ExxonMobil enhances program to reduce methane emissions

ExxonMobil Corporation said that it has enhanced A program to reduce methane emissions from its production and midstream facilities across US.

The program, which builds on the company’s longstanding commitment to emissions reduction, prioritizes actions at sites operated by subsidiary XTO Energy and includes efforts to develop and deploy new, more efficient technologies to detect and reduce facility emissions.

The program includes a commitment to phase out high-bleed pneumatic devices over three years, extensive personnel training, research, and facility design improvements for new operations.

XTO recently completed a pilot project in the Midland Basin that tested new low-emission designs that use compressed air instead of natural gas to operate pneumatic equipment that helps regulate conditions such as level, flow, pressure and temperature. The results successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using similar designs for new and existing central tank batteries and satellites, to reduce the potential for methane emissions.

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CB&I CEO Patrick elected to National Safety Council board

Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (CB&I) said that the National Safety Council has elected Patrick Mullen, CB&I's president and CEO, to its board of directors.

The National Safety Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where it can make the most impact. 

"On behalf of CB&I, it is an honour and a privilege to join the National Safety Council's board. Making sure our employees return home to their families safely at the end of each day is the most important thing we do at CB&I. And the National Safety Council plays a big part in helping CB&I and so many other companies and organizations achieve this through its leadership to enhance safety and save lives at work, at home and on the road," said Mullen.

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Measuring macro- and micro-nutrients in soil with ICP-OES

By Ken Neubauer

Introduction

A key to producing abundant crops is the quality of the soil in which they are grown.  Soils lacking the proper nutrient content will yield fewer crops of lower nutritional value than crops grown in good soil. 

Poor soil can be enhanced by the application of fertilizer, but the nutrient content of the soil must be known in advance so that the proper type and amount of fertilizer can be added. 

When determining the elemental content of soils, both sample preparation and analysis must be considered. Sample preparation generally involves subjecting the soil samples to acid at elevated temperatures so that the elements of interest are extracted into the acid. This can be accomplished in two ways: open vessel or closed vessel.

Open vessel sample preparation involves heating the soil at sub-boiling temperatures for up to four hours and then separating the acid from the soil through filtration or centrifugation. The advantage of open vessel extraction is that a large number of samples can be prepared at the same time, but the disadvantages include having to separate the soil from the acid, the loss of volatile elements or elements in volatile forms, and possible incomplete extraction of the elements of interest.

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Braskem, A Schulman to use green polyethylene in rotomolding process

 Braskem has entered into a partnership with A Schulman Inc to produce and market a new green polyethylene application: a solution for the rotomolding process.

A Schulman will bring this solution to the market by featuring the "I'm greenTM" seal, which indicates its helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

After identifying a market demand for more sustainable solutions in rotomolded products, Braskem started to develop a solution to enable the rotational moulding of general-purpose parts, with applications ranging from toys and furniture to agricultural tools that can contain more than 50 percent of green plastic in their composition. 

"The partnership will benefit a market that requires innovative products. The new compound is another step of the petrochemical industry towards reinforcing the commitment of companies to new solutions that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Gustavo Sergi, director of renewable chemicals, Braskem.

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Biesterfeld to complete integration of Schutz & Co

Biesterfeld Spezialchemie GmbH is set to complete the integration of distributor Schutz & Co (GmbH & Co KG) which it acquired in 2016.

With effect from 1 October 2017, the business activities of Schutz & Co will now be fully integrated into the pharmaceuticals and personal care market segments of Biesterfeld Spezialchemie, including for legal purposes.

Its subsidiary Schutz & Co specialises in the customer-tailored distribution of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients. The company is a highly qualified partner to major manufacturers and global leaders in the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industry and provides the ideal adjunct to Biesterfeld's core competencies.

The acquisition has enabled the parent company to expand its service and product portfolio for the pharmaceutical and personal care industry and to continue to focus on specialities and solutions for its customers.

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Indian Oil approves INR 27K cr Cauvery Basin refinery project

Indian Oil Corp (IOC) said that its board has given approval to setting up of a Rs 27,460 crore refinery by its subsidiary, Chennai Petroleum Corp Ltd.

The board of directors of CPCL had earlier this year recommended setting up a new 9 million tonnes a year refinery at an estimated cost of Rs 27,460 crore (with an accuracy of plus-30 percent).

"The board of directors of IOC has approved for setting up a new 9 million tonnes per annum refinery at Cauvery Basin, Nagapattinam at an estimated cost of Rs 27,460 crore and for carrying out pre-project activities," IOC said in a regulatory filing.

The final approval of the project would be obtained after preparation of detailed feasibility report of the project.

The planned refinery will be CPCLs third refinery. It currently operates a 10.5 million tonnes Manali refinery in Tamil Nadu.

It also has a smaller 1 million tonnes Nagapattinam refinery.

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AGC to expand production capacity at CMC Biologics Denmark facility

 AGC Asahi Glass (AGC) has decided to increase its capacity at CMC Biologics, a 100 percent subsidiary of AGC. Specifically, five single-use bioreactors with 2,000L volume will be built at the production site in Denmark, allowing for flexible production with scales from 2000L to 12000L in a single production suite.

The Bioreactor 6Pack can be run in single unit operations or in groups, simultaneously, sequentially or in staggered fashion to achieve desired production needs. Production is expected to be online in the third quarter of 2018.

CMC Biologics, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), which was acquired by AGC in February, has development and manufacturing capabilities for both, mammalian and microbial. They offer value-added services from process development, small scale-up to commercial-scale production. CMC is the pioneer of the single-use bioreactor technology, which allows for contamination-free cleaning and sterilization.

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