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Wednesday, 4 January 2017

Technip bags service contract by SOCAR GPC

PARIS, FRANCE: Technip SA has been awarded a service contract by SOCAR GPC, for a new gas and petrochemical complex, located in Garadagh, Azerbaijan. It also includes ethylene and cryomax technology licenses respectively for a petrochemical complex and for the natural gas liquids (NGL) recovery section of a gas processing plant, part of a new gas complex.

Technip has also been awarded a contract for the development of the process and engineering design of all the process units included in the gas and petrochemical plant (except polyethylene unit) as well as the design of the related utilities and off-sites.

The scope of work covers the engineering design of:

a new gas processing plant with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters per annum (BCMA) single train highly integrated;
a new petrochemical plant including a steam cracker with a capacity of 610 Kilo Ton per Annum (KTA) of ethylene and 120 KTA of propylene.

In addition, the utilities and off-sites scope includes the design of all the necessary units to operate the plant efficiently while respecting the required safety and environmental standards.

Technip’s operating centre in Rome, Italy, will execute this contract, scheduled to be completed during the second half of 2017.

“We are proud of this award which reinforces the leading role of Technip in the oil and gas market as licensor and as engineering contractor in particular in the gas and petrochemical sector. This achievement consolidates also our long-term relationship with a key client like Socar and at the same time reinforces our presence in Azerbaijan, considered a strategic market for Technip,” said Marco Villa, President of Technip EMIA region.

Save energy or increase production speed with Uralac Easycure polyester resins

We all know that climate change is a reality. DSM, the global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials, sees sustainability not only as an opportunity but as a long-term business focus. Over the last five years, DSM developed a resin portfolio for powder coatings, named Uralac EasyCure. This product range has a lower carbon footprint and can be cured much faster or at lower temperatures than traditional powder coatings – with the appearance and properties of traditional powder coatings. Recently DSM launched the Uralac EasyCure low bake/ fast cure matte Architectural1 HAA system, Uralac EasyCure P 3223 & P 3228. These new resins can offer substantial commercial advantages for example for heavy machinery and architectural component manufacturers.

Full range including super durable

“We developed the first Uralac EasyCure polyester resins to answer the market need for low bake/fast cure resins,” said Marten Houweling, global product manager at DSM’s Powder Coating Resins unit.

“Then we continued developing different outdoor durable levels and matte solutions. The new Uralac EasyCure P 3223 & P 3228 dry blend polyesters offer a unique combination of coating benefits delivering good appearance, long term outdoor durability, non-blooming, high gloss consistency and reliable storage stability.”

Up to 50 percent faster curing times

The new resins are good news for metal coating producers whose customers include heavy machinery manufacturers. One of the common bottlenecks in heavy machinery production is the curing process after components have been coated or painted.

In the past, a larger oven or more ovens were the only solutions to these bottlenecks when powder coatings were used, but these solutions are expensive and are often even unworkable due to lack of space in the factory.

Now, heavy machinery manufacturers can keep the same ovens. They just need to change their type of powder coating. With the fast cure aspect of these new resins, they can reduce their curing times, typically from 12-10 minutes to just 6-5 minutes. Which implies a higher production output.

Up to 30 percent gas usage savings

Alternatively, the heavy machine manufacturer can keep the same curing time and lower the oven temperature, which can save up to 30 percent on gas usage and energy costs. Typical curing at 180/200ºC for 12 minutes can now be switched to curing at 160ºC for 12 minutes.

Ideal for more than just heavy machinery

Using a powder coating based on the Uralac EasyCure resins also allows a wider range of parts to be processed. In the case of parts of a similar type, for example with very thin or very thick substrates, the lower peak temperature needed for powder coatings of this kind significantly reduces the risk of discolouration. Lower cure temperatures also open up new applications for the powder coating process. Metal substrates which, for functional reasons, cannot be exposed to high temperatures or complete assemblies which also have restrictions on their peak temperature can now be coated using these Uralac EasyCure systems.

New business opportunities for coating manufacturers

Powder coating manufacturers that offer products based on this new resins will have independent proof that they can help their customers either save money or increase productivity. “Even better, the new resins have a much lower carbon footprint when replacing solvent or water based systems – as calculated by the prescribed ISO guidelines - so it enables coating manufacturers to answer the growing demand for more eco-friendly solutions, as showed in figure 1.

The coating manufacturers who adopt the new low bake/faster cure resins today will be in prime position to capitalise on the future legislation tomorrow. There is already growing awareness of eco-issues and climate change in the coating market,” continued Houweling. “And this awareness has created a clear global market trend towards powder coatings that can cure at lower temperatures or faster.

DSM has, for decades, pioneered sustainable solutions in all its activities and has Life Cycle Analysis methodologies that enable accurate eco-performance comparisons of different products. This is one of the reasons DSM has been named by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index each year for the past 13 years as one of the global leaders in sustainable solutions.

Why does DSM focus so much on sustainability?

“We believe that achieving sustainability means simultaneously pursuing economic performance, environmental footprint and social responsibility, in other words, creating value on the three dimensions of People, Planet and Profit simultaneously,” said Houweling. “This is the ‘Triple P’ philosophy and we intend to follow it for many years since it leads to innovative and sustainable products such as Uralac EasyCure.”

Contact: Marten Houweling, Global Product Manager, DSM Coating Resins.

ExxonMobil is fighting to keep its dangerous chemicals in children's toys

IRVING, US: ExxonMobil Corporation, as an energy giant makes sense that it is the world’s largest publicly held oil and gas company. Rex Tillerson, the company’s CEO, has spent his entire professional life highlighting the company’s corporate concerns over human rights, the environment, and the diplomatic interests of the US. These have driven him to be appointed as the secretary of state (US).

Also as you know, the company is one of the world’s biggest chemical companies and its chemical interests also sometimes run counter to those of people in the US and beyond. Petrochemicals wound up in a wide range of consumer products such as plastics, tires, batteries, detergents, adhesives, synthetic fibres, and household detergents.

Among its chemical products are phthalates, a family of chemicals widely used to make plastic pliable. Phthalates are in everything from food containers and plastic wrap to rattles, pacifiers, bottle nipples, and teething toys for babies. More than 75 percent of Americans have at least five of the chemicals in their body, according to a 2000 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The company insists that its products pose no harm. In response to inquiries, the company emailed a statement to The Intercept saying that “ExxonMobil phthalates have been thoroughly tested, and evaluations by multiple government agencies in the US, EU, and Australia show they are safe in their current applications.”

But numerous independent studies have linked the chemicals to health problems, including cancer, neurodevelopmental effects, endocrine disruption, and adverse harm to the male reproductive system.

Given the risks, Congress permanently banned several phthalates in 2008, temporarily banned a few others, and directed the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to study whether several other phthalates should also be removed from kids’ products. The law required the CPSC to act within 180 days of its final decision.

An expert committee appointed by the CPSC came out with its final report on phthalates in 2014. After years of meetings, public comments, and peer review, the panel of scientists decided that eight phthalates should be banned from use in children’s toys. The report named studies showing that babies who were exposed to higher levels of some phthalates in utero tended to have smaller “anogenital distances” and other reproductive tract problems, effects that were also seen in animals exposed to phthalates.

Despite the clear directive of the scientific experts and the Congress-mandated timeframe, the CPSC has yet to finalise its ban. During the almost two years since the deadline passed, Exxon Mobil has been working hard to slow and reverse the commission’s decision, drafting at least one legislative rider designed to keep some of their phthalates on the market and submitting lengthy comments and objections to the ban.

As a political force, kids are no match for one of the world’s biggest chemical companies, and they’ll suffer for the lack of clout. While the CPSC fails to finalise its own rule, more and more kids are exposed to phthalates. The inaction “speaks to the power of Exxon to frighten federal agencies away from doing their jobs,” said Eve Gartner, an attorney with Earthjustice. And that was before the company’s CEO had a top government job.

Students learn Multiphysics modelling with Comsol

The room was abuzz with engineering students from across the country at the 12th annual conference of Comsol. Students were bent over their laptops creating models on Comsol’s multiphysics software. This was the view in the training rooms during the Comsol conference organised on 20 & 21 October in Bangalore. More than 200 attendees from different industries and academic institutions made their way to the event. The conference programme included 28 mini training courses.

Roping in the industry, the keynote speakers demonstrated real-time industry application of the software. For instance, for the two-wheeler segment, noise control involves the evaluation of different parts of the engine and exhaust system based on various acoustic criteria.

“The Acoustics Module, an add-on product to Comsol Multiphysics, is used to evaluate the acoustic performance of engine and exhaust systems against the various criteria. To meet the acoustic criteria, modifications are then made to the system design,” said Gyanendra Roy, CAE head from Mahindra Two Wheelers Limited (Pune), giving his keynote on motorcycle noise and sound analysis. Another keynote focused on terahertz (THz) optical element designs for spectroscopy applications. “Although there are several Comsol Multiphysics modules that can be of use for design purposes, we use the Wave Optics Module for our applications to fabricate different THz frequency polarizers, filters, metamaterials and THz spectroscopy setups. Simulation helps save a lot of time on the fabrication of components by identifying design errors,” said Dr Shriganesh Prabhu, who earned his PhD from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

Solutions for chemical engineering

The Chemical Reaction Engineering Module in Comsol Multiphysics has customised functionality for the analysis of chemical systems primarily affected by chemical composition, reaction kinetics, fluid flow and temperature as functions of space and time. It has several interfaces to model chemical reaction kinetics; mass transport in dilute, concentrated and electric potential affected solutions; laminar and porous media flows, and energy transport.

Some of the user presentations for the CRE modelling were from the Advanced Technology Development Centre and School of Medical Science and Technology at (IIT) Kharagpur; Dept. of Cardiology, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata; and Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Academic attendees

The conference showcased about 75 user presentations in the form of posters and oral presentations. Engineering students from Indian Institute of Technology - Kharagpur, Delhi, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Roorkee, Rupnagar and Varanasi took part for the user presentations among others. Also, international user presentations were from; Manipal University, Dubai, UAE; University Of Science Malaysia (USM), Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia; Institute of Tele. Radioelectronics and Electronic Engg, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv, Ukraine; Nordita, Stockholm, Sweden; and RCAST, The University of Tokyo, Japan. The best paper award went for Subhashish Dasgupta from ABB, Bangalore, while Biju AF from Honeywell Bangalore won the best poster award.

As part of the conference, attendees voted for their favourite poster. Thennavarajan Subramanian from NAL won the best poster in this category.

All in all the two-day Comsol conference saw both the industry and academia working and learning together. Added to that, the conference ended on a hopeful note, with a promise of more to come in the next few years.

Comsol introduces latest software update at the Conference

Comsol Inc product managers unveiled the latest version of Comsol 5.2a at the 12th annual conference series. The updates of Comsol Multiphysics software, Comsol Server product and Comsol Client were introduced. The Comsol software features major performance increase and release of the Rotordynamics Module, which is now available as an add-on product to the Structural Mechanics Module.

The speedup is most notable with respect to the handling of models with several thousand domains and boundaries, for the latest update. Comsol is committed to delivering the most efficient and robust multiphysics environment for its wide range of products for electrical, mechanical, acoustics, fluid, thermal, and chemical simulations.

“To fulfil this commitment, Comsol’s development team ensures that each update of the Comsol software provides more efficient solvers, meshing, and physics modelling functionality,” commented Bjorn Sjodin, VP, product management, Comsol Inc. Comsol showcased examples of how customers are leveraging simulation apps to enable company-wide usage of multiphysics simulation.

“These case studies provide us with a first look at how our customers benefit from building and deploying simulation apps,” said Svante Littmarck, president and CEO, Comsol Inc, in his keynote presentation. “The Application Builder and Comsol Server™ are the tools that organisations need in order to provide multiphysics for everyone.”

The latest update of the new Rotordynamics Module will aid engineers in analysing vibrations due to centrifugal forces and other gyroscopic effects in rotating machinery. This new product will be used to ensure that rotor vibrations are contained within acceptable design limits. This module will be of particular interest to those working with the design of turbines, turbochargers, electrical machinery, and pumps in the automobile, marine, aerospace, energy, and household appliance industries.

“With the Rotordynamics Module, users can take into account the effects of various components such as disks, bearings, and foundations,” explained Prashant Srivastava, a technical product manager at Comsol.

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

Greener benzaldehyde for sustainable future

In an interview, Dr Anjali Patel, a professor at the Department of Chemistry’s Polyoxometalates and Catalysis Laboratory, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) of Baroda, India with Chemical Today magazine opens up about her path-breaking research on manufacturing environment friendly benzaldehyde with promising ways of enhancing magnitude of industrial applications.

She has bagged two Indian patents for use of solid catalyst in the manufacturing of benzaldehyde and cycloaliphatic epoxide.

Elaborate on your research.

Benzaldehyde is a simplest aromatic aldehyde and is very industrially useful with widespread applications in perfumery, dyestuff and agrochemical industries. It is the second most important aromatic molecule (after vanillin) used in the cosmetics and flavour industries. Synthetic benzaldehyde is the flavouring agent in imitation almond extract, which is used to flavour cakes and other baked goods.

The general procedure of synthesis of benzaldehyde involves oxidation of styrene, benzyl alcohol, and toluene as well as hydrolysis of benzyl chloride. Traditionally oxidation of toluene is usually carried out in organic solvents which are environmentally undesirable and benzaldehyde is produced from hydrolysis of benzyl chloride often containing traces of chlorine impurities and copious/toxic waste is generated in this process. These procedures suffer from a lack of selectivity, use of organic solvents, the toxicity of the reagents and waste production.

The technology addresses few issues in benzaldehyde manufacturing.

The present invention provides an improved process for the liquid phase oxidation of styrene under mild conditions with cheapest environmental oxidant O2 using a Ruthenium-based solid catalyst.

The present patent provides oxidation of styrene with 100 percent conversion and >99 percent selectivity for benzaldehyde without any use of phase transfer catalysts.

The advantage of the process lies in the simple oxidation process under solvent free atmosphere as well as at lower temperature and relatively short time.

Further, the catalysts can be regenerated and reused. The most important advantage of the present invention is no formation of any by-product. As the invention satisfies some of the principles of green chemistry such as solvent free reactions, mild conditions, easy product separation, recovery and recyclability, higher catalytic activity and selectivity, no waste and use of green oxidant ie. O2. The present technology is energy efficient preferably eliminates the formation of waste, avoids the use of toxic solvents and reagents. Thus, by combining green chemistry and solid catalysts, sustainability was achieved.

Industrial demand for this technology.

Based on the synthesis, analysis and interpretation of available information about the global benzaldehyde market, major contributors for the same are: Hubei GreenHome, Wuhan Youji, Wuhan Biet, Jiangyin STM, Wuhan Youji, Hongrun, Jiangyin Hongtai (China); Emerald Kalama Chemical (USA); Daurala Organics (India); Lanxess (Germany); and Polynt (Italy). Thus, looking to the supply/demand for benzaldehyde, there are a number of opportunities/challenges for industries, it is a need for existing companies as well as new entrants to capitalise the opportunities and to develop business strategies.

According to Transparency Market Research report, the global market for benzaldehyde was valued as $234.4 million in 2014 and it is anticipated to reach $318 million by 2023, at a CAGR of 3.4 percent between 2015 and 2023.

In terms of demand, Asia-Pacific held the largest share of over 50 percent of the benzaldehyde market. Due to increased demand for benzaldehyde, in industries such as aroma chemicals, pharmaceuticals and agriculture, countries such as India and China will tend to drive the benzaldehyde market in the near future.

This will also help develop the economic growth in the region. Thus, high growth potential in developing countries and rising use of benzaldehyde is projected to provide opportunities for the market during this period.

Other research work.

My current research interests cover Material Science, Polyoxometalates, Heterogeneous Catalysis and Green Chemistry. I am leading a research group focusing on tailoring of new catalytic materials based on polyoxometalates/heteropolyacids, lacunary as well as Transition metal substituted polyoxometalates and their applications for organic transformations, such as esterification, alkylation, acylation, hydrogenation, oxidation, C–C coupling and bio-diesel production.

Presently, we are concentrating on bio-diesel production using supported polyoxometalates-based solid acid catalysts. Biodiesel finds applications as fuel for domestic vehicular use, railways as well as in aircrafts in many countries. In 2007, McDonald's of UK announced that it would start producing biodiesel from the waste oil by-product of its restaurants. This fuel would be used to run its fleet.

The British train operating company Virgin Trains claimed to have run the UK’s first “biodiesel train”, which was converted to run on 80 percent petroleum-based diesel and 20 percent biodiesel. Also in 2007, Disneyland began running the park trains on B98 (98 percent biodiesel). The program was discontinued in 2008 due to storage issues, but in January 2009, it was announced that the park would then be running all trains on biodiesel manufactured from its own used cooking oils. This is a change from running the trains on soy-based biodiesel.

On 7 November 2011 United Airlines flew the world’s first commercial aviation flight on a microbially derived biofuel using Solajet, Solazyme’s algae-derived renewable jet fuel. This shows the progress in applications of biodiesel worldwide.

We have already succeeded for low-cost biodiesel production by utilisation of low-quality raw materials as feedstocks such as waste cooking oil obtained from canteens, restaurants and from houses which are reach in fatty acids. We have also proposed an industrial process for low-cost biodiesel production and looking for the opportunities to transfer the technology.

Plan to commercialise the innovative technology.

The present patent has great opportunities at international level as it is totally green and also economically viable. Looking at the scenario, in the future, I would like to apply for a US patent. I am sure our invention will contribute towards the already mentioned sectors and related chemical sectors will be benefitted, environmentally as well as economically. At present, I am into talks with few chemical industries of my region (Vadodara-based) for the possibility of commercialisation and I hope that it will be done in the near future.

The second patent is about selective aerobic epoxidation of cycloalkenes using a Polyoxometalate-based solid catalyst. Cyclohexene oxide is a cycloaliphatic epoxide. It is a useful monomer in polymerization and coating industry, especially in thermoplastic synthesis.

It is used in the synthesis of alicyclic target materials including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, perfumery and dyestuffs. Many traditional processes result in the formation of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that has to be decomposed. These disadvantages have to be addressed by using solid catalysts. The patent also provides an improved process for the aerobic epoxidation of Cis-cyclohexene in solvent-free liquid phase. Thus, the present invention provides oxidation process achieving 85 percent conversion of Ciscyclohexene with 100 percent selectivity towards Cis-cyclohexene oxide.

Message for young researchers.

The whole journey (patent filing 2010 and granted in 2016) from carrying out an experiment to writing as well as the filing of the patent as well as giving inputs to reviewer’s time-to-time was very exciting and difficult as well. But at the same time, I learnt a lot of things. It was really a great experience in doing the research at the university and acquiring the patents!

My message to young researchers’ is that place does not matter! If you work hard with 100 percent dedication, you will achieve success. However, every so often it takes more time than expected.

BASF launches new generation of light stabilisers at K 2016

With Tinuvin 880 and Tinuvin XT55, BASF launches the latest generation of light stabilisers at K 2016, the world’s largest trade fair for plastics and rubber.

Tinuvin 880 is based on a new chemistry that enables formulators to accurately adjust the car part performance to end applications and also ergonomics. Basically, this is a medium molecular weight light stabiliser, which provides significantly improved light stability especially in interior applications with the additional benefit of offering higher thermal stability. Its unmatched UV resistance enables the plastic material to maintain a long-lasting appearance, improves heat stability and eliminates mould deposits and avoids stickiness even on scratch-resistant film.

Tinuvin 880 is compatible with materials frequently encountered in interior parts of a car, such as polypropylene, other thermoplastic polyolefins and styrenic blends. It is designed for the production of lightweight automotive interior applications such as instrument panels, door panels, consoles, glove boxes and trims. With its intrinsic outstanding features to provide UV resistance, in the long run, Tinuvin 880 is expected to become a leading candidate for automotive exterior applications, such as rocker panels, side cladding and bumpers.

The other new product is Tinuvin XT 55. It provides formulators with very good durability and excellent secondary properties such as colour stability, gas fading and extraction resistance. Using this new solution, an excellent cost performance will be achieved by adjusting dosage and other formulation components to end application conditions and expectations. A key benefit is its very low contribution to water carryover. This enables the production line to run without disruptions. A good example of this is the manufacturing of polyethene monofilaments for artificial turfs used to make sports floors or for landscaping.

The additives and colourants are usually added via a concentrated combi-batch and the filaments may be processed through a water bath. In the latter case, a phenomenon called water carryover is regularly experienced on the line leading to production disruption. The wrong choice of additives can worsen this processing issue. The production of fibres and tapes with processing issues and production halts can lead to a capacity reduction or potentially quality inconsistency. Its applications include fibres and tapes used in technical textiles for the construction industry like geotextiles, roofing insulation, barrier structures as well as carpets.

High-performance additives to improve polymeric materials

In an interaction, Hermann Althoff, Senior Vice President, Performance Chemicals, Asia Pacific, BASF with Chemical Today magazine discussed his views about the new generation of light stabilisers.

By Shivani Mody

Launch of new generation of light stabilizers

The performance of the plastic additives business is tied to those of the plastics industry as a whole. In many instances, it takes high-performance additives to pave the way for polymeric materials to become what they are today.

Let me give you an example: a few decades ago, polymers exposed to the outdoor environment (like seats in a stadium) used to become yellow and brittle within just a few years. Nowadays, UV-absorbers made by BASF stabilize transparent plastics that are used outdoors for many, many years.

As a result, these modern additives not only ensure that the material remains attractive for a long time but they also help to extend its service life and thus save valuable resources. Or just think of modern greenhouses, which are instrumental in ensuring the food supply for a growing world population. The plastic films used in these greenhouses can only achieve the required lifespan thanks to efficient UV-stabilizers.

Global plastic additives market

Asia dominated the plastic additives market in 2015 and accounted for 42 percent of the market share, by volume. Country-wise, China accounts for more than half the market in Asia followed by Korea with a 14 percent share. We expect the market will show attractive growth rates in the medium to long term in line with the expected polymer growth of 3 to 4 percent per annum, driven by the diverse applications ranging from packaging, construction, consumer goods, and automotive, among others.

Growing GDP, rapid pace of industrialization, increased consumption of plastic materials, consumer goods, and packaging products remain key growth driving forces for this market. Future growth in the market hinges heavily on developing economies in Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe. Plastic additives will continue to gain in importance in the future, not only because of the steadily rising technical standards required of polymeric materials, but also because our customers are under increasing pressure to keep on raising productivity.

New generation of light stabilizers at K 2016

Our core competence lies in light, thermal and process stabilization, allowing polymer producers and converters to maximize plastics properties retention and extension. With Tinuvin 880 and Tinuvin XT 55, BASF launches the latest generation of light stabilizers at K 2016. These products are undergoing testing at our customer’s location even in Asia. We serve our customers through our global production network with sites in all regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and North America. This increases the robustness of our supply security, and ensures continuous and reliable supply of plastic additives for our customers in the polymer industry.

All sites are ISO 9001 certified and the core antioxidants are Kosher as well as Halal certified. Based on our strong application know-how we support innovation in all regions through process specific support from our technical centres. Our advanced global laboratory set-up allows us to regularly test customers’ formulations for the most important applications prior to production scale-up helping them to reduce consumption of valuable resources and develop innovative solutions.