Coal and lignite are the principal fuels used in many power plants world wide. Although their characteristics appear to be almost same, some differences do exist which set them apart totally. Variations in boiler design also present many challenges and system design has to take care of these issues.

Succinity, the joint venture between Corbion Purac and BASF for the production and commercialization of biobased succinic acid, has announced the successful start-up of its first commercial production facility.

New materials for new markets: Lanxess strengthens its Asian presence by establishing local research and development facilities. The German company has recently opened a new facility for the devlopment of plastics and polymers in Honk Kong...

Shin-Etsu Chemical plans to expand its silicones business by increasing production capacities in its Thailand plant; and by establishing a new technical centre in the USA

Phillips Sumika, a joint operation of Phillip Chevoron and Sumika Polymers, faces the liquidation of its business. Production facilities in Pasadena will be shut down by the end of the year.

Solvay announced that BASF agreed to acquire its Polyamides business for € 1.6 billion (approx. $ 1.92 billion).

Lanxess celebrates the opening of Asia's most modern butyl rubber plant as well as the companies biggest investment project ever. The German speciality chemicals specialists have invested around € 400 millions in the new 100.000 tons/year facility at Jurong Island...

As part of its global expansion strategy, Songwon has commissioned a second thermoplastic urethane (TPU) production line, to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Akzo Nobel's Specialty Chemicals business has entered the next phase of a major expansion at its organic peroxides facility in Ningbo, China, which will increase production capacity by more than 100 % by the third quarter of 2018.

New technologies to treat water in refineries and petrochemical plants: Giving the right water treatment solution to refineries and petrochemical plants is a big challenge. Nalco has addressed this problem with a holistic cooling water management system.