China's government takes safety and environmental protection seriously and closes a number of chemical parks in Jiangsu Province. This affects a total of 1,431 chemical companies, some of which are considered major environmental polluters. A huge wave of production closures, modernizations and relocations is imminent.

Most fieldbus novices feel edgy about their decision and understandably so. Getting a new technology to work right the first time is a task associated with perceived risk. Taking this risk out of the equation and getting the plant on the way requires change. A few concepts have proven true to get it right the first time.

The Daesan integrated refining and petrochemicals complex has begun its new ethylene production capacities in South Korea. Now, the complex can produce 1.4 million tonnes per year of ethylene, an increase of 30 %.

According to the All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA), the Indian plastics industry grows at an annual rate of 12-15 per cent. Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on customizing products in accordance with end-user needs. Here’s an overview of how cryogenic grinding is the means to a useful and cost-effective solution for fine grinding of plastics.

Honeywell UOP signed a partnership agreement with China’s Wison Engineering to jointly provide methanol-to-olefin (MTO) technologies and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services to customers outside of China.

Honeywell UOP announced that Zhejiang Petrochemical will use four of its Polybed pressure swing adsorption (PSA) units to supply high-purity hydrogen for its new integrated refining and petrochemical complex in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province.

Construction chemicals are one of the important sectors in the chemical industry. It is used for various reasons with the main objective being - protection. Anti carbonation coating is one such solution that protects concretes in the building from pollutants and harsh weather.

Saudi Aramco has completed the acquisition of Shell’s 50 % stake in the Sasref refining joint venture in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The move is in line with Saudi Aramco’s long term downstream growth strategy.

Covestro has announced a research breakthrough for the use of plant-based raw materials in plastics production: aniline, an important basic chemical, can now be derived from biomass, the company claims.

Showa Denko, a leading Japanese chemical engineering firm, has increased its capacity for supplying high-purity nitrous oxide (N2O), a specialty gas for semiconductor production, by cooperating with Dooam Industrial (Dooam), of South Korea.