Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle 17-02-2021 - Arhive

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Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

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-Molecule from nature provides fully recyclable polymers

UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN

Plastics are among the most successful materials of modern times. However, they also create a huge waste problem. Scientists from the University of Groningen (The Netherlands) and the East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) in Shanghai produced different polymers from lipoic acid, a natural molecule. These polymers are easily depolymerized under mild conditions. Some 87 per cent of the monomers can be recovered in their pure form and re-used to make new polymers of virgin quality. The process is described in an article that was published in the journal Matter on 4 February.

A problem with recycling plastics is that it usually results in a lower-quality product. The best results are obtained by chemical recycling, in which the polymers are broken down into monomers. However, this depolymerization is often very difficult to achieve. At the Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, a collaboration between the University of Groningen and ECUST, scientists developed a polymer that can be created and fully depolymerized under mild conditions.

Molecule from nature provides fully recyclable polymers

-Bioplastics in the sustainability dilemma

Scientists at the University of Bonn investigate the factors affecting the global land use impacts and CO2 emissions of plant-based plastics

Plastics made from crops such as maize or sugarcane instead of fossil fuels are generally considered sustainable. One reason is that plants bind CO2, which compensates for the carbon released into the atmosphere when plastics are disposed. Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

However, there is a catch: With increasing demand for raw materials for bioplastic production, the areas under cultivation may not be sufficient. As a result, natural vegetation is often converted to agricultural land and forests are cut down. This in turn releases large amounts of CO2.

The assumption that more bioplastics does not necessarily lead to more climate protection has now been confirmed by researchers at the University of Bonn in a new study. They found that the sustainability of plant-based bioplastics depends largely on the country of origin, its trade relationships and the raw material processed. The study has been published in the journal “Resources, Conservation & Recycling“.

Bioplastics in the sustainability dilemma

-Chemicals Executive Daniele Ferrari to Join SK Capital Partners

SK Capital Partners, LP, a private investment firm focused on the specialty materials, chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors, today announced it will be expanding its team with the addition of Daniele Ferrari as Senior Director.

Mr. Ferrari brings over 35 years of direct operating and executive experience in the chemicals industry, most recently serving as the CEO of Versalis S.p.A., one of Europe’s largest chemicals companies, and as Chairman of Matrìca S.p.A., a joint-venture with Novamont, a leader in the bio-plastics industry at the forefront of the renewable chemistry sector. At Versalis S.p.A., Mr. Ferrari led the company’s efforts to reposition downstream and grow the company’s portfolio of higher margin, specialty and renewable chemical products, including creating the company’s BioTech global business unit. Mr. Ferrari started his career at Agip Petroli, a subsidiary of Eni S.p.A., and Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), before joining Huntsman in 1997, where he held numerous roles and international assignments spanning his 14 year tenure, during which he ultimately became the global President of Huntsman’s Performance Products division.  Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

Mr. Ferrari also brings significant leadership in the area of sustainability, promoting processes that support a more circular economy and the development and usage of renewable chemical solutions. He was the immediate past President of the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), which is the largest trade association for the chemical industry in Europe. He previously served as President of PlasticsEurope Bruxelles, the association of European plastics manufacturers, and as a board member of Alliance to End Plastics Waste.

Chemicals Executive Daniele Ferrari to Join SK Capital Partners

Mr. Daniele Ferrari new Senior Director SK Capital Partners

-PP supply remains tight in North America

North American polypropylene (PP) supply has been extremely tight since the summer of 2020, when the industry saw a number of plant outages, followed by Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta, which damaged LyondellBasell’s massive PP facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana, reported Chemweek with reference to market participants.  Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

Just this week, LyondellBasell lifted its PP force majeure declaration from those events.

Three other US suppliers – Ineos, Formosa, and Total – still have PP force majeure (FM) declarations. In addition to plant issues and scheduled maintenance, the PP industry is facing a monomer shortage that shows no sign of easing in the near term.

Tight monomer supply has played a role in limiting PP operating rates. North American PP capacity utilization was at 90%-91% in November and December as average producer inventory days dropped into the high 20s, according to data from the ACC Plastics Industry Producers’ Statistics Group.

PP supply remains tight in North America

-OMV : and Kommunalkredit invest in green hydrogen production

OMV and Kommunalkredit invest in green hydrogen production

Austria’s largest electrolysis plant to be built in the OMV Schwechat Refinery

Annual production of up to 1,500 metric tons of green hydrogen – for potential savings of 15,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions

Part of strategy to reduce OMV’s carbon footprint  Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

OMV, the integrated, international oil, gas and chemicals company headquartered in Vienna, and Kommunalkredit Austria AG (Kommunalkredit) have announced a joint investment in the construction of Austria’s largest electrolysis plant in the OMV Schwechat Refinery. Total investment will be around EUR 25 mn, with OMV and Kommunalkredit each bearing half the cost. The plant is expected to go live in the second half of 2023.

From this point, the 10 MW PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) electrolysis will produce up to 1,500 metric tons of green hydrogen a year. The green hydrogen will be used to hydrogenate bio-based and fossil fuels, substituting grey hydrogen in the refinery. This would reduce OMV’s carbon footprint by up to 15,000 metric tons of fossil CO2 annually, and enables by using green hydrogen more than 17 million CO2 emission free bus or truck kilometers each year.

OMV : and Kommunalkredit invest in green hydrogen production

-Eastman’s ‘Acetate Renew’ to be Used By Luxury Eyewear Manufacturer

Thélios to use Mazzucchelli new acetate sheet made from Eastman’s  chemically recycled acetate.  Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

As reported one year ago, Eastman Chemical, Kingsport, Tenn., has been providing its Acetate Renew, a cellulose diacetate composed of 60% biobased and 40% certified recycled content to Italy’s Mazzucchelli 1849, a global leading cellulose acetate sheet manufacturer and distributor for premium eyewear.

Made through Eastman’s carbon renewal chemical recycling technology, Acetate Renew reportedly offers virgin-material performance, incorporates significant amounts of certified recycled content from eyewear production scrap, and results in a significant reduction in greenhouse gases when compared to the traditional manufacturing process.

Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

-Crude Oil -Article of “Le Monde” from the press review of “Epr comunicazione” ( Italian Language Only)

2020 was a black year for the oil giants. The five largest international companies have accumulated more than 77.1 billion dollars in losses, or 63.7 billion euros. An unprecedented collapse in the recent history of the sector, due to exceptional circumstances in a particularly troubled period.  Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle
The contrast with 2019 is striking. These five mastodons – BP, Chevron, Exxon, Shell and Total – had made $ 48.8 billion in profits at the time. Then the incredible financial defeat, which began in March 2020. As the first shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic were felt on the markets, the alliance between the cartel of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – led by Arabia Saudi – and Russia has been shattered. And the two giants have launched into a violent price war.
This battle also had to deal with the reality of the health crisis. Containment measures taken in many countries have had a dramatic impact on oil consumption: in April 2020, global demand fell by 30%. For the full year, the decline was 9%.
This double shock caused prices to collapse to the point of absurdity: at the end of April, American values ​​even turned negative for a short time. The price of a barrel of North Sea Brent, which is the world benchmark, has dropped to an all-time low of $ 16.
With the return of activity in China and severe production cuts by OPEC and Russia – since reconciled – the price per barrel returned to around $ 50 at the end of last year, and even surpassed the threshold of $ 60 at the start of 2021.

Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

-Enzyme additives break down plastic and improve recycling

Spain-based Innovative Film Solutions has created a new cocktail of complex enzymes that not only speeds up plastic biodegradation, but the leftover material is good enough to be reprocessed into high-quality new plastic.

We often come up with different products, such as grocery bags, packaging materials and water bottles, that are labelled as biodegradable or compostable, meaning they will eventually decompose naturally. Composting is a powerful way to recycle waste products that might otherwise be thrown into a landfill. The result is very beneficial – decomposed materials can be used to improve soil fertility. Compost is rich in nutrients that crops, garden plants and trees can readily devour.

To claim that a product is fully compostable, the product has to comply with the European standard EN 13432. The specifications require the material to fully biodegrade in a specific time frame, leaving no harmful residues behind. The standard also sets out clear requirements for the surroundings in which this process takes place. The standard constantly evolves, leaving plenty of room for the development of new technologies that ensure biodegradable and compostable products.  Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

Biodegradable and compostable plastics are supposed to reduce the pollution problem posed by plastics if they are correctly disposed of. Poor management or bad waste practices can cause a large percentage of waste plastic to reach the ecosystem in an uncontrolled way.

Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

-Chemours sees double-digit growth potential for TiO2 volumes in 2021 – execs

US-based Chemours sees double-digit volume growth potential for its titanium dioxide (TiO2) business in 2021, senior executives said on Friday.

“We see an opportunity in a tighter market dynamic which we’re experiencing today to regain share, and therefore to take a disproportionate share of the high-grade pigment growth as we go into this year,” said Mark Newman, chief operating officer of Chemours, on the company’s Q4 earnings conference call.

“That could translate to even low double-digit growth potentially as we look to the full year,” he added.  Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

The executive expects the overall TiO2 market to grow in the mid-to-high single digits in 2021.

“Don’t forget that we have capacity… to meet the needs. And the way our AVA (Assured Value Agreement) contracts are structured, if the market grows… we grow with them,” said Chemours CEO Marke Vergnano on the call.

“We have the capacity and ability to grow beyond market growth,” he added.

Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

-Coca-Cola to launch trial of paper bottles this summer

Coca-Cola will be testing a prototype paper bottle in Hungary this summer as part of a longer-term bid to eliminate plastic from its packaging entirely. A total of 2,000 paper bottles of Coca-Cola’s fruit drink Adez will be distributed online.

The Paper Bottle Company, or Paboco, is the Danish firm behind the development of the paper-based container. Paboco was formed in 2019 as a result of a collaboration between the Danish company EcoXpac, the Carlsberg Group, and the Swedish pulp and paper manufacturer BillerudKorsnäs.  Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

The group of companies initially started working together in 2015 with the goal of developing a fully sustainable paper bottle that can hold liquids such as carbonated beverages and beauty products. In 2019, Paboco was a joint venture between BillerudKorsnäs and bottle manufacturer Alpla.

Michael Michelsen, the firm’s commercial manager, says the bottles are formed out of a single piece of paper-fiber-based material to give them strength, reports the BBC. “That’s part of the secret really,” he explained, adding that molding a single object – rather than relying on joins – ensured the bonds between the fibers stayed robust.

Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

Plastic GeneralNews Oil PETBottle

Plastic GeneralNews Oil Polyolefins 16-02-2021