Top Chemical Industry Posts You Missed in November 23778Top Chemical Industry Posts You Missed in November 23778

From a massive explosion at a chemical plant that left three workers with injuries to Dow’s $77 million settlement for releasing hazardous substances in Michigan, there was no shortage of interesting chemical industry news during November. Powder & Bulk Solids editors selected these posts to provide our audience with an overview of some of the most interesting chemical industry-related developments that were reported in the last month. 

Dow Chemical Co. Agrees to $77 Million Settlement
The Dow Chemical Co. will implement and fund an estimated $77 million in natural resource restoration projects intended to compensate the public for injuries to natural resources caused by the release of hazardous substances from Dow’s Midland, MI facility under a proposed settlement announced on November 11 by the United States, the State of Michigan, and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.

US Specialty Chemical Markets Soft as Q4 Begins
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes started the fourth quarter on a mixed note, with no change in October. Of the 28 specialty chemical segments ACC monitors, 14 expanded in October. 10 declined, and four were flat. During October, large market volume gains (1% and over) occurred only in electronic chemicals and rubber processing chemicals. On a sequential basis, diffusion was 57%, up from 52% in September and a recent low of 38% in July.

Huge Explosion at Chemical Plant Injures 3 Workers
A massive explosion in a processing unit at the TPC Group chemical plant in Port Neches, TX left three people with injuries in late November. Officials said the blast caused damage across the community and led to the evacuation of some 50,000 people near the plant. 

Honeywell UOP Supplies Technology to PDH Plant in Texas
Process technology and solutions firm Honeywell UOP is supplying its C3 Oleflex technology to Enterprise Products Partners LP for use in the firm’s propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit in Mont Belvieu, TX. Under the arrangement, Honeywell UOP will provide Oleflex technology licensing to the plant, as well as engineering, catalysts, adsorbents, services, and equipment, according to a company press release issued Wednesday. The new Enterprise facility, known as PDH 2, will have a capacity of 750,000 mt/yr of polymer-grade propylene. 

Wilbur-Ellis Expands Specialty Chemicals Presence
Agricultural products, animal nutrients, and specialty chemicals marketer and distributor Wilbur-Ellis is expanding its foothold in the North American specialty chemicals market with the acquisition of Nachurs Alpine Solutions (NAS), a manufacturer of specialty liquid chemicals used in various industrial sectors, transportation, energy, and agriculture. 

Henkel Selects New Chief Executive Officer
A new chief executive officer will begin leading German adhesives and chemicals manufacturer Henkel on January 1 as the firm’s current CEO Hans Van Bylen steps down from the company after 35 years of service with the company. Van Bylen is leaving the company for “personal reasons” and will be replaced by Henkel Chief Financial Officer Carsten Knobel, a member of Henkel’s Management Board since 2012.

ACC Forms Initial TSCA Risk Evaluation Consortia
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) recently announced the formation of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Risk Evaluation Consortia to inform the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) risk evaluation of five chemicals: 1,3-butadiene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB), formaldehyde, phthalic anhydride, and propylene dichloride. ACC’s Center for Chemical Safety will serve as the scientific and technical hub for these consortia.

Explosion at Dow Chemical Plant
A vessel ruptured at the Dow chemical plant in Plaquemine, LA causing an explosion early in the month. No one was injured and it was reported that there was no public threat. Dow said the incident occurred in a Glycol unit and that no other production areas were impacted.

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