Texas chemical plant fire kills one, injures two

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A blast and fire at a chemical plant near Houston killed one person on Tuesday and injured two others, in an incident involving a highly flammable gas, officials said, less than a month after a similar fire in the region that burned for days, reported Reuters.

The fire at a plant operated by KMCO LLC in Crosby, Texas, northeast of Houston, led officials to temporarily order residents and schoolchildren within a mile of the plant to stay inside.

The order was lifted after the US Environmental Protection Agency detected no threat of contamination, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

"Our understanding is that there are no active readings in the area, either in the air or on the ground," Gonzalez told a news conference.

It was the second fire at a Houston-area chemical plant in less than three weeks. On March 17, a blaze erupted at a Mitsui unit Intercontinental Terminals Co (ITC) plant in Deer Park, burning for three days and destroying 11 tanks holding thousands of barrels of gasoline and other fuels.

The Mitsui plant fire led officials to close schools in Houston suburbs for several days because air-quality monitors detected elevated levels of benzene, a cancer-causing chemical.

Deer Park, the suburb of Houston where last month’s fire broke out, is about 20 miles (30 km) south of Crosby, scene of the latest chemical fire.

The fire on Tuesday began when a transfer line ignited near a tank with Isobutylene, which quickly caught fire, Gonzalez said. Isobutylene is used to make isooctane, a component of aviation fuel.

A victim was declared dead at the scene and two people with injuries were airlifted to a hospital, officials said. Their conditions were not immediately known.

In a statement, KMCO apologized to residents in the vicinity of the fire and said the well-being of people in the area was its top priority.

KMCO manufactures chemicals and provides services for chemical companies worldwide.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik and Halchemix Canada are pleased to announce the launch of a strategic partnership for the promotion of Evonik’s rumen-protected methionine product Mepron® in the Canadian market, as per the company's press release.

The agreement will see Halchemix become the exclusive distributor of Mepron® in Canada. The product is a superior methionine source that helps to boost milk production and reduce feed costs for the dairy industry.

Ken O'Halloran, Evonik’s Regional Vice President, North America, said: "Halchemix is well established in the Canadian market as a provider of well-researched feed additives, making them an ideal partner. Their products include amino acids, phytase, enzymes, and a dairy product line that includes rumen protected lysine and DCAD products."

The use of Mepron makes it easy to balance the ration for amino acids. This results in better herd health thanks to improved liver function, lower inflammation and less oxidative stress; higher dry matter intake followed by higher energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield; higher profitability (Income Over Feed Costs); lower nitrogen emissions and higher weaning weights of calves.

As MRC reported earlier, Evonik Industries AG combined its isophorone chemistry and epoxy curing agents business in the new Crosslinkers Business Line effective July 1, 2017. The newly formed Business Line, headed by Min Chong, is part of the Resource Efficiency Segment

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The focus on more specialty businesses, customer-oriented innovative prowess and a trustful and performance-oriented corporate culture form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. They are the lever for profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company. Evonik benefits specifically from its customer proximity and leading market positions. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world with more than 36,000 employees. In fiscal 2018, the enterprise generated sales of €15 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of EUR2.6 billion.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- As the world’s second largest lubricant market, China has been mostly depending on imports to satisfy its fast-growing Group III base oil demands. As Chevron Lummus Global (CLG) announces, this situation will be greatly improved by the recent addition of a Group II/III base oil plant at Hengli PetroChemical Co. which will employ CLG’s ISODEWAXING technology, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Hengli’s base oil plant is located within its refinery on Changxing island off the industrial seaport of Dalian. CLG’s ISODEWAXING technology was selected due to a combination of exceptionally high yields, extended cycle length, and outstanding base oil quality.

With the plant in mechanical completion, full production is expected later in 2019, with capacity to make 350,000 t/y Group III and 190,000 t/y Group II base oils. CLG will provide startup support and to Hengli for smooth daily operation to maximize plant economics.

Chevron Lummus Global (CLG), a joint venture between Chevron USA Inc. and McDermott, is a leading process technology licensor for refining hydroprocessing technologies and alternative source fuels, as well as a global leader in catalyst system supply.

bottom-of-the-barrel solution for upgrading heavy oil residues. Our research and development experts are continuously seeking advancements in technology and catalysts that will improve operating economics for your next project.

As MRC wrote before, in later March 2019, Chevron Lummus Global announced successful start-up of RDS Unit in Vietnam. Thus, Nghi Son Refinery & Petrochemical LLC (NSRP) - a joint venture between PetroVietnam, Idemitsu Kosan, Kuwait Petroleum Europe, and Mitsui Chemicals has recently started up a large residuum hydrodesulfurization (RHDS) unit at its new 200,000 barrels per day refinery in Thanh Hoa Province in northern Vietnam. The 105,000 barrels per day RHDS unit started up in May 2018 and passed performance guarantees in December 2018, Chevron Lummus Global (CLG) reported.

Chevron Lummus Global (CLG), a joint venture between Chevron USA Inc. and McDermott, is a leading process technology licensor for refining hydroprocessing technologies and alternative source fuels, as well as a global leader in catalyst system supply. CLG offers the most complete bottom-of-the-barrel solution for upgrading heavy oil residues. Our research and development experts are continuously seeking advancements in technology and catalysts that will improve operating economics for your next project.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- LyondellBasell, one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world, has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, A. Schulman, Inc., has declared a quarterly dividend of USD15.00 per share for A. Schulman's convertible special stock, as per LyondellBasell's press release.

The dividend is payable on May 1, 2019 to shareholders of record as of April 15, 2019.

This dividend is only payable to shareholders of A. Schulman convertible special stock and is independent of LyondellBasell's quarterly dividend.

As MRC informed earlier, in Augugst 2018, LyondellBasell announced it had completed the acquisition of A. Schulman, Inc., a leading global supplier of high-performance plastic compounds, composites and powders.

A. Schulman, Inc. is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds, composites and resins headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Since 1928, the company has been providing innovative solutions to meet its customers' demanding requirements. The company's customers span a wide range of markets such as packaging, mobility, building & construction, electronics & electrical, agriculture, personal care & hygiene, sports, leisure & home, custom services and others. The company employs approximately 5,200 people and has 54 manufacturing facilities globally. A. Schulman reported net sales of approximately USD2.5 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017.

LyondellBasell is one of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies and a member of the S&P 500. LyondellBasell manufactures products at 55 sites in 17 countries. LyondellBasell is also a leading licensor of polypropylene and polyethylene technologies. The more than 250 polyolefin process licenses granted by LyondellBasell are twice that of any other polyolefin technology licensor.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF and Aspen Aerogels announced the expansion of their strategic partnership with the signing of an addendum to their exclusive supply agreement, said the company.

The addendum provides for the production and supply of a new non-combustible, high-performance thermal insulation product. The new product, complimentary to SLENTEX, is showing excellent performance in early testing with lead customers.

SLENTEX, available today, represents the cutting edge of non-combustible thermal insulation technology with its unique combination of industry-leading thermal performance and a non-combustible fire rating. SLENTEX was developed for unique applications in the building and construction sector, including facade systems, thermal bridges and transition areas, while the new insulation product will also target broader applications beyond the construction industry.

As part of the agreement, Aspen has received a second tranche of prepayment from BASF which will be used to support product optimization and new process development. BASF receives exclusive rights to market the newly developed product.

"When we announced our joint development agreement with BASF in 2016, we had a collective vision to create innovative and exceptional products. Our partnership with BASF has exceeded our expectations," said Don Young, President and CEO of Aspen. "This addendum recognizes the commitment to our cooperative development and the additional prepayment strengthens our financial position."

"The successful development of the product will help us to better serve the fast-growing market for high-performance insulation materials," said Raimar Jahn, President of Performance Materials, BASF. "This innovative product will expand our portfolio in the high-performance insulation market and, together with SLENTEX®, will make our offering more competitive. The addendum will accelerate the global launch and adoption of a new class of firesafe and ultra-efficient aerogel insulation technology."

In the late March, BASF officially opened a pioneering research center at the heart of the Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, close to the famous Ammonia Lab. This new pilot plant facility for catalyst and process development will be operated by the global research unit Process Research & Chemical Engineering.

BASF is the leading chemical company. It produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries.
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