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Cargill to buy Arkema’s epoxides business
Global agribusiness giant Cargill announced on 27 September that it had agreed to buy Arkema’s epoxides business, which includes an epoxidised vegetable oils facility in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, USA.
The acquisition would allow Cargill to meet the growing demand for bio-based solutions for plastics, automotive and other industries, the company said.
“Industrial customers are increasingly searching for solutions made without petrochemicals, especially in consumer applications where potential concerns around toxicity and sustainability continue to grow,” said Kurtis Miller, managing director of Cargill’s bio-industrial business.
“Adding this capability will allow us to innovate across the polyol value chain, transforming our vegetable oil into highly functional compounds that bring benefits like flexibility, durability and heat stability to a wide range of industrial products.”
The Blooming Prairie plant’s epoxide manufacturing process combines soyabean and other vegetable oils with hydrogen peroxide, resulting in the oxidation of the oils. The specialty oils, or epoxides, are key components for Cargill’s existing portfolio of bio-based plasticisers and polyols.
“With this acquisition, Cargill will gain full control of its production process, transforming its commodity soyabean oil into epoxides, and ultimately, creating the bio-based plasticisers and polyols used to make a range of everyday products, such as shower curtain liners, tiles, carpets and furniture,” the company said.
Arkema is a speciality chemicals and advanced materials firm based in France.
IN BRIEF
USA: Leading renewable diesel producer Neste said on 7 September that it will buy US independent renewable waste and residue fat and oil trader Agri Trading, subject to regulatory approval.
Neste refines waste, residues and raw materials, including waste oils and fats, into renewable fuels and feedstock for plastics and other materials.
Minnesota-based Agri Trading handles and trades animal fat waste, used cooking oil, technical corn oil and other vegetable oils throughout the lower 48 US states, Canada, Mexico and Europe.
THAILAND: Biopolymer producer Braskem announced on 9 September that it is partnering with petrochemical company SCG Chemicals on an ethylene study for bio-based polyethylene (PE) in Thailand.
The study would consider a joint investment in a new bioethanol dehydration plant in Thailand to produce bioethylene and biopolyethylene.
If approved, the plant would be located in Map Ta Phut, Rayong, and would combine Braskem’s technology and knowledge of biopolymers with SCG Chemicals’ experience of the Asian market and expertise in PE production, according to the company.
ADM and LG Chem in lactic acid project
Global agribusiness giant ADM has partnered with South Korean chemical firm LG Chem to explore lactic acid production in the USA, World Grain reported on 15 September.
The companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch a joint venture early next year that would build, own and operate a US-based facility to produce high-purity corn-based lactic acid on a commercial scale.
The venture would allow LG Chem to enter the bioplastics market by delivering a stable supply of raw materials, LG Chem vice chairman and CEO Hak Cheol Shin said.
The lactic acid from the joint venture would be used to produce polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic that could be used in a range of
ADM and LG Chem plan to build a US plant to produce corn-based lactic acid, which can be used to make polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic
products – from food packaging to clothing to upholstery – and sold for use in a range of food and pharmaceutical applications, according to the World Grain report.
LG Chem and ADM had worked together previously, signing an agreement in 2019 to make bio-based acrylic acid for use in the manufacture of superabsorbent polymers used in nappies and other hygiene products, World Grain wrote.
Biodegradable plastics deal to make PBAT
South Korean chemical company LG Chem announced on 12 September that it is partnering with petrochemical firm TK Chemical to produce biodegradable plastics.
The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on 10 September to produce poly butylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) by constructing a PBAT production line, due to become operational by the second half of next year.
The partners said they would also pursue a number of plans including the production of agricultural vinyl and disposable envelope materials and the construction of a marine biodegradable mass production system.
The agreement followed an earlier announcement by LG Chem in August that it would start construction of a 50,000 tonnes/year PBAT plant within the year and begin full-scale mass production from 2024.
Seoul-based LG Chem is active in the petrochemicals, advanced materials and life sciences sectors and also has a subsidiary specialising in batteries, according to its website.
A subsidiary of the Samla Midas (SM) Group, TK Chemical is a Korean company specialising in chemical fibres and manufactures polyester (PET), PET-Chip and spandex.
Since 2019, TK Chemical has also operated a circulating system that collects and recycles plastic (PET) bottles.
