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Polymers

NOVA to sell North American styrenics unit to PFB

PFB Corp. has agreed to acquire performance styrenics business of Canada’s NOVA Chemicals, including the expandable polystyrene (EPS) and ARCEL resin products. PFB says the acquisition will underpin a vertically-integrated, construction-materials focused product offering in the US.

Eastman finishes retrofit, startup of newly-acquired plasticizer plant in Texas

Eastman Chemical has completed the retrofit and startup of its non-phthalate plasticizer manufacturing facility in Texas City, Texas. Eastman, which purchased the former Sterling Chemicals plant in mid-2011, said further capacity additions were possible with minimal investment.

BASF acquires Brazil polyamide polymer business

BASF on Thursday struck a deal to buy the polyamide (PA) polymer business of Mazzaferro Group in Brazil. The deal includes the site and production facilities for the PA 6 product range, as well as engineering plastics compounds at São Bernardo do Campo in the metropolitan area of São Paulo.

Control moisture problems in slurry-based polyolefin operations

University of Newcastle: Mitra, S.

Proper moisture removal from the polymerization-reaction medium is key to successfully operating a HDPE plant designed on low-pressure, slurry-process technology.

2012 petrochemical outlook: Middle East

FACTS Global Energy: Smith, R.  |  Adibi, S.  |  Khimasia, S.

Most of the Middle Eastern countries are looking to expand further into downstream petrochemicals as opposed to exporting the building blocks.

2012 petrochemical outlook: United States

American Chemistry Council: Smith, T. K.

The boom in oil and gas is creating both demand side (e.g., pipe mills, oilfield machinery) and supply-side (e.g., chemicals, fertilizers, direct iron reduction) opportunities.

HP Insight: The HPI uses technology when solving global problems

Research and development (R&D) has been the platform to support new methods to process transportation fuels and petrochemical products from hydrocarbons. So, how much of the R&D was just straight rese..

HP Innovations: HPInnovations

Catalyst boosts H2 output, cuts costsHaldor Topsøe recently introduced a low-methanol, low-temperature shift (LTS) catalyst, LK-853 FENCE, which presents new opportunities for hydrogen and ammoni..

HP Construction: North America

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Meche, Helen

Fluor Corp. was awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract by Joule to design and build a renewable fuel production facility in New Mexico. The facility is intende..

HP Construction: Asia Pacific

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Meche, Helen

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has a contract from Solvay for a major, specialty polymers production plant to be built at Solvay’s industrial site in Changshu, Jiangsu, China. Officials estimate t..