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Polymers

Dow Chemical, Mitsui form biopolymers JV in Brazil

US-based Dow Chemical and Japan-based Mitsui & Co. have formed a new joint venture aimed at providing sustainable product solutions to the global high-performance flexible packaging, hygiene and medical markets. This represents the world’s largest biopolymers play and is Dow’s largest investment in Brazil, a country in which Dow has operated successfully for more than 50 years, officials said.

American Chemistry Council chief seeks overhaul of EPA risk assessment system

In testimony this week before the US House Subcommittee on Investigations, American Chemistry Council CEO Cal Dooley called for an overhaul of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS).

Praxair signs nitrogen, oxygen supply deal with Brazil petchem major Braskem

White Martins, the Brazil-based subsidiary of Praxair, has signed a 15-year agreement to supply nitrogen and oxygen to Braskem, the largest Americas petrochemical company by capacity and the world’s largest producer of biopolymers.

TPC Group to restart Texas dehydrogenation unit

TPC Group says it has received the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) air permit necessary for the planned refurbishment, upgrade to air emission controls, and restart of one of its idle dehydrogenation units in Houston. Construction of the required new components for the system, along with refurbishment of the existing unit, began promptly following receipt of the permit, the company said.

Cereplast to supply bioplastic resins to Turkey

Cereplast entered into a distribution agreement with Polimernet Plastik Ltd. to supply bioplastic resins to the Turkish market, the manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, compostable and sustainable plastics said on Tuesday.

Swiss Lonza to buy biocides firm Arch Chemicals

The Switzerland-based Lonza Group, one of the world's leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries, will acquire US biocides company Arch Chemicals for $47.20/share in cash, or about $1.2 billion.

Goodyear closes Tennessee tire plant, may signal reduced SBR demand

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has ceased production at its tire manufacturing facility in Union City, Tenn., the company said on Monday. The tire market is a major consumer of petrochemicals such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).

M&G picks Corpus Christi as site for new PET plant

M&G Group, the largest Americas producer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for packaging applications, has selected Corpus Christi, Texas, as the location for its previously-announced 1 million tpy PET plant and accompanying 1.2 million tpy terephthalic acid (PTA) plant.

ACC picks BASF for top political leadership award

BASF was presented with the American Chemistry Council's (ACC) top award for political leadership, recognizing the company’s efforts to mobilize grassroots employee participation in advocacy at both site manufacturing and managerial levels in coordination with Washington, D.C. and state capital activities, the group said on Thursday.

Praxair inks hydrogen supply deal with Hemlock polysilicon plant in Tennessee

Praxair has signed a multi-year contract with Dow Corning joint venture Hemlock Semiconductor to supply high-purity hydrogen to Hemlock’s new $1.2 billion polysilicon manufacturing facility under construction in Clarksville, Tennessee.