Sinopec develops novel structured zeolite

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The research group headed by Prof. Weimin Yang from Sinopec Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology (Sinopec SRIPT) has successfully synthesized a novel structured zeolite SCM-14 (SINOPEC Composite Material 14), as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Its framework type code SOR has been approved by the Structure Commission of International Zeolite Association (IZA-SC) on May 15th, 2018.

As an important class of functional material, zeolite is widely used in chemical processes like ion exchange, adsorption/separation, and catalysis. The innovation and industrialization of novel zeolites have led to the leaping development of many chemical technologies.

Currently, Yang’s group has developed a series of SCM-n (n=1~21) zeolites named after SINOPEC based on more than 2000 experiments carried out in the last 5 years. SCM-14, one of the SCM-n zeolite, is a new and thermally stable zeolite possessing a unique 3D framework structure of 12-, 8- and 8-ring channel system. Its structure was determined by a combination of electron diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction through close cooperation between Yang’s group and Dr. Junliang Sun, a research fellow from Stockholm University/Peking University. The zeolite SCM-14 shows application potentials in catalysis and adsorption.

The group from SRIPT is now carrying out an in-depth study on the adsorption and catalysis properties of SCM-14, hoping to accelerate the pace of industrialization of SCM-14 in a bid to innovate a new petrochemical technology in the coming future.
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Infosys and Siemens develop advanced IoT engineering solutions on MindSphere

MOSCOW (MRC) --Infosys, a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services unveiled a new partnership with Siemens PLM Software to develop applications and services for MindSphere, the open cloud-based IoT operating system from Siemens, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

MindSphere connects real things (e.g. industrial machinery and equipment) to the digital world and provides powerful industry applications and digital services to help drive business success.

This partnership between Infosys and Siemens will enable customers to improve competitiveness by leveraging the power of data generated by their devices. Data analytics will enhance efficiencies through capabilities like predictive maintenance and end-to-end factory visibility. Customers will also benefit by monetizing new data-driven services. The initial focus will be on customers in the manufacturing, energy, utilities, healthcare, pharmaceutical, transportation and logistics industries.

Infosys will offer end-to-end implementation services for Mindsphere, as well as post-implementation support. The company will leverage its repository of Industry 4.0 accelerators (e.g. maturity assessment framework) as well as platform tools (e.g. edge connectivity, AR/VR tools) and ready-made apps (e.g. factory visibility) to quickly onboard customers onto the platform, thereby accelerating the value that customers reap from their assets.

"Our new partnership with Siemens for MindSphere perfectly fits into our vision of seeing the physical and digital worlds converge. There is an increasing need for enterprises to accelerate their digital journeys and to deliver new and innovative services. This partnership will help us bring exciting solutions to our customers that combine strategic insights and execution excellence," Ravi Kumar S, President and Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Infosys, said.

"Infosys, with its strengths in industrial engineering, depth of experience in industrial analytics and emerging areas like augmented reality and virtual reality, together with Siemens' expertise in manufacturing industrial assets, will bring wide and differentiated value-added digital services to customers from different branches, especially engineering and asset-intensive customers," Paul Kaeley, Senior Vice President, Global Partner Ecosystem, Siemens PLM Software, said.
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Plans for Big Boost in PVC Output

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Qadir Petrochemical Company in the southern Khuzestan Province plans to raise its output of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, to as much as 160,000 tons per year from the current 120,000 tons until March 2020, the company’s managing director said, as per Financialtribune.

"The company produced 34,500 tons of PVC in the first quarter of the current fiscal year [started March 21], showing a rise of about 27,000 tons produced in last year’s corresponding period," Amin Bayanak was also quoted as saying by NIPNA on Monday.

According to Bayanak, QPC’s annual PVC production in the last two years stood at 120,400 tons and 120,600 tons, respectively.
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Petrobras, CNPC talks put China closer to first Americas refinery

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Brazil’s state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA and China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) took another step in negotiations that could give the Chinese their first refining capacity in the Americas, reported Reuters.

The companies announced in a Brazilian security filing that they had signed a letter of intent advancing talks for a partnership to finish the Comperj refinery near Rio de Janeiro and a “participation” of CNPC in the offshore Marlim oil field.

The joint announcement confirms an April report by Reuters that said the companies were working out a deal involving a CNPC investment at Comperj in exchange for a stake in the offshore Campos Basin and rights to use the refinery.

The talks highlight rising Chinese interest in the Brazilian energy sector, which has attracted billions of dollars from oil majors over the past year for rights to new exploration blocks as the government lowers barriers to foreigners.

The companies did not offer further details and said the implementation of the partnership will depend on the success of final negotiations.

"This strategic partnership will strengthen ties between the companies and will contribute to deepen the global strategic partnership between Brazil and China," the filing said.

In November, Pedro Parente, then chief executive of the Brazilian oil firm known as Petrobras, touted a 196 meter oil column discovered in the Marlim field, which he described as the best in the Campos basin.

Petrobras and CNPC have already partnered in the giant Libra oil field off the Brazilian coast since 2013.

Last year, they also partnered to win exploration rights for the Peroba field, another promising deposit in the area known as the pre-salt, where billions of barrels of oil are trapped under a thick layer of salt beneath the ocean floor.

Petrobras has already invested some USD13 billion in the Comperj complex, which needs about USD3 billion in additional investment to reach an initial capacity of 165,000 barrels per day, people familiar with the matter told Reuters in April.

As MRC wrote before, in October 2017, Petrobras’s minority stakes in Braskem and Deten Quimica was excluded from Petrobras’s divestment program, according to a government decree published in Brazil’s Official Gazette. The decree prevents Petrobras from immediately selling its minority stake in Braskem, which had been announced this year. A new decree will be required to release the stock sale. Petrobras’s board earlier approved a strategic plan for 2017-21 that included the divestment of all petrochemical interests.

Braskem S.A. produces petrochemicals and generates electricity. The Company produces ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, xylenes, butadiene, butene, isoprene, dicyclopentediene, MTBE, caprolactam, ammonium sulfate, cyclohexene, polyethylene theraphtalat, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
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ALPLA and FROMM cooperate in PET recycling

MOSCOW (MRC) -- ALPLA, the Austrian packaging solutions specialist, and FROMM (Switzerland) have agreed on a collaboration in relation to PET recycling, as per ALPLA's press release.

Both companies operate recycling plants for PET bottles, thus ensuring the necessary supply of materials for their own production facilities.

The goal of the collaboration between ALPLA and FROMM is the further optimisation of the already high recycling rates for PET as well as a significant reduction in CO2 emissions through saved transport. There are also further benefits for the partners, such as simplified access to markets in the respective countries.

"The requirements at our production sites complement one another very well. At ALPLA, we mainly need clear, food-grade pellets. Fromm processes coloured flakes for the strapping bands," explains Georg Lasser, Head of Corporate Recycling Services at ALPLA. "The collaboration between our recycling facilities will ensure the necessary quantity and quality of materials for production for both sides."

‘The three recycling plants are integrated in various procurement markets and complement one another ideally in the procurement of raw materials,’ highlights Reinhard Fromm, owner of the family-run FROMM Group.

The PET Recycling Team plants in Wollersdorf (Austria) and Radomsko (Poland) are part of the ALPLA Group. These recycling facilities have an annual capacity of approximately 45,000 tonnes of food-grade rPET produced from post-consumer materials.

The PET recycling company Texplast in Wolfen (Germany) has been a subsidiary of FROMM Plastics GmbH since 2004. Texplast produces PET pellets and PET flakes. FROMM uses these for its own production of strapping bands and also supplies manufacturers of beverage bottles, thermoforming sheets and fibres.

The contract partners have agreed not to disclose the details of the cooperation. Further possibilities to extend the cooperation are to be explored.

As MRC informed before, in July 2017, Alpla acquired a 100% stake in Italian plastic bottle producer Propack. Headquartered in Ostellato, Propack specialises in the production of HDPE and PET bottles for home care. The deal sees Alpla expand its production capacities in north-east Italy with its eighth plant in the country.

ALPLA is one of the leading companies involved in plastic packaging. Around 19,300 employees worldwide produce custom-made packaging systems, bottles, closures and moulded parts at 176 sites across 45 countries. The high-quality packaging is used in a wide range of areas, including for food and drinks, cosmetics and care products, household detergents, washing and cleaning agents, engine oils and lubricants. ALPLA operates its own recycling plants: PET Recycling Team with two sites in Austria and Poland, and in the form of joint ventures in Mexico and Germany. ALPLA celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2015.

The FROMM Group is a leading global company producing load securement systems for the transportation of goods and has over 70 years of history. Over 1,200 employees develop, produce and distribute tailored packaging solutions for customers with around 40 companies across six continents. FROMM has production sites in Italy, Germany, USA, Thailand, Chile and Slovakia.

Texplast GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of FROMM Plastics GmbH in Kolleda. The company has almost 100 employees and, with an input capacity of over 50,000 tonnes of bottles per year, is one of the leading recyclers of rPET in Western Europe, in particular for used beverage bottles. Texplast produces flakes for applications in the plastics industry as well as pellets for the production of food packaging. FROMM specialises in strapping bands, air cushion packaging and stretch film, as well as the corresponding machinery and equipment.
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