Several petrochemical companies in the US Gulf region have declared force majeure (FM) because of Hurricane/now Tropical Storm Harvey. Although some are planning to restart, the storm is forecast to move towards Louisiana, were it will affect further petchem plants.

Markus Kimpel will succeed Carsten Strenger who will be leaving the Romaco Group by the end of 2019. Kimpel has been appointed as the new Group CFO as well as Managing Director of Romaco Pharmatechnik.

A new process simulation tool combines high degree of detailing with powerful simulation of highly complex plants and processes. The cooperation of Inosim (Germany) and Prosim (France) shows great promise for an innovative simulation software in process engineering. Recently, both companies introduced their first results.

Chemists led by Prof. Frank Glorius from the University of Münster have developed a new and practical synthetic method for the formation of fluorinated three-dimensional “saturated” molecular ring structures. This development can have great importance for the efficient production of new molecules and, consequently, new drugs, crop protection agents and functional materials.

Dow and Saudi Aramco announced a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that involves the acquisition of an additional 15 % ownership interest by Dow from Saudi Aramco in Sadara, a joint venture developed by the two companies.

BASF has started up a new methane sulfonic acid (MSA) plant at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany in the background of growing demand for MSA across the globe. The investment is expected to increase capacity at the site to a total of 50,000 metric tons annually.

Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), CO2 Value Europe (CVE) and nova-Institute have recently published a study which showcases the chemical industry’s CO2 reduction potential via carbon capture and utilization (CCU).

The new zero liquid discharge plant has been inaugurated by Evonik Catalysts at its facility in Dombivli, India. The plant aims to improve the treatment of process water and was developed in association with Remondis.

Clariant plans to sell its entire Masterbatches business to Poly One. The transaction values the business at approximately $ 1.6 billion.

In a refrigerant-based compressed air dryer system, the dew point sensor installed at the dryer outlet helps monitoring the dryer’s performance most accurately.