ICL has announced plans to invest $30 million to develop a customer innovation and qualification centre (CIQC) for the energy storage systems market in North America. This should become “a hub for ICL, its partners and its customers, as the company looks to make significant advancements in its battery materials R&D capabilities”, ICL said.

Netherlands-based Barentz International, a distributor of life science and speciality ingredients, has acquired Radian Chemical Products of India. Terms were not disclosed and the current team will remain in place, including CEO Manoj Botadra.

Radian is mainly active in niche applications in colour cosmetics and personal care, areas in which Barentz is already active India. Barentz thus expects to reinforce its portfolio and achieve “significant growth potential” across the Asia-Pacific region.

Neste has completed a strategic study it launched in September 2022 and is now beginning a gradual transformation of its crude oil refinery in Porvoo, Finland, into a “renewable and circular solutions refining hub”. This will take place in phases and is expected to be complete in the mid-2030s at a cost of around €2.5 billion.

Akaam Shamerany from Quantum Boost unveils a transformative chemical and material development approach

Korea’s Samyang Holdings has acquired Verdant Specialty Solutions from private equity firm OpenGate Capital for about $250 million. Texas-based Verdant mainly makes amphoteric surfactants for personal care products, plus non-ionic surfactants for industrial applications. It has revenues of about $210 million/year, and employs some 300 in the US, the UK and Germany.

Danish enzymes and ingredients firms Novozymes and Chr. Hansen have announced that their post-merger name will be Novonesis. This is derived from the Latin word for ‘new’ that is already in Novozymes’ name and the Green for ‘origin’ or ‘beginning’, to acknowledge the role Ancient Greek thinkers played in the development of science.

Following a public consultation, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is beginning a 12-month process to prioritise five additional toxic chemicals for risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Should they be designated as high priority substances, as expected, risk evaluations will then begin.