Global petrochemical corporation, LyondellBasell, has announced that its polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) technologies were selected for a new petrochemical facility in Oman. The Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Company (DRPIC) will be licensing LyondellBasell's technology to build a 280,000 ton per year PP plant and a 480,000 ton per year HDPE plant.

A little context:

We last saw a licensing announcement from LyondellBasell one month ago. As the world's largest licensor of PP technology, LyondellBasell is responsible for roughly 35% of the world's PP capacity. You can read more about the technology and its history here. Its HDPE technology isn't quite as world-dominating, but the process is still commonly used worldwide.

Here's why they license:

The company earns royalties, ensures that they can sell their catalyst, and increases the market share of polymers identical to what they produce themselves. With no operating costs, selling your technology for other companies to use is basically like printing money.

Read the press release here.

German specialty chemicals company, Evonik, has acquired a Houston-based catalyst company called Porocel for $210 million. Evonik was last mentioned a month ago when they opened a new facility in Austin, TX.

Background on Porocel:

Desulfurization catalysts are used at refineries to create sulfur-free fuels (which is where things are headed). Porocel is known for its desulfurization catalyst rejuvenation technology. By rejuvenating the catalysts, instead of producing new ones, emissions are reduced by up to 50%. Porocel also manufactures catalysts and other related services and products.

Why did Evonik buy them?

An executive board member said, "This acquisition is the next logical step in the strategic development of our portfolio. Our focus is on stable and high-margin specialty chemicals". Evonik expects the combined catalyst business to produce sales 5x the amount that they are today in just a few years.

Read the press release here.

Danish chemical technology and catalysis company, Haldor Topsoe, has announced that it will help develop a new hydrogen and sustainable fuel facility in Denmark. The project will achieve 1.3 GW of electrolysis by 2030.

The context you need:

Many European countries are pushing for the production of green hydrogen. In Germany, they are aiming for 5 GW of hydrogen electrolysis capacity by 2030. This green hydrogen, produced by renewable energy, can serve as a fuel for heating and transportation among many other things.

Okay, so what is Haldor Topsoe doing?

They will contribute expertise on how to convert captured CO2 and green hydrogen into sustainable methanol and jet fuel. In the words of Topsoe's CEO, "For sustainable fuels to become competitive with fossil fuels, technologies must be matured and ultimately become available and proven on an industrial scale. Partnerships like these are the way to achieve that.".

Read more here on FuelCellWorks.