As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to batter the global chemicals industry in September, several major chemical plant fires and the announcement of new capital investment projects made headlines. 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.

Five Killed in Chemical Plant Explosion
Five people were killed and another injured after an explosion at a chemical plant in China's Tianmen City in late September. The plant makes compounds that are used in the manufacturing of drugs.

EU Chemicals Exports Hurt by Emerging Market Collapse
EU chemicals trade has shrunk this year, as the coronavirus pandemic has spread and lockdowns have restricted industrial activity and consumer goods demand.

INEOS and Trinseo to Erect New Polystyrene Recycling Plant
Styrenics supplier INEOS Styrolution and materials solutions provider Trinseo are working together to build a new polystyrene recycling plant based on depolymerization in Wingles, France as part of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) recently signed by the companies.

LANXESS to Boost Production of Oxone Monopersulfate in US
Responding to a sustained rise in demand for disinfectants, LANXESS is launching an expansion project at its production plant in Memphis, TN to boost production of Oxone monopersulfate, a primary ingredient in its Vikron and Rely+On disinfection products.

Sumitomo to Establish New PP Compounds Plant
Japanese firm Sumitomo Chemical is planning to open a new polypropylene (PP) compounds production plant in Wuxi, China to bolster its presence in the automotive materials market.

Braskem Starts Operations on New $750M Polypropylene Line
A new polypropylene line recently commenced operations at a facility operated by Braskem in La Porte, TX. The new asset can produce over 1 billion lb/yr of products from the firm’s polypropylene portfolio, including homopolymer, impact copolymer, and random copolymers.

Dow Sheds Some Gulf Coast Marine and Terminal Assets
Chemicals and materials firm Dow has entered into an agreement to sell marine and storage operations and assets at its Plaquemine and St. Charles facilities in Louisiana and its Freeport, TX site. The company announced the $620 million deal with Vopak Industrial Infrastructure Americas mid month.

Chemical Plant Declared a Loss Following Fire
Firefighters were called to the CPI Products chemical plant in Walburg, TX in mid-September after a fire ignited at the facility. Reports said the structure was completely destroyed in the fire.

Blast Reported at Chemical Manufacturing Plant
Firefighters were dispatched to the FAR Chemical Inc. chemical plant in Palm Bay, FL in early September after an explosion occurred at the facility. 99% isopropyl alcohol was believed to be involved in the explosion.

Air Liquide to Support Eastman Chemical Plant with New ASU
French industrial gases firm Air Liquide plans to build a new Air Separation Unit (ASU) and Partial Oxidation Unit (POX) as part of a new long-term supply agreement to provide gaseous oxygen, nitrogen, and syngas to Eastman Chemical’s facility in Longview, TX.

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