AkzoNobel to increase Expancel microspheres capacity; invests €20 mn

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: AkzoNobel NV said that its speciality chemicals business is investing more than €20 million to increase production capacity in Sweden for its Expancel product line for expandable microspheres.

Increasing demand for the product – an essential ingredient in many consumer goods, industrial applications and the construction industry – means the company will expand its Stockvik facility near Sundsvall. Completion is expected by the end of 2018.

Expancel consists of expandable, microscopic spheres comprising a thermoplastic shell encapsulating a gas. When heated, they expand dramatically – up to 60 times in volume – making them ideal for a variety of uses, such as insulation in shoe soles or as filling material. The number of applications for microspheres is growing all the time, particularly for products where weight is critical, such as cars and wind turbines.

Read more. AkzoNobel to increase Expancel microspheres capacity; invests €20 mn

Total, NIOC sign contract to expand world's largest gas field

PARIS, FRANCE: Total SA and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) have signed a contract for the development and production of phase 11 of South Pars (SP11), the world's largest gas field.

The project will have a production capacity of 2 billion cubic feet per day or 400,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day including condensate. The produced gas will supply the Iranian domestic market starting in 2021.

Read more. Total, NIOC sign contract to expand world's largest gas field

Patrick Mullen assumes CEO role at CB&I

THE WOODLANDS, US: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (CBI) said that Patrick Mullen has assumed the role of CB&I's president and CEO, effective 1 July.

"It is an honour to have been chosen to lead CB&I. While I recognise this is a challenging cycle for our industry, I have a great deal of confidence in CB&I's employees and capabilities and in our ability to create long-term value for all of our stakeholders,” said Mullen.

Read more. Patrick Mullen assumes CEO role at CB&I

Liquid nitrogen cocktail leaves Delhi man with a hole in stomach

NEW DELHI, INDIA: A 30-year-old man in Delhi was left with a hole in his stomach and had to get that part removed after he drank down a cocktail laced with liquid nitrogen.

The man was partying at a Gurgaon pub with friends. They ordered the pub's latest offering - a cocktail with liquid nitrogen. He drank it before the smoke coming out of the drink could evaporate. What followed was extremely restlessness, abdomen swelling and breathing difficulty. The man was rushed to a nearby hospital, where blood tests revealed severe lactic acidosis – high level of lactic acid in the blood which commonly results from oxygen deprivation in the body.

Read more, +Liquid nitrogen cocktail leaves Delhi man with a hole in stomach

Kemira acquires Aqsens’ liquid fingerprinting technology

HELSINKI, FINLAND: Kemira Oyj acquires liquid fingerprinting technology for qualitative and quantitative liquid analyses from start-up Aqsens Oy, headquartered in Helsinki, Finland.

This technology utilises enhanced time resolved fluorescence (E-TRF) method that enables high sensitivity and selectivity to monitor various liquid samples. 

The first application where this technology has been used is Kemira KemConnect SI system, which measures residual polymeric scale inhibitor concentration from oil field waters in a few minutes. 

Read more. Kemira acquires Aqsens’ liquid fingerprinting technology

AkzoNobel extends marine coatings portfolio with Alkyd Primer

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: AkzoNobel NV announced the launch of Interstores Alkyd Primer, its latest addition to the Interstores marine coatings product range.

Ship owners and operators can now enjoy a new level of flexibility and expand the options available for cost-effective onboard maintenance. Specifically created with the needs of crew in mind, it is specially formulated for brush and roller application and is suitable for all substrates above the waterline.

Compatible with all existing coatings systems and formulated for ease of application, the Interstores range has been sold to more than 3,000 vessels since launch. The range consists of Interstores Alkyd (top coat), Interstores Polyurethane (top coat), Interstores Epoxy Primer, and now Interstores Alkyd Primer, affording users a complete suite of options.

Read more. AkzoNobel extends marine coatings portfolio with Alkyd Primer

Lanxess launches three new Lewabrane products for water treatment

COLOGNE, GERMANY: Lanxess AG expands its range of membrane elements for reverse osmosis (RO), with new Lewabrane RO ULP line, which has three product grades for water treatment.

They display higher water permeability than the standard elements while offering the similar high level of rejection of critical substances. The operating pressure required in the pressure vessel is 40 percent lower, which reduces operating costs. Furthermore, the new membranes are a good option for removing trace elements from wastewater and drinking water.

“The new ULP products are recommended for applications in which a high flow rate, moderate salt rejection and low power consumption are the primary design parameters. Fields of application, therefore, are the cost-efficient filtration of drinking water and high-tech wastewater treatment,” said Alexander Scheffler, director membrane business in the Lanxess liquid purification technologies business unit (LPT).

Read more. Lanxess launches three new Lewabrane products for water treatment