October 30, 2023 • Polyestertime

Petrochemicals r-Polyester – Artificial Intelligence and the Call for Safety: A Global Initiative 30-10-2023

October 30, 2023

Petrochemicals r-Polyester

Polymers : PET – r-PET – Filament grade semidull chips -Filament grade bright chips – Ny6 – Ny66 – PP
Feedstocks PX – PTA – MEG – CPL – Adipic Acid – Benzene – ACN – Ethylene – Phenol – Naphtha
Textile : Polyester POY – DTY – FDY – PSF – Recycled Polyester POY – Nylon POY – DTY – FDY Spandex 20-30-40 -Viscose Staple Fiber VSF Acrylic Staple Fiber

Petrochemicals r-Polyester

Polyestertime
ITEM	23/10/2023	30/10/2023	+/-
Bottle grade PET chips domestic market	6,825 yuan/ton	6,900 yuan/ton	+75
Bottle grade PET chips export market	875 $/ton	885 $/ton	+10
Filament grade Semidull chips domestic market	6,775 yuan/ton	6,790 yuan/ton	+15
Filament grade Bright chips domestic market	6,810 yuan/ton	6,830 yuan/ton	+20
Pure Terephthalic Acid PTA domestic market	5,710 yuan/ton	5,900 yuan/ton	+190
Pure Terephthalic Acid PTA export market	730 $/ton	730 $/ton	–
Monoethyleneglycol MEG domestic market	3,960 yuan/ton	4,070 yuan/ton	+110
Monoethyleneglycol MEG export market	457 $/ton	468 $/ton	+11
Paraxylene PX FOB Taiwan market Petrochemicals r-Polyester	1,027 $/ton	1,014 $/ton	-13
Paraxylene PX FOB Korea market	1,004 $/ton	991 $/ton	-13
Paraxylene PX FOB EU market	1,150 $/ton	1,150 $/ton	–
Polyester filament POY 150D/48F domestic market	7,600 yuan/ton	7,400 yuan/ton	-200
Recycled Polyester filament POY domestic market	7,550 yuan/ton	7,550 yuan/ton	–
Polyester filament DTY 150D/48 F domestic market	8,950 yuan/ton	8,700 yuan/ton	-250
Polyester filament FDY 68D24F Petrochemicals r-Polyester	8,950 yuan/ton	8,750 yuan/ton	-200
Polyester filament FDY 150D/96F domestic market	8,200 yuan/ton	8,050 yuan/ton	-150
Polyester staple fiber 1.4D 38mm domestic market	7,450 yuan/ton	7,500 yuan/ton	+50
Caprolactam CPL domestic market	12,650 yuan/ton	12,750 yuan/ton	+100
Caprolactam CPL overseas market	1,600 $/ton	1,600 $/ton	–
Nylon 6 chips overseas market	1,900 $/ton	1,830 $/ton	-70
Nylon 6 chips conventional spinning domestic market	13,750 yuan/ton	13,750 yuan/ton	–
Nylon 6 chips high speed spinning domestic market Petrochemicals r-Polyester	14,100 yuan/ton	13,900 yuan/ton	-200
Nylon 6.6 chips domestic market	19,100 yuan/ton	19,700 yuan/ton	+600
Nylon6 Filament POY 86D/24F domestic market	16,200 yuan/ton	16,100 yuan/ton	-100
Nylon6 Filament DTY 70D/24F domestic market	18,500 yuan/ton	18,250 yuan/ton-	-250
Nylon6 Filament FDY 70D/24F	17,250 yuan/ton	17,250 yuan/ton	–
Spandex 20D domestic market Petrochemicals r-Polyester	36,500 yuan/ton	36,500 yuan/ton	–
Spandex 30D domestic market	35,000 yuan/ton	35,000 yuan/ton	–
Spandex 40D domestic market	32,200 yuan/ton	32,000 yuan/ton	-200
Adipic Acid domestic market	9,400 yuan/ton	9,300 yuan/ton	-100
Benzene domestic market Petrochemicals r-Polyester	8,120 yuan/ton	8,340 yuan/ton	+220
Benzene overseas market	918 $/ton	911 $/ton	-7
Ethylene South East market	950 $/ton	970 $/ton	+20
Ethylene NWE market	786 $/ton	679 $/ton	-7
Acrylonitrile ACN domestic market Petrochemicals r-Polyester	9,700 yuan/ton	9,500 yuan/ton	-200
Acrylonitrile ACN overseas market	1,200 $/ton	1,200 $/ton	–
Acrylic staple fiber ASF domestic market	14,600 yuan/ton	14,600 yuan/ton	–
Viscose Staple Fiber VSF domestic market	13,400 yuan/ton	13,350 yuan/ton	-50
PP Powder domestic market Petrochemicals r-Polyester	7,220 yuan/ton	7,350 yuan/ton	+130
Naphtha overseas market	687 $/ton	658 $/ton	-29
Phenol domestic market	8,382 yuan/ton	8,425 yuan/ton	+43

r-PET high end eco-friendly chips =7,800 yuan/ton — 7,800 yuan/ton –

Petrochemicals chip – Panel for Sustainable Future in Textile in Gaziantep 23-10-2023

Petrochemicals r-Polyester

Artificial Intelligence and the Call for Safety: A Global Initiative

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has issued a stark warning about the potential risks and dangers posed by artificial intelligence (AI), likening its potential consequences to that of a nuclear weapon. Sunak’s concerns were articulated on the eve of the first-ever global summit on AI, an event that he passionately supports. The summit, scheduled for November 1 and 2, is set to take place at Bletchley Park, a historic hub of technology where Alan Turing famously cracked the Enigma code during World War II. In his address to the public, Sunak outlined both the tremendous promise and the peril that AI presents, while also revealing the establishment of the world’s first institute dedicated to AI safety.

Sunak emphasized that artificial intelligence, when harnessed responsibly, has the potential to usher in a new era of knowledge, economic growth, human progress, and the resolution of previously insurmountable problems. However, he cautioned that AI also brings forth a new set of dangers and fears that need to be addressed proactively. A comprehensive government report, authored by a panel of 50 experts, highlights AI’s potential as an “existential threat” in the future. Sunak is urging the global community to address these concerns now to ensure the utmost peace of mind for citizens.

One of the central concerns is the potential misuse of AI technology, with threats including fraud, cyberattacks, and, by 2025, the possibility of enhancing the capabilities of terrorist groups in planning attacks and propagating extremist propaganda. Sunak stated that AI could even facilitate the development of chemical or biological weapons, with the dire possibility of terrorists exploiting AI for mass destruction. Criminals could utilize AI for a wide range of malicious activities, from cyberattacks to disinformation campaigns and child exploitation. In the most extreme scenario, there is the risk of losing control over superintelligent AI, raising concerns about humanity’s very existence.

To address these concerns, the United Kingdom will be the birthplace of the world’s first center for AI safety. This institute will specialize in the analysis, evaluation, and testing of new AI models, contributing valuable insights to the global AI safety discourse. The primary objective of the center is to advance humanity’s understanding of AI safety and assess potential risks, including social damage such as bias and misinformation. Sunak’s ambition is to position the UK as a global leader in AI regulation, recognizing the immense potential benefits, particularly in fields like medicine and science, while acknowledging the paramount importance of safety and security.

The upcoming Global AI Summit at Bletchley Park aims to be a platform for collaboration, involving institutions, international partners, AI experts, tech companies, and civil society. With approximately 100 attendees, the event will feature notable figures like Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. The summit also anticipates Chinese participation, highlighting the necessity of engaging with Beijing in shaping a cohesive strategy for AI, despite challenges. The British government has set forth five key objectives for the summit, including promoting a shared understanding of AI risks, fostering international collaboration, recommending organizational safety measures, exploring AI security research, and demonstrating the potential for beneficial global AI development.

The United Nations is also stepping up its efforts by creating a Committee for Artificial Intelligence, which consists of around 40 experts from diverse backgrounds. This committee, led by Amandeep Singh Gill, UN envoy for technology, and including notable members like Father Paolo Benanti from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Italy, is tasked with formulating common rules for AI. Their mission encompasses evaluating the benefits and risks of AI and its contributions to sustainable development and international cooperation.

As the world grapples with the profound implications of artificial intelligence, these initiatives demonstrate a collective commitment to addressing the challenges and risks while harnessing the potential of AI for the betterment of humanity. The coming years will reveal whether these global efforts can effectively regulate and safeguard the development and deployment of AI technology, ensuring it remains a force for good in the world.

Artificial Intelligence and the Call for Safety: A Global Initiative

Bottles-to-fabric – Teesside welcomes Mura Technology’s first HydroPRS plant 30-10-2023

October 30, 2023

Bottles-to-fabric

Crude Oil Prices Trend

Crude Oil Prices Trend by Polyestertime

Petrochemicals r-Polyester – Artificial Intelligence and the Call for Safety: A Global Initiative

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Bottles-to-fabric

Teesside welcomes Mura Technology’s first HydroPRS plant

The UK’s first plant that uses supercritical water to transform plastic into hydrocarbons has been opened by Mura Technology in Teesside.

The HydroPRS process converts plastics into valuable feedstock materials that can be used by Mura’s customers, who will start receiving deliveries in early 2024.

The plant has an annual capacity of 20,000 tons of recycled liquid hydrocarbons, which can be increased to 60,000 tons. Bottles-to-fabric

The company claims that the process can recycle postconsumer plastics such as films and trays, offering a sustainable solution for these materials.

The HydroPRS process also cuts carbon emissions by 80% by preventing plastics from being burned. Steve Hahon, Mura Technology CEO, says: “Our HydroPRS process is creating a new opportunity for plastic waste, generating value and keeping both plastic and carbon in a circular economy.

The technology complements existing mechanical recycling to make sure no plastics are deemed ‘unrecyclable’ and need to be incinerated or landfilled.” Bottles-to-fabric

Mura has received funding from various companies in the plastic industry, such as KBR, Dow, CPChem, LG Chem and igus GmbH, as well as from UK Research & Innovation’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge and the government’s Future Fund.

Bottles-to-fabric

LyondellBasell acquires 25% of Cyclyx

It joins Agilyx and ExxonMobil in the joint venture

Netherlands-based LyondellBasell has acquired 25% equity ownership in Cyclyx International, a joint venture between Agilyx and ExxonMobil founded in 2020.

“Investing in plastic waste value chain experts such as Cyclyx, together with Agilyx and ExxonMobil, helps create the robust supply chains we all need to increase access to circular and renewable feedstocks,” said Yvonne van der Laan, LyondellBasell executive vice president, circular and low carbon solutions. “This collaboration unlocks the necessary scale of recycled material and infrastructure for our planned integrated Circular and Low Carbon Solutions Hub in the Houston area and aligns with our purpose of creating solutions for everyday sustainable living.” Bottles-to-fabric

Cyclyx draws on over 1500 post-use plastic chemical characterisations to assesses each source of waste plastic to understand its chemical profile. It then uses artificial intelligence and big data to sort those profiles into the various mechanical and chemical recycling pathways that the plastics can be used for. Finally, the company aggregates and pre-processes the products according to costumers’ needs.

The resulting products include recycled polystyrene (PS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE). Cyclyx processes are ISSC PLUS certified, ensuring their compliance with sustainability and traceability requirements along the supply chain.

Cyclyx is also expanding its business model from a strict licensing model to now include a build, own, and operate option for Cyclyx Circularity Centers (CCCs). This business model expansion will enable Cyclyx to control the custody and quality of custom-blended feedstocks from sourcing through delivery. Bottles-to-fabric

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Bottles-to-fabric

This factory in Tiruppur turns used PET bottles into fabric and garments

Sulochana Cotton Spinning Mills in Chitambalam ventured into recycling in 2010, and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2027 and says it has also aligned with nine of the 17 sustainable development goals

A 150-acre facility at Chitambalam, about an hour’s drive from Coimbatore, has over 10,000 trees, 1,000 birding nests, solar energy panels, bio gasifiers, and plastic-free zones. Tiruppur-based Sulochana Cotton Spinning Mills buys 4,000 tonnes of used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles a month and coverts them into polyester fibre, yarn, cloth, and garments on this campus. Bottles-to-fabric

Even as global apparel brands commit to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets, textile factories, such as Sulochana, in Tamil Nadu, a textile powerhouse, are showing the way in sustainable and circular fashion. The company, which won the State government’s Green Champion Award for 2021, ventured into PET bottle recycling in 2010 and currently buys used PET bottles from waste aggregators in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, and parts of Karnataka.

The bottles land at its gates at Chitambalam in three colours – white, green, and brown. The labels on the bottles are removed and sent to cement factories to be used as fuel. The plastic caps and rings are converted into pellets that go into the making of planters, car bumpers, etc. The bottles are washed multiple times and broken into flakes. Colour master batches are added to the flakes to make coloured polyester fibre or yarn. “We do not use water, salt, or chemicals to dye the fibre. The (PET) recycled fibre saves on both cost and time,” says the company’s CEO, G.D. Gopalakrishnan. Bottles-to-fabric

The recycled fibre waste also has its applications in the manufacture of conveyor belts, automobile mats, etc.

A scuba diving jacket made by Sulochana has 96% recycled polyester filament, avoids 47 kg of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission, saves 46 litres of water, and has 40 g of diverted waste. Similarly, yoga wear made by the company has 96% recycled polyester filament, avoids 32 kg of CO₂ emission, saves 31 litres of water, and has 27 g of diverted waste.

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Bottles-to-fabric

Vietnam’s fibre exports foresee positive signals

Vietnam is the world’s sixth-largest fibre exporter and the world’s third-largest exporter of textiles and garments – just behind China and Bangladesh.Vietnam is the world’s sixth-largest fibre exporter and the world’s third-largest exporter of textiles and garments – just behind China and Bangladesh.
Latest statistics from the General Department of Customs showed that, by the end of the third quarter of 2023, fibre exports earned 3.2 billion USD with more than 1.3 million tonnes of goods exported abroad, up 9.3% in volume but decreasing 13.8% in value compared to the same period last year. Bottles-to-fabric
Increase in quantity
Regarding the market, in September, fibre exports to China reached 77,459 tonnes worth more than 203 million USD, down 18.8% in volume and down nearly 20% compared to August 2023.
Overall, in the first nine months of the year, Vietnam exported 647,862 tonnes of fibre to the Chinese market and earned more than 1.71 billion USD, up 18.1% in volume but down 2.1% in value over the same period last year. The export price reached 2,652 USD per tonne, down 17.1% compared to the same period in 2022.
The Republic of Korea (RoK) is the second-largest export market of Vietnamese fibre. In September, fibre exports to the RoK reached 10,898 tonnes with a value of more than 30 million USD, an increase of 0.6% in volume and an increase of 2.8% in value compared to August 2023. Bottles-to-fabricOverall, in the first nine months of the year, fibre exports to this market reached 101,880 tonnes and earned more than 284 million USD, down 5.78% in volume and 24.2% in value compared to the same period in 2022. The average export price reached 2,788 USD per tonne, down 19.65% over the same period in 2022.
The US market ranked third. In the first nine months of 2023, Vietnam exported 75,483 tonnes of fibre to the US with a value of more than 108 million USD, down 13.8% in volume and 29.4% in value over the same period. The average export price reached 1,443 USD per tonne, down 17.5% over the same period in 2022 and less than half the export price to China or the RoK. Bottles-to-fabricMore… Vietnam's fibre exports foresee positive signals

Innovative Approaches Transforming Battery Recycling for a Sustainable Future

As we strive for a more sustainable future, addressing the issue of electronic waste, particularly used lithium-ion batteries, becomes crucial. The growing demand for lithium-ion batteries, driven by the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy sources, and portable electronic devices, raises concerns about their disposal and environmental impact. However, technological advancements in battery recycling offer powerful solutions to mitigate these challenges. Bottles-to-fabric

At the core of the problem lies the lithium-ion battery, which powers EVs, smartphones, laptops, and various other devices. While these batteries have revolutionized our lives, their disposal poses significant environmental risks. The complex chemistry of lithium-ion batteries makes it difficult to separate and recover valuable materials. To tackle this, battery manufacturers are embracing closed-loop systems, taking responsibility for recycling their products.

This approach not only reduces waste but also motivates manufacturers to design eco-friendly products, increasing the overall sustainability of the industry.A fundamental aspect of sustainable battery recycling involves designing batteries with recyclability in mind from the start.

Researchers and manufacturers are developing lithium-ion batteries with easily separable components and standardized disassembling processes. Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are further revolutionizing recycling through automated sorting systems. Equipped with AI algorithms, these systems accurately identify and segregate various battery types and chemistries, enhancing recycling efficiency. Bottles-to-fabricEmerging technologies like hydrometallurgy processes offer cleaner and greener recycling practices. These methods use water-based solutions to extract valuable materials from lithium-ion batteries, minimizing energy consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, researchers are exploring bioremediation as an environmentally friendly approach to battery recycling. By harnessing microorganisms, this innovative method degrades and recovers battery components sustainably.More… Innovative Approaches Transforming Battery Recycling for a Sustainable Future

Innovative Approaches Transforming Battery Recycling for a Sustainable Future

Innovation in plastics packaging – driving the transition to a circular economy

This month, the UK government introduced an extension of the ban on single-use plastics to include polystyrene foods and drinks containers. In the two years since our last article series on targeting plastic waste, a lot has changed both in terms of legislation and the development of plastic-free alternatives. Bottles-to-fabric

In this article we consider how effective these changes have been in tackling plastic packaging waste, key areas of innovation, and how innovators can protect the new materials and processes that are being developed.

The current landscape

In 2021, packaging was the largest application in the world plastics market. In a bid to tackle this and reduce the use of virgin plastics, the UK government has implemented new legislation that will give UK organisations that import or supply packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR). This requires producers to pay the full cost of dealing with the waste they produce, with businesses needing to collect data on how the packaging is used and ensure packaging is recycled where possible. This legislation is an environmental policy which follows the introduction of the plastic packaging tax in 2022 on the manufacture or importation of plastic packaging components that contain less than 30% recycled plastic. Bottles-to-fabric

The UK government has also launched a range of funding schemes to incentivise development into sustainable plastic packaging, such as grant schemes from the UK Research and Innovation’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. On top of this, the UK government recently announced a further £3.2 million investment in the UKRI’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) challenge. With a budget of £60 million for spending from 2019 to 2025, the SSPP has received the largest investment in sustainable packaging initiatives to date. Interestingly, nearly 50% of this funding is directed at mechanical recycling projects, with 30% of the funding being split between refill/re-use, chemical recycling schemes and prevention and reduction projects.

Governmental drive has been reinforced by consumers with 8 in 10 consumers in the UK supporting a ban on single-use plastics. A recent report from Trivium Packaging and Euromonitor International showed that of nearly 10,000 respondents, 82% of respondents would be willing to pay more for sustainable packaging, while 63% of consumers are now less likely to buy products with environmentally harmful packaging.

These regulatory, financial, and consumer-backed incentives seem to be working. Since 2006, recycling and energy recovery have overtaken landfill as the largest waste treatment options. Bottles-to-fabric

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Innovation in plastics packaging - driving the transition to a circular economy

Bio-based plastic – Stellantis to invest €1.5B in Leapmotor for 20% share; JV for products outside China; global EV relationship 28-10-2023

Bottles-to-fabric