US-based global specialty chemicals company, Albemarle, has announced that it was selected by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to advance two lithium research projects.

Some context:

Australia and Chile are the two largest producers of lithium globally, with the US producing only 5% of the global supply. If you haven't noticed, the electric vehicle (EV) market is destined to take-off in the coming decades. We are going to need a lot more lithium production so we can make those lithium-ion batteries. In response, there have been rumors of reviving old mines and increasing brine production in the US.

So what is Albemarle and the DOE doing?

The DOE is essentially going to sponsor and contribute resources to help Albemarle with two main projects:

1. The first project will develop a new technology to convert lithium chloride (what comes from the Earth) directly into lithium hydroxide (what we use to make batteries)
2. The second project will accelerate the commercialization of high-energy cathodes (extends battery life) so that Albemarle can produce battery materials in the US

Read the press release here.

South African integrated energy and chemical company, Sasol, has announced that it is seeking companies looking to work together to utilize CO2 from Sasol's plants.

What's going on here:

Sasol wants to decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by its operations. CO2 capture technology exists, but once you've captured the CO2 you need something to do with it to make it valuable. You could bury it underground (and make no money with it) or you could use it as a feedstock to produce something else (like this Vodka).

So why the announcement?

Sasol is "currently exploring different initiatives and projects with the intent of enabling technology development deployment". By making an announcement Sasol opens the door for any company with an idea of how to use the CO2. If you've got it all figured out you can actually email CO2utilisation@sasol.com!

Read the press release here.

Russian multinational energy corporation, Lukoil, has announced that it has selected Lummus Technology's polypropylene (PP) technology called Novolen.

Zooming out:

This isn't the first time we've seen a company license a technology for PP production. LyondellBasell's technology called Spheripol was selected by a new complex in Oman just last week. This agreement means that Lummus Technology will provide the basic engineering design, training, services, and catalysts for the 500,000 ton per year PP plant (this is relatively large) in Russia.

What's the difference: Novolen vs Spheripol

Novolen is the second most popular gas-phase technology and accounts for about 12% of the world's PP production. Spheripol isn't a gas-phase production method and it accounts for about 34%. They both have complicated histories, and you can read a full (but brief) overview of PP technologies here.

Read the press release here.