Japanese JGC Corporation and I NPEX with BASF SE tested new technology for CO2 removal

(BASF) -- The Japanese companies JGC Corporation and I NPEX Corporation jointly with BASF SE have successfully completed tests of a new technology for the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from natural gas under high pressure . The performance of this new gas treatment technology enables a reduction of 25 to 35 percent in the cost of CO2 recovery and compression.


The so-called ⌠High Pressure Acid gas Capture Technology (HiPACT) was developed by JGC and BASF. ⌠ INPEX strives to reduce energy consumption as much as possible. This new technology offers a great opportunity to improve energy conservation. It also reduces our carbon footprint and helps curb greenhouse gas emissions, added Mr. Kazuo Yamamoto , Executive Officer and Vice President of the Technical Division at I NPEX .


Natural gas, an increasingly important source of energy, often contains CO2 when it is extracted from the well. Most of this CO2 is usually removed directly at the natural-gas source. Th e removal is achieved by means of an amine-based solvent developed by BASF. The solvent temporarily absorbs the CO2 from the high-pressure natural gas stream. The solvent is then regenerated at low pressure and fed back to the process , but this regeneration requires energy . Traditionally the CO2 released in the regeneration process has been emitted to the environment.


MRC

Borealis upgrades performance of polyethylene for gas pipes

(Borealis) -- Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, is extending its range of high performance, high density polyethylene pipes with the introduction of a new ⌠PE 100 type grade for the gas market, BorSafe HE3492-LS-H.


With the launch of this new BorSafe grade, Borealis completes its portfolio of ⌠LS-H grades that are identified by their very high resistance to slow crack growth. BorSafe HE3492-LS-H is available in the colour orange for gas distribution pipes in addition to the already well-established black and blue coloured grades.


The new grade can be extruded into a monolayer pipe or co-extruded with BorSafe HE3490-LS-H in two- and three-layer co-extruded pipes.


MRC

DSM announces Stanyl price increase

(DSM) -- Due to unprecedented and continued escalations in key raw materials costs (such as adipic, glass fiber, flame retardants and others), DSM Engineering Plastics is forced to increase prices for its Stanyl product range on top of 2010 price increases.


DSM will increase its prices for Flame retardant grades by 300 ┬/t or 450 $/tonne and non Flame retardant grades by a minimum 200 ┬/tonne or 270 $/tonne latest by 1 March 2011. These increases are on top of those already implemented during 2010.


DSM remains committed to continued implementation of cost-saving initiatives, however escalating costs necessitate this additional increase to sustain DSM Engineering Plastics' position as an innovative and reliable supplier.


MRC

Asian expandable polystyrene makers have raised their offers

(ICIS) -- Asian expandable polystyrene (EPS) makers have raised their offers to around $1,600/tonne (┬1,184/tonne) this week, as a continued spike in feedstock costs are squeezing their margins, industry sources said on Thursday.


The offers were about $20-30/tonne higher than last week's prices of $1,570-1,580/tonne CFR (cost and freight) China, but weak demand would not allow the price increase to be implemented, they said.


The spread between EPS and feedstock styrene monomer (SM) prices had narrowed to less than $150/tonne, against a generally acceptable gap of $180/tonne that will allow EPS producers to generate decent margins.


SM prices were quoted at above $1,450/tonne CFR China this week, market sources said.


EPS prices, meanwhile, had been stagnant and demand lacklustre even after the key Chinese market re-opened for business following a week-long Lunar New Year holidays on 2-8 February.


MRC

US propylene contracts for February settled flat

(ICIS) -- US propylene contracts for February settled flat, market sources said on Wednesday, confirming that a hold-out producer had agreed to the rollover. The settlement kept polymer grade propylene (PGP) at 77.50 cents/lb ($1,709/tonne, ┬1,265/tonne).


Two US producers had originally nominated increases of 3.00 cents/lb for PGP, but a drop in spot prices in the second half of January undermined the initiatives.


Spot PGP for February delivery traded at 75.00 cents/lb in the last week of January, down from 75.50 cents/lb two weeks earlier. February PGP was offered on Wednesday at 73.00 cents/lb with no bids.


Chemical grade propylene (CGP) also settled flat at 74.00 cents/lb, despite two proposed increases of 5.00 cents/lb, but the market remained split because a third producer held its contracts at 70.00 cents/lb as part of a two-month settlement agreed upon in January.


The rollover for US propylene in February followed a significant increase in January, when PGP contracts rose by 17.00 cents/lb and CGP by 11.00 and 15.00 cents/lb.


MRC