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Polymers

NatureWorks, BioAmber form biopolymers venture

Bioplastics major NatureWorks and next-generation chemicals company BioAmber have teamed up to form AmberWorks, a joint venture to bring new performance bio-based polymer compositions to market. The JV seeks to develop a new family of bio-based compounded polymer solutions.

Jacobs wins engineering work on four Arkema PVC projects in China

Jacobs said it won four contracts from Arkema France for basic engineering services to support the provision of Arkema's proprietary suspension and emulsion technology to four of its clients in China. As currently planned, the four new projects in China will add more than 4 million tpy of PVC capacity.

SI Group plans new phenolic resin plant in China

US-based SI Group said Friday that it plans to invest $30 million to build an additional phenolic resin manufacturing site in the Nanjing Chemical Industry Park (NCIP) in China. The site, chosen because of strong logistics operations and access to raw materials, is set to commence operation in May 2013.

HP Construction: Asia-Pacific

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Meche, Helen

The Linde Group is set to build and operate a new hydrogen plant in the Jilin Chemical Industrial Park (JCIP) in northeast China. The company will be investing around €42 million in the first pha..

HP Impact: Bio-based polymers could be next big thing

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

Biofuels and bio-based chemicals have been promoted as a potential solution for dependence on petroleum. They also have favorable greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels and petrochemicals b..

Georgia Gulf rejects revised takeover bid from Westlake Chemical

Georgia Gulf on Wednesday rejected the revised takeover bid from US-based Westlake Chemical, which bumped its offer to $35/share from an earlier $30/share. The company said the offer was far from compelling and did not represent an appropriate price to discuss the sale.

Eastman to buy US specialty chemicals firm Solutia in $4.7 billion deal

Eastman Chemical has agreed to acquire US-based specialty chemicals and performance materials firm Solutia, a global leader in performance materials and specialty chemicals, in a deal valued at about $4.7 billion (including debt). The deal is expected to close in mid-2012.

Samsung, Total plan $1.8 billon expansion on South Korea petrochemical venture

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

Construction at the Daesan complex will include a second aromatics1 unit and an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer unit.

Novamont, Genomatica sign Europe JV for bio-BDO

Novamont and Genomatica have signed a definitive agreement establishing a joint venture (JV) for the first industrial plant in Europe producing butanediol (BDO) directly from renewable feedstocks. Initial production is expected in 2013. Novamont will have a majority of the equity in the JV, and Genomatica a minority interest.

BP unveils global energy outlook through 2030, boosts demand estimate

Global energy demand will continue to grow over the next 20 years, albeit at a slowing annual rate, fueled by economic and population growth in non-OECD countries, BP said in its Energy Outlook 2030 report. The demand projection is up 1.2% from the year-earlier estimate.