Cheap, energy-efficient and clean reaction to make chemical feedstock

They are all around you! Most plastics, conductive polymers, and even medicines derive from molecules with a double bond between two carbon atoms, C=C. These molecules are called olefins and are mainly produced from fossil fuels through an energy-intensive and polluting process known as steam cracking.

Spotlight

Sasol

Sasol is an international integrated energy and chemicals company that leverages the talent and expertise of our more than 30 100 people working in 33 countries. We develop and commercialise technologies, and build and operate world-scale facilities to produce a range of high-value product streams, including liquid fuels, chemicals and low-carbon electricity.

OTHER ARTICLES
Chemical Management

Boom in petrochemicals demand guaranteed but we must grow sustainably

Article | July 8, 2022

ONE OF THE GREATEST achievements of the last 30 years has been the fall in the number of people living in extreme poverty.In 1999, 1.9bn of the world’s population were living on less than $1.90, the Word Bank’s definition of extreme poverty. Despite setbacks caused by the pandemic, this had fallen to 698m by October 2020. Income levels alone are not enough to escape the life-threatening agony of extreme poverty. There is no point in having money if the essential goods and services to spend your money on are not available. Critical to poverty alleviation has been sufficient supply of all the things that people in the rich world take for granted. The raw materials to make the vast majority of manufactured goods include petrochemicals and polymers. Nearly all the major manufacturing chains would not have been able to function without petrochemicals. Think of medical equipment, syringes, blood bags, hospital gowns, face masks, pill bottles and medicine blister packs. None of the above could have been produced without petrochemicals. As people emerged out of extreme poverty and as economies became wealthier, modern-day medical services became more widely available.

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Chemical Technology

We can solve the plastic waste crisis but we don’t have much time

Article | June 6, 2022

IN 2015, a global agreement was reached that 8m tonnes a year of plastic waste entering the oceans was unacceptable, according to this September 2020 article in The Conversation. This was the amount of plastic that was estimated to have ended up in the oceans in 2010. “Several international platforms emerged to address the crisis, including Our Ocean, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the G7 Ocean Plastic Charter, among others,” continued the article. But in 2020, an estimated 24m-34m tonnes of plastic waste was forecast to enter our lakes, rivers and oceans. This could reach as much as 90m tonnes in 2030 if the current trajectory continued, said The Conversation. This is the type of information out there, free to view on the internet and accessible via a very quick Google search, representing a major challenges for our industry. I cannot of course verify the numbers. But they are out there. Also out there is a May 2019 article by the World Economic Forum (WEF), which provided a good summary of research into what experts believed was the scale of the waste problem in the developing world.

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Chemical Management

Energy portfolio restructuring: Charting the future

Article | July 14, 2022

Consumer needs and preferences in the energy industry are evolving. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns are becoming more acute—inspiring action and shifting value towards low-carbon solutions. These trends accelerated in 2020 and for the first time, market capitalization of leading low-carbon solutions companies began to overtake those of oil and gas (O&G) majors. This is despite the majors laying out energy transition strategies, setting low carbon energy targets and generating higher revenues by an order of magnitude.1 In response to this radically changing landscape, energy companies are charting divergent courses for their futures. Some continue to bet on their ability to generate returns from the O&G value chain. They are focusing on growing margins and lowering carbon intensity. Others are supplementing their capabilities with low-carbon energy solutions or exiting hydrocarbons altogether. This blog focuses on the path forward for the energy majors in Europe who are betting big on diversification.

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Chemical Management

Global polyethylene demand boom likely, increasing the sustainability challenge

Article | June 15, 2021

IT FEELS LIKE several lifetimes ago. If you recall, way back in November-December 2019 Asian variable cost integrated naphtha-based polyethylene (PE) margins turned negative because of the increase in US capacity. Then in January the following year, deep Asian and Middle East operating rate cuts returned some order to the market. Then, bang, as we all know, the pandemic arrived and turned everything on its head. The pandemic has, in my view, accentuated trends that were already well underway. I believe this means that the supply-driven downturn that started in late 2019 will not return.Long before coronavirus upended everyone’s lives, PE demand was becoming increasingly divorced from GDP growth because of the shifting nature of end-use demand. Booming internet sales was, I believe, a major factor behind the split between the growth of the overall economies in the developed world plus China and PE demand.The average product bought online is dropped 17 times because of the large number of people involved in the logistics chain, according to Forbes. This had led to a surge in demand for protective packaging made not from PE and other polymers such as polypropylene, expandable polystyrene and PET films (I will look at their demand growth prospects in later posts).Despite sustainability pressures, the scale of demand for stuff bought online translated to a lot more consumption of virgin polymers.

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Spotlight

Sasol

Sasol is an international integrated energy and chemicals company that leverages the talent and expertise of our more than 30 100 people working in 33 countries. We develop and commercialise technologies, and build and operate world-scale facilities to produce a range of high-value product streams, including liquid fuels, chemicals and low-carbon electricity.

Related News

Chemical Technology, Raw Materials

NOVA Chemicals and Plastic Energy Launch Feasibility Study on Advanced Recycling Plant to Further Canadian Circularity Aspirations

Webwire | July 05, 2023

NOVA Chemicals Corporation (“NOVA Chemicals”) and Plastic Energy have entered into an agreement to explore the feasibility of developing a pyrolysis-driven advanced recycling facility in the Sarnia, Ontario region. If constructed, the facility would be the largest of its kind in Canada with a potential initial capacity of 66kt per annum. “Post-use plastics offer tremendous value to furthering the circular economy, and our teams at NOVA Chemicals work daily to innovate new and collaborative ways to extend the lifecycle of our products and plastic packaging,” said Greg DeKunder, VP, NOVA Circular Solutions. “This agreement with Plastic Energy is a prime example of two companies working together to create timely, effective, and sustainable solutions that will help us make progress towards our 2030 recycled plastics ambitions while diverting hard-to-recycle segments of plastic waste away from landfills.” Plastic Energy is one of the world’s leading advanced recycling technology companies through use of its patented TAC™ process to treat post-consumer plastic waste. Recycled polyethylene manufactured using Plastic Energy-produced feedstock, called TACOIL™, has identical properties to virgin polyethylene and can be used in food contact and high-performance applications, helping manufacturers and packagers achieve their recycled content goals. Plastic Energy has two commercial recycling plants in Spain that have been in operation for seven years, alongside new projects in Europe and Asia. “We are pleased to sign this agreement with NOVA Chemicals to explore the scope for our first advanced recycling project in Canada,” said Carlos Monreal, Founder and CEO of Plastic Energy. “Advanced recycling will continue to be important for the North American market by providing a solution for incorporating recycled content into food-grade packaging. Together with NOVA Chemicals, we aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste ending up in landfills, incineration, or as leakage into the environment, which is important for the circular economy in Canada.” NOVA Chemicals recently announced its aspiration to reach 30 per cent recycled content as a share of its total polyethylene sales by 2030 in its Roadmap to Sustainability Leadership, including its commitment to build a state of the art mechanical recycling business and continue exploring world-leading and proven advanced recycling technologies. If built, this new facility would see NOVA Chemicals build on its already CAD 2 billion investment into Ontario to inject additional new technology, jobs, and long-term viability into the local and Canadian economies. About NOVA Chemicals Corporation NOVA Chemicals aspires to be the leading sustainable polyethylene producer in North America. Our driving purpose is to reshape plastics for a better, more sustainable world by delivering innovative solutions that help make everyday life healthier and safer and acting as a catalyst for a low carbon, zero-plastic-waste future. NOVA Chemicals’ innovative and quality product offerings, value chain collaboration, and unique customer experience is what sets us apart; our customers use our products to create easy-to-recycle and recycled content films, packaging, and products. Our employees work to ensure health, safety, security, and environmental stewardship through our commitment to Sustainability and Responsible Care®. NOVA Chemicals, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has nearly 2,500 employees worldwide and is wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. About Plastic Energy Plastic Energy is a global leader in advanced recycling, offering a sustainable solution to help prevent plastic waste, transforming previously unrecyclable plastic waste into a valuable resource. Our patented and proven advanced recycling technology converts end-of-life plastic waste into an optimal feedstock (TACOIL™) for making virgin-quality recycled plastics. Plastic Energy currently has two chemical recycling plants that are in constant operation in Spain and is one of the few companies worldwide that has sold TACOIL™ from the conversion of end-of-life plastic waste to replace fossil oils in the manufacturing of new plastics. We are leading our field in the transition to a low-carbon circular economy for plastics. Learn more on our website at www.plasticenergy.com.

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Products and Technologies, Raw Materials

DayGlo Announces Introduction of Elara Luxe Cosmetic Colorants

DayGlo | March 16, 2023

DayGlo Color Corp., one of the world's leaders in manufacturing daylight fluorescent pigments, has recently announced the introduction of Elara Luxe, its latest innovation in fluorescent color technology for the personal care and cosmetics industries. The Elara Luxe product range, which includes seven new plant-based fluorescent pigments, was created with the notion that clean beauty should never have to sacrifice brilliance. It empowers formulators and transforms the conventional way of thinking about color in the sector. For the very first time, clean beauty products can have the robust and rich palette that clients demand. Elara Luxe pigments provide new opportunities for creating vibrant colors with unprecedented color breadth and intensity. Customers are driving demand for environmentally friendly products that are free of toxic substances. The new product range has no microplastics, which benefits both consumers and the environment. Elara Luxe exemplifies clean beauty standards and establishes a new class of cosmetic colorants derived from all-natural rice protein, a potent union of nature and technology. All pigments are plant-based, naturally biodegradable, vegan, kosher, non-GMO, and halal-approved. Elara Luxe colorants are compatible with oil-based, solvent-based, and water-based formulations. This makes them suitable for a wide variety of applications when utilized in compliance with the usage and restrictions specified in 21 CFR Part 82 Subparts B and 21 CFR Part 74 Subpart C, C, and D. These include cosmetics, temporary hair color, lotions and soaps, lip gloss and lipsticks, face paint, and nail polish or nail lacquer. Will Wooten, VP of Global Sales and Marketing at DayGlo, said, "The Elara Luxe range is a key element of DayGlo's growth strategy." He added, "As America's leading fluorescent pigment manufacturer, we are ecstatic about our latest innovation. Here is a product with the power to revolutionize the palette available to formulators." (Source – Business Wire) About DayGlo DayGlo, founded in 1946, is the world's leading manufacturer of daylight fluorescent pigments, and it creates technology to improve and enhance colors. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the company manufactures pigments, inks, toners, coatings, and fluorescent dispersions for a range of applications, including food and beverage, plastics, safety equipment, and consumer goods. Moreover, DayGlo markets the Radiant, Swada, and Sterling fluorescent colorant brands in Europe and other regions.

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Products and Technologies

SEKISUI Aerospace Acquires Continuous Compression Molding Equipment for Thermoplastics

SEKISUI Aerospace | November 12, 2021

SEKISUI Aerospace, a subsidiary of SEKISUI Chemical, has completed an investment in Continuous Compression Molding (CCM) thermoplastics technology and equipment. The work cell is currently being installed in SEKISUI's Renton, WA facility and is expected to be operational by December 2021. The CCM line includes ply cutting and alignment, welding, and test equipment. Additionally, an Automated Press Cell (APC) with a robotic part transfer that enables stamp forming of thermoplastic composite blanks will be installed by Q2 of 2022. Adding continuous fiber thermoplastics production to the Renton, WA facility complements SEKISUI's existing thermoplastic and thermoset production capability. This new work cell is also strategically located adjacent to our Innovation Laboratory (iLab) - Research and Development center. This technology addition enables SEKISUI to offer its customers a wider variety of manufacturing and process technologies for new work packages. CCM adds breadth to SEKISUI's existing thermoplastics processing portfolio which currently includes chopped fiber products produced at our Orange City, IA facility. The flexibility of the CCM process allows for varying ply orientations and ply counts to produce solid laminate blanks of varying thickness and widths up to 24 inches. Panels of varying lengths can be produced for companies with existing stamp forming capability, or produced for use on our own APC cell. It can also produce multiple shapes of continuous fiber structural profiles. "We are excited to add this composite technology to our product offering. We see a lot of opportunity for thermoplastics in the aerospace market but are also open to other market applications as well. The team is working on testing and qualification of the equipment and processes, and is currently developing plans based on materials and product applications for existing and new customers." Chelsea McLaughlin, Senior Director of Programs, Contracts and Strategy "The ability to develop CCM solutions for customers in commercial aerospace and other industries such as automotive, Urban Air Mobility (UAM), and military applications, allows us to differentiate ourselves through technology and serve our customers with innovative solutions for their current and future projects. Investing in this automated thermoplastic capability is also another great step towards our commitments to eco-sustainability and aids our efforts in minimizing our impact to the environment by employing recyclable materials," said Daniele Cagnatel, CEO and President of SEKISUI Aerospace. About SEKISUI Aerospace SEKISUI Aerospace has been manufacturing and engineering products for the commercial aerospace and defense markets for over 32 years. SEKISUI Aerospace is a leading designer and producer of advanced composite structures, systems, and engine components using thermoset and thermoplastic technology for the global aerospace industry. Headquartered in Renton, Washington, SEKISUI Aerospace has additional facilities located in Sumner, Washington and Orange City, Iowa with a total of 570 employees.

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Chemical Technology, Raw Materials

NOVA Chemicals and Plastic Energy Launch Feasibility Study on Advanced Recycling Plant to Further Canadian Circularity Aspirations

Webwire | July 05, 2023

NOVA Chemicals Corporation (“NOVA Chemicals”) and Plastic Energy have entered into an agreement to explore the feasibility of developing a pyrolysis-driven advanced recycling facility in the Sarnia, Ontario region. If constructed, the facility would be the largest of its kind in Canada with a potential initial capacity of 66kt per annum. “Post-use plastics offer tremendous value to furthering the circular economy, and our teams at NOVA Chemicals work daily to innovate new and collaborative ways to extend the lifecycle of our products and plastic packaging,” said Greg DeKunder, VP, NOVA Circular Solutions. “This agreement with Plastic Energy is a prime example of two companies working together to create timely, effective, and sustainable solutions that will help us make progress towards our 2030 recycled plastics ambitions while diverting hard-to-recycle segments of plastic waste away from landfills.” Plastic Energy is one of the world’s leading advanced recycling technology companies through use of its patented TAC™ process to treat post-consumer plastic waste. Recycled polyethylene manufactured using Plastic Energy-produced feedstock, called TACOIL™, has identical properties to virgin polyethylene and can be used in food contact and high-performance applications, helping manufacturers and packagers achieve their recycled content goals. Plastic Energy has two commercial recycling plants in Spain that have been in operation for seven years, alongside new projects in Europe and Asia. “We are pleased to sign this agreement with NOVA Chemicals to explore the scope for our first advanced recycling project in Canada,” said Carlos Monreal, Founder and CEO of Plastic Energy. “Advanced recycling will continue to be important for the North American market by providing a solution for incorporating recycled content into food-grade packaging. Together with NOVA Chemicals, we aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste ending up in landfills, incineration, or as leakage into the environment, which is important for the circular economy in Canada.” NOVA Chemicals recently announced its aspiration to reach 30 per cent recycled content as a share of its total polyethylene sales by 2030 in its Roadmap to Sustainability Leadership, including its commitment to build a state of the art mechanical recycling business and continue exploring world-leading and proven advanced recycling technologies. If built, this new facility would see NOVA Chemicals build on its already CAD 2 billion investment into Ontario to inject additional new technology, jobs, and long-term viability into the local and Canadian economies. About NOVA Chemicals Corporation NOVA Chemicals aspires to be the leading sustainable polyethylene producer in North America. Our driving purpose is to reshape plastics for a better, more sustainable world by delivering innovative solutions that help make everyday life healthier and safer and acting as a catalyst for a low carbon, zero-plastic-waste future. NOVA Chemicals’ innovative and quality product offerings, value chain collaboration, and unique customer experience is what sets us apart; our customers use our products to create easy-to-recycle and recycled content films, packaging, and products. Our employees work to ensure health, safety, security, and environmental stewardship through our commitment to Sustainability and Responsible Care®. NOVA Chemicals, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has nearly 2,500 employees worldwide and is wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. About Plastic Energy Plastic Energy is a global leader in advanced recycling, offering a sustainable solution to help prevent plastic waste, transforming previously unrecyclable plastic waste into a valuable resource. Our patented and proven advanced recycling technology converts end-of-life plastic waste into an optimal feedstock (TACOIL™) for making virgin-quality recycled plastics. Plastic Energy currently has two chemical recycling plants that are in constant operation in Spain and is one of the few companies worldwide that has sold TACOIL™ from the conversion of end-of-life plastic waste to replace fossil oils in the manufacturing of new plastics. We are leading our field in the transition to a low-carbon circular economy for plastics. Learn more on our website at www.plasticenergy.com.

Read More

Products and Technologies, Raw Materials

DayGlo Announces Introduction of Elara Luxe Cosmetic Colorants

DayGlo | March 16, 2023

DayGlo Color Corp., one of the world's leaders in manufacturing daylight fluorescent pigments, has recently announced the introduction of Elara Luxe, its latest innovation in fluorescent color technology for the personal care and cosmetics industries. The Elara Luxe product range, which includes seven new plant-based fluorescent pigments, was created with the notion that clean beauty should never have to sacrifice brilliance. It empowers formulators and transforms the conventional way of thinking about color in the sector. For the very first time, clean beauty products can have the robust and rich palette that clients demand. Elara Luxe pigments provide new opportunities for creating vibrant colors with unprecedented color breadth and intensity. Customers are driving demand for environmentally friendly products that are free of toxic substances. The new product range has no microplastics, which benefits both consumers and the environment. Elara Luxe exemplifies clean beauty standards and establishes a new class of cosmetic colorants derived from all-natural rice protein, a potent union of nature and technology. All pigments are plant-based, naturally biodegradable, vegan, kosher, non-GMO, and halal-approved. Elara Luxe colorants are compatible with oil-based, solvent-based, and water-based formulations. This makes them suitable for a wide variety of applications when utilized in compliance with the usage and restrictions specified in 21 CFR Part 82 Subparts B and 21 CFR Part 74 Subpart C, C, and D. These include cosmetics, temporary hair color, lotions and soaps, lip gloss and lipsticks, face paint, and nail polish or nail lacquer. Will Wooten, VP of Global Sales and Marketing at DayGlo, said, "The Elara Luxe range is a key element of DayGlo's growth strategy." He added, "As America's leading fluorescent pigment manufacturer, we are ecstatic about our latest innovation. Here is a product with the power to revolutionize the palette available to formulators." (Source – Business Wire) About DayGlo DayGlo, founded in 1946, is the world's leading manufacturer of daylight fluorescent pigments, and it creates technology to improve and enhance colors. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the company manufactures pigments, inks, toners, coatings, and fluorescent dispersions for a range of applications, including food and beverage, plastics, safety equipment, and consumer goods. Moreover, DayGlo markets the Radiant, Swada, and Sterling fluorescent colorant brands in Europe and other regions.

Read More

Products and Technologies

SEKISUI Aerospace Acquires Continuous Compression Molding Equipment for Thermoplastics

SEKISUI Aerospace | November 12, 2021

SEKISUI Aerospace, a subsidiary of SEKISUI Chemical, has completed an investment in Continuous Compression Molding (CCM) thermoplastics technology and equipment. The work cell is currently being installed in SEKISUI's Renton, WA facility and is expected to be operational by December 2021. The CCM line includes ply cutting and alignment, welding, and test equipment. Additionally, an Automated Press Cell (APC) with a robotic part transfer that enables stamp forming of thermoplastic composite blanks will be installed by Q2 of 2022. Adding continuous fiber thermoplastics production to the Renton, WA facility complements SEKISUI's existing thermoplastic and thermoset production capability. This new work cell is also strategically located adjacent to our Innovation Laboratory (iLab) - Research and Development center. This technology addition enables SEKISUI to offer its customers a wider variety of manufacturing and process technologies for new work packages. CCM adds breadth to SEKISUI's existing thermoplastics processing portfolio which currently includes chopped fiber products produced at our Orange City, IA facility. The flexibility of the CCM process allows for varying ply orientations and ply counts to produce solid laminate blanks of varying thickness and widths up to 24 inches. Panels of varying lengths can be produced for companies with existing stamp forming capability, or produced for use on our own APC cell. It can also produce multiple shapes of continuous fiber structural profiles. "We are excited to add this composite technology to our product offering. We see a lot of opportunity for thermoplastics in the aerospace market but are also open to other market applications as well. The team is working on testing and qualification of the equipment and processes, and is currently developing plans based on materials and product applications for existing and new customers." Chelsea McLaughlin, Senior Director of Programs, Contracts and Strategy "The ability to develop CCM solutions for customers in commercial aerospace and other industries such as automotive, Urban Air Mobility (UAM), and military applications, allows us to differentiate ourselves through technology and serve our customers with innovative solutions for their current and future projects. Investing in this automated thermoplastic capability is also another great step towards our commitments to eco-sustainability and aids our efforts in minimizing our impact to the environment by employing recyclable materials," said Daniele Cagnatel, CEO and President of SEKISUI Aerospace. About SEKISUI Aerospace SEKISUI Aerospace has been manufacturing and engineering products for the commercial aerospace and defense markets for over 32 years. SEKISUI Aerospace is a leading designer and producer of advanced composite structures, systems, and engine components using thermoset and thermoplastic technology for the global aerospace industry. Headquartered in Renton, Washington, SEKISUI Aerospace has additional facilities located in Sumner, Washington and Orange City, Iowa with a total of 570 employees.

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