United Airlines invests in carbon-capture project to be 100% green by 2050

MOSCOW (MRC) -- United Airlines said it had committed to a multimillion-dollar investment in a project to remove carbon dioxide from the air through air direct-capture technology as part of a plan to be 100% "green" by 2050, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The project, 1PointFive, is a partnership between Occidental Petroleum Corp subsidiary Oxy Low Carbon Ventures and Rusheen Capital Management that plans to build the first U.S. industrial-sized direct air capture plant that would permanently sequester 1 million tons of CO2 each year.

That is the equivalent of what 40 million trees can do, but covering a land area about 3,000 times smaller, United said, adding that direct-capture technology is one of the few proven ways to correct for aircraft emissions. United declined to provide details on the investment amount.

Speaking to reporters about the project, United CEO Scott Kirby said carbon capture and sequestration is the only scalable technology that removes carbon from the atmosphere and buries it in the ground. "Sequestration is a real and permanent solution," Kirby said.

Until now, the airline industry has focused primarily on the purchase of carbon offsets to reduce the environmental impact of flying. Before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global air travel earlier this year, carbon reduction was expected to be a top priority for airlines, particularly in Europe, where a flight-shaming movement has gained momentum.

Although the pandemic has forced airlines to focus heavily on daily survival rather than longer-term environmental goals, Kirby said climate change could alter behaviors in even more dramatic ways than the pandemic. Aside from the carbon-capture program, United is also investing in sustainable aviation fuel, which has up to 80% less carbon emissions than conventional jet fuel.

Most of an airline's contribution to climate change comes from the fuel it takes to fly. Kirby said that with fewer planes in the skies during the pandemic, emissions were likely down about 55%. The carbon-capture project will offset nearly 10% of United's annual emissions, he said.

As MRC informed earlier, Perstorp says it plans to build a large-scale commercial carbon capture and utilization (CCU) unit at Stenungsund, Sweden, dubbed Project AIR, that will use a production concept the company has developed to produce sustainable methanol from a variety of recovered end-of-life streams and hydrogen from electrolysis. The company plans to utilize its own CO2 and residue streams, and use the methanol to substitute all the fossil-based methanol used in its production in Europe. Project AIR aims to substitute all the 200,000 metric tons/year of fossil methanol that Perstorp uses in Europe as a raw material for downstream chemical products, the company says.

As MRC reported earlier, in December 2017, Perstorp announced world’s first portfolio of renewable alternatives to the essential polyols Pentaerythritol (Penta), Trimethylolpropane (TMP), and Neopentyl glycol (Neo).

As per MRC's ScanPlast report, November total production of unmixed PVC was about 86,100 tonnes versus 86,600 tonnes a month earlier, SayanskKhimPlast and RusVinyl decreased their capacity utilisation last month. Overall output of polymer were 892,100 tonnes in the eleven months of 2020 from 893,600 tonnes a year earlier. Two producers increased their production, whereas two other manufacturers reduced their output.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) has decided to consolidate its subsidiaries at the national level across three countries, including the US, Germany, and the UK, according to Chemicals Technology.

The integration of subsidiaries is said to be part of the company’s medium-term management plan.

In the US, MCC will be integrating its nine subsidiaries, including Lucite International, Mitsubishi Chemical Performance Polymers, Dianal America, Mitsubishi Chemical Imaging Corporation, Cleanpart USA, Mitsubishi Polyester Film, Mitsubishi Chemical Composites America, MC Ionic Solutions US and Mitsubishi Chemical America.

As part of the integration initiative, the Japanese chemical company will be consolidating its five subsidiaries in the UK, including Mitsubishi Chemical UK, Lucite International Trading, Lucite International Specialty Polymers & Resins, Nippon Gohsei UK and MC Ionic Solutions UK.

In Germany, MCC will be integrating five subsidiaries: Mitsubishi Chemical Carbon Fiber and Composites, Mitsubishi Chemical Europe, cleanpart Group, Cleanpart, and MCPP Europe.

Subsidiaries across the US, Germany and the UK will be integrated on 1 April 2021.

MCC anticipates that the integration of subsidiaries will enhance cooperation and further strengthen overall business capabilities in each of these three countries.

In another development, MCC acquired a ‘greenfield’ property at a large integrated site on the Mississippi River in Geismar, Louisiana, the US.

It also plans to advance its feasibility study for the design and construction of a 350,000mt Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) plant, which will be based on its proprietary ALPHA technology.

Currently, the project is in the early engineering stage and the final investment decision (FiD) is expected to take place in early 2022.

If the project gets approval, the plant would commence production in 2025.

Last month, Mitsubishi Chemical concluded a framework agreement with some Chinese companies for the transfer of its light metal products business.

The main application, consuming approximately 75% MMA, is in the production of polymethyl methacrylate acrylic plastics (PMMA). Methyl methacrylate is also used to produce methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymer (MBS), used as a modifier for polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, October total production of unmixed PVC grew to 86,600 tonnes from 86,000 tonnes a month earlier, SayanskKhimPlast and Bashkir Soda Company increased their capacity utilisation. Overall output of polymer was 805,100 tonnes in the first ten months of 2020, which virtually corresponds to the last year"s figure. Two producers increased their production, whereas two other manufacturers reduced their output.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- OQ Chemicals (Monheim am Rhein, Germany) says it will increase prices for several of its oxo intermediates products in the Americas, Europe, and “other regions” as of 1 January 2021 due to strong demand and rising raw material costs, reported Chemweek.

In Europe the price of 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) will increase by EUR150/metric ton (USD182/metric ton), while n-butanol and isobutanol will rise by EUR120/metric ton. Prices for n-butyl acetate and isobutyl acetate will be hiked to EUR100/metric ton, while n-propanol and n-propyl acetate will both rise by EUR60/metric ton. Neopentyl glycol (NPG) and trimethylol propane (TMP) will increase by EUR200/metric ton.

In the Americas the price of 2-EH will rise by USD0.07/lb in North America and Mexico, and by USD180/metric ton in South America. Prices for n-butanol and isobutanol will increase by USD0.06/lb and USD130/metric ton in each region, respectively, while n-butyl acetate and isobutyl acetate will increase by USD0.05/lb and USD110/metric ton, and n-propanol and n-propyl acetate by USD0.03/lb and USD70/metric ton in each region, respectively. NPG and TMP prices will rise by USD0.10/lb and USD220/metric ton in each region, respectively.

In the unspecified ‘other regions’, prices per ton will rise for 2-EH by USD180, n-butanol and isobutanol by USD150, n-butyl acetate and isobutyl acetate by USD120, n-propanol and n-propyl acetate by USD70, and NPG and TMP by USD220.

OQ announced in early and mid-November increases in prices as of 1 December for 2-EH, NPG, and several of its other oxo intermediate products.

As MRC wrote earlier, in September 2020, OQ Chemicals entered into an agreement to license its advanced proprietary technology for the production of ethylene and propylene derivatives to Duqm Refinery and Petrochemicals Industries Company (DRPIC) in Oman. DRPIC, a joint venture between Oman Oil Company and Kuwait International Oil Company, is a planned grassroots petrochemical complex at Duqm, Oman. In all, DRPIC awarded twelve license packages to international licensors.

Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,760,950 tonnes in the first ten months of 2020, up by 3% year on year. Only high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 978,870 tonnes in January-October 2020 (calculated using the formula: production minus exports plus imports minus producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply of exclusively of PP random copolymer increased.

OQ Chemicals, formerly Oxea, is a global manufacturer of oxo intermediates and oxo derivatives, such as alcohols, polyols, carboxylic acids, specialty esters, and amines. These products are used for the production of high-quality coatings, lubricants, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, flavours and fragrances, printing inks and plastics. OQ Chemicals is part of OQ, an integrated energy company that delivers sustainability and business excellence. OQ operates in 16 countries and covers the entire value chain from exploration and production to the marketing and distribution of its products.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Staff at French energy major Total's Grandpuits refinery have voted in favour of a 48-hour strike on shipments by truck and pipeline, said Reuters.

The strike will start on Thursday at 06:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), Adrien Cornet also told Reuters.

Total confirmed in a statement that shipments from Grandpuits could be affected by the strike, but said it would ensure supply to its network of gas stations and to its customers.

As MRC informed earlier, Total Petrochemical announced force majeure for the supply of low density polyethylene (LDPE) from its plant in Carling, France. Total announced force majeure regarding the supply of LDPE from a plant with a capacity of 110,000/tonne per year in a letter to its customers dated 2 December. The company expects to be unable to meet all of its contractual needs. There was no indication of how long the restrictions would last.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, September estimated LDPE consumption in Russia fell to 23,930 tonnes from 47,610 tonnes a month earlier. Russian producers reduced their domestic LDPE shipments due to shutdowns for maintenance at production capacities in Ufa, Tomsk and Kazan. Russia's estimated LDPE consumption totalled about 406,500 tonnes in January-September 2020, which virtually corresponded to the last year's figure.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Avient Corporation, formerly PolyOne,a premier provider of specialized and sustainable material solutions and services, has announced that Avient ColorWorks has launched ColorForward 2022. This 16th edition of the annual color forecasting guide for the plastics industry marks its debut within Avient, which was formed this year from legacy businesses PolyOne and Clariant Masterbatch, as per the company's press release.

As in years past, ColorForward 2022 presents stories associated with four societal trends that are expected to influence consumers consciously or unconsciously over the next few years. Each trend theme also includes a palette of five associated colors that are predicted to elicit a response from consumers. Developed by a global team, many of whom work in the four Avient ColorWorks design and technology centers around the world, this unique tool has become invaluable to plastic product designers and marketing professionals seeking help in making more informed color choices for new products and packaging.

This year, ColorForward 2022 trend watchers expect the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to linger for some time, even if vaccines and treatments allow the world to return to some semblance of ‘normal.’ Naturally, they contend this will drive societal trends and consumer response to color in the near- and mid-term future.

Looking ahead to 2022, the ColorForward team sees a silver lining around the pandemic cloud. They predict most of us will emerge from this period of lockdowns and isolation stronger and more mature, potentially having discovered talents and interests we didn’t know we had before. They also see a growing movement toward national self-sufficiency and self-interest, as the coronavirus has exposed the fragility of relying solely on a global supply chain. New, remote approaches to working will continue even after the pandemic is under control, according to the expert team, making it increasingly difficult to find a reasonable work/life balance. Yet, this trend will also provide new levels of flexibility and freedom. Finally, the team notes how the current crisis has highlighted weaknesses in the existing healthcare system. They foresee accelerated acceptance of tele-medicine and other new approaches to patient care as a result.

“For 2022, the overall color palette is dominated by shades of yellow,” explains Judith van Vliet, ColorWorks Senior Designer and leader of the ColorForward team, “and many of the other colors are joined to the yellow family. For instance, many of the greens, reds, oranges and some of the blues, have a high yellow influence, creating a sense of the warmth of human connections that are interrupted by the social isolation the pandemic forces on us. In addition, the yellowish greens are indicative of our need to reconnect with nature and avoid the synthetic, including all of the screens and digital connections we must now use excessively.”

Avient ColorWorks also offers seminars at its four design and technology centers around the world, as well as at selected conferences and customer sites. These can be conducted virtually and/or in-person when appropriate. To learn more about collaborating with ColorWorks, please click here.

As MRC reported earlier, in December 2019, Clariant (Muttenz, Switzerland) agreed to sell its entire Masterbatches business to PolyOne Corp. (Avon Lake, Ohio). The transaction values the Masterbatches business at USD1,560 million, representing about 12.2 times the last twelve months reported EBITDA (ending September 2019) on a cash and debt free basis. And on July 1, 2020, PolyOne and Clariant Masterbatches joined together as Avient, a new kind of materials company focused on conquering customer challenges and unlocking the potential for innovation and sustainability around the globe.

We remind that Russia's output of chemical products rose in October 2020 by 7.2% year on year. At the same time, production of basic chemicals grew in the first ten months of 2020 by 6.3% year on year, according to Rosstat's data. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, polymers in primary form accounted for the greatest increase in the January-October output. October production of polymers in primary form grew to 857,000 tonnes from 852,000 tonnes in September. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 8,340,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 17% year on year.
MRC