INDUSTRY NEWS
ADM and LG Chem to Develop Sustainable
Technology for Superabsorbent Polymers
A
rcher Daniels Midland Co. and LG Chem, Ltd.
announced a joint development agreement to create
bio-based acrylic acid, a foundational element required
in the manufacture of superabsorbent polymers (SAP). LG
Chem is Korea’s largest diversified chemical company,
whose chemical business manufactures products ranging
from petrochemical goods to high-value added plastics.
“The acrylic acid project is another effort from ADM to
create new sustainable materials from renewable resources
and demonstrates our strong commitment to support
customer demand through innovation,” says ADM senior
vice president and chief technology officer Dr. Todd Werpy.
“By tackling this challenge with LG Chem, we can leverage
the strengths and expertise of both companies to bring
a cost-effective, sustainable solution to our customers.”
“This joint development agreement with ADM has enabled
LG Chem to further expand our business portfolio with
eco-friendly products that can achieve sustainable growth,”
says Okdong Son, the president of LG Chem. “We are
excited to drive research and development of sustainable
materials based on bio resources, along with our advanced
Braskem America Launches I’m green
Recycled Polypropylene
B
raskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the
Americas and a leading producer of biopolymers
in the world, formally launched its new I’m green™
recycled polypropylene in the United States.
The rollout represents one of the first new offerings under
Braskem’s expanded I’m green product portfolio. The
company recently announced the expansion of the brand
as part of its commitment to transform the plastics chain
from a linear economy into a circular one, a concept where
materials are used, disposed of, and then recycled. I’m
green recycled polypropylene has properties similar to or
as good as virgin polypropylene, and the I’m green master
brand now includes Braskem’s product developments in
bio-based resins, postconsumer recycled (PCR) resins, as
well as mixed bio-based plastics and PCR solutions.
“In launching Braskem America’s first ever 100 percent
postconsumer recycled product, we are working closely
with our partners to create innovative new solutions
to promote the circular economy,” says Mark Nikolich,
Braskem America chief executive officer. “Today, our
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strengths in conventional petrochemicals business.”
Under the terms of the agreement, ADM and LG Chem will
work jointly towards the economically viable commercial
production of a 100 percent bio-based acrylic acid using
ingredients from ADM corn processing. Although there is
growing industry demand for products developed from
renewable materials, acrylic acid is currently produced
almost exclusively from petrochemicals. To support
production, LG Chem plans to review the construction of a
bio-SAP production plant in North America.
Sustainable innovation is not new to ADM. In 2018, ADM
and DuPont opened the world’s first production facility for
bio-based FDME, made using ingredients from ADM corn
processing.
“As customers focus more and more on sustainable
alternatives, ADM is looking to continually push the
envelope and find new ways to diversify our product mix,”
says Chris Cuddy, president, carbohydrate solutions for
ADM. “We currently produce about 30 different products
from a kernel of corn, and we’re eager to explore the
possibilities provided through bio-based acrylic acid.”
new I’m green recycled polypropylene utilizes plastic
destined for landfills to produce new alternative materials
for manufacturing. This will create improved sustainable
solutions for clients, consumers and the environment.”
Feedstock for Braskem’s I’m green recycled polypropylene
is derived from polypropylene twine, typically used for
hay bales in the agricultural sector which would otherwise
be directed to landfills after use. In redirecting these
waste streams, the twine is reused as a raw material,
offering a circular source of feedstock with consistent
material characteristics. The twine is processed, dyed
black for product color uniformity, and then tested for
purity and quality. The resulting sustainably focused
homopolymer polypropylene pellets are well suited for use
in compounding and packaging applications, including
uses in automotive, housewares, and consumer goods.
Braskem’s launch of its I’m green recycled polypropylene
directly supports the company’s overall vision that 100
percent of plastic packaging be reused, recycled, or
recovered by 2040.
 LyondellBasell Announces Construction of
Small-Scale Molecular Recycling Facility
L
yondellBasell, one of the world’s largest plastics,
chemicals, and refining companies, announced that it is
building a small-scale molecular recycling pilot facility
at its Ferrara, Italy site. This signifies that the company is
another step closer to converting post-consumer plastic
waste into new plastics on a commercial scale.
Through its collaboration with the Karlsruhe Institute
of Technology, LyondellBasell’s proprietary molecular
recycling technology, known as MoReTec, has shown
that the use of a catalyst in the pyrolysis process, or the
structural breakdown of plastic waste into molecules, is
faster and more energy efficient than traditional chemical
recycling. The company selected its Ferrara site for the pilot
facility due to its long history of research and development,
including catalyst development.
“We have advanced our chemical recycling capabilities over
the last 15 months, and through research and testing we
are studying a number of LyondellBasell proprietary catalyst
options,” says Jim Seward, LyondellBasell senior vice
president of research and development, technology, and
Cabot Introduces TECHBLAK 85, ATHLOS
Carbon Nanostructures
C
abot Corp. recently announced the launch of
TECHBLAK™ 85, a new black masterbatch series
made from postindustrial carbon black and
recycled polymers. The company also recently expanded
its portfolio of advanced carbons to include ATHLOS™
carbon nanostructures (CNS), a family of unique materials
consisting of a network of crosslinked carbon nanotubes
manufactured via a proprietary process.
“While our formulated solutions have performed successfully
in plastic applications for decades and continue to be a top
choice for customers, we are always innovating to perfect
and expand our portfolio consistent with the industry’s
evolving needs,” says Denise Myrtoglou, vice president
and general manager, specialty compounds EMEA and
Americas. “We are pleased to introduce these newest
black masterbatch formulations to meet the changing
sustainability needs of our customers and advance the
circular economy of plastic raw materials, while delivering
the high quality and performance standards our customers
have come to expect.”
Cabot’s new formulations are specifically designed to help
plastics manufacturers lower their carbon footprint by
increasing the amount of recycled and secondary content in
end products while still maintaining optimal performance.
The TECHBLAK 85 series includes formulations based
on reclaimed carbons and postindustrial carbon black
materials, as well as recycled polymers tailored for
compounding, injection molding, and non-critical film
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sustainability. “In addition to continuing the development
of our catalyst options, our investment in a small-scale
pilot facility will help us to advance MoReTec technology
towards commercial scale in our quest to achieving a true
circular economy.”
While MoReTec is based on chemical recycling, it also
includes a proprietary catalyst-based approach. The
technology aims to convert typically difficult-to-recycle
plastic waste, such as multilayer films, to their molecular
state. The results of the process can then be used as
feedstock to produce new plastic for all applications,
including food contact and healthcare items. LyondellBasell
believes this approach has significant potential due to its
lower energy use and faster chemical conversion process,
which uses less heat.
In the coming months, LyondellBasell will continue
construction of its pilot facility at Ferrara while also
focusing on the interaction of various waste types on the
molecular recycling process, catalyst selection, and process
conditions.
applications for use in industrial, packaging, and consumer
markets.
“We are acting according to the principles of ‘reduce, reuse,
recycle’ where possible,” says Emmanuel Tarret, regional
business director, specialty compounds EMEA and Americas.
“This applies throughout our manufacturing network,
including carbon black and masterbatch formulation. With
this new masterbatch series, our portfolio now includes
not only formulations that are tailored to upgrade recycled
scrap but are also formulated with recycled material.”
Meanwhile, ATHLOS CNS aims to meet the performance
demands of next-generation plastic applications by
enabling an optimal balance of electromagnetic interference
(EMI) shielding, conductivity, mechanical strength, and
processability.
“Cabot has long been a leader in advanced carbon
materials, and ATHLOS CNS are the latest examples of
how we are leveraging our expertise to drive solutions that
address the performance and sustainability challenges of
our customers,” says Will Krents, Cabot’s new business
development director.
Developments in the automotive, aerospace, defense,
telecommunications, and electronics markets are driving
requirements for EMI shielding in a range of frequencies
and forms.
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