Clariant joins RCI to promote renewable raw materials

Clariant, a focused, sustainable and innovative specialty chemical company, has announced that it has joined the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), as per the company's press release.

The aim of the RCI is to support and accelerate the transition from the use of fossil carbon to the use of renewable carbon in the chemical industry. Switching to renewable carbon sources prevents additional fossil carbon entering the atmosphere and thus addresses a core problem of climate change.

“I am convinced that the chemical industry plays a central role in tackling climate challenge and in shaping progress toward a more circular and bio-based economy. This journey can only be achieved through strong commitment to sustainability-driven innovation, ambitious goals, and a close collaboration with partners along the value chain,” said Conrad Keijzer, Chief Executive Officer of Clariant.

Clariant offers a range of bio-based solutions. Its recently launched Vita range of bio-based surfactants offer a 100% Renewable Carbon Index score coming from a fully segregated supply chain, providing a viable alternative to their fossil-based counterparts.

Another example are Glucamides- these surfactants are readily biodegradable and have a Renewable Carbon Index score of up to 96%. The company’s Licocare RBW Vita range, used in plastics and coatings applications, are derived from a natural, non-food competing by-product of the rice oil production and are based on at least 98% Renewable Carbon Index content.

Another innovative solution that Clariant offers is the sunliquid® technology, which enables the valorization of agricultural residues for the production of cellulosic ethanol, an advanced biofuel that can be used as a drop-in solution for fuel blending and offers further downstream application opportunities into bio-based chemicals and sustainable aviation fuel. The bioethanol produced by the sunliquid technology process helps decarbonize the transport sector by providing up to 96% CO2 savings compared to fossil fuel, and by as much as 120% if carbon sequestration is considered and used as part of the production process.

The membership in the RCI allows Clariant to expand on its own solutions in the field of renewable carbon as well as collaborate more closely with partners, suppliers and the industry at large in driving this matter forward. The RCI was launched in September 2020 and is led by the nova-Institute.

As MRC wrote previously, Clariant has recently announced that its StyroMax UL3 catalyst is demonstrating successful results at Risun’s new styrene monomer (MS) plant located in Tangshan, China.

We remind that in October 2020, Clariant announced the construction of a new state-of-the-art catalyst production site in China. This project represents a significant investment which further strengthens Clariant’s position in China and enhances its ability to support its customers in the country’s thriving petrochemicals industry.

The new facility will be primarily responsible for producing the Catofin catalyst for propane dehydrogenation, which is used in the production of olefins such as propylene. Thanks to its excellent reliability and productivity, Catofin delivers superior annual production output compared to alternative technologies, resulting in increased overall profitability for propylene producers, says the company. Construction at the Dushan Port Economic Development Zone in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province was scheduled to commence in Q3 2020, and Clariant expects to be at full production capacity by 2022.

Clariant AG is a Swiss chemical company and a world leader in the production of specialty chemicals for the textile, printing, mining and metallurgical industries. It is engaged in processing crude oil products in pigments, plastics and paints.
MRC

Brenntag, a global market leader in chemicals and ingredients distribution, has opened a new Innovation Center at its site in Duisburg, according to Coatings World.

It is the first application center for the Coatings, Adhesives and Construction industries in Germany and the seventh in Brenntag's entire EMEA region.

The new Innovation Center will be used jointly by Brenntag and BCD Chemie, a Brenntag Group company, for projects in Coatings, Adhesives and Construction applications.

Customers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland can now benefit from formulation of new products and evaluation of new materials in a wide range of applications.

As MRC informed before, earlier this month, Brenntag expanded its distribution agreement with UK-based Elementis Specialties in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. This distribution agreement will be effective starting 1 April, 2022. Brenntag will distribute Elementis Specialties’ specialty chemicals and additives for the coatings, adhesive and sealant industries.

BCD Chemie, a Brenntag Group company, is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. It focuses on the pan-European marketing of industrial and performance chemicals. As a link between manufacturers of high-quality chemical raw materials and users from many industries, BCD Chemie provides B2B sales solutions for a wide range of industries and applications. Profound market knowledge, competent product and application consulting as well as comprehensive expertise in chemical-technical and market-analytical contexts form the basis of its philosophy of modern chemical distribution.
MRC

Sasol has agreed a partnership with UK company Holiferm to develop new biosurfactants, said the company.

Under the partnership, Sasol will purchase the majority of sophorolipids produced at a new Holiferm manufacturing facility that is due to start up in early 2023 in the UK. Sophorolipids are biosurfactants made through fermentation, using yeast to convert vegetable oils and glucose.

"The Holiferm expertise in the area of fermentation technology and production is a perfect fit with Sasol’s position as a global leader in the supply of surfactants and surfactant intermediates into the fabric and home care, personal care as well as industrial and institutional cleaning markets,” Silke Hoppe, vice president, Essential Care Chemicals, at Sasol Chemicals, said in a statement.

Financial or other terms were not disclosed. Holiferm is described as a developer of fermentation technology to make biosurfactants.

It has research and development facilities in Manchester and a commercial plant and a pilot project in the Liverpool area, according to information on its website.

As it was written before, Sasol invites all interested parties to participate in a biogas utilisation Request for Information (RFI) process. The purpose of this RFI process is to provide those who are interested in, or involved in biogas handling technologies, an opportunity to partner with Sasol on biogas beneficiation. Safety, sustainability and compliance is of the utmost importance to Sasol as a company. Therefore, interested parties will be required to demonstrate a high level of expertise and experience in biogas utilisation technologies.

We remind, Sasol Limited (Sasol) today announced its updated strategy that commits it to be at net zero emissions by 2050. This is in line with Sasol’s commitment to accelerate its transition to a low carbon world in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement. In aligning with its 2050 ambition, Sasol has stepped up its 2030 scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target, from an initial 10% for its South African operations, announced last year, to 30% for its Energy and Chemicals businesses, off a 2017 baseline. The company is also introducing a scope 3 reduction target, for its Energy Business, off a 2019 baseline. This is consistent with what its peers have committed to.

Sasol is a global chemicals and energy company. We harness our knowledge and expertise to integrate sophisticated technologies and processes into world-scale operating facilities.
mrchub.com

Upcoming strike action at ExxonMobil's refinery at Fawley in the UK is unlikely to affect production at the site, according to the producer, said Bunkerspot.

Unite union members employed by Trant Engineering Limited, Veolia Services and Altrad Services - who work as contractors at Fawley - have scheduled strike action over a pay dispute. Strike action has been set for 8 April, 25 April and 6 May, with more strikes to be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved, according to Unite.

An ExxonMobil spokesperson said: “We do not anticipate that the proposed action will impact on operations at Fawley, or on supplies to customers."

ExxonMobil produces a range of petrochemicals at Fawley including propylene, base oils, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and raffinate-2, according to the ICIS Supply and Demand database.

As per MRC, ExxonMobil announced that construction of the new linear alpha olefins (LAO) manufacturing unit at its Baytown, Texas, integrated petrochemical complex is progressing and targeting commercial start up in mid-2023. When fully operational, the new facility will have the capacity to produce approximately 350,000 metric tons of LAO annually.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC''s ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,487,450 tonnes in 2021, up by 13% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market totalled 1,494.280 tonnes, up by 21% year on year. Deliveries of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whreas shipments of PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

ExxonMobil is the largest non-government owned company in the energy industry and produces about 3% of the world's oil and about 2% of the world's energy.

mrchub.com

Covestro is again expanding its range of more circular raw materials and now offers customers in various regions renewable toluene diisocyanate (TDI) which provides a significant reduction of the CO2 footprint from cradle to factory gate, with the same high quality as fossil-based products, according to SpecialChem.

Covestro manufactures the renewable TDI both in Dormagen, Germany, and in Caojing, China, using the mass balance method. Both sites are certified according to the ISCC PLUS standard.

For Covestro, offering renewable TDI via mass balance is only a logical next step of making this important chemical raw material even more sustainable, as Dr. Klaus Schafer, chief technology officer of Covestro, explains, "Already years ago, our unique gas phase technology was a milestone towards more energy efficiency in the production of TDI.”

"With our shift to mass-balanced products, we are helping customers in various industries achieve their climate targets and drive the transition to a circular economy," says Sucheta Govil, chief commercial officer of Covestro.

Flexible PU foams made with TDI and long-chain polyols are important materials in the manufacture of seat cushions and mattresses. Renewable TDI meets demands for more sustainable production while ensuring the good quality, optimal comfort and high breathability known from fossil-based TDI.

It also meets the expectations of the automotive industry, which is looking for alternative raw materials for car seat cushions with a lower carbon footprint.

Last year, Covestro signed its first commercial supply contract with Sinomax, a global manufacturer and distributor of polyurethane comfort products based in China. Both companies share a clear commitment toward the circular economy, and Sinomax wants to be the first customer to use the new TDI to reduce its CO2 emissions.

As MRC informed before, in April 2021, DSM completed the sale of the resins & functional materials businesses to Covestro for EUR1.6 billion (USD1.9 billion), including EUR1.4 billion in cash.

We remind that Covestro closed the sale of its European polycarbonates (PC) sheets business to the Munich-based Serafin Group effective January 2, 2020. This includes key management and sales functions throughout Europe as well as production sites in Belgium and Italy.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated consumption of PC granules (excluding imports and exports to/from Belarus) totalled about 82,300 tonnes in 2021, down by 8% year on year (89,200 tonnes a year earlier).

Covestro (formerly Bayer MaterialScience) is an independent subgroup within Bayer. It was created as part of the restructuring of Bayer AG from the former business group Bayer Polymers, with certain of its activities being spun off to Lanxess AG. Covestro manufactures and develops materials such as coatings, adhesives and sealants, polycarbonates (CDs, DVDs), polyurethanes (automotive seating, insulation for refrigerating appliances) etc. With 2020 sales of EUR 10.7 billion, Covestro has 33 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).
MRC