ICIS connect

IPIC lists Bayer MaterialScience as possible acquisition target

graeme_pa — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:35:51 GMT

Does anyone think this will actually happen? - would be a great story http://www.icis.com/Articles/2009/11/17/9264778/ipic-names-bayer-materialscience-in-list-of-possible-acquisitions.html

Chemtura bankruptcy update

Joseph Chang — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:32:39 GMT

Have you heard that potential buyers for Chemtura's assets have hired lawyers to help them make bids? Have you heard anything? FYI, a group of Chemtura shareholders are aiming to form an Official Equity Committee of the bankrupt company.

Check out updated information on this Chemtura Equity Research blog as well.

Social media tools in the chemical industry

GreenChick — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:12:37 GMT

Do you think using social media tools (e.g. Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, forums, blogs, YouTube...) will help you in your job? Why or why not?

Vote for your chemical industry power player 2009

Carothers — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:56:54 GMT

Please use this form to vote for the people's choice of the most influential figure in the world petrochemicals industry 2009. The result will be announced in the December 7 Issue of ICIS Chemical Business' top 40 power players.

You may need to register to vote. Registering on ICIS connect is free and will allow you to join in and start discussions on topics relevant to the chemical industry. Follow this link to register if you have not registered on the site before.

[Please visit the site to access the poll]

making BDO from sugar?

Truong — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:00:57 GMT

http://www.genomatica.com/media/documents/Geno_BDOPurificationRelease_060209.pdf

Not sure if anyone knows too much about butanediol (BDO) but it is used in various industries, most notably auto but also used for Spandex, plastics, fibres and polyurethane production.

I wonder how far off this sugar-based option is from widespread applications but would be interested to hear people's thoughts.

Petrochemical refining process map

Mikee1 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:03:34 GMT

Hello,

At a museum I saw a table that perfectly illustrated the petrochemical family tree, from crude oil through to all end products. I have searched high and low for something similar and had no joy. Does anyone know if anything like the attached has been published anywhere and where I could get hold of it?

Thanks in advance

Kateon Natie Financials and anything else

Mikee1 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:45:57 GMT

I'm trying to find some financials for Kateon Natie and a bit more information about their Liquids (tanks) business. Does anybody have any ideas where I can get this, just high level stuff but not their own website.

Thanks in advance.

Reducing Waste

Fiona Ferguson — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:24:36 GMT

The CIA is running an event to help chem/pharma businesses reduce their waste production - a very important issue for the environment and bussiness bottom line - especially with all the increasing legislation and disposal costs. For more info:

events@cia.org.uk

Osmolarity

adnza — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:05:46 GMT

How can i convert Osmolality / Kg to Osmolarity / L (concersion formula).

Problem: I got 129 mOsmol / Kg of Iron Sucrose @ 2% solution (recommended by manufacturer) how can i convert it to mosmol / L

Financial data help.......

Lara McNamee — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:14:08 GMT

I am trying to obtain the following financial data:

ChemChina sales figure for 2008 and any other financial information;

Sibur 2008 chemical financial figures;

Quattor Participacoes – financial figures;

Wellman – any financial figures for 2008 and 2007; and

BorsodChem – 2008 financial figures.

I would be very grateful if anyone can either send me any of the above or suggest someone that I can directly contact

Many thanks

Lara

Chinaplas 2009 YoHo Expo China

YoHo Expo — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:42:22 GMT

YoHo Expo China

Getting Innovations to Life, and Success to Your industry

The fast development of science and technology has greatly increased the range of applications of plastics and rubber in different manufacturing sections, including auto industry, electronics and electrical appliances, information technology and telecommunication, building and construction, packaging, pharmaceutical products, toys, and etc. currently, annual plastics consumption in China is over 40 million tons and rubber consumption will reach 3.8 million tons. China is developing into one of the biggest markets for plastic and rubber products internally. The increasing part of plastics and rubber in our daily lives is making a huge market for plastic and rubber machine makers and materials suppliers.

As Number Three most influential plastics expositions in the world and Asia's No. 1 plastics trade show, Chinaplas will continuously offer an ideal stage for the exhibitors and buyers, bringing more success to your business.

Being a professional and leading exhibition booth contractor for Chinaplas trade show,YoHo Expo trys utmost to offer the best service for our clients,if your company orders the raw space on Chinaplas show,please do not hesitate to contact YoHo Expo,YoHo Expo is currently installing several stands on Chinaplas 2009 in Guangzhou,if you're not satisfied with your current booth supplier,please spare a little time to visit our works on-site,comparation makes you to obtain a better option next year.

YoHo Expo China

Website www.yohoexpo.com

Mail: yohoexpo@126.com No SPAM

Phone: 021 62438158 62432448

Main Contact: Miss.Sophie Wong

Welcome to Chinaplas---YoHo Expo Press

Ethylene Margin Calculation

j4nwar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:49:18 GMT

Can anyone help me figure out how ethylene margin is calculated? If I know the cost of the main feedstock (i.e. ethane, $/gal)) and the price of the ethylene ($/lb), how do I calculate the margin from my ethylene production? I am aware that there are different plant efficiencies, etc, but let's assume a typical 500 kt olefin plan with 90% utilization. Thanks for your help!

Canola oil bad for you?

GreenChick — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:40:27 GMT

Here's an email circling in my network about canola oil. I told my friends and family that I've been covering the canola oil industry for 8 years and they shouldn't worry about it. Unfortunately, sometimes it is hard to stop bad rumors unless the industry itself make a strong statement about it. I actually prefer olive oil to canola but I use canola sometimes when olive oil is too pricy.

Just read on and let me know what you think...

-----------

Subject: Fw: Warning on Canola Oil

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 11:07 AM

Dear Editors

Recently I bought a cooking oil that's new to our supermarkets, Canola Oil. I tried it because the label assured me it was lowest in 'bad' fats. However, when I had used half the bottle, I concluded that the label told me surprisingly little else and I started to wonder: where does canola oil come from?

Olive oil comes from olives, peanut oil from peanuts, sunflower oil from
sunflowers; but what is a canola? There was nothing on the label to enlighten me, which I thought odd. So, I did some investigating on the Internet. There are plenty of official Canola sites lauding this new 'wonder' oil with all its low-fat health benefits. It takes a little longer to find sites that tell the less palatable details.

Here are just a few facts everyone should know before buying anything containing canola. Canola is not the name of a natural plant but a made-up word, from the words 'Canada ' and 'oil'. Canola is a genetically engineered plant developed in Canada from the Rapeseed Plant, which is part of the mustard family of plants.

According to AgriAlternatives, The Online Innovation, and Technology Magazine for Farmers, 'By nature, these rapeseed oils, which have long been used to produce oils for industrial purposes, are... toxic to humans and other animals'. (This, by the way, is one of the websites singing the praises of the new canola industry.)

Rapeseed oil is poisonous to living things and is an excellent insect repellent. I have been using it (in very diluted form, as per instructions) to kill the aphids on my roses for the last two years. It works very well; it suffocates them. Ask for it at your nursery. Rape is an oil that is used as a lubricant, fuel, soap and synthetic rubber base and as a illuminate for color pages in magazines.

It is an industrial oil. It is not a food. Rape oil, it seems, causes
emphysema, respiratory distress, anemia, constipation, irritability, and
blindness in animals and humans. Rape oil was widely used in animal feeds in England and Europe between 1986 and 1991, when it was thrown out. Remember the 'Mad Cow disease' scare, when millions of cattle in the UK were slaughtered in case of infecting humans? Cattle were being fed on a mixture containing material from dead sheep, and sheep suffer from a disease called 'scrapie'.

It was thought this was how 'Mad Cow' began and started to infiltrate the human chain. What is interesting is that when rape oil was removed from animal feed, 'scrapie' disappeared. We also haven't seen any further reports of 'Mad Cow' since rape oil was removed from the feed. Perhaps not scientifically proven, but interesting all the same. US and Canadian farmers grow genetically engineered rapeseed and manufacturers use its oil (canola) in thousands of processed foods, with the blessings of Canadian and US government watchdog agencies. The canola supporting websites say that canola is safe to use. They admit it was developed from the rapeseed, but insist that through genetic engineering it is no longer rapeseed, but 'canola' instead.

Except canola means 'Canadian oil'; and the plant is still a rape plant, albeit genetically modified. The new name provides perfect cover for commercial interests wanting to make millions. Look at the ingredients list on labels. Apparently peanut oil is being replaced with rape oil. You'll find it in an alarming number of processed foods. There's more, but to conclude: rape oil was the source of the chemical warfare agent mustard gas, which was banned after blistering the lungs and skins of hundred of thousands of soldiers and civilians during W.W.I. Recent French reports indicate that it was again in use during the Gulf War.

Check products for ingredients. If the label says, 'may contain the following' and lists canola oil, you know it contains canola oil because it is the cheapest oil and the Canadian government subsidizes it to industries involved in food processing.

I don't know what you'll be cooking with tonight, but I'll be using olive oil
and old-fashioned butter, from a genetically unmodified cow.

Here is more information. .........

Canola oil from the rape seed, referred to as the Canadian oil because Canada is mainly responsible for it being marketed in the USA . The Canadian government and industry paid our Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) $50 million dollars to have canola oil placed on the (GRAS) List 'Generally Recognized As Safe'. Thus a new industry was created. Laws were enacted affecting international trade, commerce, and traditional diets. Studies with lab animals were disastrous. Rats developed fatty degeneration of heart, kidney, adrenals, and thyroid gland. When canola oil was withdrawn from their diets, the deposits dissolved but scar tissue remained on all vital organs. No studies on humans were made before money was spent to promote Canola oil in the USA .
Adrenoleukodystroph y (ALD) is a rare fatal degenerative disease caused by a build up of long-chain fatty acids (c22 to c28) which destroys the myelin (protective sheath) of the nerves. Canola oil is a very long chain fatty acid oil (c22). Those who will defend canola oil say that the Chinese and Indians have used it for centuries with no effect, however it was in an unrefined form.*
(* taken from FATS THAT HEAL AND FATS THAT KILL by Udo Erasmus.)

My cholesterol level was 150. After a year using Canola oil I tested 260. I
switched back to pure olive oil and it has taken 5 years to get it down to 160.
Thus began this project to find answers since most Doctors will say that Canola oil is O.K.

My sister spilled Canola oil on a piece of fabric, after 5 pre-treatings and
harsh washings, the oil spot still showed. She stopped using Canola oil,
wondering what it did to our insides if it could not be removed from cloth
easily. Our Father bred birds, always checking labels to insure there was no rape seed in their food. He said, 'The birds will eat it, but they do not live very long.'
A friend, who worked for only 9 mo. as a quality control taster at an apple-chip factory where Canola oil was used exclusively for frying, developed numerous health problems. These included loose teeth &gum disease; numb hands and feet; swollen arms and legs upon rising in the morning; extreme joint pain especially n hands, cloudy vision, constipation with stools like black marbles, hearing loss; skin tears from being bumped; lack of energy; hair loss and heart pains. It has been five years since she has worked there and still has some joint pain, gum disease, and numbness.
A fellow worker, about 30 years old, who ate very little product, had a routine check up and found that his blood vessels were like those of an 80 year old man. Two employees fed the waste product to baby calves and their hair fell out. After removing the fried apple chips from the diet their hair grew back in.
My daughter and her girls were telling jokes. Stephanie hit her mom's arm with the back of a butter knife in a gesture, 'Oh mom', not hard enough to hurt. My daughters arm split open like it was rotten. She called me to ask what could have caused it. I said, 'I'll bet anything that you are using Canola oil'. Sure enough, there was a big gallon jug in the pantry.
Rape seed oil is a penetrating oil, to be used in light industry, not for human consumption. It contains a toxic substance. (from encyclopedia) . Even after the processing to reduce the erucic acid content, it is still a penetrating oil. We have found that it turns rancid very fast. Also it leaves a residual rancid odor on clothing.

Rape seed oil used for stir-frying in China found to emit cancer causing
chemicals. (Rapeseed oil smoke causes lung cancer) Amal Kumar Maj.

The Wall Street Journal June 7, 1995 pB6 (W) pB6 (E) col 1(11 col in).
Compiled by Darleen Bradley.

Canola oil is a health hazard to use as a cooking oil or salad oil. It is not
the healthy oil we thought it was. It is not fit for human consumption, do not eat canola oil, it can hurt you. Polyunsaturated or not, this is a bad oil.

Be Sure to also read this informative report written by leading health expert Tom Valentine, Canola Oil Report.

Discussion - 20 January 2009 - "A day without petrochemicals" - any more questions?

AJB — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:35:29 GMT

Following the online discussion, have you any more questions about chemicals and their application?

Write your questions here - and feel free to answer any...

This is your chance for you all to share your observations and queries!

Shipping container fumigation with methyl iodide

Grant — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:13:25 GMT

Dear Forum Members. Worldwide, the most commonly used fumigant to rid shipping containers of pests is methyl bromide. It is highly efficient at doing this but it is being phased out, worldwide, because it is an ozone layer depleter. Methyl iodide (MeI) is being considered as a substitute fumigation gas. It is equally efficient but has a much shorter atmospheric lifetime (and negligible ozone depletion potential) but is much less volatile. It is proposed to use it in combination with heat treatment where hot air (~45 degrees C) containing about 25g of methyl iodide/cubic m is circulated through the container in a closed system. It is becoming less acceptable to discharge such a toxic material as MeI to the air, untreated, and I am looking for some way of adding a reagent to the circulating MeI to immobilise it/convert it to a non-toxic material inside the container, or discharge the MeI/hot air through an external reactor to do similar. A candidate for this is dimethyl sulphoxide which reacts with MeI to form a non-volatile sulfoxonium salt (CH3)3 SOI. Does anybody know if this would be a practical reaction to perform, in the gas phase, within the container, if DMSO was titrated into the circulating hot gas, as an aerosol, at the end of the decontamination time? Is the reaction time under these conditions sufficiently fast? Is there another (cheap, readily available, low toxicity, volatile as an aerosol @ ~40 - 45 degrees C) compound that would do a better job under these conditions than DMSO. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and ideas, Grant Knight

Can you avoid plastic?

AJB — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:20:51 GMT

How long can you go without coming into contact with plastic? It’s harder than you think! Polymers are everywhere…from the plastic bags that carry your shopping to the remote control you use for the television.

Most of us tend to take these common materials for granted and often don’t realise what the objects we use every day are made of.

Take the challenge and see how many hours, or even minutes, you can last without touching or using anything made from plastic.

Tell us what you’ve had to avoid, how long you lasted and what it was that caught you out…what are the alternatives?

Chemicals are all around - but do you know what they're used for?

AJB — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:23:06 GMT

Here are a few common chemicals that we come in contact with each day. But can you suggest what they are used for? Try to think of some of their more obscure uses too…

PVC

Polyurethane

ABS

Polycarbonate

Nylon

Polyester

PET

Polypropylene

Titanium dioxide

Benchmarking, a tool for all

Philip009 — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:20:18 GMT

Everybody can understand and share the climate change solutions issue. While the United Nations experts and negotiators have gathered in Poznan for two weeks, consumers continue to experience issues with climate change. Most of them have to improve their insulation or to reduce their petrol consumption: all can understand it is time to react in a proper way with sustainable solutions. Cefic has just issued a cartoon for them to explain why the chemical industries promote benchmarking as a method of allocation of CO2 emission rights in the Emissions Trading Scheme.

This cartoon is a way to show that the benchmarking vs.auctioning debate is not a topic reserved for an elite of specialists. Using a humorous tone and serious arguments, the Jumping the climate change hurdle cartoon shows that we all benchmark when seeking the best value for money as we do our shopping. Comparing apples to apples is not so different an exercise than comparing CO2 performances in one industrial sector: it's still benchmarking.

Everybody can easily understand then that it is not fair to treat all performers regardless of their efforts and appropriate investments. Some simple and entertaining pictures provide explanations using metaphorical tools (such as sports ones) and showing that companies need to be competitive to provide innovative solutions for a sustainable climate solutions management. Additional CO2 expenses that would not be allocated to favour low carbon technologies would not help efficient climate change efforts… To avoid that, climate change is definitely the tool of choice… and the cartoon a way to combine fun and learning.

This cartoon is also an opportunity for European Industries to show that they are already setting good examples of good practices to the rest of the world. Without the Emissions Trading Scheme, they are reducing their own greenhouse gases emissions year after year . But to go on doing so, they need the right tool. Welcome on board.You can watch the cartoon on You Tube : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=b1kf_axslfk or on Daily Motion : http://www.dailymotion.com/Aleria2008/video/x7lnjh_changement-climatique-du-boulot-pou_news

How would your school cope without chemicals?

AJB — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:32:46 GMT

Could your school operate without chemicals?

If all chemicals disappeared from your school for a day, how difficult would it be? How would you manage if you had to stop using pens, plastic chairs and tables, computers and sports equipment?

Wanted teachers for international/local students

findguru — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:26:52 GMT

we are searching well experience teachers , tutors or professors for international /local

students in all subjects .

please register freely in our website http://find-guru.com/register.php or email your resume

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Online Quiz contest in Find-guru

findguru — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:25:24 GMT

Find guru started online quiz for students , teachers . any one can play weekly quiz and win exiting prizes $50 gift hampers .

We launched a new module for students . students can submit their assignments and the expert panel will help in solving the assigments .

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Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Lockyer — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:09:42 GMT

So BASF says it is to reduce its specific greenhouse gas emissions per metric ton of product sold by 25% compared with 2002. Not sure over what timeframe, but does anybody know how this compares with other companies' efforts?

ICIS Homepage redesign

Carothers — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:54:59 GMT

We have redesigned the ICIS.com home page, and we'd like to know what you think. Please use this thread to tell us what you like about the new page, what you'd like to see changed and if there are any bugs that you come across. If you’ve come here directly, please take a moment to visit the new home page.

Changing the home page on ICIS is the first step in a process that will see the other parts of ICIS’ online offerings updated and made more interactive over the coming year.

Predictions 2009 - outlook article

AJB — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:17:33 GMT

For our Outlook 2009 issue we are compiling an article with the industry’s bold predictions for next year. These should be short sound bites and can be serious or light-hearted, and about anything connected to the chemicals and allied industries, macro-economic or political trends. Do you think Crude prices are likely to rocket again this year? Are big mergers and acquisitions now a thing of the past - or do you predict a monster deal in 2009? What about sustainability - is there going to be less emphasis on going green in the current financial climate? What impact will Middle Eastern capacity have when it comes onstream? When will the current gloom lift? All ideas are welcome...and may feature in ICIS Chemical Business!

How is trading?

Carothers — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:06:15 GMT

With companies like BASF cutting production around the world. How are you finding trading? and what is the best way forward?.

Vote for your chemical industry power player 2008

Carothers — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:52:41 GMT

Please use this form to vote for the people's choice of the most influential figure in the world petrochemicals industry 2008.The result will be announced in the December 8 Issue of ICIS Chemical Business' top 40 power players. You may need to register to vote. Registering on ICIS connect is free and will allow you to join in and start disucssions on topics relevant to the chemical industry. Follow this link to register and click on join (in the top left hand corner of the page) if you have not registered on the site before.

[Please visit the site to access the poll]

upcoming event

Energy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:23:51 GMT

The 9th China International Petroleum & Petrochemical Technology and Equipment Exhibition (cippe Zhenwei International Petroleum Exhibition) will be continuously held at New China International Exhibition Center from March 19th to 21th, 2009. The exhibit space will attain 65,000 square meters and it is expected that cippe2009 will get about 1,200 exhibitors’ participation. Get more information from our website www.cippe.com.cn.

When will the current banking crisis start affecting your business?

Carothers — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:45:51 GMT

With major interventions in the global banking sector, I was wondering if any companies have started noticing fall out in thier businesses.

Green chemistry

janelee — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:05:14 GMT

Hi,everynoe! I'm interested in chemistry,and now working in a chemistry website.

I'm very happy to share what I know to you. As you known, the slogan of 2008's Olympic Game is Green chemical. Similarly, we also should advocate green chemistry in chemical field. Don't you think so?

Green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry, is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies across the life cycle, including the design, manufacture, and use of a chemical product.
Green chemistry technologies provide a number of benefits, including:
*reduced waste, eliminating costly end-of-the-pipe treatments
*safer products
*reduced use of energy and resources
*improved competitiveness of chemical manufacturers and their customers

Have you started pr-registering your products for Reach what's the process like

Carothers — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:40:23 GMT

Hi has anyone out there started pre registering products for Reach I heard a rumour that 850 people have registered Methanol and athat two compaies have pre-registered several thousand chemcials each. Is the process easy? I thihk I need to get started.

what goes up...

spinderella — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:55:48 GMT

The laborious process of squeezing oil from the sands of Canada becomes increasingly uneconomic if oil slips below $90 a barrel. Total’s extensive work in the ultra-deep waters of West Africa requires that prices stay above $70 a barrel, he said. Soaring labor and materials costs have put a strain on international oil exploration, especially as the major oil companies have had to move into increasingly inhospitable environments in search of the next barrels. Total says that the returns needed to justify heavy-oil and deep-water projects have more than doubled in the past four years.

Christophe de Margerie, chief executive of Total SA

So now that we are seeing oil futures prices fall, what does this mean for the chemical industry?

How about those that have vested interests in the alternative-hydrocarbon market? Will alternative, or "green friendly", chemicals still see a viable market if hydrocarbons are more profitable? Or are such ventures just a flash in the pan?

Was a phenol lorry involved in last night's channel tunnel fire?

Carothers — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:23:57 GMT

Was a phenol delivery involved in the fire in the channel tunnel last night as UK reports suggest? It is contradictory. The French police say it wasn't. ICIS Chemical Business has a story about transporting phenol across the UK this week. Should we transport chemicals by road?

SusChem innovates for the future

customiser — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:36:33 GMT

The Cefic/EuropaBio European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) will soon be expanding its role in boosting innovation in Europe at the behest of the European Commission. You can read more about SusChem's activities and future priorities in the latest special publication from ICIS custom publishing, entitled: SusChem - innovating for a sustainable future.

If you are interested in similar publications for your company or association, please contact john.baker@icis.com

Huntsman vs. Apollo

Joe Cool — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:43:19 GMT

Deal or no deal?

What’s a merger agreement worth these days? Anywhere from zero to the agreed-upon amount. The epic battle between Huntsman and Hexion Specialty Chemicals on their busted deal has just begun.

Hexion, owned by private equity firm Apollo Management, is backing out of its agreement to acquire Huntsman for $28/share on the grounds that the combined company with its heavy debt load would be insolvent.

CEO Peter Huntsman vows to fight tooth and nail to hold Hexion to the terms of the original merger agreement. The company is suing Apollo and its founders Leon Black and Joshua Harris for $3.1bn in damages.

This scenario is nothing new, as a number of private equity deals have fallen through in the wake of the global credit crisis. However, it is the first in the chemical industry.

Winning a settlement for a busted deal is not without precedent. Last March, US shoe retailer Genesco successfully sued to force a $175m settlement with suitor Finish Line, which wanted out, and its bank UBS.

Huntsman’s stock plunged 38% from $20.86 to $12.86 the day after Hexion’s announcement on June 18, and continued to fall further last week to just above $11.

The damage? $2.3bn in market capitalization wiped out for Huntsman. From the original acquisition price of $28/share, the difference comes out to $3.9bn.

Whichever way you cut it, this represents a huge loss for the Huntsman family and the company’s investors. Huntsman founder Jon Huntsman built his empire on the principle that “your word is your greatest asset; honesty is your best virtue.”

Huntsman followed through on many deals on that basis, even when the terms turned less favorable.

In his book “Winners Never Cheat,” Jon Huntsman recalled a deal with Great Lakes CEO Emerson Kampen where they had a handshake deal for Great Lakes to buy 40% of a Huntsman division for $54m.

Great Lakes dragged its feet for 6 months, but in the meantime, business recovered and profits in the Huntsman business soared. Emerson Kampen assessed the value of a 40% stake at $250m by the time he was ready to do the deal, and offered to split the difference between the original agreed-upon $54m and the $250m value – that would have been an extra $100m to Huntsman.

Huntsman flat out refused, and would not take the extra $100m. A deal was a deal when they shook on it for $54m, and that’s all Great Lakes had to pay. When you shake hands, the negotiating is over.

It is most unfortunate that now a reneged-upon deal has wiped out so much of the value of the Huntsman empire – at least for now.

Is Mallinckrodt going to an Indian company?

Gaolin — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:27:41 GMT

Says India's Economic Times: "ICICI Venture-controlled RFCL (formerly Ranbaxy Fine Chemicals) has emerged as a strong contender to buy the speciality chemicals business of Mallinckrodt Baker, a division of healthcare giant Covidien, in a deal which could be valued at around $450 million, industry sources said. The transaction is in the final stages of due diligence and could be finalised in about two weeks." Good idea or trophy?

M&A Outlook

Joe Cool — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:09:45 GMT

After Dow Chemical's announcement of its $18.8bn acquisition of Rohm and Haas and Ashland's plan to buy Hercules for $3.3bn, what might be coming next? Chemtura is keeping all its options on the table, including a sale. But private equity remains hampered by the global credit crisis.

Who could be sold, and what is the outlook for more chemical M&A?

Opinions wanted!

Joe

Green Detergents Clean Up As Environmentally Friendly Consumer Products

janelee — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:46:31 GMT

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has been a major catalyst in the green detergent revolution. Using its purchasing power as the world's biggest retailer, Wal-Mart launched an environmental initiative last October to encourage its suppliers to manufacture more environmentally friendly laundry detergents. Laws and regulations in the United States and the European Union are giving industry additional regulatory incentive to go green with mainstream consumer products. A companion story describes developments in getting detergents to deliver perfume to the laundry -- including approaches that adapt leading edge drug delivery technologies for transferring fragrances and other cleaning ingredients to laundry targets that include shirts, pants, sheets and underwear.

Today's anniversary

Monkey — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:40:11 GMT

Did anybody realise that today is the 218th Anniversary of the first US patent? It covered a method of making potash and pearl ash (potassium carbonate), important ingredients for making glass, china, soap and fertilizer. It wasn't patent No.1, though. See http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/07/dayintech_0731 for more.

Water good idea - can you help with my article?

AJB — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:15:45 GMT

I’m writing a feature for our upcoming Water issue, looking at water conservation, and specifically what the chemical industry is doing to reduce its water use. Obviously, water is pretty integral to the production process and is used throughout a facility for cooling, cleaning and generating steam. But are producers doing all they can to reduce their use, their waste and improve the re-use of water? Any help with the questions below would be welcome... 1) Should chemical companies put more emphasis on water conservation and invest more to achieve tougher targets? 2) Chemical firms are obviously large users of water – but what are the benefits/savings achievable by cutting water use/investing in water treatment? How can energy audits and water treatment help? 3) In general terms, what volume of water would an average chemical site use each year, and what would this cost (overall costs/in relation to turnover?). Would modifications to a plant be extensive or are adjustments to save water fairly easy to make? 4) What is the payback time to recoup such an investment? 5) Are there government directives/regulations regarding water use in the chemical sector? Is it largely up to each producer to determine where savings can be made and how efficiency can be improved? 6) Do these standards vary globally? 7) What are five practical steps that chemical plants can undertake to acknowledge and reduce waste? Any comments are appreciated...

What you can do to protect the Ozone Layer

janelee — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:34:25 GMT

You have already taken the first steps to help protect the ozone layer by informing yourself of the problem and its causes. Try to find out as much as you can about the problem from publications, schools or public libraries. The only way to mend the ozone hole is to stop the release of CFCs and other ozone depleting substances (ODS) into the atmosphere. European legislation aims to achieve this by phasing out ODS as soon as viable alternatives become available, and where no such alternatives are available, restricting the use of these substances as far as possible. However, there are a number of practical initiatives which can be taken at the individual level to help protect the ozone layer: 1. Try to use products which are labelled "Ozone-Friendly" 2. Ensure technicians repairing your refrigerator or air conditioner recover and recycle the old CFCs so they are not released into the atmosphere. 3. Vehicle air conditioning units should regularly be checked for leaks. 4. Ask about converting your car to a substitute refrigerant if the a/c system needs major repair 5. Help start a refrigerant recovery and recycling program in your area if none already exists. 6. Replace halon fire extinguishers with alternatives (e.g. carbon dioxide or foam). 7. Suggest school activities to increase awareness of the problem and to initiate local action.

What causes acid rain?

janelee — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:26:45 GMT

Acid deposition is a general term that includes more than simply acid rain. Acid deposition primarily results from the transformation of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides into dry or moist secondary pollutants such as sulphuric acid (H2SO4), ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and nitric acid (HNO3). The transformation of SO2 and NOx to acidic particles and vapours occurs as these pollutants are transported in the atmosphere over distances of hundreds to thousands of kilometers. Acidic particles and vapours are deposited via two processes - wet and dry deposition. Wet deposition is acid rain, the process by which acids with a pH normally below 5.6 are removed from the atmosphere in rain, snow, sleet or hail. Dry deposition takes place when particles such as fly ash, sulphates, nitrates, and gases (such as SO2 and NOx), are deposited on, or absorbed onto, surfaces. The gases can then be converted into acids when they contact water.

diffent kinds of tea,diffent actions

chenhongxia — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:46:28 GMT

Green Tea: Ancient Wisdom, Scientific Fact - Since its discovery, green tea has become renowned for its pharmacological properties. While green tea is not classified as a medicine, it does contain medicinal substances.It is ranked as a leading health-giving substance in traditional Chinese medicine. Scientific research is now proving these benefits are due to the antioxidants present in green tea which have shown to be effective in a variety of areas discussed in this section: What' s In Green Tea Makes It Healthy? Our producer' s researchers have successfully isolated the active ingredients of green tea, including catechin, theanine and saponin. Discover what vitamins, amino acids and other nutrients and active ingredients exist in green tea. Learn their health benefits and what they contribute to the taste and aroma of green tea. Learn what counteracts the effects of caffeine in green tea? Green Tea' s Antioxidant Properties Catechin works to scavenge active oxygen species in the blood. These species are beneficial because they help protect the body from harmful microorganism. Green Tea Diet & Weight Loss This section provides some of the latest green tea weight loss research. There are studies on: green tea consumption & body fat reduction, green tea' s increase of metabolism, Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the benefits of tea, and a green tea derivative causing weight loss. Green Tea & Cancer Epidemiological observations have shown that people in green-tea consuming countries-mainly Japan and China-have very low rates of cancer. In Japan, the women who teach the tea ceremony, drinking more than average amounts of extra-strong green tea, are noted for a low mortality rate and longevity deaths from cancer are especially rare. Green Tea & Other Conditions Green tea has numerous benefits for disease prevention and anti-aging purposes. We review how green tea protects the cardiovascular system, the brain, the kidneys, and other aspects of physiology. The ability to lower blood sugar, chelate iron and control the production of nitric oxide are all especially important. Green tea is custom-made to protect health and delay aging. White Tea Health Information White teas are very rare and seldom found outside of China. They are made from buds and young leaves, which are steamed or fired to inactivate polyphenol oxidase, and then dried. Thus, white tea retains the high concentrations of catechins present in fresh tea leaves. Green tea is made from more mature tea leaves than white tea, and may be withered prior to steaming or firing. Roiboos Health Information Rooibos tea has become popular because of its fruity, sweet taste and its caffeine-free, low tannin , antioxidant-rich status. Although more research is needed, rooibos appears to be safe and free of side effects. The antioxidants present in rooibos may help protect against free radical damage that can lead to cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Unfermented (green) rooibos has a higher amount of polyphenols than traditional fermented rooibos and generally demonstrates higher antioxidant and antimutagenic capabilities.

The part carbon dioxide plays in environmental processes

chenhongxia — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:24:57 GMT

The part carbon dioxide plays in environmental processes
Carbon dioxide is one of the most abundant gasses in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide plays an important part in vital plant and animal process, such as photosynthesis and respiration. These processes will be briefly explained here.Green plants convert carbon dioxide and water into food compounds, such as glucose, and oxygen. This process is called photosynthesis.
The reaction of photosynthesis is as follows:
6 CO2 + 6 H2O --> C6H12O6 + 6 O2
Plants and animals, in turn, convert the food compounds by combining it with oxygen to release energy for growth and other life activities. This is the respiration process, the reverse of photosynthesis.
The respiration reaction is as follows:
C6H12O6 + 6 O2 --> 6 CO2 + 6 H2O
Photosynthesis and respiration play an important role in the carbon cycle and are at equilibrium with one another.Photosynthesis dominates during the warmer part of the year and respiration dominates during the colder part of the year. However, both processes occur the entire year. Overall, then, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere decreases during the growing season and increases during the rest of the year.Because the seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres are opposite, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing in the north while decreasing in the south, and vice versa. The cycle is more clearly present in the northern hemisphere; because it has relatively more land mass and terrestrial vegetation. Oceans dominate the southern hemisphere.
Influence of carbon dioxide on alkalinity
Carbon dioxide can change the pH of water. This is how it works:
Carbon dioxide dissolves slightly in water to form a weak acid called carbonic acid, according to the following reaction:
CO2 + H2O --> H2CO3
After that, carbonic acid reacts slightly and reversibly in water to form a hydronium cation, H3O+, and the bicarbonate ion, HCO3-, according to the following reaction:
H2CO3 + H2O --> HCO3- + H3O
This chemical behaviour explains why water, which normally has a neutral pH of 7 has an acidic pH of approximately 5.5 when it has been exposed to air.

High-fat foods can interfere with biological clock

chelsea8611 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:04:18 GMT

High-fat foods can interfere with biological clock

Diets high in fat can throw off the body's internal clock, a new study by researchers at Northwestern University has found.
The study, published in Cell Metabolism, found that mice fed a fatty diet for two weeks showed significant behavioural changes. Their sleep/wake cycle lengthened suggesting the brain mechanism that controls the timing of activity and rest had been affected.

When kept in 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness the mice – which are nocturnal – began consuming more food when the lights were on as early as the first week.
They also displayed altered activity in key genes that control the roughly 24-hour circadian rhythm.

Oil increasing

chelsea8611 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:41:11 GMT

Oil increasing

Hi ,everyone.I am chelsea,working in a chemical trade platform(http://www.lookchem.com/).I think the oil price will be increasing for a long time,maybe five years,maybe ten years.Because many chemicals is prepared with oil,and the cars will not be reduced but incresae .So ,I hope people can go out by bus instead of car.

Safety: when was the last time your site had a lost-time accident

Carothers — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:10:23 GMT

The US Chemcial Safety Board has a number of interesting videos on youtube. Check out the latest one on welding hazards. Would this kind of behaviour be tolerated on your site?

IChemE warns of energy crisis if skills shortage not addressed

lily — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:09:50 GMT

Did you see the warning last week from the IChemE to MPs? The Institution seems really concerned that a skills shortage is going to impede the much-needed development of alternative energy. Its president Richard Darton is calling for urgent action to attract 'inspirational science teachers', particularly of physcis and maths. He says government has to work with industry to 'inititate a step change in support of science education'. That's all very well, but what exactly can industry do? Any suggestions?

Dow buys Rohm and Haas for $18bn

Carothers — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:52:26 GMT

Does anybody know, is this deal going to strengthen Dow, or will it be a step too far with its other commitments around the world?

The herd stampedes in the wrong directioon

OrganisedChaos — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:57:35 GMT

My prediction - $80-85/bbl WTI by mid-2009 with short term potential for further rallies

I am beginning to come to the view that something has to give in the medium-term. There is no way that the global economy can support crude prices at current levels, and you can argue, as Lehman Bros does, that speculation is behind a fair slice of the recent rallies.

They also make the case (read more on ICIS news next week) that the supply outlook is not as bad as the bulls on crude pricing - who make up the majority - are making out.

But the problem is that every bit of bad news on crude gets played up by the media, and ends up inflating the crude price, because the majority opinion is that prices have much further to rise.

The Lehman analysis doesn't add the very obvious point that chemical producers and industries all the way down to finished goods will be cutting back production on high oil prices. This will, in itself, serve as a correcting mechanism.

Governments in Asia are also cutting back on fuel subsidies which could moderate consumption growth in emerging markets - the main factor behind the demand surge.