cracking unit. Further downstream itwill have: 2 polypropylene units (eachwith 350,000 tonne/y capacity); 2units making low density polyethylene(with capacities of 120,000 tonne/yand 250,000 tonne/y); a 300,000tonne/y linear low densitypolyethylene unit; a 10,000 tonne/ymethyl tert-butyl ether unit; and a30,000 tonne/y 1-butylene unit. Thecontract should be complete by 30Oct 2015.

Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 13 Jan 2014,(660), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie/) (inFrench) © ETAI Information 2014

High-yield, cellulosic butanol processintroduced in Taiwan

Taiwan-based Industrial TechnologyResearch Institute has launched itsproprietary technology that converts94% of the available carbon inbiomass, including carbon dioxide,into biobutanol. Use of the ButyFixprocess could lessen the amount ofthe available greenhouse gases bymore than 100% at a cost that islower than $2/gal. It involves threesteps in generating the desiredproduct, which are the low-acidhydrolysis at 100°C and atm pressure,fermentation of resulting sugars toproduce butyrate, and the liquid-to-liquid separation technique to obtainthe butyrate that will be converted intobutanol.

Original Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, Jan2014, 20 (1), 29 (Website:http://www.ethanolproducer.com/) © BBI International2014. Original Source: Adhesives and SealantsIndustry, Jan 2014, 21 (1), 14-15 (Website:http://www.adhesivesmag.com/) © BNP Media 2014

UOP to form alliance to serve growingdemand for LNG as a transportationfuel and fuel off-road applications

On 26 Sep 2013, UOP announcedthat it had joined the engineering firmBlack & Veatch in assisting naturalgas manufacturers and fuel producersto sustain the increasing demand forliquefied natural gas (LNG) as atransportation fuel and fuel for off-road applications. The JV will offerintegrated, small-scale LNG facilitieswith operating capacities ranging50,000-500,000 gal/d for each singleprocessing train. Meanwhile, thenatural gas output in the US is

projected to increase more than 40%in 30 years. The consumption ofnatural gas as a road transportationfuel would almost double by 2018from what was reported in 2013.Small-scale LNG plants from the JVwill be provided in 2013.

Original Source: Purchase, Oct 2013, 36 (10), 176-177 (Website: http://www.indianpurchase.com/) © Purchase 2013

NEW PLANTSFirms boost Asian catalyst plants

BASF will construct a new catalystsplant at its facility in Chennai, India.The plant, which will producecatalysts for cars and motorcycles,will start in 2015. It has nineproduction lines, and will have 300employees. The company noted therising demand for car catalysts due tostricter emission regulations as thereason for its decision. Also, HaldorTopsoe will continue its plan ofbuilding an auto catalyst plant inTianjin, China. The company placedan investment of $165 M for the plant,which will start in early 2015. Theplant will complement the company’sexisting facilities in Denmark andHouston, TX.

Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 23Dec 2013, 91 (51), 9 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) © American Chemical Society 2013.Original Source: Chemical Weekly, 24 Dec 2013, 142(Website: http://www.chemicalweekly.com) © SevakPublications & Chemical Weekly Database P Ltd 2013

Clariant opens first propanedehydrogenation unit in China

Clariant has announced that China’sfirst propane dehydrogenation unithas opened. According to the Swissgroup, Chinese group Tianjin BohuaPetrochemical opened the installationin Nov 2013 at its site in Tianjin. The600,000 tonne/y unit reportedlyexceeded its nominal capacity in Jan2014. The unit uses Clariant’s Catofincatalyst and technology licensed fromCB&I. Clariant claims that the newunit is the world’s largest of its type.Several similar units using Catofintechnology are scheduled to open inChina over the next 12-18 months.Clariant has already granted 34licences to its propylene productiontechnology worldwide and 12 propane

dehydrogenation units are currently inservice.

Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 27 Jan 2014,(662), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie/) (inFrench) © ETAI Information 2014

Dow plans to set up world-scale EPDMplant

A planned world-scale Nordel EPDMfacility of Dow Elastomers is to breakground in Louisiana, US. The latestproprietary catalyst technology of theDow Chemical subsidiary will beutilized to allow products with highviscosity.

Original Source: Plastics and Rubber Asia, Nov-Dec2013, 28 (202 (Rubber Journal Asia)), 1 (Website:http://www.plasticsandrubberasia.com) © Plastics &Rubber Asia Ltd 2013

JM expands emission control catalystplant

Johnson Matthey has expanded itsEuropean emission control catalystproduction plant by launching a facilityin Macedonia, Spain. The €60 M plantis said to be utilizing world classdesign and manufacturing equipmentto meet the increasing demand foremission control catalyst driven by thenew EU regulation on tighter emissioncontrol that will come into effect in Jan2014 in the EU. It will produce newgeneration pollution control catalystsfor both heavy duty and light dutydiesel engine applications. The plantwill generate 200 additional jobs atthe site, in addition to the currentlyemployed 450 staff.

Original Source: Chemical Engineering World, Nov2013, 48 (11), 18 (Website: http://www.cewindia.com)© Jasubhai Group 2013

Sasol reports progress on US gas-to-liquids plant

South Africa-based Sasol has chosenTechnip as its main contractor for thefront-end engineering and design(FEED) phase of its planned gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant in Louisiana, US.The proposed plant would utilizeSasol’s patented technology ingenerating more than 96,000 barrel/dof GTL-diesel and other products fromdomestic natural gas. Sasol wouldend the FEED phase and achieve thefinal investment decision for the $11-$14 bn GTL project by 2016.Meanwhile, Sasol has ongoing FEED-

6 MARCH 2014

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