Global polyolefins for the rest of 2021: supply to lengthen as demand muddle continues

May 2, 2021 | 253 views

SOMEHOW, despite the still very serious container freight shortages that have limited imports, buying sentiment seems to have weakened in the European polyolefins market, according to my outstanding ICIS colleague, Linda Naylor.

Spotlight

OCI Beaumont LLC

Established in the 1960s, OCI Beaumont is an integrated ammonia and methanol production complex located on a 28-acre site south of Beaumont, Texas on the Neches River. It is the largest merchant methanol plant in North America, with a permitted annual production capacity of 730,000 metric tons of methanol and 265,000 metric tons of anhydrous ammonia.

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Transporting biological and chemical materials - what you need to know

Article | July 13, 2021

The landscape of biological and chemical logistics has changed rapidly - as have the regulatory frameworks around it. What has not necessarily kept pace is the end-user understanding of the nature of these logistical processes, their opportunities and their constraints. Twenty years ago, the transmission of biological and chemical materials was limited to a small range of organisations: usually national and international research companies, hospitals, major university departments, police and military departments with forensic responsibilities.

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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

Setting record straight on testing harm in chemicals

Article | July 8, 2022

The modern world is built on chemicals, be it the medicines we use, or cleaning fluids, crop protection products, or the raw materials for everything from laptops and mobile phones to clothes and furniture. Across all, we have created an entire modern society with chemicals, and, as a result, constantly stretched the size of the world population we can feed, clothe and shelter. Yet, balancing all the gains from the modern chemistry around us against any negative environmental and human impact has been a rising concern, making for ever greater focus on testing and on risk assessment.

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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

Why chemical characterization is the best way to assess patient risk

Article | June 15, 2021

Everyone is very familiar with the phrase when buying a house: All that really matters are three things - location, location, and location. This same principle applies to extractables and leachables chemistry analysis – the three things that truly matter are identification, identification, and identification. The greatest growth in the past ten years in demonstrating the safety of medical devices and container closure systems for drugs has been using analytical chemistry to determine what chemicals can leach from the device and what the patient is exposed to during its intended use.

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How Chemical Companies Benefit from the Experience Economy

Article | February 10, 2020

To feel or experience from a business engagement started with customer experience mainly in the consumer products business. Today it has extended to even knowledge industries like the chemical industry where experiencing or feeling can be leveraged to include all stake holders from customers primarily to employees to supply chain people & suppliers and all else. With digital technologies this has become easier than before. The benefits from promoting the ‘feel’ or ‘experience’ emotion could be multifarious for the chemical industry as described in this article.

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Spotlight

OCI Beaumont LLC

Established in the 1960s, OCI Beaumont is an integrated ammonia and methanol production complex located on a 28-acre site south of Beaumont, Texas on the Neches River. It is the largest merchant methanol plant in North America, with a permitted annual production capacity of 730,000 metric tons of methanol and 265,000 metric tons of anhydrous ammonia.

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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

Streamline Innovations Introduces VALKYRIE® ECO and VALKYRIE ECO FLEX Products for H2S Treating in Biogas-to-RNG Upgrading Applications

Businesswire | May 22, 2023

Streamline Innovations, Inc. announced the introduction of the VALKYRIE® ECO and VALKYRIE ECO FLEX H2S treating solutions configured specifically for agricultural biogas and Landfill Gas (LFG) operations. The VALKYRIE ECO model is designed for agricultural biogas applications and the VALKYRIE ECO FLEX solution is engineered for larger volume operations, such as landfills. Both units utilize TALON®, a non-toxic and biodegradable Redox chemistry to remove H2S in an environmentally responsible way. Streamline’s products are manufactured and assembled in the USA. David Sisk, Streamline’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “The introduction of the VALKYRIE ECO and ECO FLEX solutions comes right as the Biogas-to-RNG market is rapidly gaining momentum. RNG project developers need a reliable, proven and environmentally sustainable solution for purifying biogas feedstocks of hydrogen sulfide in the RNG upgrading process so they can sell it into commercial pipelines. VALKYRIE H2S treating technology has been working successfully for years in Oil & Gas and other industries, and its application to the RNG market is a natural extension of this innovative yet proven approach.” Legacy methods for treating H2S have notable downsides, including handling and disposal of hazardous spent media as well as excessive downtime while biological treatment colonies repopulate. Streamline Innovation’s robust Next Generation Liquid Redox process converts H2S into elemental sulfur and water vapor. The Simple Elemental Sulfur™ byproduct is approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in organic food production. Both the VALKYRIE ECO and VALKYRIE ECO FLEX are designed to work effectively in the lower gas pressure environments typically found in biogas and Landfill Gas applications. Importantly, the VALKYRIE ECO FLEX model uses a modular design that allows customers to scale treating capacity in increments to meet individual LFG gas stream volumes. Biogas contaminated with H2S flows through the VALKYRIE H2S treating units containing specialized TALON catalyst, and then exits free of H2S, ready for additional treating to remove other contaminants such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and siloxanes, among others. The VALKYRIE ECO and VALKYRIE ECO FLEX are designed to remove H2S to levels that meet commercial pipeline specifications without additional polishing. About Streamline Innovations Streamline Innovation’s vision is Eliminating Emissions Through Technology. We help heavy industry around the world achieve environmental performance objectives, improve sustainability, and transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Streamline’s environmentally forward H2S treating solutions help achieve the “E” in ESG. H2S is present in many industrial processes throughout the world. Our technology can be applied across industries, delivering a sustainable solution that eliminates H2S, a leading cause of human inhalation accidents and source of SO2 emissions, a primary cause of acid rain. TALON treats effectively in both gas and water phases.

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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

LanzaTech and Plastipak Partner to Produce World’s First PET Resin Made from Waste Carbon

Globenewswire | May 23, 2023

LanzaTech Global, Inc. an innovative carbon capture and transformation company that converts waste carbon into materials such as sustainable fuels, fabrics, packaging, and other products that people use in their daily lives, and Plastipak Packaging, Inc. (“Plastipak”), a global leader in the design, manufacture, and recycling of plastic containers, announce they have successfully produced PPKNatura, the world’s first polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin made from captured carbon emissions. The resin is suitable for food, personal care, and pharmaceutical packaging, as well as other non-packaging applications. PET is a polymer that is molded into plastic bottles and containers for packaging foods and beverages, personal care products, and many other consumer goods. PET resin comprises 30% monoethylene glycol (MEG) traditionally derived from petroleum. PPKNatura leverages CarbonSmart™ MEG from LanzaTech’s CCT process. It retains the technical properties of virgin fossil PET while carrying a lower carbon footprint. Thus, PPKNatura can be a used for traditional food and pharmaceutical grade packaging and other sensitive applications such as hot-fill, refillables, and applications where a low crystallinity is required. Non-packaging PET applications can also take advantage of this ground-breaking resin. PPKNatura resin reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and its production process does not require land or food resources. In addition, packaging made out of this material can be fully recycled at the end of its life, keeping the carbon in a circular material cycle. Leading Swiss retailer Migros and its subsidiary Mibelle Group were the first to use this PET in in-house brand packaging, including in creating PET bottles for smoothies and the containers of household cleaners that also contained LanzaTech ethanol as a key ingredient. “LanzaTech’s commercial technology is designed to enable our partners in diverse industries to reduce their carbon footprint and overall environmental impact,” said Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaTech. “Our partnership with Plastipak is critical to demonstrating what is possible today. Today we are producing food- and pharmaceutical-grade packaging and are well on our way to creating a more sustainable future for all.” LanzaTech’s CCT technology works like a brewery in which proprietary bacteria consume pollution and convert it into CarbonSmart chemicals. Those chemicals are then turned into products ranging from clothing and laundry detergent to sustainable aviation fuel. Using a variety of waste feedstocks, LanzaTech’s technology platform is creating a future where consumers are not dependent on virgin fossil inputs for everything in their daily lives. “We are delighted to partner with LanzaTech to achieve early progress in our ambition to produce PET with lower environmental impacts. The use of CarbonSmart MEG is a first and important milestone in our journey toward this goal, and combined with use of renewable electricity in the production process, has contributed to significant progress in indicators such as carbon reduction and use of fossil resources. PPKNatura resin is one element of Plastipak’s ESG program, which among other initiatives, targets the extension of our product circularity with the intent of supporting customers in reducing their Scope 3 emissions. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with LanzaTech as we work together to achieve our long-term goals,” said Pedro Martins, Executive Managing Director Europe of Plastipak. About LanzaTech Headquartered in Skokie, IL, LanzaTech Global, Inc. captures waste carbon and transforms it into materials such as sustainable fuels, fabrics, packaging, and other products. Using a variety of waste feedstocks, LanzaTech’s technology platform is contributing to a future where consumers are not dependent on virgin fossil feedstocks for everything in their daily lives. LanzaTech’s goal is to challenge and change the way the world uses carbon, enabling a new circular carbon economy where carbon is reused rather than wasted, skies and oceans are kept clean, and pollution becomes a thing of the past.

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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

PSC Group, a Portfolio Company of Aurora Capital Partners, Announces Acquisition of Steel Line Rail Services LLC

PRNewswire | May 18, 2023

PSC Group a North American leader in product handling, site logistics, railcar repair and sustainability services for the petrochemical, refining and marine industries, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Steel Line Rail Services LLC a leading provider of mobile railcar repair, inspection and valve maintenance services for the petrochemical, refining, and railcar leasing industries throughout the United States and Mexico. Steel Line Rail was founded in 2018 as a mobile repair and inspection company in Marshall, Texas. Over the past five years, the company has expanded its service offerings to include mobile railcar repair service across the continental United States, AAR certifications, and an in-house valve shop for repair, testing and certification of tank car valves. "We are very pleased to welcome the Steel Line Rail team to the PSC family," said PSC CEO Joel Dickerson. "Their depth of experience, reputation for excellent service, and expanded scope of services and geographic reach will enable us to more effectively meet growing industry needs. We look forward to working with them to deliver safe and efficient mobile railcar repair, inspection, and valve maintenance services across the US, Mexico, and Canada." Steel Line Rail's founder and president Micheal Henigan will join PSC's railcar repair leadership team. "A 33-year industry veteran, Micheal has a long history of delivering excellent safety, quality, and customer service in the railcar repair and inspection industry. Since founding Steel Line Rail, Micheal has quickly expanded the business into a trusted partner for railroad operators across the country, and this transaction adds critical new work scopes to our portfolio of repair service offerings, bringing mobile repair, inspection, and valve shop capabilities," said PSC SVP of Corporate Development Houston Haymon. "From the start of the discussions with PSC's leadership, I could tell our cultures were aligned and that by working together, we can grow, better serve our customers, and create great career opportunities for our employees," said Henigan. "PSC is the right partner for Steel Line Rail, and this is a clear win-win-win for our customers, for Steel Line Rail and for PSC." This marks the fifth acquisition completed by PSC Group since partnering with Aurora in 2019, including Prokar, Inc., Fryoux Tankerman Service, Akrotex Extrusion and Thermoplastics Services, Inc. The company also recently announced the opening of its Advanced Recycling Facility in Baytown, Texas. ABOUT PSC GROUP For 71 years, PSC has been committed to safely and efficiently meeting the product handling and site logistics needs of leading companies in the refining, chemical, marine, and rail industries. The company's 4,500+ employees serve at more than 150 refineries, terminals, and chemical plants across the U.S. and Canada, providing expertise in tankering barges, operating terminals and docks, railcar repair and switching, warehousing, and loading/unloading of railcars and trucks with a variety of oil products, plastics, and chemicals. PSC also offers an array of sustainability services to support plastics producers with Operation Clean Sweep compliance and recycling initiatives.

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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

Streamline Innovations Introduces VALKYRIE® ECO and VALKYRIE ECO FLEX Products for H2S Treating in Biogas-to-RNG Upgrading Applications

Businesswire | May 22, 2023

Streamline Innovations, Inc. announced the introduction of the VALKYRIE® ECO and VALKYRIE ECO FLEX H2S treating solutions configured specifically for agricultural biogas and Landfill Gas (LFG) operations. The VALKYRIE ECO model is designed for agricultural biogas applications and the VALKYRIE ECO FLEX solution is engineered for larger volume operations, such as landfills. Both units utilize TALON®, a non-toxic and biodegradable Redox chemistry to remove H2S in an environmentally responsible way. Streamline’s products are manufactured and assembled in the USA. David Sisk, Streamline’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “The introduction of the VALKYRIE ECO and ECO FLEX solutions comes right as the Biogas-to-RNG market is rapidly gaining momentum. RNG project developers need a reliable, proven and environmentally sustainable solution for purifying biogas feedstocks of hydrogen sulfide in the RNG upgrading process so they can sell it into commercial pipelines. VALKYRIE H2S treating technology has been working successfully for years in Oil & Gas and other industries, and its application to the RNG market is a natural extension of this innovative yet proven approach.” Legacy methods for treating H2S have notable downsides, including handling and disposal of hazardous spent media as well as excessive downtime while biological treatment colonies repopulate. Streamline Innovation’s robust Next Generation Liquid Redox process converts H2S into elemental sulfur and water vapor. The Simple Elemental Sulfur™ byproduct is approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in organic food production. Both the VALKYRIE ECO and VALKYRIE ECO FLEX are designed to work effectively in the lower gas pressure environments typically found in biogas and Landfill Gas applications. Importantly, the VALKYRIE ECO FLEX model uses a modular design that allows customers to scale treating capacity in increments to meet individual LFG gas stream volumes. Biogas contaminated with H2S flows through the VALKYRIE H2S treating units containing specialized TALON catalyst, and then exits free of H2S, ready for additional treating to remove other contaminants such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and siloxanes, among others. The VALKYRIE ECO and VALKYRIE ECO FLEX are designed to remove H2S to levels that meet commercial pipeline specifications without additional polishing. About Streamline Innovations Streamline Innovation’s vision is Eliminating Emissions Through Technology. We help heavy industry around the world achieve environmental performance objectives, improve sustainability, and transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Streamline’s environmentally forward H2S treating solutions help achieve the “E” in ESG. H2S is present in many industrial processes throughout the world. Our technology can be applied across industries, delivering a sustainable solution that eliminates H2S, a leading cause of human inhalation accidents and source of SO2 emissions, a primary cause of acid rain. TALON treats effectively in both gas and water phases.

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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

LanzaTech and Plastipak Partner to Produce World’s First PET Resin Made from Waste Carbon

Globenewswire | May 23, 2023

LanzaTech Global, Inc. an innovative carbon capture and transformation company that converts waste carbon into materials such as sustainable fuels, fabrics, packaging, and other products that people use in their daily lives, and Plastipak Packaging, Inc. (“Plastipak”), a global leader in the design, manufacture, and recycling of plastic containers, announce they have successfully produced PPKNatura, the world’s first polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin made from captured carbon emissions. The resin is suitable for food, personal care, and pharmaceutical packaging, as well as other non-packaging applications. PET is a polymer that is molded into plastic bottles and containers for packaging foods and beverages, personal care products, and many other consumer goods. PET resin comprises 30% monoethylene glycol (MEG) traditionally derived from petroleum. PPKNatura leverages CarbonSmart™ MEG from LanzaTech’s CCT process. It retains the technical properties of virgin fossil PET while carrying a lower carbon footprint. Thus, PPKNatura can be a used for traditional food and pharmaceutical grade packaging and other sensitive applications such as hot-fill, refillables, and applications where a low crystallinity is required. Non-packaging PET applications can also take advantage of this ground-breaking resin. PPKNatura resin reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and its production process does not require land or food resources. In addition, packaging made out of this material can be fully recycled at the end of its life, keeping the carbon in a circular material cycle. Leading Swiss retailer Migros and its subsidiary Mibelle Group were the first to use this PET in in-house brand packaging, including in creating PET bottles for smoothies and the containers of household cleaners that also contained LanzaTech ethanol as a key ingredient. “LanzaTech’s commercial technology is designed to enable our partners in diverse industries to reduce their carbon footprint and overall environmental impact,” said Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaTech. “Our partnership with Plastipak is critical to demonstrating what is possible today. Today we are producing food- and pharmaceutical-grade packaging and are well on our way to creating a more sustainable future for all.” LanzaTech’s CCT technology works like a brewery in which proprietary bacteria consume pollution and convert it into CarbonSmart chemicals. Those chemicals are then turned into products ranging from clothing and laundry detergent to sustainable aviation fuel. Using a variety of waste feedstocks, LanzaTech’s technology platform is creating a future where consumers are not dependent on virgin fossil inputs for everything in their daily lives. “We are delighted to partner with LanzaTech to achieve early progress in our ambition to produce PET with lower environmental impacts. The use of CarbonSmart MEG is a first and important milestone in our journey toward this goal, and combined with use of renewable electricity in the production process, has contributed to significant progress in indicators such as carbon reduction and use of fossil resources. PPKNatura resin is one element of Plastipak’s ESG program, which among other initiatives, targets the extension of our product circularity with the intent of supporting customers in reducing their Scope 3 emissions. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with LanzaTech as we work together to achieve our long-term goals,” said Pedro Martins, Executive Managing Director Europe of Plastipak. About LanzaTech Headquartered in Skokie, IL, LanzaTech Global, Inc. captures waste carbon and transforms it into materials such as sustainable fuels, fabrics, packaging, and other products. Using a variety of waste feedstocks, LanzaTech’s technology platform is contributing to a future where consumers are not dependent on virgin fossil feedstocks for everything in their daily lives. LanzaTech’s goal is to challenge and change the way the world uses carbon, enabling a new circular carbon economy where carbon is reused rather than wasted, skies and oceans are kept clean, and pollution becomes a thing of the past.

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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

PSC Group, a Portfolio Company of Aurora Capital Partners, Announces Acquisition of Steel Line Rail Services LLC

PRNewswire | May 18, 2023

PSC Group a North American leader in product handling, site logistics, railcar repair and sustainability services for the petrochemical, refining and marine industries, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Steel Line Rail Services LLC a leading provider of mobile railcar repair, inspection and valve maintenance services for the petrochemical, refining, and railcar leasing industries throughout the United States and Mexico. Steel Line Rail was founded in 2018 as a mobile repair and inspection company in Marshall, Texas. Over the past five years, the company has expanded its service offerings to include mobile railcar repair service across the continental United States, AAR certifications, and an in-house valve shop for repair, testing and certification of tank car valves. "We are very pleased to welcome the Steel Line Rail team to the PSC family," said PSC CEO Joel Dickerson. "Their depth of experience, reputation for excellent service, and expanded scope of services and geographic reach will enable us to more effectively meet growing industry needs. We look forward to working with them to deliver safe and efficient mobile railcar repair, inspection, and valve maintenance services across the US, Mexico, and Canada." Steel Line Rail's founder and president Micheal Henigan will join PSC's railcar repair leadership team. "A 33-year industry veteran, Micheal has a long history of delivering excellent safety, quality, and customer service in the railcar repair and inspection industry. Since founding Steel Line Rail, Micheal has quickly expanded the business into a trusted partner for railroad operators across the country, and this transaction adds critical new work scopes to our portfolio of repair service offerings, bringing mobile repair, inspection, and valve shop capabilities," said PSC SVP of Corporate Development Houston Haymon. "From the start of the discussions with PSC's leadership, I could tell our cultures were aligned and that by working together, we can grow, better serve our customers, and create great career opportunities for our employees," said Henigan. "PSC is the right partner for Steel Line Rail, and this is a clear win-win-win for our customers, for Steel Line Rail and for PSC." This marks the fifth acquisition completed by PSC Group since partnering with Aurora in 2019, including Prokar, Inc., Fryoux Tankerman Service, Akrotex Extrusion and Thermoplastics Services, Inc. The company also recently announced the opening of its Advanced Recycling Facility in Baytown, Texas. ABOUT PSC GROUP For 71 years, PSC has been committed to safely and efficiently meeting the product handling and site logistics needs of leading companies in the refining, chemical, marine, and rail industries. The company's 4,500+ employees serve at more than 150 refineries, terminals, and chemical plants across the U.S. and Canada, providing expertise in tankering barges, operating terminals and docks, railcar repair and switching, warehousing, and loading/unloading of railcars and trucks with a variety of oil products, plastics, and chemicals. PSC also offers an array of sustainability services to support plastics producers with Operation Clean Sweep compliance and recycling initiatives.

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