PROCESS Worldwide brings to you the ‘Top 10 plant engineering projects of December 2023’ from all over the world. Right from Ørsted starting work on Denmark’s first carbon capture project to Fluor securing two contracts for the world’s first net-zero ethylene cracker and derivatives complex, find out all the projects making headlines here

Mechanical recycling and chemical recycling of PET will play a significant role for the plastics industry to achieve a circular economy. Today, many innovative solutions are being introduced in the market to make this goal a reality.

BASF has recently announced that Marcelo R. Lu, Senior Vice President, Care Chemicals North America, BASF Corporation, will, as President, assume responsibility for the Division South & East Asia, Asean & ANZ, BASF South East Asia, Singapore. While Haryono Lim, Senior Vice President, Senior Project New Verbund Site China, BASF (China) Company, Shanghai, will take over as President, Mega Projects Asia, BASF (China) Company, Shanghai.

Japanese diversified global manufacturer Asahi Kasei has made an investment in Ionomr Innovations, a Canadian start-up that manufactures anion exchange membrane (AEM).

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the State of Rhineland-Palatinate have approved up to 124.3 million euros in funding for BASF’s 54-MW water electrolysis plant. The PEM electrolyzer is expected to produce up to 8,000 metric tons of hydrogen every year.

For the first time in Spain, Cepsa has successfully produced circular phenol and acetone from waste single use plastics. 300 tons of waste plastic were recycled to carry out this first test.

Dow has awarded Fluor with two contracts for developing the world’s first net-zero scope 1 and 2 emissions integrated ethylene cracker and derivatives complex in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada. The scope of work includes engineering, procurement and construction management for a new ethylene cracker unit and for the associated utilities, power and infrastructure facilities. It also includes the expansion and retrofit of Dow’s existing manufacturing facilities.

Hydrogen is the solution to all promises of defossilization – but handling the light gas is surprisingly difficult due to its low density. It would be easier to store the substance in a liquid, as promised by so-called Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs)...

Mitsui Chemicals’ subsidiary Polaris Chemicals has begun the production of biocatalysts which is used in the manufacture of acrylamide. With this, Mitsui Chemicals aims to increase its production capacity of biocatalysts.

Under a collaboration agreement signed between both the parties, Wood will work towards commercializing OMV’s innovative plastic recycling technology Reoil. The move will help to advance chemical plastic recycling and develop a circular economy.