Evonik and Siemens have launched their joint research project Rheticus II, which seeks to develop an efficient and powerful test plant that will develop speciality chemicals from CO2, water, renewable electricity and bacteria.

Azelis has agreed to acquire Ekin Kimya, a major Turkish distributor of speciality chemicals, pharmaceutical and lab chemicals and food ingredients, from Aktas Dıs Ticaret and individual shareholders.

Arkema has announced that it has brought a new 90,000 tonnes/year acrylic acid reactor at its site in Clear Lake, Texas, at a cost of about $90 million. This replaces two 45,000 tonnes/year reactors, which have been decommissioned.

Piedmont Lithium has said that it is accelerating the development of its lithium chemical plant in the Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt, near Charlotte, which is claimed to be tone of the world’s best lithium sources.

The board of Innophos Holdings has unanimously agreed to be acquired by private equity firm One Rock Capital Partners. The $32/share deal equates to a transaction value of about $932 million, including debt.

Susan Miller, director of public relations at marketing agency 5MetaCom, looks at how chemicals companies should respond to different types of crisis.

The International Bromine Council (BSEF) has stated its strong opposition to Lot 5 of the EU’s ecodesign requirements for electronic displays. The Regulation was laid down pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC is expected to come into force on 1 March 2021.

Sophie Gibb of Surfachem looks at how formulators can address the demand for environment-friendly ingredients in HI&I products.

Italmatch Chemicals, a speciality chemicals company focused on additives for water and process treatment, oil and gas, industrial lubricants and plastics, has followed up previous acquisitions with Water Science Technologies (WST), which supplies chemicals and blends.