The recent report titled ‘2022 Chemical Industry Outlook’ by Deloitte highlights 5 key trends in the U.S. chemical industry. Right from adopting digital technologies to undertaking sustainability measures such as the implementation of e-crackers, advanced chemical recycling, green hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, the report elaborates on the current trends that are set to transform the industry like never before.

Sabic has entered into a MOU with Saudi Aramco and PKN Orlen for exploring the potential of petrochemical expansion projects in Poland, Central and Eastern Europe. Under the terms of the agreement, the investment opportunities will include a new chemical production facility in Poland, the expansion of various existing assets and development of a new world scale cracker.

Danish biotech company Biosyntia and the German Wacker Group have announced the signing of a contract to develop a large-scale production process for fermentation-based biotin. The long-term partnership aims to make fermentation-based biotin available for the full range of relevant applications as a sustainable, non-chemical, European-sourced alternative.

BASF has entered into an agreement with China BlueChemical and Wuhuan Engineering to develop and supply innovative catalysts, special reactor design and related process technology that enable CO2 direct utilization via reforming and synthesis gas to chemicals. The deal focuses on the utilization of marine gas with a high CO2 content and will help to reduce carbon footprint via improved process efficiency and carbon efficiency.

Eneos and Preferred Networks (PFN) have achieved a breakthrough in autonomous plant operations by successfully operating a butadiene extraction unit autonomously for two consecutive days by making use of a new artificial intelligence system at Eneos Kawasaki Refinery's petrochemical plant in Japan.

The multinational technology company will make use of its software, AI and data for developing innovative, sustainable and digital tools for Alfa Laval which will help in the service and maintenance of its plate heat exchangers.

Vega's new Vegapoint 24 flush-mounted level switch is especially suitable for use with highly sticky, viscous or abrasive media. The developers' focus was on the greatest possible robustness.

Alfa Laval’s new CM Connect is a subscription-based condition monitor and cloud gateway which enables plant operators to access data of rotating equipment on processing lines from a remote location. The solution proves useful for the hygienic processing industries.

Lummus Technology has won a contract from Lukoil for a new integrated methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and alkylation plant at the company’s refinery in Perm, Russia. Under the terms of the contact, Lummus will license its methyl tertiary butyl ether and alkylation technologies for the project.

Evonik has unveiled its plans to develop the mega production plant for bio-based and fully biodegradable rhamnolipids in Slovakia by investing a significant three-digit million-dollar amount. The new plant is expected to come on stream in the next two years.

Fluidized-bed systems combine a number of different advantages. The free movement of particles during fluidization leads to a larger contact surface area with the process air and with the granulation liquid. Operators benefit from good heat transfer, efficient drying, and good mixing. Different approaches to doing this are available.

Thyssenkrupp Uhde Thailand has secured an engineering services and proprietary equipment supply contract for an Esterification plant from a major oleo and specialty chemicals producer in Asia. thyssenkrupp Uhde’s advanced batch reactor technology will be used for the project.

The efficiency of a fermentation process in pharma or food production often remains unchallenged for years, unless there are acute issues. The white paper gives insights on how to use Artificial Intelligence to improve this process.

According to market research, the market volume for "green" chemistry is due to almost double by 2025. Our white paper sets out how contract manufacturers are reacting to the trend for sustainability.

This paper will show by means of the example of a pusher centrifuge how to achieve optimum product quality, maximum energy efficiency and operation with a minimum of downtime and it describes the most important innovations of the past decade.

This paper looks at how the earlier PTA production method involving a multi-stage process with pressure and atmospheric centrifuges and a re-slurry tank can be replaced with one stand-alone device – the rotary pressure filter (RPF).

The newly introduced minicon series of plug connectors by R. Stahl offers protection against electrical equipment in hazardous areas and its modular structure can be configured in a number of ways for explosion-protected power supply, bus and Profinet networking.

Ametek STC’s M&G line of diaphragm seals helps companies to use instruments to test and measure pressure at high temperatures by providing a blockage between the heated pressure source and the advanced instrumentation.

Tranter’s NovusBloc welded plate heat exchangers have been selected for the expansion of a North American refinery. The plate heat exchangers are of different sizes and are made of 254SMO and 316L SS materials as well as a single Superchanger gasketed plate heat exchanger. The heat exchangers will be installed at the main production process to reduce CO2 emissions and is capable of handling flammable liquids and/or high temperature fluids.

For the simple installation and wiring of isolators on I / O cards in automation systems, the explosion protection expert R. Stahl offers a space-saving integration solution with the Pac-Carrier 9295: According to the manufacturer, this reduces the installation time thanks to the tool-free assembly of the Ispac -Separation levels by up to 40 %.

Glatt Ingenieurtechnik has developed a seamless cleanroom washing area that has successfully passed practical tests at both the company’s own technology center and customer sites.

Yara has plans to decarbonize the food chain by developing fossil free fertilizers or green fertilizers which are produced with ammonia based on renewable energy. The green fertilizers will be marketed by Lantmännen in Sweden by 2023. With this move, the companies aim to develop the world’s first fossil free food chain.

Fluidized-bed systems combine a number of different advantages. The free movement of particles during fluidization leads to a larger contact surface area with the process air and with the granulation liquid. Operators benefit from good heat transfer, efficient drying, and good mixing. Different approaches to doing this are available.

With the new kytero single-use pharma separator, GEA presented a world first for the biopharmaceutical single-use industry. The GEA kytero single-use separator is designed for obtaining fermentation solutions and cell cultures and is equipped with the proven GEA Westfalia Separator disk stack technology for maximum yield, high separation efficiency and gentle product handling.

For more than two decades, peristaltic (hose) pump technology has proven to offer the performance and reliability that can make it a first-choice pumping option for wastewater treaters who crave highly reliable, environmentally friendly, low-maintenance pump operation.

The safe and sustainable supply of high-quality water is a major challenge for municipal authorities - and all the more so in view of growing urbanization. Domo Chemicals, a leading manufacturer of polyamide-based plastics, has a range of solutions specially designed for such applications. Together with the pump supplier Wilo, added value is to be created for water processes.

Quattroflow has launched its latest quaternary diaphragm pump – QF5k for biopharma applications. The new diaphragm pump boasts of a maximum flow rate of 6,000 lph and also offers critical design enhancements.

With the introduction of a third size in the GEA Hilge Contra range, the company is expanding the performance spectrum of its centrifugal pumps to a flow rate of 100 cubic meters per hour. The new GEA Hilge Contra III meets the general requirements of the dairy, beverage and food industries.