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Dow, Sasol launch eco-surfactants

Dow and Sasol both used this year’s SEPAWA Congress in Berlin on 25-27 October to launch surfactants that claim superior ecological profiles. In both cases, the products are based on collaboration with smaller, technology-based partners.

Dow developed EcoSense 2470 Surfactant with carbon recycling company LanzaTech Global, which recovers waste carbon then transforms into ethanol and on to surfactant ingredients. The company said that this is differentiated other biosurfactants and biobased surfactants in two ways: *

CEFIC joins in clean tech request to EC

CEFIC joined other associations representing Europe’s clean technology industries and their key material suppliers to send a joint letter to European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of a European Council summit. This called for “urgent and comprehensive action from the EC and Member State governments to maximise the growth potential of the Green Deal and ensure a compelling business case for clean energy supply chains in Europe, from the raw material to the product”.

Malaysian agro firm buys distributor

Hextar Global, a Malaysian agrochemical company, is acquiring Propel Chemicals (PCSB) for $3.5 million from Propel Global, Rancak Nikmat and Wiramas Baiduri, mainly in order to expand its speciality chemicals portfolio for oil and gas applications. The deal should be completed in Q4.

Croda breaks ground in China

Croda International has broken ground for a low-carbon, multi-purpose production facility on a greenfield site in Guangzhou. This triples its manufacturing capacity for fragrances and establishes its fist production capability for beauty actives, mainly botanicals, in China. It is also part of the company’s plan to deliver fast growth in Asia. 

BASF starts SAP excellence centre

BASF has started production in its €25 million excellence centre for superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) at its verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium, with €1.4 million in support from the Government of Flanders. This features a pilot plant equipped with advanced data collection and sensor technology to increase innovation capabilities in SAPs and accelerate scale-up from product development to production scale at the nearby commercial plant.

BASF starts up EO complex

BASF has expanded capacity for ethylene oxide (EO) and derivatives at its verbund site in Antwerp, adding 400,000 tonnes/year in total. The €500 million+ investment comprises a second world-scale EO plant, including capacity for purified EO and alkoxylates. About 100 new jobs have been created.

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