. Disperse dyes have the second highest market share which is followed by direct, acid and vat dyes respectively.

Competition among players in the dye industry

Most of the dye manufacturers are using the latest

Application: The textile industry

is majorly on the basis of manufacturing process, technology,

and

pricing

strategy.

The

dye

manufacturing industry is transitioning from lowtech manufacturing to an innovative high-tech sector and adopting backward integration process.

dominated global dyes market majorly due to increasing consumer preferences for new and unusual textile colors. Rising usage of leather dyes owing to increasing consumer preference towards leather products in major countries has further augmented the demand. Rising demand for high performance dyes in printing inks and paper industry has been driving an additional demand for black dyes over the globe.

technology available to improve the quality of

By Region: Asia-Pacific region dominated

continue to lead the global dye market in the future

the global dyes market owing to increased manufacturing capabilities in developing economies such as China, India and Indonesia. United States leads the North and South American region in production and export of dyes, followed by Brazil. A number of global players operating in the region have shifted their manufacturing facilities to low cost APAC countries with less stringent regulations.

By Country: China is the leading manufacturer and exporter of dyes around the globe. India is the second largest manufacturer and exporter of dyes in the world after China. Apart from China and India, other major manufacturers of dye are US, Brazil, UK and Germany.

their product and to reduce the effluent discharge. Manufacturers of dyes globally have to strategically price their products that meet the demand and criteria of the domestic and international Market.

Future Outlook and Projections The global dye industry is expected to grow with a positive CAGR from 2017-2022. APAC region will owing to the expected strong growth of the dye industry in China, US and India. Robust growth in end users industries such as textiles, construction, automotives, printing inks, paper and personal care industry will drive the global demand for dyes. The textile industry is likely to be the major application for dyes owing to globally increasing population, increasing disposable income and ever changing consumer fashion trends worldwide. Apart from China and India, the production and export of dyes from other Asia Pacific Countries is also likely to increase. Rising environmental issues along with surging pollution levels have resulted in policy changes across the globe.

Source: Research and Markets 44

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

REPORTS PAINTS & COATINGS MARKET

INCREASING PRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO FUEL PAINTS & COATINGS MARKET

The global market for paints and coatings is being driven by the ongoing technological advancement as well as the ongoing construction activities in Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022 the Asian region. The market is also expected to be driven by the increasing production of electric vehicles. (Image © Pixabay GmbH)

aints and coatings as a material which, when spread over a surface as a relatively thin film, subsequently dries to form a solid, adhesive, cohesive, and protective layer. Paints and coatings are used to protect substrates against mechanical, chemical, and atmospheric influences. According to the report, the global paints and coatings market is expected to witness growth at a significant rate during the forecast period 2022 to 2026. The global market for paints and coatings is being driven by the ongoing technological advancements and the planned as well as the ongoing construction activities in the Asian region. The market is also expected to be driven by the increasing production of electric vehicles. Moreover, the rising environmental concerns and stringent government regulations related to the emission of volatile organic compound (VOCs) is expected to hinder the market growth in the near future. The ongoing growth in the urbanization and construction industry, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, is likely to drive the consumption of paints and coatings. The rate of urbanization in the Asia-Pacific region is around 1.5 percent per year, the world’s highest. It is estimated that by the year 2030, over half of the population in the region will be urban. According to the United Nations, as of 2020, 33 megacities in the world require planned habitation for the rapidly growing urban population. More than 50 percent of the global GDP is generated in cities, and urbanization can lead to sustainable growth if managed well by increasing productivity. Urbanization has expanded immensely in recent years. Due to urbanization, there has been a rise in the number of construction projects, high-rise buildings, and other construction types. Thus, as urbanization rapidly increases, the number of construction projects increases, leading to the growth in the usage of paints and coatings. The demand for paints and coatings is rising in the automotive industry due to increased overall vehicle demand, aging vehicles, and environmental concerns. Moreover, increasing vehicle production in countries such as China, Mexico, Indonesia, Japan, US, South Korea, Germany and India is further driving the growth of the market. In North America, powder coatings are widely used throughout primer surfacer operations at Chrysler, one of the biggest automobile manufacturers in the US. At General Motors, for their truck plants and in all new paint shops, powder coatings are gaining pace. Due to the evolution in the automotive sector and the manufacturing material, the paints and coatings for the automotive sector are also evolving. One of these evolutions is in the use of smart coatings because they offer the potential to significantly improve surface durability while adding additional functionalities or properties like self-healing, super-hydrophobicity, self-stratifying, selfsensing, soundproofing, and vibration damping.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Certain architectural paints are shifting towards renewable, biobased, or recycled ingredients, such as recycled plastic and soybean oil, as a replacement for organic solvents. Bio-based products are materials composed of agricultural, forestry, or marine materials. Such innovations have been recognized with the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. Low-VOC products continue to gain popularity; for instance, PPG paints brand offers a sub-50 gram per liter volatile organic compound version of break-through! Interior and exterior waterborne acrylic paint. Another ongoing market trend consists of direct-to-metal (DTM) coatings. As a more efficient alternative to your typical primer and topcoat systems, DTM coatings allow for the application of one coat while offering comparable performance to two-coat systems. The global paints and coatings market is segmented based on resin, technology, and end-user industry. The application segment is further segmented as architectural, automotive, wood, packaging, marine and others. In terms of technology, water-borne technology was found to be the dominating among others. Compared to their counterparts, water-borne paints and coatings dry faster due to the evaporation of water from the surface of the coating. In terms of the end-user industry, architecture was found to be dominating followed by other end uses. Architectural paints and coatings include sealers and specialty coatings for building and construction applications (including roofs, floors, pavement, walkways, floors etc). In recent years, the architectural coatings industry has undergone a great change. Currently, coatings have a much different raw material base, a different environmental profile, and different properties compared to the previous decade. Some of the key drivers in the growth of the consumption of paints and coatings include the conversion from oil-based to waterborne paint, reduction in VOC, the emergence of paint-and-primer-in one products, the trend to offer improved film properties such as dirt pickup resistance and early rain resistance, and the desire to provide easy-to-apply new looks. Architectural coatings are also prominent in providing air barriers that are essential for increasing energy efficiency in building enclosures. Air barriers stop the flow of air through the building, protecting the structure and increasing the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. In 2019, more than half of the world’s population lived in urban areas, and the urban population is estimated to reach 2.5 billion by the year 2050. These trends are mainly observed in African and Asian countries.

Based on geography, the global paints and coatings market is segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, South America, Europe, and Middle East and Africa. Asia-Pacific dominates the market along with the fastest growth rates during the forecast period. Countries including China, India, and ASEAN countries offer a huge market for the consumption of paints and coatings in the region owing to the presence of large manufacturing bases and construction industries. Within the region, China dominates the market supported by the growing demand for low-cost housing and the increasing real-estate sector in the country in the previous years. The US is the world’s largest of the economies. The GDP of the country has decreased at an annual rate of 5 percent in the first quarter and 9.5 percent in the second quarter of 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The construction industry in the United States continued to expand, owing to a strong economy and positive market fundamentals for commercial real estate, along with an increase in federal and state funding for public works and institutional buildings. The paints and coatings market in the country is mainly driven by rising investment in the residential construction segment and growing demand for remodeling old buildings. However, due to the ongoing global crisis, the demand in the region will be on the lower side in the year 2020 due to the dampening of construction activities. In 2020, construction spending in the first two months combined increased 8 percent from the same period in 2019, spurred by a 13 percent jump in single-family construction, an 11 percent rise in public construction, and the lowest 1 percent increase in private nonresidential spending. In 2018, the United States exported around 1.8 million new light vehicles and 131,200 medium and heavy trucks to over 200 markets globally, with additional exports of automotive parts valued at $88.5 billion. The country has an open investment policy, a large consumer market, and available infrastructure, along with local and state government incentives for the automotive industry. It is evident that there is a slowdown in the rate of growth, not just in the paints and coatings industry but also in the economy of the country. The increasing use of nanotechnology in the paints and coatings industry is expected to offer several opportunities for the growth of the market. In the country, architectural end-use was found to be the dominating end-user for paints and coatings. The consumption of paints and coatings in the country is likely to grow at a moderate pace in the forecast period.

Source: Research Reports World

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

REPORTS POLYPROPYLENE MARKET

PACKAGING END-USE INDUSTRY TO DOMINATE POLYPROPYLENE MARKET

Polypropylene is the most-widely used plastic for packaging. It is majorly used in food packaging applications where there is direct contact with food or beverages. (Image © Pixabay GmbH)

olypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer that is used in a variety of applications. Polypropylene is produced by combining propylene monomer with catalysts. The global polypropylene industry is witnessing growth because of the emergence of new applications, technological advancements, and growing demand in the APAC region. Polypropylene is one of the most versatile polymers and is used in almost every modern industry. Polypropylene provides resistance against chemicals and extreme temperatures and is increasingly used in packaging, automobiles, building & construction, healthcare and electronics.

material costs. The restraints related to the market mainly pertain to environmental concerns of polypropylene, especially regarding the disposal of plastic waste. Homopolymer to dominate the polypropylene market between 2017 and 2022. Homopolymer polypropylene is majorly used in a variety of applications as they provide high strength. They are also stiffer and stronger than copolymer. Also, due to its chemical resistance and elasticity, it can be used in a variety of applications. Copolymer polypropylene is softer, but, has a stronger impact strength and is more durable than homopolymer propylene. It is increasingly being used in the medical industry. Homopolymer accounted to be the largest and the fastest-growing segment of the overall polypropylene market. The growth is attributed to the broad applicability of homopolymer in different end-use industries such as packaging, automotive, building & construction, electrical & electronics, and medical. Fiber & raffia to lead the polypropylene market during the forecast period.

The polypropylene market size was $71.08 Billion in 2016 and is projected to reach $99.17 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 5.6 percent between 2017 and 2022. The base year considered for the study is 2016, while the forecast period is from 2017 to 2022. Also, the global polypropylene market size is projected to reach 99.17 million tons by 2022, at a CAGR of 5.6 percent between 2017 and 2022. Major factor driving the growth of this market is the rising demand for polypropylene in emerging markets. The restraining factors in the market are identified as environmental concerns and rising raw

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Polypropylene is one of the lowest density plastics. Due to its properties, such as chemical resistance, low density, outstanding property balance, and versatility, polypropylene is used in a broad range of applications, including fiber & raffia. They are used as flexible fibers for carpet, carpet backing and tapes. The injection molding segment is the second-largest application of polypropylene. Polypropylene is smooth to mold, and it flows well in the injection molding equipment due to its low melt viscosity. Injection molding is used for the production of molded plastic products.

Injection molding accounted for the second-largest application of polypropylene globally. The increasing demand for molded plastics in almost every end-use industry is driving the demand for polypropylene in injection molding. The market for polypropylene is projected to register the highest growth in the blow molding application segment. The increasing demand from the food & beverage sector is also a significant factor in the polypropylene market.

plastic materials give stiff competition to polypropylene. Amongst these plastics materials, polyethylene is the most commonly used and most produced. Polyethylene can be processed into soft and flexible as well as hard and robust products.

Packaging end-use industry to dominate the overall market

Opportunities: Owing to the growing concern over climate change in recent times, the global automotive industry is focusing on developing materials to improve fuel efficiency in automotive.

The packaging industry led the polypropylene market, and the trend is estimated to remain the same during the forecast period. Polypropylene is the most-widely used plastic for packaging. It is majorly used in food packaging applications where there is direct contact with food or beverages. The reason for this is that polypropylene does not leak chemicals into the food. It is also used in water bottles, toys, steering wheels, and others. The automotive sector is the second-largest end-use industry of polypropylene. The main driving factor for polypropylene in the automotive industry is the increasing demand for electric and hybrid electric vehicles (EV/HEV). Polypropylene can be used as an insulating material for high voltage carrying cables as well as in the interior of the vehicle. Polypropylene provides lightweight, thinner, and flexible insulation.

APAC market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR APAC led the global polypropylene market, both in terms of volume and value. The APAC market is also estimated to record the highest growth in terms of volume between 2017 and 2022. Increased demand for polypropylene from packaging, automotive, building & construction, electricals & electronics, and medical industries in countries such as China and India is driving the growth of the market in APAC.

Market Dynamics Driver: Growth of key end-use industries The growing demand from end-use industries such as packaging, automotive, building & construction, healthcare and electricals & electronics is the primary growth driver for the polypropylene market. Polypropylene is a low-cost material with excellent mechanical properties and moldability. Due to this, more than half of the plastic used in the automotive sector is polypropylene. Polypropylene is used in different parts, such as bumpers, instrumental panels, and door trims.

Polyethylene can be molded in all kinds of shapes, from the simplest to the most complex ones. All these properties make polyethylene a reliable substitute for polypropylene. Also, the availability of other similar polymers poses intense competition to polypropylene.

More than a quarter of all combined greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are associated with road transport vehicles. Increased awareness about greenhouse gas emission and energy security issues have led to automotive light-weighting as a major trend worldwide. Along with this, the significant growth of electric vehicles is opening up new opportunities for polypropylene. The increase of electric vehicles is associated with rising government regulations over the reduction of greenhouse gas emitted by conventional vehicles, high fuel efficiency provided, and soundless operation. The use of polypropylene helps in light-weighting the vehicle. Light weighting is significant for electric cars as it improves the range of these vehicles. Polypropylene is one most-widely used plastics in electric vehicles. Due to these factors, the growth in the electric vehicle market is expected to open up several opportunities for polypropylene.

Challenges: Increasing trend of plastic recycling Plastics are some of the most commonly produced materials in the world on a large scale. However, plastics are non-biodegradable and affect the environment severely. This affects the growth of the plastics industry. The new trend of recycling plastics materials retrains the growth of plastics and, in turn, the growth of the polypropylene market. Recycling of the available plastic/polypropylene restricts or lessens the manufacturing of plastics/polypropylene. Plastic recycling refers to the process of collecting waste or scrap plastic and reprocessing it into useful products. Earlier, polypropylene was rarely recycled. Now, it is becoming a highly recyclable item through organized efforts to build secondary markets. Brands such as Unilever and Procter & Gamble are driving the demand for postconsumer recycled polypropylene for packaging applications. Also, many companies are adopting this trend to enhance the brand image by committing to zero waste and environmental protection. All these factors affect the growth of the polypropylene market.

The properties of polypropylene, such as low density, lightweight, high heat resistance, durability, and high clarity make it a suitable material for packaging. Polypropylene is also used in building & construction and electricals & electronics for insulating building wraps and insulation of electronics goods. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China predicts the country’s electric car sales to double in the coming few years. All these factors act as critical growth drivers for polypropylene.

Restraints: Availability of other substitutes providing stiff competition to polypropylene There are several plastic materials other than polypropylene, such as polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane (PUR), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene (PE). These

Source: Markets And Markets Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

REPORTS GLOBAL XYLENOLS MARKET

DISINFECTANTS APPLICATION IN XYLENOLS MARKET TO SEE HIGHEST GROWTH

Rising expenditure on healthcare along with increasing incidences of hospital acquired infectious diseases such as surgical site infections and protection from virus on floor surface is likely to drive the xylenols demand in cleaning and disinfection application. (Image © Pixabay GmbH)

Industry Trends Global xylenols market was valued at over $2.6 billion in 2020 and is estimated to grow at over 6 percent CAGR through 2027 owing to the increasing demand from petroleum and polymer industries. Positive outlook for the oilfield chemicals industry is anticipated to fuel the product demand over the forecast timeframe.

after fracturing. The growing demand for xylenol chemicals in various oilfield activities, such as sustainable oil exploration, extraction, and production, may drive the xylenols market growth.

Report Coverage Increasing demand for resin & plastic production will stimulate the demand for 2,4-xylenol The global 2,4-xylenol market is projected to exceed $370 million by 2027 at over 6 percent CAGR. 2,4-xylenol is mainly used as an organic solvent and as a fungicide. It is an important chemical feedstock for products such as in resins, plastics, coatings, laminates, and construction materials. This compound is often blended with other phenolic compounds for use in solvents, mining and oilfield chemicals, and disinfectants.

Oil field services include well completion equipment & services, well intervention services, coiled tubing services, pressure pumping services, Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG), and wireline services. There is an increased demand for global oilfield services owing to the rising oil & gas exploration across the globe due to escalating need for energy by residential & commercial sectors. Xylenols are widely used in oilfield biocide chemicals manufacturing for utilization in oil well treatment process. These help to prevent down hole emulsions and help in improving long-term production

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

2,4-xylenol is used in the production of resins and plasticizer products owing to their excellent moisture, water, alcohol, alkali, and gasoline resistance. They exhibit good initial adhesion, tackiness, and stickiness, making them suitable for resin and plastic production. The potential scope of 2,4-xylenol as a curing accelerator to produce resins will create new growth opportunities for the global xylenol market.

market growth in the foreseeable timeframe. These compounds are

2,4-xylenol is extensively used by end-user companies to produce resin-grade products such as unsaturated polyester resin, alkyd resin, epoxy resin phenol resin, urethane resin petroleum resin, and acrylic resin. Growing demand from automotive, construction and electronics & electrical industry will boost the xylenols market share during the forecast period.

for resins, agrochemicals, solvents, plasticizers during lockdown has

Moreover, the manufacturers operating in resin & plastic industry are effectively utilizing xylenols as they provide efficiency and quality to final products. It also permits the manufacturers to minimize production cost, facilitate modular assembly practices, and improve the quality of the products.

also experiencing demand as surface disinfectants in agricultural and animal husbandry applications which further accelerates xylenols market growth from disinfectants application. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the xylenols market negatively. Halt in the operations of manufacturing plants and decline in demand mainly affected the market growth. However, the recommencement of business operations is expected to boost the xylenols market sales in the upcoming years.

Low operating costs, cheap labor, newly added production capacity will support Asia Pacific’s business growth Asia Pacific xylenols market was valued at over $1.3 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at over 7 percent CAGR between 2021 and 2027. The region holds a major share in the global market due to

Xylenols market from disinfectants application will experience highest growth

large production capacity of main phenol producing countries

Xylenols market for disinfectants was approximately valued at $510 million in 2020 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 7 percent through 2027. Chlorinated xylenols are extensively used in the manufacture of disinfectants owing to its natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. These compounds are used in treating skin disinfection, cleaning surgical instruments and form a crucial part of infection control practices by enhancing the microbial resistance and reducing the penetration of gram-positive bacteria by disrupting the cell wall and stopping the function of enzymes.

operating costs, cheap labour, newly added production capacity etc

such as China, India, and Japan. Furthermore, advantages like low are expected to boost Asia Pacific’s xylenols market.

High consumption of agrochemicals by major agricultural producing countries such as China, India, Thailand, Indonesia etc, is supporting the regional market growth. Xylenols are predominantly used in antiseptic and disinfectant formulations which are used to disinfect surgical equipment, surfaces and medical devices. Thus, rising Rising expenditure on healthcare along with increasing incidences of hospital acquired infectious diseases such as surgical site infections and protection from virus on floor surface is likely to drive the xylenols demand in cleaning and disinfection application. Xylenolcontaining disinfectants are mainly used in hospitals for cleaning of floors & surfaces.

Global disinfectants market is expected to surpass $49 billion by 2027 Increasing penetration of the product in antibacterial soaps, woundcleansing applications, and household antiseptics will drive xylenols

healthcare establishment in region will drive xylenols demand during the forecast period. Moreover, exponential increase of COVID-19 cases has increased the importance of personal hygiene across the region which further boost xylenols industry growth. Extensive R&D activities, new product developments, and technological collaborations /partnerships of leading market players such as SASOL, Honshu Chemical Industry Co Ltd, Konan Chemical Manufacturing Co Ltd, and SABIC along with the adoption of advanced manufacturing methods should also foster the xylenols market trends in the region up to 2027.

Source: Global Market Insights Inc

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

EVENT COVERAGE SUSTAINABILITY CIRCULARITY SUMMIT 2022

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

BY DEBARATI DAS

he word ‘sustainability’ has become an important part of

Life below water (SDG 14): While the once blue sky is filled

any business. In the chemical industry, ‘sustainability’ is an

with industrial pollution, the marine life too has taken a huge hit

element which cannot be overlooked at all. With problems such as

due to plastic litter, dumping of industrial waste etc. Innovating

global warming and climate change intensifying, every sector in the chemical industry is putting in renewed efforts to take corrective actions and meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. The chemical industry is rethinking ways for optimised use of the

plastic alternative materials, biomaterial packaging solutions, and packaging product engineering are trying to change the plastic scene. On the other hand, many companies are recovering ocean plastic and reusing it to make sustainable packaging solutions.

limited resources by changing its attitude and method towards

Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7): The global

manufacturing capabilities. The two major challenges that the

population is growing at a rapid pace and so is the demand for

chemical industry faces in its road to sustainability is how to

energy and fuel. Centuries of use of fossil fuel has not just created

reduce resource consumption and how to eliminate the harm to the

drastic changes to our climate but has also exhausted the fossil fuel

environment.

reserves. There is now a rising demand for cheap and clean energy to

Some of the top sustainability goals that the chemical industry is

sustain the global economy. The chemical industry has been a great

trying to achieve is:

contributor to the production of renewable energy solutions such as

Climate change (SDG 13): Climate change is an impending

biofuels, which can replace fossil-based fuels in the near future. Most

issue which the world is concerned about but no amount of efforts

of the chemical companies are moving to produce various chemicals

have yet been able to curb the problem completely. According

using less toxic/bio-based non-toxic feedstocks such as elimination

to reports, greenhouse gas emissions have risen by 50 percent since 1990 and it is affecting the ecology of the planet in the most irreparable ways. Various companies are investing in carbon capture technologies, carbon storage, reuse of waste etc. Capturing and converting CO2 into useful products also has become an area of huge potential.

of toxic solvents in various processes and products, use of engineered materials in production to reduce energy or water consumption, etc.

Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9): These are the three ‘I’s of economic growth and development. Chemical companies can play a crucial role in the value chain by

Clean water and sanitization (SDG 6): According to

developing sustainable feedstocks, material recycling etc.

UNICEF, four billion people — i.e. almost two thirds of the world’s

Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11): The

population — experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year and over half of the world’s population could be living

aim of the SDGs is to create a sustainable world by 2050. This

in areas facing water scarcity by 2025. This water stress situation

transformation is not possible if our industries don’t use and produce

is being worsened by drought, increasing population, depleting

sustainable products. The chemical industry has a huge onus on itself

ground water etc. The chemical industry can play a major role here

to decarbonise the planet by transforming its products, processes

by adapting water purification & desalinization technology such as

and value chain.

membrane filtration technologies, ion exchange resin technology, ozone filtration etc. Technological advancements including nano-

Bringing the industry together

material-based water purification solutions if adopted on a large

Taking in cognizance the importance of working together as one industry

scale can improve the quality of water in a major way.

to achieve these sustainability goals, the worldofchemicals.

Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12): UNICEF states that for chemical industry to be responsible in consumption and production, the industry needs to promote resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, providing access to basic services, and a better quality of life for all. There is a

com and Chemical Today Magazine have organized a virtual conference - Sustainability Circularity Summit 2022 on April 8, 2022. Some of the industry stalwarts speaking at the conference are from world-renowned organisations such

need to put in a conscious effort to reduce our ecological footprint by

as Henkel Adhesives Technologies, SABIC, DuPont Sustainable

changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources. To

Solutions (DSS+), Aditya Birla to name a few. The event will have

begin with, the chemical industry can source sustainable feedstocks

industry leaders and solution experts who will delve into practical

and move towards bio-based/waste-based feedstocks for production.

ways in which chemical industry can make itself more sustainable.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

EVENT COVERAGE SUSTAINABILITY CIRCULARITY SUMMIT 2022

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

BY DEBARATI DAS

e cannot imagine a world without plastics. At any given time, we

Eliminate: There has to be a globally consolidated effort to eliminate

are surrounded by at least one plastic item - be it laptop, pen or

all problematic and unnecessary plastic items- in landfills, in oceans or

a bottle of water.

the ones used in manufacturing and packaging. Plastics that cannot be

Plastics have been around for over a century. Its unique characteristics

used or reused any longer should be collected to be recycled or composted.

of flexibility, durability, and strength has made it the material of choice

Innovate: The new plastics that are manufactured need to be

for every industry. According to World Economic Forum, the global

innovative enough to ensure that they are reusable, recyclable and

consumption of plastics has increased twentyfold in the last 50 years

compostable.

and plastic packaging volumes alone are expected to become more than

Reuse: We need a mechanism to ensure that the plastics used get

quadruple by 2050.

constantly circulated within the economy instead of ending up in the

But from being one of the most used material, it has now turned into one

environment. For this, we need to reduce the need for single-use plastics

of the most polluting materials destroying the ecosystem of the planet

and instil reuse models.

forever. But has this light weight, low cost, easy to use material always

Sustainable: Manufacturers need to ensure that the raw materials

been the ‘monster in disguise’ or did we not use it correctly?

used to make plastics are safe, recyclable, or renewable throughout the

For generations, plastic became the most ‘go to’ material for any need

value chain so as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence

and slowly we imbibed the “USE AND THROW” mindset towards it.

on fossil fuels.

That’s when plastic littering started becoming a menace for the planet.

Policy: Theories on circular economy cannot show results unless

We took cognizance of the consequences only when the situation was out

stringent policies are put in place. The right policies will impose

of our hands.

responsibility on manufacturers to manage the end-of-life process of the

The magnitude of the problem increased many folds during the COVID

products. This will also lead to serious innovations to replace all plastics

pandemic, where plastic was the most used item due to its use and throw

products with sustainable solutions. And finally, the users will put an

nature. The use and dumping of single-use plastic products such as

effort to push the used plastic product back into the circular economy

masks, PPE kits and medical equipment were increased by up to 300

instead of disposing it in the garbage.

percent.

Educate: One of the strongest link that closes this loop are the

We did not use plastics the right way, and thus, this situation.

consumers. Informed consumers are the ones who will decide whether

There is a lot being said and done about recycling and reducing plastics to deal with the plastic pollution crisis. However, this is just one aspect of dealing with the crisis. We need a more holistic approach to reverse the problem. A circular economy - wherein plastics are made to be restorative and regenerative by design - is the only way to bring back the glory that plastic lost. This would mean any plastic item is constantly going through a ‘closed loop’ system of use and reuse rather than being discarded after a single use.

a used piece of plastic is waste or wealth and will choose either to throw it in the garage or redirect it into the circular loop. Hence, educating the masses, is an extremely important measure to close the cycle.

The way forward Today, plastic producers and packaging manufacturers get little or no incentive for recycling or reusing when they design products and hence sustainability of the product is usually the last parameter to be thought about. The consumers on the other hand, need a wide range of affordable sustainable options to buy from the shelves. The industry and the government alike should strive to make circular economy of plastics

However, putting this theory into practice is not as easy as it seems.

a reality with the right policy measures. For this, before producing any

According to Ellen MacArthur Foundation, more than 40 years after

material, the end-of-life of that material needs to be at the forefront of

the launch of the first universal recycling symbol, just 14 percent of the

innovation throughout the product development processes.

plastic packaging used globally is recycled, while 40 percent ends up in landfill and 32 percent in ecosystems.

A circular economy for plastics is the only logical solution to remove plastic waste from the environment and channel in sustainable and

Does this mean that there is no hope? Or do we need a new way to look

recyclable plastic materials. But converting this aspiration into a

at the cycle of circular economy?

reality requires creating a closed loop of the society where companies,

Reversing the wheels of destruction

government, non-profit groups and consumers work together.

First of all, tackling plastic pollution is not a one man, one city or one

Bringing the industry together

nation’s work. The world needs to work in unison to reverse the damages.

Taking in cognizance the need to unite the industry towards this cause,

Secondly, we need to stop looking at plastics as pollution and start

is organising Sustainability Circularity Summit 2022 on

changing the way we design and use plastics. Thirdly, we need to improve recycling, promote reuse, create a market for recycled materials and redesign products with end of life in mind.

the worldofchemicals.com and Chemical Today magazine

April 8th wherein industry leaders and experts in the field who will delve into the practical ways to incorporate circular economy of plastics in the system. Some of the industry stalwarts speaking at the conference are

All in all, to create circular economy of plastics we need to upscale our

from world-renowned organisations such as BASF, Evonik, Borouge,

efforts in the following areas:

among others.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

ACADEMIC R&D METAL MIX AND MATCH: IMPROVED CRYSTALLINITY OF COORDINATION NANOSHEETS IN AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY

Coordination nanosheets are emerging 2D materials, rapidly gaining importance in the field of nanomaterials.

oordination nanosheets are a new and emerging class of twodimensional materials, rapidly gaining importance in the field of nanomaterials. They consist of metal ions and organic ligand molecules, linked to each other to form one framework, via coordination bonds. These nanosheets act as building blocks, which can be mixed and matched to produce a large variety of planar structures, with potential applications in electronic devices, batteries, and catalytic systems. In 2013, benzenehexathiolato (BHT) was discovered as a powerful organic ligand in coordination nanosheets. It was observed that upon changing the element used in the metal centers, it is possible to create BHT-based nanosheets with vastly different structural properties. However, the synthesis of BHT-based coordination nanosheets via solution-based processes has proven challenging, which is rather unfortunate due to the economic viability and scalability of such approaches. The resultant nanosheets lack crystallinity, indicating the formation of small crystalline domains with poor orientation control. These structural shortcomings hinder the nanosheet’s performance and limit scientists from studying the nanosheet’s structure-property relationships. Now, a team of researchers led by professor Hiroshi Nishihara of Tokyo University of Science (TUS) Japan, has investigated whether BHTbased coordination nanosheets developed by the introduction of two metal ions could overcome the aforementioned challenges, in a new study, published in Advanced Materials, funded by Japan Science and Technology Agency, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the White Rock Foundation. To do so, the team, which also included Dr. Ryojun Toyoda and Dr. Naoya Fukui from TUS, and Professor Henning Sirringhaus from the University of Cambridge, and Professor Sono Sasaki from Kyoto Institute of Technology, prepared heterometallic nanosheet films at a liquid-liquid interface, by changing the mixing ratio of two metal ions - copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni), in an aqueous solution. Simply put, they poured an aqueous solution containing these two metal ions onto an organic solution containing a BHT precursor.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

To their surprise, they found that a new structural phase had formed at the interface between the two phases, with intermediate ratios of nickel and copper. Moreover, they found that this NiCu2BHT film possessed much higher crystallinity than pure copper and nickel films! Nishihara and team were especially excited with these findings, because such an approach normally yields nanosheets with poor crystallinity. “Our results indicate that the nanosheets grow in a specific direction and with a fixed composition, NiCu2BHT, at the liquid-liquid interface when the two metal ions are mixed at an appropriate ratio,” explained Nishihara. “It is extraordinary that such simple mixing of different metal ions resulted in a unique structure with 2D periodicity and enhanced crystallinity, even in relatively thick films,” he adds. With an increase in crystallinity, notable improvements were also observed in the performance of these heterometallic nanosheets. Electrical conductivity measurements together with the analysis of film morphology via electron microscopy techniques revealed that these films have lower activation energies and higher conductivities than copper films. In fact, researchers observed conductivities of up to 1300 S/cm with a dependency on temperature similar to that of good metal conductors. These observations are remarkable since such values are among the highest to be observed for 2D coordination nanosheets! Finally, the team analyzed the underlying mechanisms that led to this improvement in crystalline order and suggested that NiCu2BHT films may naturally arrange themselves into a bilayer structure that releases the structural strain of the material. “It is reasonable to assume that a bilayer structure is a more favorable structural phase for heterometallic BHT-based coordination nanosheets, rather than the distorted structures of the corresponding homometallic films. Overall, our findings open a powerful new pathway to improve the crystallinity and tuning of the functional properties of highly conducting coordination nanosheets for a wide range of device applications.” said Nishihara, while discussing his findings.

ENGINEERED BACTERIA CONVERT CAPTURED CO2 INTO CHEMICALS FOR FUELS, FABRIC AND COSMETICS

Researchers led by Northwestern University and LanzaTech have harnessed bacteria to break down waste carbon dioxide (CO2) to make valuable industrial chemicals. (Image © Justin Muir)

esearchers led by Northwestern University and LanzaTech have harnessed bacteria to break down waste carbon dioxide (CO2) to make valuable industrial chemicals. In a new pilot study, the researchers selected, engineered and optimized a bacteria strain and then successfully demonstrated its ability to convert CO2 into acetone and isopropanol (IPA). Not only does this new gas fermentation process remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, it also avoids using fossil fuels, which are typically needed to generate acetone and IPA. After performing life-cycle analysis, the team found the carbon-negative platform could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 160 percent as compared to conventional processes, if widely adopted. “The accelerating climate crisis, combined with rapid population growth, pose some of the most urgent challenges to humankind, all linked to the unabated release and accumulation of CO2 across the entire biosphere,” said Northwestern’s Michael Jewett, co-senior author of the study. “By harnessing our capacity to partner with biology to make what is needed, where and when it is needed, on a sustainable and renewable basis, we can begin to take advantage of the available CO2 to transform the bioeconomy.” Jewett is the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and director of the Center for Synthetic Biology. He co-led the study with Michael Koepke and Ching Leang, both researchers at LanzaTech. Necessary industrial bulk and platform chemicals, acetone and IPA are found nearly everywhere, with a combined global market topping $10 billion. Widely used as a disinfectant and antiseptic, IPA is the basis

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

for one of the two World Health Organization-recommended sanitizer formulas, which are highly effective in killing the SARS-CoV-2 virus. And acetone is a solvent for many plastics and synthetic fibers, thinning polyester resin, cleaning tools and nail polish remover. While these chemicals are incredibly useful, they are generated from fossil resources, leading to climate-warming CO2 emissions. To manufacture these chemicals more sustainably, the researchers developed a new gas fermentation process. They started with Clostridium autoethanogenum, an anaerobic bacterium engineered at LanzaTech. Then, the researchers used synthetic biology tools to reprogram the bacterium to ferment CO2 to make acetone and IPA. “These innovations, led by cell-free strategies that guided both strain engineering and optimization of pathway enzymes, accelerated time to production by more than a year,” Jewett said. The Northwestern and LanzaTech teams believe the developed strains and fermentation process will translate to industrial scale. The approach also could potentially be applied to create streamlined processes for generating other valuable chemicals. “This discovery is a major step forward in avoiding a climate catastrophe,” said Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaTech CEO. “Today, most of our commodity chemicals are derived exclusively from new fossil resources such as oil, natural gas or coal. Acetone and IPA are two examples with a combined global market of $10 billion. The acetone and IPA pathways developed will accelerate the development of other new products by closing the carbon cycle for their use in multiple industries.”

ACADEMIC R&D

NEW, INEXPENSIVE CATALYST SPEEDS OXYGEN PRODUCTION FROM WATER

Illustration depicts an electrochemical reaction, splitting water molecules (at left, with oxygen atom in red, and two hydrogen atoms in white) into oxygen molecules (at right), taking place within the structure of the team’s metal hydroxide organic frameworks, depicted as the lattices at top and bottom.

n electrochemical reaction that splits apart water molecules to produce oxygen is at the heart of multiple approaches aiming to produce alternative fuels for transportation. But this reaction has to be facilitated by a catalyst material, and today’s versions require the use of rare and expensive elements such as iridium, limiting the potential of such fuel production.

Other teams have explored the use of metal hydroxides, such as nickeliron hydroxides, Roman-Leshkov said. But such materials have been difficult to tailor to the requirements of specific applications. Now, though, “the reason our work is quite exciting and quite relevant is that we’ve found a way of tailoring the properties by nanostructuring these metal hydroxides in a unique way.”

Now, researchers at MIT and elsewhere have developed an entirely new type of catalyst material, called a metal hydroxide-organic framework (MHOF), which is made of inexpensive and abundant components. The family of materials allows engineers to precisely tune the catalyst’s structure and composition to the needs of a particular chemical process, and it can then match or exceed the performance of conventional, more expensive catalysts.

“You put these chains of these organic linkers next to each other, and they actually direct the formation of metal hydroxide sheets that are interconnected with these organic linkers, which are then stacked, and have a higher stability,” Roman-Leshkov said. This has multiple benefits, he says, by allowing a precise control over the nanostructured patterning, allowing precise control of the electronic properties of the metal, and also providing greater stability, enabling them to stand up to long periods of use.

The findings are described today in the journal Nature Materials, in a paper by MIT postdoc Shuai Yuan, graduate student Jiayu Peng, professor Yang Shao-Horn, professor Yuriy Roman-Leshkov and nine others. Oxygen evolution reactions are one of the reactions common to the electrochemical production of fuels, chemicals and materials. These processes include the generation of hydrogen as a byproduct of the oxygen evolution, which can be used directly as a fuel or undergo chemical reactions to produce other transportation fuels; the manufacture of ammonia, for use as a fertilizer or chemical feedstock; and carbon dioxide reduction in order to control emissions. Until now, these catalysts “are all relying on expensive materials or late transition metals that are very scarce, for example iridium oxide, and there has been a big effort in the community to find alternatives based on Earth-abundant materials that have the same performance in terms of activity and stability,” Roman-Leshkov said. The team said they have found materials that provide exactly that combination of characteristics.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Being composed largely of nickel and iron, these materials should be at least 100 times cheaper than existing catalysts, they say, although the team has not yet done a full economic analysis. This family of materials “really offers a new space to tune the active sites for catalyzing water splitting to produce hydrogen with reduced energy input,” Shao-Horn said, to meet the exact needs of any given chemical process where such catalysts are needed. The materials can also be produced in extremely thin sheets, which could then be coated onto another material, further reducing the material costs of such systems. The research team included others at MIT, Stockholm University in Sweden, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, and Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research in Dresden, Germany. The work was supported by the Toyota Research Institute.

ADVANCEMENTS IN BIOLOGICAL ALTERNATIVE TO PRODUCING PETROCHEMICAL

Liquid cyanobacteria culture is grown in Jianping Yu’s lab at NREL to advance sustainable ethylene production. Biologically produced ethylene is a doublewin for clean energy as it recycles CO2 and displaces fossil-based feedstocks.

or decades engineers have dreamed of programming organisms to sustainably produce ethylene, a chemical that is nicknamed “the king of petrochemicals” for its importance in plastics. Now, one hopeful pathway to this petrochemical is nearing reality, via a photosynthetic bacterium that is genetically specialized to turn sunlight and carbon dioxide (CO2) into ethylene. But before industry can load up on tanks of living green liquid, researchers are first overcoming some metabolic barriers around ethylene production. A cross-institution research team led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) made important progress toward deciphering the photosynthetic enzyme pathway. In a Nature Communications article titled “A guanidine-degrading enzyme controls stability of ethyleneproducing cyanobacteria,” the researchers report their discovery and demonstration that a certain gene can induce stability in bacteria that produce ethylene. Their discovery is a welcome breakthrough, as past attempts at employing this ethylene pathway had led to genetic instability in the bacteria. “Until now, a major roadblock to photosynthetic ethylene production has come from the organism itself—it creates a toxic byproduct alongside the ethylene,” said Jianping Yu, an NREL author on the paper. “With this work, we now know that the toxic byproduct can be dealt with using a genetic technique.”

Guanidine: An Unwanted Guest in Solar-Driven Ethylene Production The researchers’ intended approach is straightforward: Hijack the gene to produce ethylene from a common plant pathogen (Pseudomonas Syringae, a bacterium that causes brown spots on leaves), and introduce that gene into a cyanobacteria, which use photosynthesis for energy. If

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

everything works correctly, the cyanobacteria will then convert solar radiation and CO2 into ethylene; indeed, more efficiently than any other biological pathway. But instead, the cyanobacteria slowly died; the researchers showed that the introduced gene pathway also produces guanidine, a toxin that creates genetic instabilities in cyanobacteria. Guanidine causes a disorder of pigment metabolism in cyanobacterial cells—an obviously bad byproduct when the cells’ purpose is to use its pigment to harvest light. Fortunately, a particular cyanobacteria beloved by scientists—Synechocystis 6803—can degrade guanidine. The trick, then, is to capture that genetic mechanism and reinsert it into other cyanobacteria cells. In other words, introduce another gene that stabilizes the first, and leads to unobstructed ethylene production.

Opportunity for a Clean Chemical Alternative Biologically produced ethylene is a double-win for clean energy— it recycles CO2 and displaces fossil-based feedstocks that industry currently depends on. Compared to other biological pathways, which use plant biomass as a starting material, the method pursued in this work is fueled directly by the sun, making it potentially more energetically favorable. Industrial application to decarbonize the chemical industry is tantalizing; hope persists for producing PVC pipes for clean water, and even in Mars colonization. This work shows a possibility to scale up bioethylene production by clearing certain biological barriers. Future research could create even more efficient guanidine-degrading enzymes, possibly through evolution of the same gene described in this study. For now, the team’s work advances the knowledge of guanidine metabolism in nature and demonstrates a functional approach for enhancing ethylene production.

ACADEMIC R&D

CO2 RECYCLING AND EFFICIENT DRUG DEVELOPMENT— TACKLING TWO PROBLEMS WITH ONE REACTION

Electrochemical method has the potential to recycle CO2 while also producing high value-added dicarboxylic acids. Artistic depiction of electricity enabling the addition of CO2 to heteroaromatic compounds.

cientists at the Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (ICReDD) in Hokkaido University have developed a method that has the potential to help recycle waste CO2 while also producing molecules useful for drug development. In addition to the ever-more important demand for carbon-neutrality, chemists are increasingly interested in using carbon dioxide (CO2) in syntheses since it is abundant, inexpensive, relatively nontoxic, and renewable. However, the reactivity of CO2 is relatively low. To overcome this, the team led by professor Tsuyoshi Mita utilized an electrochemical method in which an electron is added to either the CO2 molecule or to the other molecule in the solution, making it far easier for them to react with each other. This work marks an especially large breakthrough, since CO2 is used to carry out a traditionally difficult type of transformation with unprecedented efficiency. When certain conditions are met, electrons can be shared between many atoms in a molecule by what is called an aromatic system. These systems are especially stable and difficult to break, but the new method developed at ICReDD is able to dearomatize, or break, these stable aromatic systems by adding CO2 to the molecule with the help of electricity. This process has the potential to both recycle CO2 while also producing high value-added dicarboxylic acids from simple starting materials, solving two problems at once.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Prior to the actual experiments, scientists from ICReDD screened various heteroaromatic compounds by calculating their reduction potentials, which is a measure of how a compound will react when subjected to an electric environment. The results enabled researchers to identify potentially reactive compounds and carry out targeted electrochemical experiments. They demonstrate that a wide variety of substrates that exhibit highly negative reduction potentials can very efficiently undergo this unprecedented dearomative addition of two CO2 molecules. The obtained dicarboxylic acids can be easily and cost-effectively modified into key intermediates for biologically active compounds, which could lead to more efficient and economical drug development. Researchers involved in the study attribute the rapid development of this new process to their strategy of first performing computational analyses that informed their experimental choices in the lab. “I started to learn computational chemistry when I joined ICReDD. Within one year, I was able to utilize advanced calculation techniques, which was very useful for guiding my decisions in the lab,” said first author Dr. Yong You. “It took only eight months to complete the research and publish the paper, which is much faster than a conventional project involving experiments. Significant research time is saved because a computer can reliably predict the feasibility of the reactant structures and possible reaction pathways” commented Mita, who led this project.

FLEXIBLE DIAMONDS: HARD AS DIAMOND, FLEXIBLE AS PLASTIC

The starting sample of pyridazine—a six atom ring made up of four carbons and two nitrogens—changes under pressure as diamond nanothread formation progresses. The first and last images show that there has been a permanent color change between the samples after thread formation.

s hard as diamond and as flexible as plastic, highly sought-after diamond nanothreads would be poised to revolutionize our world—if they weren’t so difficult to make. Recently, a team of scientists led by Carnegie’s Samuel Dunning and Timothy Strobel developed an original technique that predicts and guides the ordered creation of strong, yet flexible, diamond nanothreads, surmounting several existing challenges. The innovation will make it easier for scientists to synthesize the nanothreads—an important step toward applying the material to practical problems in the future. The work was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Diamond nanothreads are ultra-thin, one-dimensional carbon chains, tens of thousands of times thinner than a human hair. They are often created by compressing smaller carbon-based rings together to form the same type of bond that makes diamonds the hardest mineral on our planet. However, instead of the 3D-carbon lattice found in a normal diamond, the edges of these threads are “capped” with carbon-hydrogen bonds, which make the whole structure flexible. Dunning explained: “Because the nanothreads only have these bonds in one direction, they can bend and flex in ways that normal diamonds can’t.” Scientists predict that the unique properties of carbon nanothreads will have a range of useful applications from providing sci-fi-like scaffolding on space elevators to creating ultra-strong fabrics. However, scientists have had a hard time creating enough nanothread material to actually test their proposed superpowers. “If we want to design materials for specific applications,” said Dunning, “it’s essential for us to precisely understand the structure and bonding of the nanothreads we’re making. This thread directing method really allows us to do that!”

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

One of the biggest challenges is getting the carbon atoms to react in a predictable way. In nanothreads made from benzene and other sixatom rings, each carbon atom can undergo chemical reactions with different neighbors. This leads to many possible reactions competing with one another and many different nanothread configurations. This uncertainty is one of the biggest hurdles scientists face to synthesize nanothreads where the precise chemical structure can be determined. Dunning’s team determined that adding nitrogen to the ring in place of carbon might help guide the reaction down a predictable pathway. They chose to start their work with pyridazine—a six atom ring made up of four carbons and two nitrogens—and began working on a computer model. Dunning worked with Bo Chen, Donostia International Physics Center, and Li Zhu, assistant professor at Rutgers and Carnegie Alum, to simulate how pyridazine molecules behave at high pressure. “In our system, we use two nitrogen atoms to remove two possible reaction sites from the ring system. This dramatically reduces the number of possible reactions,” said Dunning. After running several computer simulations showing successful nanothread formation at high pressure, they were ready to take the experiment to the lab. “Our reaction pathway produces an incredibly orderly nanothread,” said Dunning. “The ability to incorporate other atoms into the nanothread backbone, guide the reaction, and understand the nanothread’s chemical environment will save researchers invaluable time in developing nanothread technology.” This process of using these non-carbon atoms to guide the formation of nanothreads, which Dunning calls “thread directing,” is a significant step towards a future where scientists can predictably create these materials and use them for advanced applications. Now that this synthetic strategy has been discovered, Dunning plans to identify and test the many possible nanothread precursors.

IT IN CHEMICALS DECARBONIZATION

DECARBONIZING ALUMINIUM WITH INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS

BY SHAUN CHAU, MARY PULEO AND RENEE VAN HEUSDEN

eavy industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gases, responsible for as much as 30 percent of global carbon emissions. While many industries—including the aluminium sector—recognize the need for decarbonization, the cost and technical challenges of implementing decarbonization solutions remain significant barriers.

Industrial clusters offer the potential to break down those barriers. Many decarbonization solutions are broad in their application and can be applied to multiple industries. This creates an opportunity for sectors that are typically the hardest to abate to work together by forming industrial clusters—companies in close physical proximity whether they are in the same or different industries. For example, the Humber Industrial Cluster in the UK brings together the energy, power and steel industries. Collectively, industrial cluster participants can implement decarbonization solutions that might otherwise not be technically or economically feasible for an individual company. These partnerships are mutually beneficial for both industrial and technology partners as the solutions are more cost effective when jointly procured and deployed at scale. Through industrial clusters, companies can capitalize on economies of scale, share risks and mix-and-match a wider range of solutions that might not be effective in isolation. The World Economic Forum is collaborating with industry coalitions such as the Aluminium for

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Climate initiative to explore how hard-to-abate sectors can leverage collaboration solutions such as industrial clusters to accelerate decarbonization. The initiative’s publication “Closing the Gap for Aluminium Emissions: Technologies to Accelerate Deep Decarbonization of Direct Emissions” highlights the need for breakthrough technologies to mitigate direct emissions in aluminium production. These technologies include: 1) electrification using renewable energy; 2) carbon capture, utilization and storage; and 3) clean hydrogen production—all integral to decarbonizing aluminium. Investment in any one of these technologies might be difficult to justify for an individual company, but in the context of an industrial cluster, the business case improves greatly.

Decarbonization clusters

opportunities

for

industrial

Renewable electricity In the aluminium industry, electricity consumption is responsible for around 60 percent of sectoral emissions. Transitioning to renewable electricity presents the greatest opportunity for sectoral decarbonization. Yet, there are major disparities between aluminium companies’ current emission levels, which results in many different decarbonization strategies being pursued. For example, some already have access to reliable, affordable hydropower while others remain reliant on newly constructed captive coal-fired power plants.

For hard-to-transition sites, industrial clusters allow for greater capacity and variability in renewable energy systems. While solar photovoltaic or wind power resources may not be viable for certain industrial sites due to the variable nature of the power supply, industrial clusters allow for multiple feeds of renewable energy to be shared among partners, allowing for more reliable and affordable renewable electricity options. In addition, green hydrogen can complement the deployment of renewables to improve storage potential, manage variability and address energy needs beyond electricity. Shared infrastructure within an industrial cluster can decrease the cost and risk of transitioning to renewables for companies such as aluminium smelters that rely on captive power sources (e.g., a coal-fired power plant).

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) For sectors where decarbonizing through renewable electricity alone is still technically unfeasible, CCUS offers a promising option. However, companies must evaluate where they can realize the greatest return for their investment in CCUS. In the aluminium sector, flue gas from smelters has a low concentration of CO2 translating into a carbon capture cost well over $100/tonne of CO2, while the recent price of carbon credits on the EU Emissions Trading System was €75 (approximately $85). Alumina refineries tend to present a better value case as the flue gas contains a higher concentration of CO2, translating to around $50-$80/tonne of CO2. Another consideration is the cost of carbon transportation and storage. Around one-third of planned CCUS projects are tied to the development of industrial clusters that share transportation and storage infrastructure, as a localized approach reduces complexity and cost. In the aluminium industry, around 30 percent of refining and 35 percent of smelting production is within the bounds of geological carbon storage formations, as identified by OGCI’s Carbon Storage Resource Catalog. Assuming a 90 percent average capture rate, aluminium refineries and smelters within the bounds of geological storage formations could mitigate up to 6 percent of sectoral emissions using CCUS, according to Accenture analysis.

Clean hydrogen Clean hydrogen is considered the ”Swiss Army Knife” of the energy system, making it a strong candidate for industrial clusters. In principle, it can be used across many sectors for a broad range of purposes, including as a source for electricity, fuel and thermal energy. In the aluminium industry, clean hydrogen has the potential to provide a viable alternative fuel for thermal energy generation, primarily to address the 4 percent of industry emissions attributed to high-heat processes. In addition, clean hydrogen can also be an option to address the 12 percent of sectoral emissions attributed to

low- and medium-heat generation, although it remains expensive compared to fossil fuels in most operating environments. However, electrification remains a more efficient solution as the conversion of electricity to clean hydrogen can experience as much as 20 to 40 percent in conversion losses. There are several methods used to generate clean hydrogen, including “blue hydrogen”—splitting natural gas into hydrogen and CO2. However the most sustainable long-term option is “green hydrogen,” which uses renewable energy-powered electrolyzers to produce hydrogen from water. While green hydrogen is still costly compared to traditional fossil fuels in most environments ($3-$5 per kg of H2), organizations across the world are working to make green hydrogen more affordable. For example, at COP26, IRENA and the World Economic Forum released a series of “Enabling Measures Roadmaps for Green Hydrogen” with the aim to accelerate green hydrogen deployment globally.

Accelerating the pace with industrial clusters Leveraging industrial clusters to significantly reduce hard-toabate emissions is recognized as increasingly impactful and is being explored by governments around the world to drive concrete emissions reductions in industry. For example, the UK is investing in industrial clusters throughout the nation to have at least one lowcarbon cluster by 2030 and a net-zero cluster by 2040. Similarly, China has highlighted low- or zero-carbon clusters as a key policy to reduce emissions, with a goal to reach 50 near-zero-carbon zones by 2050. Industrial clusters provide numerous benefits to scaling low-carbon solutions by aggregating demand and co-locating supply and demand, reducing the need for long-distance storage and transport infrastructure. Awareness of the benefits of industrial clusters is growing as evidenced by the four global clusters (from Australia, UK and Spain) that initially signed onto the World Economic Forum’s global initiative, “Transitioning Industrial Clusters towards Net Zero,” undertaken in collaboration with Accenture and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Initiatives such as this could provide a model for how aluminium players across the globe can integrate with and form industrial clusters. The strategy of each industrial cluster will vary by geography, industry composition, tax structure and more. The location of each cluster will impact technology selection, feasibility and the cost of implementation. Moreover, while an industrial cluster may focus on implementing new technologies, there is also a strong need for policy and financial support. Most importantly, cluster partners should build trust and develop business models that facilitate risk sharing while benefitting all members. By working together, hard-to-abate companies like aluminium producers can accelerate their path to net zero.

Authors: Shaun Chau, Managing Director, Strategy & Consulting, Australia & New Zealand and Mary Puleo, Manager, Management Consulting, Natural Resources, both from Accenture and Renee van Heusden, Project Lead, Materials Cluster, Aluminium & Steel World Economic Forum.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

IT IN CHEMICALS SMART TECHNOLOGY

EMERGING SMARTER: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION FOR HEALTHY AND RESILIENT SOCIETIES

rior to the COVID-19 crisis, government agencies and healthcare institutions recognized the need to modernize legacy systems and operations to better serve their communities. However, the pandemic created an inflection point. Those known vulnerabilities became amplified and leaders in these institutions moved swiftly to support constituents and build resilience into their operating models. What was once a series of “delayed upgrades,” now became requirements to their mission. During these times of severe and unprecedented challenges, many government offices have taken bold steps forward, even in the face of limited information. As priorities evolved quickly in this complex global health crisis, extreme collaboration has had the greatest impact. In a short period of time, the pace of change has been astounding—in many ways faster than anticipated. Public sector leaders are realizing the opportunity to become more responsive and resilient to their constituents in three key ways: • Better engagement with citizens and improving access to services • Unlocking the value of their data • Transforming core operations and modernizing systems. Agility, providing flexibility to confidently move fast in high impact situations, can be supported with the embrace of technology and its adoption into the center of new operating models. Reliance on older systems can inhibit agencies and institutions in their ability to deliver care and benefits in times of crisis. Leaders are now confronting these aging legacy systems and incorporating new technologies. This allows them to break down workflows into discrete building blocks and assess what can easily be moved to the cloud and what must remain in the current IT environment, finding ways to move workloads seamlessly

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

between the two—that is agility. To emerge stronger, these agencies are starting to embark on fullscale digital transformation. They are moving past introducing new technologies with the objective of improving existing pathways and service delivery models. Instead, they are making the shift to enable broad scale collaboration and innovation to re-define processes and workflows by embracing capabilities like artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT) and flexible and secure forms of hybrid cloud to enable greater efficiency, flexibility and agility in their systems. Public sector leaders are realizing the opportunity to become more responsive and resilient to their constituents in three key ways: • Better engagement with citizens and improving access to services • Unlocking the value of their data • Transforming core operations and modernizing systems In many instances, these providers act as a safety net to society. Their ability to respond to sustained and future threats while continuing to effectively deliver services to citizens is critical. Employees and leaders at these organizations are embracing their missions to serve by using design thinking, agile development, cognitive process automation and digital reinvention to emerge smarter. Improve citizen engagement making citizens’ lives and health better begins with increasing engagement and trust. To foster trust, they must know and believe that their data and privacy are protected. They need to know that the data collected on them is well curated, accurate and only available to those who are authorized to use it.

To facilitate confidence among constituents, government leaders are increasing engagement with them by improving access to services. They are making trusted, accurate data available and scalable through newer technologies such as cloud, analytics and AI, all of which provide an organization with greater data insights and help it emerge smarter. Scotland’s new social services agency is an example of government that is engaging with its citizens and using a cloud-first approach to ensure everyone receives the social benefits available to them. In 2016, the Scottish government established a new agency to deliver benefits to 1.8 million citizens. They worked with IBM for an open, flexible health and human services platform that could accommodate multiple benefit applications. Social Security Scotland’s user-centered case management platform delivers a common user experience for the agency and eliminates the need for customer training on the system. In times of crises, individuals flood their local organizations with questions and need answers, fast. An initial step for those agencies trying to help is to use chatbot technology to engage with citizens, both to assess and reassure them around how health and social care providers can meet their needs. In 2020, dozens of core service providers launched new technology to get critical information out to the public. Within days, virtual agents or chatbots started to answer questions about every aspect of COVID-19 and its impact on their lives throughout the United States, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK. Using IBM Watson Assistant for Citizens, powered by AI, these chatbots can apply data from external sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and local sources, like links to school closings or documents from state websites. They are trained to understand and respond to common questions about the outbreak as well as specific queries in a given area, such as “Where can I get tested?” or “How long are schools shut down?” In addition to communicating pertinent information to constituents, organizations have also identified a need to assess, direct and intervene appropriately for deferred elective treatments and effectively manage chronic diseases. Managing deferred elective treatments could be tied to the slow release of hospitals’ capacity, redesign or redesignation of patient flow across a network, and by prioritizing clinical need. Payers and providers are starting to invest in cloud-based analytical capabilities that can help drive that action. Citizens need this safety net now more than ever, and this is a prime time to transition legacy workflows and processes to more person-centric services and care, across the entire continuum of needs.

Unlock the Value in Data Public sector leaders are increasingly unlocking the value of their data and putting it to work as they embrace digital transformation. The need to pivot quickly when faced with a crisis has emphasized the need to securely store, collect and organize data, facilitate interoperability and break down data siloes across the enterprise. Advanced analytic solutions can help governments identify patterns. Health services and clinical practices will also find increasing value in data as a resource and AI as a tool for gaining insights. Operations managers will be the first to look to using data and AI as they adopt optimization and automation tools to underpin their services. Clinicians will follow by harnessing data to gain insights for their practices and address the shortcomings of the current systems. Highmark Health in Pittsburgh, PA, illustrates the potential for AI to help save lives and money. Using IBM Cloud Pak for Data to analyze insurance claims data, Highmark launched an integrated platform in just six weeks and developed models to identify high-risk patients for sepsis. By scoring and identifying patients likely to develop sepsis, care managers, nurses and doctors could intervene early with preventive measures and keep patients at highest risk out of the hospital. The new platform from IBM also allows the team to incorporate new research findings as the pandemic evolves and impacts people’s sepsis risk.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Using technology to help employees reenter the workplace is another area in which data can help better serve citizens. In just three weeks, Sonoma County launched an app that assesses whether an employee is safe to go to work based on their temperature and key questions. Their next iteration, built with IBM, integrates a chatbot that understands COVID-19 questions in voice or text and provides answers in natural language. The Sonoma County COVID-19 Health Check app allows businesses to operate safely, a critical factor to restoring economic vitality to communities and the country. Modernize core systems and operations Government agencies and healthcare institutions have been exploring transitions to more capable, nimble systems with a modern approach to workflows, data and security—where citizen data could be more readily available, easy to access and shareable across organizations. Those transformations now need to accelerate. In an environment of growing demands and limited resources, technology solutions can play a significant role in the ability to address today’s challenges while embracing opportunities for the future to enable— and realize—a new normal. NHS Digital, the technology arm of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, transformed its cybersecurity systems because cyber threats aren’t just an IT risk—they endanger patient-facing services that can affect clinical safety and the ability to deliver timely care to patients. The team established a security operation center with the support of IBM Services that proactively detects, responds to and remediates security events more effectively and efficiently. The system monitors more than 1.2 million NHS devices for cyberthreats and vulnerabilities. It has already blocked more than 2 billion malicious emails this past year. The cybersecurity platform has also been critical to navigating COVID-19 and the dramatic swell of citizens trying to access healthcare and services digitally—and the corresponding increasing amount of cybercrime. In Europe, a national social-security agency for family care is modernizing its allowance benefits system to deploy benefits more quickly while lowering operating costs. Seeking a more secure and resilient system, the agency contracted for a hybrid cloud solution that manages hundreds of databases, using IBM’s Cloud Pak technology on the Red Hat OpenShift platform. In addition to up to 70 percent in TCO savings and reducing the DevOps cycle by six weeks, it now has a flexible platform that can accommodate ongoing innovation. Globally, as the need to protect the health and safety of populations, drive lower costs and improve the quality of care has been exacerbated by the current crisis, the public is starting to see government agencies, healthcare providers, payers and policy makers responding more quickly. The pandemic is forcing the opening up of new delivery models, services and opportunities for optimizing workflow execution and reducing waste. Secure portability of data enables new ways of doing things to support workflow transformation and remote services. Core service providers and their social services counterparts are working hard to reduce gaps in care and disparities across populations, as it has now become an economic imperative for governments and key to long-term sustainability. Diverse public-sector institutions share a common mission: they aim to deliver core fundamental services to society. Recent events have shown that many organizations have had the courage to take steps towards application modernization and new technology adoption. They have reprioritized efforts to accelerate digital transformation. Addressing current and future challenges requires the flexibility of hybrid cloud and the agility of new intelligent workflows—all supported with cognitive intelligence and analytics. Successful leaders are using the hard lessons learned to build a foundation for even stronger and more resilient government agencies and healthcare institutions, ones ready to meet future challenges. Leadership is defined by the courage to take a bold first step in creating a smarter, healthier and more resilient society.

IT IN CHEMICALS CLOUD SERVICES

CLOUD SERVICES TO HELP OIL & GAS SECTOR ACCELERATE ENERGY TRANSITION

t IBM and Amazon Web Services Inc, an Amazon.com Inc company announced the two companies will combine the benefits of IBM Open Data for Industries for IBM Cloud Pak for Data and the AWS Cloud to serve energy customers. This comprehensive solution is built on Red Hat OpenShift and will run on the AWS Cloud, simplifying the ability for customers to run workloads in the AWS cloud and on-premises. The two companies also intend to collaborate on further co-development of future functionality to provide greater flexibility and choice on where to run OSDU applications. As an IBM and Reuters whitepaper, sponsored by IBM, found, the energy industry is facing pressure to reduce greenhouse gases as demand for affordable energy continues to rise. Energy companies need solutions that help drive efficiencies to free up capital, time and resources to invest in discovering new, more sustainable energy sources for the future. Data and digital technologies can help to navigate this transition, yet an IBM survey found that less than half of oil and gas executive respondents are using data to drive that innovation. This is in part because most of the digitization efforts have been in proprietary closed systems, hindering the potential to combine and maximize the value of data. The collaboration between IBM and AWS aims to accelerate reduction of data barriers in the industry. IBM Open Data for Industries is an open-source solution using the OSDU data foundation for the oil, gas and energy industry. IBM Open Data for Industries is fully integrated with IBM Cloud Pak for Data for easy data management, and built on Red Hat OpenShift, the industry’s leading Kubernetes platform and open architecture, designed so that companies can run and operate applications universally. With this collaboration, customers will gain the flexibility to run OSDU Data Platform applications in the AWS cloud or on-premises while addressing data residency requirements. Combined with the expansive cloud infrastructure of AWS cloud services, this data platform can help energy companies reduce the cost, time and

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

resources needed to leverage the data to derive insight, streamlining operations and transition to sustainable energy generation. “Much of the data needed to solve the complex energy challenges, such as superior subsurface decisions, already exists, yet is untapped. This is because one of the greatest values of that data is derived when it can be effectively combined, but usually this data is locked by data residency requirements, legacy applications or proprietary data formats,” said Bill Vass, vice president, engineering, AWS. “By collaborating with IBM and leveraging Red Hat OpenShift, we will be able to offer customers a global, seamless offering with the flexibility to run on virtually any IT infrastructure and drive longer-term digital innovation.” The OSDU Forum is a cross-industry collaboration that provides a vendor-neutral framework for companies to develop data platforms against common energy industry standards. By working together, IBM and AWS will accelerate the value of this platform for global customers. The goal is that this combined effort will help serve the needs of energy companies today with flexibility to adapt to change amid energy transition. “Data is a critical asset to help fuel energy transition, yet too often energy companies must choose between running applications on-premises or in the cloud, and often each deployment uses a proprietary data format,” said Manish Chawla, global managing director, energy, resources and manufacturing, IBM. “This means that rather than using all of that collective data to gather insights, augment operations and inform innovation, some of it was going unused. Our collaboration with Amazon Web Services is addressing the need to make it easier for energy customers to access their data and provides the industry with a flexible solution to meet the challenges of today, as well as more easily adapt as the industry evolves.” This collaboration underscores the value of IBM and Red Hat to provide flexibility and unlock greater business value for operational data across industries.

Tel : 08119350001 Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

E-mail : sales@worldofchemicals.com

JOBS

Process Engineer

Job Description: Perform all routine engineering calculations (i.e. mass balances, energy balances, conversion calculations). Gather, analyze, interpret, act upon, and pass on all pertinent unit operations data. Generate and maintain an informational database on all pertinent process variables, and updates PFDs and P&IDs. Make proactive recommendations for improving unit yields and/or optimizing energy consumption.

Executive - Quality Control

Job Description: Test samples of Raw Materials, intermediates, in-process & finish product and packaging material as per laid down specifications. Testing of long-term evaluation properties like salt spray, humidity test, accelerated weathering and outdoor exposure etc. Perform the PV testing received from various vendors /Customers. Mobilizing, co-ordination, allocating and optimizing various activities (men and resources) to achieve budgeted target with optimum resource.

Company: Valero Energy Corporation Date Posted: 28-Mar-2022 Country: UNITED STATES City: Three Rivers, TX

Company: BASF SE Date Posted: 28-Mar-2022 Country: INDIA City: Mangaluru

Associate QC Chemist Company: Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals Date Posted: 28-Mar-2022 Country: UNITED STATES City: Rockville, MD

Job Description: Conduct and document routine compendial (NF/USP/BP/EP/JP/ACS) and noncompendial raw material testing, in cGMP environment to support manufacturing. Seek additional tasks or non-routine functions and accomplish them according to written procedures in compliance with cGMP with general supervision. Overcome minor conflicts with priorities. Consult supervisor with major conflicts of priorities. Work with manager to conduct laboratory investigations related to raw material testing.

Process Chemist Company: TPC Group Date Posted: 25-Mar-2022 Country: UNITED STATES City: Houston, TX

Job Description: Ensure safe and reliable operation in the lab, driving high safety standards. Actively participate in site safety programs and leads in safety initiatives. Work as a member of a crossfunctional process team to monitor the production process, troubleshoot production issues, and identify and champion process improvements. Partner with production engineer to help monitor and optimize unit performance.

Quality Process Engineer

Company: Akzo Nobel N.V Date Posted: 25-Mar-2022 Country: UNITED STATES City: High Point, NC

Job Description: Handle Customer and supplier complaints process ensuring that root cause analysis is performed and corrective actions are implemented and avoid reoccurrence. Support the Quality Management system in order to remain compliant to the ISO 9001 regulation. Monitor the process performance through metrics such as RFT,HPB, SLOB, cost productivity, customer complaints, Waste Indices and takes action as required to correct adverse trends, performing plant based process investigations.

Research Scientist, Process Development Company: Gilead Sciences, Inc. Date Posted: 25-Mar-2022 Country: UNITED STATES City: Foster City, CA

Job Description: Responsible for developing chemical processes for the manufacture of drug substances. Demonstrate technical proficiency, scientific creativity, collaboration with others and independent thought in suggesting experimental design and strategy. Propose alternative chemistry including new route selection and step optimization.

Junior Process Engineer

Company: TotalEnergies SE Date Posted: 24-Mar-2022 Country: UGANDA City: Kampala

Job Description: Be up to date with HSE trainings, ensure TotalEnergies Golden rules are known and applied at work and during daily life. Support necessary process design/engineering during the project and process optimisations/troubleshooting during operational phases in compliance with E&P Company Rules and General Specifications. Ensure interface requirements with the Wellpads facilities, flowlines and pipelines are incorporated into the design and well defined in operating philosophy. Participate in project and operational reviews as requested by Company Referential.

Analytical Chemist Company: Eastman Chemical Company Date Posted: 24-Mar-2022 Country: UNITED STATES City: Springfield, MA

Job Description: Actively participate in full compliance with the site’s Zero Incident Mindset Safety programs and identify safety concerns and implement countermeasures to correct potential safety issues. Utilize and develop analytical measurement techniques to support manufacturing, quality, technical service and product and process development functions across the Advanced Materials - Interlayers business. Participate on technical teams focused on business objectives of corporate growth and site quality improvement programs.

Chemist Chemical Synthesis Company: The Lubrizol Corporation Date Posted: 23-Mar-2022 Country: UNITED KINGDOM City: Hazelwood

Job Description: Be part of a creative research department working on a variety of synthetic projects. Design and undertake synthesis of additive molecules, to meet defined business needs. This includes process optimisation and development in support of commercialisation. Decide how projects should proceed using logic, experience and creativity to meet agreed timelines.

Website: http://www.worldofchemicals.com/chemical-jobs.html

Chemical Today Magazine | March 2022

PRODUCTS

Coating with new features for variety of steel substrates, surfaces P

PG has launched PPG AMERLOCK® 600 multipurpose epoxy coating for applicators looking for maximum versatility in the shop or field. The high-build, polyamide-cured coating combines a broad application thickness range with fast dry times and a one-year recoat window. PPG Amerlock 600 works with a wide range of steel substrates, including carbon steel, stainless steel and galvanized surfaces, as well as marginally prepared surfaces. This versatility can help reduce coating inventory and complexity for fabrication shops.

Contact: PPG One PPG Place Pittsburgh, PA 15272 USA Tel: +1 412 434 3131 Email: greid@ppg.com Web: https://ppg.com

New high standard multicompendial emulsifier for pharma use T

o meet the needs of pharmaceutical labs on a market requiring compliance to high regulatory and quality standards, Seppic reinforces its portfolio of pharmaceutical excipients with a multicompendial Montane™ 83 PHA Premium for oral and topical applications. Montane™ 83 PHA Premium is a lipophilic surfactant, soluble and dispersible in oil with low HLB value, which can be used alone to create water-in-oil emulsions or in combination to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. It can be used in the preparation of creams and ointments in pharmaceuticals such as topical corticoids, antibiotics and antifungals.

Contact: Seppic SA Paris La Défense 50 boulevard National CS 90020 92257 La Garenne Colombes Cedex France Tel: +33 (0)1 42 91 40 00 Web: www.seppic.com

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

New epoxy adhesive offers maximum protection for potting applications D

eveloped by Panacol, Structalit® 5801 is a new 2-component adhesive system that demonstrates exceptional chemical and moisture resistance after accelerated aging. This resistance makes Structalit® 5801 an ideal material for the structural bonding and potting of electronic components that require the highest level of environmental protection. Structalit® 5801 is a black, 2-component epoxy adhesive system. This mediumviscosity adhesive blend has excellent adhesion to metals including aluminum and stainless steel. It is well suited for the structural bonding of metal frames and housings.

Contact: Panacol-Elosol GmbH Stierstädter Straße 4 61449 Steinbach / Taunus, Germany Tel: +49 (0)6171 6202-580 Email: juliane.sieber@panacol.de Web: www.panacol.de

New dermocosmetic peptides range supports the cosmetics industry B

ASF has launched Peptovitae™, a series of four patented peptides that represent a new generation of scientifically developed biomimetic peptides. Peptovitae™ was developed in Asia through an exclusive relationship with Caregen, a Korea-based company, in biomimetic peptide research and development. The Peptovitae™ series addresses a wider range of skin concerns. These new bioactives from BASF’s Care Creations® address personal care skin benefits related to combatting the signs of aging (Peptovitae™ Matrix), enhancing the brightness of skin (Peptovitae™ Bright), soothing skin prone to dryness and itching (Peptovitae™ Derma) as well as calming and moisturizing skin (Peptovitae™ Clear). Contact: BASF Hong Kong Limited 45/F Jardine House 1 Connaught Place, Central Hong Kong Tel: +852 2731 0111 Email: eleanor.ng@basf.com Web: www.basf.com

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

PRODUCTS

New barrier coating for odorless paper-based food packaging A

rchroma has launched Cartaseal® VWAF, a new industryleading perfluorinated compound (PFC)-free and ammoniafree barrier coating for odor-free packaging applications. The multifunctional Cartaseal® range offers barrier solutions that can be used to protect from grease, oils, water and water vapor in both packaging and food packaging applications such as pizza boxes, sandwich wedges, fresh vegetables, fast food service and general supermarket packaging. The innovative Cartaseal® VWAF is designed to form a continuous and defect-free filmlike coating on the paper surface. The odor-free product is also ideally suited to food packaging applications, where the taste and smell of the packed food needs to be preserved. Contact: Archroma Hardstrasse 1, 4133 Pratteln Basel-Land, Switzerland Tel: +41 61 716 3401 Email: media@archroma.com Web: www.archroma.com\

Surface disinfectant using nanotechnology provides 30 days residual disinfection R

ossari Biotech Limited has launched Dr. Nanoxa a new age antimicrobial surface coating infused with nanotechnology which provides bio-security from residual infections caused by bacteria, viruses including SARS CoV for 30 days. Another distinguishing feature of the product is its environment friendly coating which takes away the negative effects of the chemicals. It is very easy to use as it comes in a spray bottle and the active ingredients in Dr. Nanoxa are a mixture of metal nanoparticles, encapsulated in an intelligent polymer chain to give tri-layer prolonged protection from harmful microbes for up to 30 days. These metal nanoparticles have long been recognized as antimicrobial agents. Contact: Rossari Biotech Limited 201-A & B, Ackruti Corporate Park, LBS Marg, Next to GE Gardens, Kanjurmarg (W), Mumbai – 400 078, India Tel: 91-22-6123 3800 Email: info@rossarimail.com Web: www.rossari.com

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

E-mail : sales@worldofchemicals.com www.worldofchemicals.com Tel : 08119350001

EQUIPMENT PROCESS INDUSTRY

BANKING ON THE GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES Dean Segal, VP, Sales & Marketing, Pope Scientific Inc delves into the opportunities and challenges in the chemical processing equipment industry. He also focuses on the evolving material requirements and importance of after sales services during operations. BY SHIVANI MODY

dvancements in chemical processing equipment industry globally.

Over the last 10 years, there seem to have been a significant uptick in globalization of equipment components and systems sourcing. Just now, for example, we are starting to handle certain equipment made in India that is in a size range larger than we can presently handle. We have sold our equipment into India for decades, but this is the first time we are importing it, working in partnership with an Indian firm.

Global trends in the chemical processing equipment segments. There is more outsourcing happening now, especially in pharma. In this industry, intermediates are of extremely greater value than commodity-like materials, and less in volume, thus multiple shipping costs are not such major factors. Considering Asia Pacific, the best companies in these regions have been reaching global-class quality and their equipment and service have been becoming more competitive on the world stage.

Potential for pilot plant trials and supporting factors in Asia Pacific.

Adoption of Industry 4.0 in the chemical processing

The demand for application knowledge, experience and service is very

We have been providing larger percentages of processing systems

high in these activities. Personnel are put under the microscope from prospective clients and there is no way to fake it. Companies wanting to perform testing, trials, methods development and toll processing services must be extremely serious about hiring and keeping the highest

equipment segment. controlled by PLC’s and other controls and data handling systems as the demand for it has grown. There is definitely more scope for adopting automation and digitization across the chemical processing industry.

level of chemists and engineers possible.

Company’s business growth in Asia Pacific & India

Post pandemic challenges in processing equipment manufacturing.

markets.

Sourcing has become difficult for many things everywhere. Those who

application technology to India and the Asia Pacific since the mid-

had not reached out much globally in the past now must do so more

80’s. This continues today due to our global marketing focus and to

routinely. This means a whole new level of expertise in procurement and sourcing required for those individuals in that role and those not resourceful or technical enough to do what is needed will not be around for long.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

We have been selling processing equipment and its associated

the efforts of quality representatives we have in these areas, especially covering the higher tech industries such as specialty chemicals, pharma, electronics materials etc.

Processing equipment seeing increased demand. Our distillation technology includes some pretty specialized

proven to pay off on average in repeat sales and word of mouth referencing.

equipment, and processing strategies, for example our hybrid

Factors affecting life cycle costs of chemical processing equipment.

wiped-film/fractional column systems addressing the needs

As has always been the case, moving parts such as the obvious

for separating newer, larger, more heat-sensitive molecules,

one – pumps, continue to be the most critical components for

with greater purity. This helps keep our demand global. Those

maintenance. It pays to continually seek out the best quality at

companies interested in international sales growth do need to

reasonable value as possible and to design systems for protection

offer at least some specialized equipment and technology in their

and accommodating to a wide range of possible processed

offerings.

materials.

Material advancement in the chemical processing equipment

Other non-moving components such as heat exchangers can

industry.

also become critical and these require continuous vetting and

There seems to be a continuing need for materials with high

oversight. Welding and finishing of components and piping

resistance to extremes in pH, solvents and temperatures.

requires increased consideration as more customers have more

Materials such as Hastelloy, Kalrez and others remain expensive

demanding specifications that must be satisfied, especially in

and, these days with much longer lead times. There should be

pharma, foods, biomaterials, and ultra-pure electronics materials.

more companies who focus on offering high resistance materials

Always be on the lookout for better vendors, materials and service

for fabrication and at lower costs than those that presently exist.

and don’t blindly rely on the “usual vendors” to always provide you

High rewards are possible for those that pursue the opportunity in

with the best items and service.

material technology, development and availability.

Challenges faced by processing equipment manufacturers globally.

Addressing customer spare parts concerns during on-going

Currently, sourcing is the elephant in the room and one cannot

operations.

relax much at all. There are potential risks overs supply of items

Customer service is crucial and we approach it on a personal level

needed now that suddenly won’t be available for many months.

as opposed to a large company style “efficient” approach. Often, we

The spillover effect of non-availability of “minor” items on large

engage in long phone calls, video conferences and email threads

turnkey processing system project delivery schedules can major

to assist customers with technical and applications questions

impact on fiscal results, customer satisfaction and reputation.

years or decades after the sales have been made, in addition to

Customers have become somewhat more understanding, to some

doing our very best to expedite spare parts, and re-source them

extent in the current era but stress can remain as high as ever when

when necessary, which these days, is becoming more important

projects are very late. Procurement resourcefulness and alertness

than ever. It is a lot of work, but we enjoy it very much and it has

has never been so crucial.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

EQUIPMENT New robust pH sensors for accurate results

etrohm Process Analytics launched new family of economical inline pH sensors: the ProTrode 200, ProTrode 250, ProTrode 300, and ProTrode 350. These effective, and robust sensors are the perfect solution for accurate inline pH measurements in various processes across many industries. The ProTrode 200 and 300 are suitable for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. The ProTrode 250 and 350 are suitable for the chemical industry. The ProTrode 200 & 250 sensors are equipped with sleeve diaphragms so stable results are always obtained.

Contact: Metrohm AG Ionenstrasse CH-9100 Herisau, Switzerland Tel: +41 71 353 85 85 Email: info@metrohm.com Web: www.metrohm.com

Sensors to handle both measuring and switching tasks

he ODT 3C sensor from Leuze can handle both measuring and switching tasks. The new 2-in-1 solution is thus suitable for a wide range of automated industrial applications. The data includes temperature values, warnings, and signal quality. It features impressive black-and-white behavior (< ± 3 millimeter at 150 millimeter). The operating range can be easily adjusted via the teach button, line, or IO-Link. The new Leuze sensor also offers impressive functional reliability: Active ambient light suppression prevents faulty switching, even when exposed to direct light from LED hall lighting systems.

Contact: Leuze electronic GmbH + Co. KG In der Braike 1 73277 Owen, Germany Tel: +49 7021 573-0 Email: info@leuze.de Web: www.leuze.com

High-precision pressure transmitters with extremely low-profile design

DK Corporation introduced the AVD series of new pressure transmitters, distinguishable by their extremely low-profile design and high precision. The transmitters with B58621V ordering codes are available in three versions for different pressure measurement ranges. The series offers high precision levels for low-pressure ranges. A small footprint enables its use even in applications in confined spaces. The compact piezoresistive pressure transmitters based on MEMS technology are suitable for the pressure measurement of air and non-aggressive gases.

Contact: TDK Corporation Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Building 2-5-1, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku Tokyo, 103-6128, Japan Tel: +81 3 67 78 10 00 Web: www.tdk.com

LVDT Position Sensors to measure minute valve movements in power plants

ewTek LVDT Position Sensors enable precise monitoring and control of valves so turbines operate efficiently with minimal wasted energy. While some power plant applications only monitor if a valve is open or closed at start up and shut down, some operations need to know the exact position to ensure valves are opened or closed to the right degree. NewTek HAR Series Displacement Sensors measure movements as small as a few millionths of an inch, which enables them to monitor the movement of valves to very minute degrees. In addition to power plants, the HAR Series LVDTS are ideal for monitoring the valve position in chemical plants, hydroelectric stations and agricultural equipment.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Contact: NewTek Sensor Solutions 7300 US Route 130 North, Bld # 7 Pennsauken, NJ 08110-1541 USA Tel: +1 (856) 406-6877 Email: sales@newteksensors.com Web: www.newteksensors.com

New generation of valves improves safety for hygienic production

EA has launched a key element for process safety in the food, beverage, dairy and pharmaceutical industries: the mixproof double-seat valve Type MX from the GEA VARIVENT® family. Safety is crucial for the future viability of production plants, product integrity and the ever-increasing hygiene requirements are regarded as potent drivers of innovation. With advanced process components such as the new “MX” valve generation, GEA supports companies that aspire to play a pioneering role in product safety. GEA has designed the VARIVENT® MX with elements that keep products from mixing with the cleaning liquid, even under exceptional loads. The cavity chamber is fitted with a vacuum self-drainage system and balancers on both valve disks.

Contact: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft Peter-Muller-Str. 12 40468 Düsseldorf, Germany Tel: +49 211 9136-0 Web: www.gea.com

New ultra-compact pressure switches with IO-Link

ROHNE has introduced OPTIBAR PSM 1010 and OPTIBAR PSM 2010 ultra-compact pressure switches for absolute and gauge pressure measurement in gases and liquids. Both devices aim at basic automation applications such as hydrostatic level measurement in open tanks, dry-run protection of delivery pumps or pressure monitoring of compressors, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Target industries include food and beverage, water and wastewater, environmental and OEM process equipment applications with restricted installation space. The new switches feature a 2-axis (multi-rotatable) display and adjustment module, a robust construction (IP67), and fully configurable communication outputs for all possible configurations: IO-Link and PNP/NPN as standard I/O, and 4…20 mA, 0...10 V or NPN/PNP as secondary output.

Contact: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH Ludwig-Krohne-Str. 5 47058 Duisburg, Germany Tel: +49 203 301-0 Web: https://krohne.com

Expanded valve selection offers new opportunities in plant engineering

EMU has expanded its valve selection for the GEMU eSyLite motorized actuator with three further valve types. With the larger selection of electrical valves, plant engineers and operators find a tailor-made solution even more easily. In addition to the GEMU R629 eSyLite plastic diaphragm valve that already exists, the GEMU 629 diaphragm valve with stainless steel body and the GEMU 519 and 529 globe valves are now also available for simple, motorized open/close applications. In plants in which, for example, solenoid valves of large nominal sizes consume a relatively large amount of electricity, the GEMU globe valves from the eSyLite series are a cost-effective alternative.

Contact: GEMU Gebr. Muller Apparatebau GmbH & Co. KG Fritz-Müller-Str. 6-8, 74653 Ingelfingen Germany Tel: +49 (0) 7940 123-0 Email: ivona.meissner@gemue.de Web: www.gemu-group.com

Batch High Shear Mixers for fine dispersions and emulsions

OSS Batch High Shear Mixers equipped with the Solids/ Liquid Injection Manifold (SLIM) Technology deliver powders in an efficient manner for quick wet-out and complete dispersion into low-viscosity liquids. In a conventional rotor/ stator mixer, materials are continually drawn from below the mixing head and then expelled at high velocity through the stator openings. This method of powder addition dramatically reduces the formation of lumps (fisheyes), prevents floating powders, eliminates dusting, and accelerates mixing time. A versatile tool, the SLIM can also be used to introduce minor liquid components and create fine emulsions.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

Contact: NCharles Ross & Son Company 710 Old Willets Path Hauppauge, New York 11788, USA Tel: 631 234 0500 Email: mail@mixers.com Web: www.mixers.com

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022

CHEMICAL TODAY English Monthly RNI: KARENG/2016/71454 Registered/KRNA/BGE -1148/2022-2025 Licensed to Post without prepayment License No. PMG BG/WPP-362/2017-19 Posted at Bangalore PSO 560026 on 7th or 11th or 13th of every month. Total No of pages 78 Date of Publication: 7th of every month.

Chemical Today Magazine | April 2022