OCI Global and Rohm announce pioneering production of methyl methacrylate using bio-ammonia

OCI Global, the world’s third largest nitrogen fertilizer and ammonia producer, is supplying Rohm, a leading manufacturer of methacrylates, with bio-ammonia for the production of methyl methacrylate (MMA), an important precursor for PLEXIGLAS - the world’s most popular brand of acrylic glass, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This week, OCI Global delivered a shipment of bio-ammonia to Rohm in a pioneering step to help reduce the carbon footprint of essential and everyday products that rely on MMA, including compounds for cars, airplane windows, building, glazing and dental products. The partnership demonstrates the viability of lower carbon ammonia in industrial processes, supporting downstream decarbonization to other industries and ultimately end consumers.

The delivery of OCI Global’s bio-ammonia to Rohm was witnessed by His Majesty King Willem- Alexander of the Netherlands as part his tour of hydrogen projects in the region, demonstrating the hydrogen corridor connecting Port of Rotterdam to other regions and inland ports, such as duisport, to supply hydrogen products into Europe.

OCI Global is the only producer of ISCC PLUS certified bio-ammonia in Europe and the US today. OCI’s bio-ammonia uses biomethane from waste and residues of biological origin as well as biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste as feedstock. The result is a GHG reduction of >70% compared to conventional grey ammonia production, which uses a fossil-based feedstock.

Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO, OCI Global said: “OCI is already leading the industry in scaling up the supply of renewable and lower carbon ammonia and methanol at our nine facilities globally, in the US and Europe and, through Fertiglobe, our strategic partnership with ADNOC, the MENA region. This delivery of our bio-ammonia shows our pivotal role in developing the hydrogen corridor to enable the supply of lower carbon ammonia across Europe, from the Port of Rotterdam. Through partnerships with other industry leaders like Rohm, we’re able to continue to make first-moves prove the case for lower carbon products in existing value chains, and we’re excited about the opportunity we have ahead of us to work with other industrial customers to do this. The industrial sector represents around 20% of the global ammonia market today. By converting this sector to lower carbon ammonia, we can help to create a future that allows for the continued production of essential downstream products in a sustainable way.

Hans-Peter Hauck, COO at Rohm said: “Rohm as a global manufacturer of methylmethacrylate products such as PLEXIGLAS is committed to its ambitious climate agenda and targets to achieve a GHG reduction of 30% by 2030. Ammonia is a central feedstock for the manufacture of these methacrylic products such as Plexiglas, Degalan and Degaroute roadmarkings. We therefore are excited to join this partnership and take a significant step towards the decarbonization of our processes and products. A low carbon alternative of ammonia made from biogas allows us to manufacture in our ISCC PLUS certified plants Methacrylate based monomers, molding compounds and resins, in order to deliver sustainable products and solutions for our customers in the industries we serve. We are committed to driving the sustainable transformation forward and are convinced that this change can only be successfully accomplished by partnerships and close cooperation along the value chain”.

OCI and Rohm have shared values around sustainability and breaking new ground in their respective sectors. Earlier this year, OCI Global announced it had begun supplying bio-ammonia in the food and drinks sector, supporting the production of lower carbon wheat and barley malt. OCI is also tripling capacity at its ammonia import terminal in Rotterdam in readiness for increased demand for lower carbon ammonia to support new markets, such as use as a shipping fuel and in the power sector.

Rohm produces MMA at its European sites in Worms and Wesseling as well as in the USA and China. At its Bay City site in Texas, the company is currently building a MMA plant, where it will introduce its new production technology LiMA that will enable the manufacture of methacrylatemonomers with a significantly lower product carbon footprint and improved environmental impact. In addition to new production technologies, Rohm also introduced an environmentally friendly product range “pro Terra” that is based on recycled high-performance materials with a reduced carbon footprint.

We remind, North American chemical rail traffic rose for a 10th consecutive week, with railcar loadings for the week ended 21 October up 3.7% year on year to 45,549, according to Association of American Railroads. For the first 42 weeks of 2023 ended 21 October, North American chemical rail traffic was down 1.0% year on year to 1,903,429 - with the US down 2.2% to 1,307,333.

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North American chemical rail traffic rose for a 10th consecutive week, with railcar loadings for the week ended 21 October up 3.7% year on year to 45,549, according to Association of American Railroads.

For the first 42 weeks of 2023 ended 21 October, North American chemical rail traffic was down 1.0% year on year to 1,903,429 - with the US down 2.2% to 1,307,333.

In the US, chemical railcar loadings represent about 20% of chemical transportation by tonnage, with trucks, barges and pipelines carrying the rest. In Canada, chemical producers rely on rail to ship more than 70% of their products, with some exclusively using rail.

We remind, North American chemical rail traffic rose for a seventh consecutive week, with railcar loadings for the week ended 30 September up 3.6% year on year to 45,804. A 7.3% increase in the US more than offset declines in Canada and Mexico.

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ExxonMobil is planning to invest up to $15bn in a greenfield petrochemical project as well as new carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities in Indonesia, the country's President Joko Widodo said on Thursday.

The Indonesian government earlier this week signed an agreement with ExxonMobil to study the possibility of the petrochemical project which would include polymer production units.

Exxon and Indonesian state energy firm Pertamina also signed an agreement to evaluate investments in CCS facilities offshore of Java island, Indonesia.

In a post made on X, formerly known as Twitter, Joko Widodo said that he met with ExxonMobil chairman Darren Woods on 15 November during a trip to the US for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to discuss the two projects.

The Indonesian president added that he has also invited ExxonMobil to invest in green energy and infrastructure development in Indonesia.

We remind, Exxon Mobil moved up the start date for a CDU overhaul at its 619,024-bpd Beaumont, Texas, refinery from August 2024 to June 2024, said people familiar with the company’s plans. Exxon continues to plan to shut the 65,000-bpd diesel-producing hydrocracker in January for an overhaul, during which the 80,000-bpd reformer will also be shut for work, according to the sources.

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Technip Energies announces the creation of Reju, a new company focused on PET recycling of textiles that will leverage the innovative technology co-developed in joint-venture with IBM and Under Armour as well as Technip Energies’ global engineering and technology integration expertise, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Reju will address the fast-growing market of global rPET whose demand from the textile market is expected to grow up to 20 Mtpa by 2033, driven by industry pledges and targets on recycling, regulation and consumer awareness of the need to reduce plastic waste.

Technip Energies, IBM and Under Armour have been working together since 2021 in a joint venture to bring VolCat, an IBM technology for rejuvenating waste PET packaging and polyester, to an industrial scale. VolCat allows the selective breakdown of polymers which IBM first applied to technologies like semiconductor lithography and microelectronics packaging. Reju intends to use this technology to address hard-to-recycle polyester garments and PET packaging lost to the waste stream today. With this technology, acting as a molecular sorter, PET could be regenerated infinitely.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Reju’s demonstration plant took place in September in Technip Energies Frankfurt Research Center with the facility expected to come on stream in 2024.

Arnaud Pieton, CEO of Technip Energies, commented: “Globally, less than 1% of PET textiles waste is recycled today today. This means that most textiles end up as waste in landfills when they could be repeatedly reused in new clothes. What has been holding the world back in textile circularity is not a lack of demand for textile recycling but the lack of a solution that makes recycling of textiles economical on an industrial scale. For the first time in this domain, a unique scalable technology is directly associated with a scalability expert like Technip Energies. Reju will deliver the promise of economical textile recycling, and we are proud to extend our role as an active agent of circularity.”

Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM, said: “The health of our planet has never been more pressing, and the amount of fashion apparel and textiles that end up in landfills today is enormous. The good news is that technology can help solve this challenge. IBM is proud to provide its VolCat technology to support Reju in advancing sustainable textile recycling. We look forward to collaborating with Technip Energies and Reju to champion initiatives like these that place sustainability at the heart of the global textile industry.”

Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, declared: "We have the opportunity to establish a genuine circular "We have the opportunity to establish a genuine circular ecosystem for textile recycling and invite collaboration across the entire value chain, ecosystem for textile recycling and invite collaboration across the entire value chain, encompassing collectors and sorters, chemical companies, and the apparel industry. Through encompassing collectors and sorters, chemical companies, and the apparel industry. Through the creation of Reju, we are laying the groundwork for an ecosystem that can profoundly of Reju, we are laying the groundwork for an ecosystem that can profoundly transform the PET textile industry, and transform the PET textile industry, and brings brings us closer to a world that has moved past us closer to a world that has moved past pollution."

We remind, TechnipFMC has been awarded a significant(1) contract to supply flexible pipes to Petrobras for the pre-salt fields offshore Brazil. The Company will design, engineer, and manufacture 14 kilometers of gas injection riser pipes. TechnipFMC will also supply associated services including packing and storage.

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Greiner Packaging has successfully manufactured trays using 70% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (r-PET) for the renowned Austrian beverage company, Rauch Fruchtsafte, said Chemanalyst.

This environmentally conscious initiative by Greiner involves the utilization of material sourced from 'yellow bags' to create these innovative and sustainable beverage trays. Throughout the project, the viability of generating r-PET flakes from post-consumer material was demonstrated through a meticulous process involving pre- and post-sorting, followed by shredding and washing.

The intricate process begins with the creation of a PET film, comprising 70% recycled material, from the r-PET flakes. Subsequently, Greiner Assistec, a business unit within the company, employs thermoforming techniques to shape this film into the final r-PET trays. Notably, the r-PET flakes used in this process are derived from input materials beyond PET beverage bottles, encompassing items such as cups, tubs, and trays.

In the realm of sustainable packaging, the predominant practice involves recycling PET bottles to produce r-PET flakes. Greiner, however, highlights the underutilized potential of recycling additional PET packaging from 'yellow bags.' This represents a strategic shift in the recycling paradigm, demonstrating a commitment to explore and maximize the recycling potential of various plastic products beyond traditional bottles.

Peter Fessl, the Director of Greiner Recycling, stressed the company's forward-looking approach, expressing that by expanding a year ago, they communicated a clear signal and emphasized their belief in the potential of r-PET for a sustainable future in the packaging industry. At that time, their explicit objective was to divert recycling streams away from virgin PET bottles. He mentioned that the project with Rauch Fruchtsafte represents just one step on this path, with many more to follow. This statement indicates Greiner's commitment to progressing recycling practices and lessening reliance on virgin PET materials.

Rauch Fruchtsafte, as part of its ongoing sustainability efforts, is already incorporating bottles made from 100% r-PET in its operations. Hanno Mandl, the Purchasing Manager at Rauch, emphasized the importance of ensuring a robust supply of high-quality r-PET from bottle recycling for the production of new r-PET bottles. Mandl also highlighted the significance of exploring alternative forms of packaging for the manufacturing of various products, aligning with the company's commitment to environmental responsibility.

This collaborative effort between Greiner Packaging and Rauch Fruchtsafte exemplifies a holistic approach to sustainability in the packaging industry. By actively exploring and implementing innovative recycling practices, these companies are contributing to the broader goal of reducing the environmental impact of plastic packaging. The use of r-PET in trays not only showcases the versatility of recycled materials but also emphasizes the importance of diversifying recycling sources beyond conventional PET bottles. As consumer and industry demands for sustainable practices continue to grow, initiatives like these set a positive precedent for the future of packaging, promoting circular economy principles and responsible resource management.

We remind, Croatian PET recycling company, Rekis, a result of a merger between the Austrian drinks firm Steinrieser and the Austro-Croatian trading company KIS pica involved in beverage production, has recently made a significant undisclosed investment in the establishment of a state-of-the-art PET recycling plant located in the Donja Dubrava region of Croatia. This advanced facility is capable of producing an impressive 18,000 tons per year of high-quality rPET (recycled PET) pellets derived from post-consumer plastic bottles.

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