Chemical Industries NewsletterâJanuary 2009 - Chemical Insight ...

August 2008 

January 2009 

A monthly compilation of SRIC 

A monthly report abstracts compilation and news of SRIC 

report abstracts and news 

CEH Marketing Research Report Abstract 

CYCLOHEXANOL AND CYCLOHEXANONE 

By Michael Malveda with Hiroaki Mori 

Cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone are primarily captively consumed, either isolated or as a mixture, in the production of nylon 

intermediates (adipic acid and caprolactam); less than 5% is consumed in markets other than nylon. About 80% of production 

is based on cyclohexane raw material; the remainder is based on phenol (and 2% on toluene). 

Since most cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone is captively consumed on site for the production of adipic acid and caprolactam 

(over 95%), only minor amounts enter the world’s trade markets (cyclohexane, a precursor, is more widely traded). Major 

world consumption areas are Western Europe, the United States and Other Asia. For the next several years, Other Asia (in 

particular, China) is expected to have the highest average annual growth rate for cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone 

consumption. 

The following pie chart shows world consumption of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone: 

World Consumption of Cyclohexanol and Cyclohexanone—2008 

Canada 

Central/South America 

Central/Eastern 

Europe 

Japan 

Mexico 

Western 

Europe 

Other 

Asia 

United 

States 

With the global economic downturn, declines and slowdowns in a variety of industries will limit cyclohexanol and 

cyclohexanone growth. For example, in the United States, the housing and construction slumps will negatively affect the 

carpet and rug markets, both for residential and commercial businesses. This market accounts for the largest segment of 

nylon fiber demand, fibers that are made from adipic acid and caprolactam, and that, in turn, are the drivers of the 

cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone products. 

(For the complete marketing research report on CYCLOHEXANOL AND CYCLOHEXANONE, visit this report’s home page or see p. 638.7000 

A of the Chemical Economics Handbook.) 

SRI Consulting ● Menlo Park, California 94025


Chemical Industries Newsletter 

CEH Product Review Abstract 

ETHANOLAMINES 

By Elvira O. Camara Greiner with Milen Blagoev and Kazuteru Yokose 

Ethanolamines are a class of organic compounds that include monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA) and 

triethanolamine (TEA). They are used in surfactants, gas purification, herbicides and wood preservatives. Commercially, 

ethanolamines are created by reacting an appropriate amount of an amine (either ammonia, MEA or DEA) with ethylene oxide. 

Over 27% of ethanolamine consumption in 2007 was for the production of surfactants. Herbicides (which may include some 

ethanolamines consumed for other agricultural chemicals) accounted for over 14% of total consumption in 2007, followed by 

gas treatment applications (10%). 

The following pie chart shows world consumption of ethanolamines: 

World Consumption of Ethanolamines—2007 

Rep. of Korea 

Middle East 

Canada 

Mexico 

Central/Eastern Europe 

Japan 

Central/South 

America 

India 

Taiwan 

Other 

United 

States 

China 

Western 

Europe 

In North America, ethanolamines consumption is forecast to grow at a rate of about 3% annually between 2007 and 2013. 

Herbicides will drive ethanolamines consumption in North America and the world, followed by surfactants (to a lesser extent). 

Gas treatment applications will also grow at a healthy rate of almost 4% per year through 2013. Overall, world ethanolamines 

consumption is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 3.5–4.0% during 2007–2013. 

Key findings and future implications for the ethanolamines market include: 

• The market tightness experienced during 2004 and 2005 has eased since additional world capacity started coming 

on stream in 2006 (in Europe) and 2007 (in the United States). 

• The increase in the production of ammoniacal (or alkaline) copper quaternary (ACQ) wood preservatives (a major 

MEA consumer) in the United States has leveled off. Nearly all of the growth for ACQ wood preservatives occurred 

in late 2003 and 2004. 

• Several capacity expansions in various regions are planned in order to meet future demand: 

Given current market conditions, all of the planned capacity may not come on stream by the planned on-stream dates. It may 

be difficult for market demand to absorb these planned new capacities, especially with the lingering world economic crisis. The 

markets with the most growth potential will be herbicides (for DEA), ethyleneamines (for MEA) and ester quats (for TEA). 

Prices have risen significantly in the last few years as a result of high energy and feedstock costs. 

(For the complete product review on ETHANOLAMINES, visit this report’s home page or see p. 642.5000 A of the Chemical Economics 

Handbook.) 

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Chemical Industries Newsletter January 2009 


INDUSTRIAL PHOSPHATES 

By Bala Suresh with Chiyo Funada 

The industrial phosphates market has been influenced to a large extent by the dramatic rise in raw material prices, especially 

during the past year. The price of purified phosphoric acid has been increasing dramatically as a result of the increase in the 

price of phosphate rock, which is the raw material used for producing the acid. That, coupled with the spike in sulfur prices 

caused by supply shortages, along with increasing utility costs, has increased the price of phosphate products enormously. 

Traditionally, phosphate rock producers have sold the product at relatively lower prices and value was added by the producer 

of downstream products. This trend has shifted suddenly wherein the maximum value generation has been moved to the 

phosphate rock producers. Phosphate rock prices have escalated fourfold in the past year. 

Additionally, China, which is a high-volume exporting country, raised its export tax to between 100% and 175% in April and 

September 2008. This was valid for the remainder of 2008. As a result, the gap between the domestic and international prices 

increased and exports also increased. This caused some degree of uncertainty in the market as the tax measures could cause 

supply shortages and consequently higher prices. However, phosphate rock prices started to stabilize in November 2008 and 

this could stabilize the market. 

The following pie chart shows consumption of industrial phosphates by major region: 

Consumption of Industrial Phosphates by Major Region—2008 

Japan 

Brazil 

Canada 

Mexico 

Western 

Europe 

China 

United 

States 

STPP use as a detergent builder no longer accounts for the majority of phosphoric acid consumption in the United States, 

Canada or Japan; however, it was the largest market in Western Europe and in Mexico in 2007. Phosphates are excellent 

builders, but they are also plant nutrients, and phosphate wastes entering surface water systems can result in excessive 

growth of algae. This eutrophication is a significant problem in a number of regions and in particular in the developed 

countries. Although detergent phosphates are not normally the major source of phosphate contamination (fertilizer runoff and 

animal or human wastes are typically larger sources), they can be readily controlled by restricting use. 

Environmental concerns will continue as a strong determinant of phosphate demand in detergents in Western Europe and 

North America and accordingly, consumption will stagnate, if not decline. Growth is expected in India, China, other Asian 

countries and South America, where increasingly detergents in the mid and premium segments gain market share and these 

typically contain phosphate builder systems. 

(For the complete marketing research report on INDUSTRIAL PHOSPHATES, visit this report’s home page or see p. 760.2500 A of the 

Chemical Economics Handbook.) 

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LIGNOSULFONATES 

By Sebastian N. Bizzari with Hossein Janshekar and Kazuteru Yokose 

Lignosulfonates are complex polymeric materials obtained as coproducts of wood pulping; they consist of a mixture of 

sulfonated lignin, sugars, sugar acids, resins and inorganic chemicals. Most lignosulfonates are obtained from the spent 

pulping liquor of sulfite pulping operations, although some are also produced by postsulfonation of lignins obtained by sulfate 

pulping (kraft process). Recovered coproduct lignosulfonates may be used with little or no additional treatment or they may be 

converted to specialty materials with the chemical and physical properties adjusted for specific end-use markets. 

Lignosulfonates function primarily as dispersants and binders. Concrete admixtures are the leading market for lignosulfonates, 

accounting for 38% of world consumption in 2008. Consumption as binders in copper mining, carbon black and coal is the next 

largest world market, accounting for 12% of world consumption in 2008. 

The following pie chart shows world consumption of lignosulfonates: 

World Consumption of Lignosulfonates—2008 

Taiwan 

India 

Mexico 

Canada 

Middle East 


Rep. of Korea 

Japan 

Africa 

Other 

Western 

Europe 

China 

United 

States 

Central/Eastern 

Europe 

Dispersant applications of lignosulfonates accounted for 67.5% of world consumption in 2008 followed by binder and adhesive 

applications at 32.5%. Major end-use markets include construction, mining, animal feeds and agriculture. Overall economic 

performance will continue to be the best indicator of future demand for lignosulfonates. Demand in most downstream markets 

is greatly influenced by general economic conditions. As a result, demand largely follows the patterns of the leading world 

economies. 

Central and Eastern Europe is expected to become the largest market for lignosulfonates in 2013, accounting for 20% of world 

consumption, with increased demand in most applications including construction, oil drilling and mining. 

Overall economic performance will continue to be the best indicator of future demand for lignosulfonates. The major end-use 

markets include construction, mining, animal feeds and agriculture. The market is at risk for further consolidation. Additional 

plant closures are expected in the next five years; this should help increase world capacity utilization since demand is growing 

at an average annual rate of 1.4%. 

(For the complete marketing research report on LIGNOSULFONATES, visit this report’s home page or see p. 671.5000 A of the Chemical 

Economics Handbook.) 




NATURAL RUBBER 

By Emanuel Ormonde and Thomas Kälin 

Asia has continued to dominate the world supply of natural rubber, averaging more than 90% of total world production. The 

largest natural rubber–producing countries include Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Thailand is currently the largest 

producer, but Indonesia is closing in on Thai NR production, and is expected to overtake Thai NR production in coming years. 

Malaysia, which accounted for 32% of world production in 1988, shifted emphasis to other crops and nonagricultural 

investments and produced only 8% of the world total by 1998. Today, Malaysia represents roughly 12% of total world natural 

rubber production. Other regions that are expecting high growth in natural rubber production in the forecast period include 

Brazil, Guatemala, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Vietnam. 

The shift toward radial tires, which use a higher percentage of natural rubber than bias-ply tires, has resulted in an increase in 

natural rubber consumption over the past twenty years. Natural rubber accounted for about 30% of the total world 

consumption of rubber in 1981; the share had increased to about 42–43% in 2007. Increased rubber consumption in the 

natural rubber–producing countries has also been a factor, as well as the greatly increasing demand for natural rubber in 

China and India. In the latter part of 2008, there was a slowdown in natural rubber demand as a result of the world economic 

downturn. 

The following pie chart shows world production of natural rubber: 

World Production of Natural Ruber—2008p 

Philippines 

Liberia 

Brazil 

Sri Lanka 

Côte d’Ivoire 

Vietnam 

Other Asia 

Other Africa 

Other Latin America 

Thailand 

China 

India 

Malaysia 

Indonesia 

Two long-standing development programs—one involving epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and the other involving 

thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR)—offer potentially increased use of natural rubber. ENR is aimed primarily at tire 

applications and TPNR at nontire uses, such as weather seals for vehicles, window seals for buildings, shoe sole applications 

and certain automotive components. However, developments to date have not flourished. Most industry observers do not 

expect either product to have a significant impact on natural rubber consumption. 

In contrast, there have been recent developments in the United States and Australia regarding guayule. Guayule rubber, 

developed first in the United States and now Australia, is currently at the forefront of commercial viability. In the current 

situation, guayule latex would impact substantially on natural rubber for medical devices and consumer markets, and may 

eventually impact the industrial markets for tires during 2015–2020. 

(For the complete marketing research report on NATURAL RUBBER, visit this report’s home page or see p. 525.2000 A of the Chemical 





CEH Industry Overview Abstract 

PAINT AND COATINGS OVERVIEW 

By Eric Linak with Akihiro Kishi 

The paint and coatings industry in the United States, Western Europe and Japan is mature and generally correlates with the 

health of the economy, especially housing and construction and transportation. Overall demand from 2007 to 2012 will 

increase at average annual rates of 2% in the United States and 1.5% in Western Europe. In Japan, however, consumption of 

paints and coatings will experience relatively slow growth during this period (0.3%) as a result of no growth in major markets 

such as automotive OEM, machinery and appliances. 

In the less industrialized world, coatings are growing at a much faster rate. The best prospects for growth are in Asia Pacific 

(10–15% growth per year in the near future), Eastern Europe (6%) and Latin America (6%). Growth of coatings in China is 

expected to continue at 8–10% per year. Most of the major multinational paint producers, including PPG, Akzo Nobel, Kansai 

Paint, Nippon Paint, BASF, DuPont, Chugoku Marine Paint, and Hempel, have production in China. 

The following chart shows consumption of paints and coatings by country and market: 

Percent Market Share in Each Region 

Consumption of Paints and Coatings by Market—2007 

Architectural Coatings 

Automotive OEM 

Other Product Finishes 

Special-Purpose Coatings 

Australia Brazil Canada China France Germany India Japan 

Korea, 

Rep. of Mexico Spain 

United 

Kingdom 

United 

States 

The major change that has taken place in the coatings industry during the last twenty years has been the adoption of new 

coating technologies. Until the early 1970s, most of the coatings were conventional low-solids, solvent-based formulations; 

waterborne (latex) paints, used in architectural applications, accounted for 30–35% of the total. In the late 1970s, however, 

impending government regulations on air pollution control focusing on industrial coating operations stimulated the 

development of low-solvent and solventless coatings that could reduce the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

Energy conservation and rising solvent costs were also contributing factors. These new coating technologies include 

waterborne (thermosetting emulsion, colloidal dispersion, water-soluble) coatings, high-solids coatings, two-component 

systems, powder coatings and radiation-curable coatings. 

(For the complete industry overview, PAINT AND COATINGS OVERVIEW, visit this report’s home page or see p. 592.5100 A of the Chemical 





UNSATURATED POLYESTER RESINS 

By Henry Chinn with Uwe Löchner and Yosuke Ishikawa 

Unsaturated polyester resins are produced by the polycondensation of saturated and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids with 

glycols. Unsaturated polyester resins form highly durable structures and coatings when they are cross-linked with a vinylic 

reactive monomer, most commonly styrene. The properties of the cross-linked unsaturated polyester resins depend on the 

types of acids and glycols used and their relative proportions. 

This report also covers vinyl ester resins, since the industry and government have chosen to group them with unsaturated 

polyester when collecting their statistics; however, vinyl esters are actually hybrids between unsaturated polyester and 

epoxies. They are linear reaction products of bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin that are terminated with an unsaturated (vinylic) 

acid such as methacrylic acid. This product is dissolved in styrene and is applied and cross-linked in the same way as 

unsaturated polyesters. 

On their own, cross-linked unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins have limited structural integrity, so they are often 

combined with fiberglass or mineral fillers before cross-linking to enhance their mechanical strength. Resins combined with 

fiberglass are referred to as fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP). Both lightweight and durable, FRP composites are consumed 

primarily by the construction, marine and land transportation industries, although they find use in a variety of other 

applications. Nonreinforced cross-linked unsaturated polyester resin is used to make cultured marble and solid surface counter 

tops, gel coats, automotive repair putty and filler, and other items such as bowling balls and buttons. 

The following pie chart shows world consumption of unsaturated polyester resins: 

World Consumption of Unsaturated Polyester Resins—2007 

Mexico 


Central/Eastern Europe 

Japan 

Middle East/Africa 

Canada 

Oceania 

China 

Other Asia 

Western 

Europe 

United 

States 

Sales in the primary end markets for unsaturated polyester resin—construction, automotive and marine—depend on the 

performance of the general economy and unsaturated polyester resin consumption tends to swing dramatically with any 

change in gross domestic product (GDP). 

Future demand growth (2007–2012) in North America is forecast to slow somewhat especially in the United States. U.S. 

demand had a considerable drop in 2008, with a decline of 15–16% and will continue to decline in 2009. 

Future demand growth (2007–2012) in Europe, the Middle East and Africa is forecast to slow somewhat. The industry will not 

be able to decouple from the financial crises, which reached the producing sector in 2008. In fact in 2008, demand was down, 

especially in the last quarter of 2008. Highest growth in the region is forecast for Russia, which will continue to grow at a 

double-digit rate, albeit from a small base. Future demand growth (2007–2012) in Asia is forecast to slow somewhat. 




The most dynamic market for unsaturated polyester resins is wind energy. On a global basis, new installed wind energy 

capacity in 2007 was about 20 gigawatts (GW). For 2012, new installed capacity worldwide is forecast to grow to almost 

approximately 53 GW (or 18% per year). Unsaturated polyester resins (including vinyl ester) are used to produce rotor blades, 

engine housings and gel coats in competition with epoxy resins. In Western Europe, annual growth of 7–8% is forecast for 

unsaturated polyester resin consumption in this segment during 2007–2012. Growth will be higher in Asia. 

(For the complete marketing research report on UNSATURATED POLYESTER RESINS, visit this report’s home page or see p. 580.1200 A of 

the Chemical Economics Handbook.) 

PEP Review Abstract 

ADVANCED PYROLYSIS GASOLINE UPGRADING 

By Abe Gelbein 

One of the major sources of BTX aromatics is the pyrolysis gasoline by-product from steam cracking of naphtha for olefins 

production. A variety of process schemes is available to recover the aromatics as well as other value-added products from the 

feedstock. One such process is the subject of a recent U.S. patent assigned to the SK Corporation. The process is named 

Advanced Pygas Upgrading or APU and is exclusively licensed by Axens. It involves the use of a catalytic hydrodealkylation 

step that produces a BTX mixture with low ethylbenzene content, LPG and fuel gas from the C 6+ fraction derived from 

stabilized pygas. Simple distillation is used to recover the pure aromatics fractions and the LPG. 

This review compares the relative economics of the APU process with that of an alternative conventional scheme that 

incorporates C 7 /C 8 splitting, extractive distillation to separate the aromatics and nonaromatics from the C 7 fraction and thermal 

hydrodealkylation to convert the C 8+ fraction to additional benzene and toluene. Products are benzene, toluene, C 6 - raffinate 

and fuel gas. Conceptual process designs, capital estimates and production cost estimates are developed for both processes 

for plants processing ~22,000 bbls/day of pygas. 

The estimated CAPEX and OPEX for both processes are roughly the same. The relative economics hinge on the value of the 

product slates. Based on third-quarter 2008 Gulf Coast prices the APU process has very favorable economics (B/T ROI >25%) 

and has a distinct advantage over the conventional route (B/T ROI


Specifically, this report examines the production of the biomonomer lactic acid by fermentation for the production of PLA and 

the production of the biomonomer PDO by fermentation and its reaction with terephthalic acid to produce the bioplastic PTT. 

For those engaged in the production of biopolymers and their petroleum-based competitors, it is useful for its comparative 

economics and understanding of the importance of feedstock costs to the overall economics of biopolymers. 

(For the complete December 2008 Report 265 on BIO-BASED POLYMERS, visit this report’s home page .) 

PEP Report Abstract 

BIOBUTANOL 

By Greg Bohlmann and Ron Bray 

World production of biofuels has experienced phenomenal growth. Various drivers for this phenomenon include high fuel 

prices, concerns about the environment, energy security and rural development. The majority of the growth in biofuels has 

been in the production of ethanol. However, there are other biofuels, so-called second-generation biofuels, that may offer 

some advantages over ethanol. Second-generation biofuels include cellulosic ethanol, covered in PEP Report 263 Cellulosic 

Ethanol, and the subject of this report, biobutanol. 

Biobutanol has a number of advantages over ethanol—it has a higher heating value, it is more hydrophobic than ethanol and 

can be transported via pipeline integrated in the existing petroleum-based fuels infrastructure and it can be added to gasoline 

at higher levels without engine modification. 

Biobutanol has garnered the interest not only of early-stage companies such as Tetravitae and Gevo, whose technologies are 

covered in this report, but also of major oil and chemical companies. BP and DuPont have formed a JV to develop biobutanol 

as a gasoline additive. 

This report covers the technological and economic aspects of the production of biobutanol via two processes. The first one is a 

modification of the established acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation developed by the University of Illinois and licensed 

to Tetravitae. It incorporates an improved microorganism (Clostridium beijerincki BA101) and a gas stripping system for in situ 

product removal (ISPR), originally covered in PEP Review 2007-1. The second process is based on a combination of patents 

from Gevo and DuPont. It incorporates a novel pathway for the production of isobutanol by a solvent-tolerant microorganism 

developed by Gevo and a recovery process based on a DuPont patent application. Neither process is commercial but is in the 

process demonstration phase. 

We also include for reference a conventional corn dry mill for the production of ethanol because it is likely that if the biobutanol 

development program is successful some existing ethanol plants may be converted to biobutanol. 

(For the complete December 2008 Report 264 on BIOBUTANOL, visit this report’s home page .) 


CARBON CAPTURE FROM COAL FIRED POWER GENERATION 

By Ron Smith with Dipti Dave 

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), which causes global warming, is emitted industrially from refineries, petrochemical plants, cement, iron 

and steel manufacturing plants, and electric power plants. The prospect of global climate change is a matter of genuine public 

and private concern. From the viewpoint of the amount of emission, power plant flue gases account for the largest portion. 

Thus, the recovery of CO 2 from power plant flue gas is very important for preserving the global environment by way of 

prevention of CO 2 emission. 




CO 2 capture and storage or sale offer a new set of options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that can complement the 

current strategies of improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of low-carbon or nonfossil energy resources. In this 

report we intend to concentrate on evaluation of technology alternatives for capturing CO 2 from large-scale (200–400 

megawatt) gas turbine power plants of the type recently installed in California to deal with the Enron energy trading scheme 

fiasco. 

This report reviews and evaluates three principal technology alternatives for reducing gas turbine power plant CO 2 emissions 

including direct-fired postcombustion gas scrubbing; precombustion decarbonization of natural gas whereby natural gas is 

converted to hydrogen and CO 2 by reforming, with hydrogen used as a combustion fuel to drive turbo-generator sets; and the 

use of oxyfuel created by separating oxygen from air and burning hydrocarbons with oxygen to produce a turbine exhaust with 

high concentration of CO 2 for capture and storage. 

(For the complete December 2008 Report 180B on CARBON CAPTURE FROM COAL FIRED POWER GENERATION, visit this report’s 

home page .) 


CARBON CAPTURE VIA OXYCOMBUSTION 

By Mike Arné 

One of the options currently being investigated for carbon capture from coal-fired electric power generation is to use a 

predominately oxygen feed to the boiler. This technique, sometimes called oxyfuel or oxycombustion, produces a flue gas that 

is mostly composed of carbon dioxide. In effect, it replaces a postcombustion scrubber with a precombustion air separation 

unit. 

In this review we present our estimate of the capital cost and heat rate/energy efficiency of a pulverized coal-fired power plant 

using oxycombustion with 99% oxygen. Net plant output is 550 megawatts. Total fixed capital cost on a December 2008 basis 

is $1.8 billion, or roughly $3,300/kW. Gross power output is 790 megawatts; over half of the parasitic load is due to the air 

separation unit. The net plant heat rate (HHV) is 11,916 Btu/kWh. Net plant efficiency (HHV) is 28.6%. The power plant 

presented is based in large part on information from a U.S. Department of Energy study, Pulverized Coal Oxycombustion 

Power Plants, DOE/NETL-2007/1291 published in revised form in October 2007. 

(For the complete December 2008 Review 2008-11 on CARBON CAPTURE VIA OXYCOMBUSTION, visit this report’s home page .) 


HYDROCRACKING OF HEAVY OILS AND RESIDUA 

By Richard Nielsen 

Hydrocracking of heavy oils and residua is increasingly important to refiners because of the increased global production of 

heavy and extra-heavy crude oils coupled with increased demand worldwide for low-sulfur middle distillates and residual fuel 

oils. Upgrading bitumen into synthetic crude oil (SCO) is of great current and future interest because of the planned and 

forecast large expansion of Canadian tar sands production and subsequent bitumen upgrading by hydrocracking into SCO. 

Hydrocracking of residual oils mainly increases the production of high-quality middle distillates for blending into jet and diesel 

fuels while reducing the volume of low-value, high-sulfur residual fuel oil. Hydrocracking increases the degree of saturation of 

the products, which increases product quality, for example, the diesel fuel’s cetane number. Of recent interest is the integration 

of hydrocracking with hydrotreating of the hydrocracked products to produce either very-low-sulfur middle distillates or lowsulfur 

SCO valued at a premium to many conventional crude oils. Capital and operating costs of the integrated plant are lower 

than two separate plants. 



This PEP Report provides an overview of the heavy oil hydrocracking process, feed and product supply and demand, 

hydrocracking chemistry, catalysts and hardware technology since PEP Report 228, Refinery Residue Upgrading, issued in 

2000. We then develop process economics for two bitumen upgrading processes that both integrate hydrocracking with 

hydrotreating of the hydrocracked gas oil and lighter products to produce SCO. The first process hydrocracks vacuum residue 

in ebullated bed reactors in a single stage without heavy oil recycle. Bitumen-derived naphtha and gas oils from the crude unit 

are also charged to the single-stage hydrotreating section of this plant. The second process hydrocracks atmospheric residue 

in a slurry reactor with a portion of the residue oil recycled to the hydrocracking reactor. Two-stage hydrotreating is used. Both 

processes use conventional fixed-bed hydrotreating reactors. 

(For the complete December 2008 Report 211B on HYDROCRACKING OF HEAVY OILS AND RESIDUA, visit this report’s home page .) 


PROCESSING ACIDIC CRUDE OILS 

By Richard H. Nielsen 

Acidic crude oils are grades of crude oil that contain substantial amounts of naphthenic acids (NAs) or other acids. They are 

also called high-TAN crudes after the most common measure of acidity, the total acid number (TAN). Crude oils with as little 

as 0.5 mg KOH/g acid or petroleum fractions greater than about 1.0 mg KOH/g oil usually qualify as a high-acid crude or oil. At 

the 1.0 mg/g level, crude oils begin to be heavily discounted in value. Other than acidity, there appear to be no distinguishing 

properties that characterize these oils, although most high-TAN crudes’ gravities are often less than 29 API and often are low 

in sulfur (except for Venezuelan grades) and frequently produce high yields of gas oil. Acidic oils can vary widely in most other 

properties. 

Refining acidic crude oils is of increasing interest because of their increased production and usually discounted value. 

According to one study, incremental high-TAN crude production will rise by 1.8 million B/D from 2005 to 2010. Output will 

continue to rise at least through 2015. Acidic crudes are produced in every oil producing region. China will dominate 

production, which is forecast to more than double from 2006 to 2015. Other locations historically noted for high-NA crudes 

include Venezuela, India, Russia and some fields in California. Newer regions include the North Sea, West Africa, Mexico and 

offshore Brazil. 

NAs are known to cause severe corrosion problems, especially when NAs are in low-sulfur crude oils. Potential corrosion 

occurs at temperatures between about 450° and 750°F (232° to 399°C). NAs and their salts stabilize the oil-water emulsion, 

creating problems during desalting and in downstream separators. Decomposition of NAs produces CO 2 that increases the 

level of heat-stable salts formation in the dry gas amine absorbers and cause foaming. CO 2 in the aqueous phase increases 

the tendency for carbonate stress corrosion cracking. 

Acidity in petroleum oils is due to two main sources: organic sulfur and naphthenic acids. This review emphasizes naphthenic 

acids since corrosion by sulfur compounds is much more well known and understood. 

(For the complete December 2008 Review 2008-14 on PROCESSING ACIDIC CRUDE OILS, visit this report’s home page .) 


PROCESS WATER MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT 

By Charles Butcher 

With increasing pressure on water resources worldwide, increasing numbers of facilities are now recycling water within their 

own boundaries. Rising costs of raw water and discharge permits, plus more-stringent rules on the quantity and quality of 

treated effluent, make water reuse and recycling increasingly attractive. 




At present, the trend is largely limited to recycling selected water streams within the plant boundaries, and to reusing treated 

municipal wastewater as a source of process water. “Zero liquid discharge” (ZLD) and reuse of plants’ own treated effluent 

remain generally uneconomic, though they will increasingly be required in dry or environmentally sensitive locations. 

Key to this convergence between process water and wastewater are the various membrane-based treatment processes, 

especially reverse osmosis (RO). Thanks in large part to their ability to desalinate seawater at reasonable cost, large-scale RO 

systems are forecast to see sales growth of up to 50% over the next four years. The resulting fall in costs will further 

encourage the use of RO in wastewater recycling. Membrane technologies have also significantly improved the economics of 

water treatment for demanding uses such as boiler feed, semiconductor manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. 

A landmark water reuse project is at Dow Chemical’s Terneuzen site in the Netherlands, where 30,000 m 3 /d, representing half 

the water used on site, now comes from recycled process water, rainwater and household wastewater. Dow claims to have 

reduced its overall consumption of process water by 35% in thirteen years, and the company’s external water business 

proposes to cut the cost of water reuse by 35% by 2015. 

All water and wastewater treatment processes are sensitive to site conditions, and this is especially true of membranes. Done 

correctly, however, water reuse and recycling bring significant economic, environmental and social benefits. 

(For the complete December 2008 Review 2008-15 on PROCESS WATER MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT, visit this report’s home 

page .) 


SOIL REMEDIATION 

By Jamie Lacson 

Soil remediation is a significant part of environmental services. Most remediation projects have been conducted by 

environmental service companies, including engineering and environmental consulting firms. The technologies employed for 

soil remediation include traditional technologies such as incineration and solidification/stabilization, and emerging/innovative 

technologies such as air sparging, soil-vapor extraction, thermal desorption, and bioremediation. From a cost estimation 

perspective, soil remediation technologies can be broadly classified into two groups: in situ technologies and ex situ 

technologies. These two groups of treatment methods entail major differences in the provision of remedial services and, 

consequently, in the methods used to estimate costs. In this PEP Review, we discuss the process and economics of two ex 

situ soil remediation technologies: solvent extraction and soil washing. 

(For the complete December 2008 Review 2008-4 on SOIL REMEDIATION, visit this report’s home page .) 


TOLUENE DIISOCYANATE FROM TOLUENE DIAMINE BY BAYER GAS PHASE 

PHOSGENATION PRELIMINARY EVALUATION 

By P.D. Pavlechko 

The recent developments announced by Bayer MaterialScience concerning technology to make toluene diisocyanate by gasphase 

phosgenation seem to offer new technology to a fairly mature industry. Announcements of scale, performance, energy 

savings and actions to build a new facility in China imply that there is something to the new technology. The patent literature is 

somewhat sparse on the subject and few details are published, so there are a lot of questions to be answered before an 

analysis of the potential design can be completed. Initial attempts wandered down several erroneous paths because of the 

lack of hard data and definitive route information. The limited information has raised questions about the scale of the project, 



and whether it is a single line or parallel lines. Since comments seem to suggest that the scale is a single process line, this 

analysis attempted to build a design based on the maximum scale announced. 

The effort managed to compile a plausible design as a single process line to the 300 kmt/yr scale. Limitations in costing 

correlation functions limit that design though by forcing parallel equipment and disallowing extrapolation beyond the limit of the 

correlations. However, extrapolation of refrigeration costs introduced an anomaly to the analysis too. Therefore, this analysis is 

limited to a preliminary assessment that shows promise, but will require more data and analysis to improve the result. 

(For the complete December 2008 Review 2008-1 on TOLUENE DIISOCYANATE FROM TOLUENE DIAMINE BY BAYER GAS PHASE 

PHOSGENATION PRELIMINARY EVALUATION, visit this report’s home page .) 

SCUP REPORTS SCHEDULED FOR 2009 

Report Title Author Status 

Specialty Chemicals Overview Uwe Fink In preparation 

Mining Chemicals Patricia Thiers In preparation 

Synthetic Lubricants Stefan Müller In preparation 

Rubber Processing Chemicals Fred Hajduk In preparation 

Specialty Paper Chemicals Ray Will In preparation 

Antioxidants Fred Hajduk In preparation 

Printing Inks Ray Will In preparation 

Corrosion Inhibitors Stefan Müller In preparation 

Imaging Chemicals: Inkjet Technologies Uwe Fink In preparation 

Plastics Additives Stefan Müller In preparation 

Specialty Films Fred Hajduk In preparation 

Adhesives and Sealants Ray Will In preparation 

To view a list of SCUP reports for sale separately, please see our website at 

http://www.sriconsulting.com/SCUP/Public/Reports/ . For additional information, please contact: 

Ralf Gubler, Acting Director 

Specialty Chemicals Update Program 

SRI Consulting 

4300 Bohannon Drive, Suite 200 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

Tel. (650) 384-4300 Fax: (650) 330-1149 




CEH REPORTS AND PRODUCT 

REVIEWS IN PREPARATION 

Report Title 

Aromatic Ketone Polymers 

Chlorinated Polyethylene Resins 

Detergent Alcohols 

Diisocyanates 

Explosives 

Fumigants/Nematicides 

Gasoline Octane Improvers 

Hydrogen 

Liquid Crystal Polymers 

Maleic Anhydride 

Natural Fatty Acids 

Phosphorus Chemicals 

Plasticizer Alcohols 

Plastics Recycling 

Polyester Film 

Polyether Polyols for Urethanes 

Polystyrene 

Polysulfide Elastomers 

Polyurethane Foams 

Polyvinyl Alcohol 

Sulfone Polymers 

Surfactants, Household Detergents 

Zeolites 

Author 

Thomas Kälin 

Emanuel Ormonde 

Robert Modler 

Henry Chinn 

Stefan Schlag 

Mike Malveda 

Eric Linak 

Stefan Schlag 

Thomas Kälin 

Elvira Greiner 

Sebastian Bizzari 

Bala Suresh 


Jim Glauser 

Barbara Sesto 

Henry Chinn 

Koon-Ling Ring 


Henry Chinn 

Henry Chinn 

Eric Linak 

Bob Modler 

Sean Davis 

This list is provided for the benefit of Chemical Economics 

Handbook users who may simultaneously be undertaking their 

own studies in these areas. Clients are welcome to write or call 

us in order to discuss the work in progress. 

CEH REPORTS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY 

To obtain a list of CEH marketing research reports or product 

reviews for sale separately, please see our website at 

http://www.sriconsulting.com/CEH/Public/Reports/ or 

contact: 

Koon-Ling Ring, Director 

Chemical Economics Handbook Program 




Tel. (650) 384-4300 Fax: (650) 330-1149 



Need to know what’s happening with plant capital expenditures and construction activity 

Now you can get the latest data easily through Chemical Week’s Engineering & 

Construction Database. This database, updated weekly, has the most recent data on 

engineering and construction projects in the chemical industry, and has worldwide coverage. 

Go to www.chemweek.com/ECPD to see for yourself! 

This data is garnered from exclusive news items discovered via the editorial expertise at 

Chemical Week, so it is proprietary and unique among other information on the market. 

As a matter of fact, you won’t find it available to just ANYBODY—access is being given to 

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This database is updated weekly, so you get the latest data to stay on top of the biggest 

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Rockville, MD 20850 

www.chemweek.com 




CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES NEWSLETTER 

The Chemical Industries Newsletter is published monthly by SRI Consulting. The contents of the Newsletter are drawn from current research 

and publications of SRIC’s multiclient programs. Readers are welcome to call or write for more information about the subjects and programs 

mentioned (see addresses and telephone/fax numbers below). 

SRI Consulting offers the world’s most comprehensive ongoing multiclient databases on the chemical industry. The major multiclient programs 

include 

Chemical Economics Handbook 

Directory of Chemical Producers 

The China Report Canada Mexico 

Process Economics Program China Middle East 

Specialty Chemicals Update Program East Asia South/Central America 

World Petrochemicals Europe United States 

India 

Companies may participate in these continuing programs for the chemical industry through annual subscriptions or by purchasing individual 

reports. Each program is supported by inquiry and consulting privileges; electronic access is also available for all of these products. 

SRI Consulting.......................................................John Pearson, President and CEO 

George Intille, Senior Vice President 

Ralf Gubler, Vice President 

Russell Heinen, Vice President 

Linda Henderson, Vice President 

Chemical Economics Handbook..................................Koon-Ling Ring, Director 

Directory of Chemical Producers....................................Carolyn Read, Director 

Process Economics Program...............................................R.J. Chang, Director 

Production/Databases ...................................................Steven F. Read, Director 

Specialty Chemicals Update Program ...................Ralf Gubler, Acting Director 

World Petrochemicals............................................................Ed Gartner, Director 

About SRI Consulting 

SRI Consulting provides the world’s most comprehensive ongoing databases on the chemical industries. We offer an array of research-based 

programs designed to provide clients with specific market intelligence and analysis. These programs, combined with strategic information 

services, help clients define new market opportunities, identify and communicate future challenges, formulate and implement business 

strategies, and develop innovative products, processes and services. SRIC provides creative yet practical strategies, supported by renowned 

industry and technology expertise and delivered by multidisciplinary teams working closely with clients to ensure implementation. SRI 

Consulting is a division of Access Intelligence, LLC. 

About Access Intelligence, LLC 

Access Intelligence, LLC is a full-service global information and marketing solutions provider of competitive business-to-business information. 

The company publishes daily news services, premium-value newsletters, subscription-based websites, magazines, directories, and 

databases. 


Headquarters 

_________________________ International Offices ____________________________ 

Menlo Park, CA Europe, Middle East and Africa Beijing 

John Pearson, President and CEO Alfred-Escher-Strasse 34 Suite 1606, Tower B, Global Trade Center 

4300 Bohannon Drive, Suite 200 CH 8002 Zürich, Switzerland 36 North Third Ring Road East 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 Telephone: 41 44 283 63 33 Dongcheng District, Beijing 100013 

Telephone: (650) 384-4300 Fax: 41 44 283 63 30 China 

Fax: (650) 330-1149 zurich@sriconsulting.com Telephone: 8610-58256826 

menlopark@sriconsulting.com Fax: 8610-58256830 

beijing@sriconsulting.com 

U.S. Offices 

East Asia 

Houston 

Takeda Honcho Building, 8th Floor 

2002 Timberloch Place, Suite 110 2-1-7 Nihonbashi Honcho 

The Woodlands, TX 77380 

Chuoku, Tokyo 103-0023, Japan 

Telephone: (281) 203-6280 Telephone: 81 3 5202-7320 

Fax: (281) 203-6287 Fax: 81 3 5202-7333 

houston@sriconsulting.com 

tokyo@sriconsulting.com 


Ellen Blue, Editor 

© 2009 by SRI Consulting. 

All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. 


December 2007 


(For the complete December 2007 report on CATALYSTS: EMISSION CONTROL CATALYSTS, visit this report’s home page or see vol. 5 of 

Specialty Chemicals—Strategies for Success.) 

SCUP Report Abstract 

CATALYSTS: PETROLEUM AND CHEMICAL PROCESS 

By Masahiro Yoneyama with Uwe Fink, Fred Hajduk, and Wei Yang 

This report focuses on petroleum and chemical process catalysts. See the SCUP Catalysts: Emission Control 

Catalysts report for information on that area. 

Process catalysts, a multibillion-dollar-per-year business worldwide, play a vital role in the economy. The value 

of products dependent on process catalysts, including petroleum products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, synthetic 

rubber and plastics, and many others, is said to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars per year. About 90% of 

chemical manufacturing processes and more than 20% of all industrial products employ underlying catalytic 

steps. Petroleum refining, for example, which is the source of by far the largest share of industrial products, 

consists almost entirely of catalytic processes. 

For a number of catalysts, the strongest growth in demand through 2011 will occur in regions other than North 

America, Western Europe and Japan. Assuming no new economic crises prior to 2011, industrialized and 

developing countries in the Asia Pacific region and Latin America will become important markets for process 

catalysts. Rising incomes will drive demand for motor vehicles and transportation fuels in Asia and Latin 

America. Industrial chemical production, particularly of petrochemicals, is growing faster in Asia and the Middle 

East than in North America and Europe. This growth will be reflected in increased demand for a number of 

catalysts in the refinery segment (such as for hydroprocessing), for polymerization, and for hydrogen production. 

Low-sulfur mandates are also becoming more widespread in these regions. 

Legislation is driving growth in catalyst consumption in the developed countries in North America, Europe and 

Japan, while economic growth is the major driving force for developing countries of Asia. These regions are 

covered in detail in this report. More-stringent vehicle emissions standards are resulting in the development of 

advanced automotive catalysts that require low-sulfur fuel, thus driving demand for hydroprocessing catalysts 

(and refinery hydrogen). Increased use of hydroprocessing catalysts is also forecast for Western Europe. Overall 

catalyst demand growth in Japan will be more modest because of the continued shift of the manufacturing base 

overseas to other Asian countries. Catalyst consumption in both petroleum refining and chemical processing will 

grow fast reflecting high GDP growth in China. 

As the global refining industry moves to cleaner fuels, refiners are being squeezed on hydrogen availability and 

octane requirements. Gasoline desulfurization technology has advanced to limit hydrogen consumption and 

octane loss, but globally, the octane-barrel position of refiners will deteriorate. On the diesel side of the clean fuels 

challenge, a significant increase in hydrogen consumption is forecast to attain ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) 

from straight-run and cracked stocks containing refractory sulfur species. Increasingly, isomerization of light 

naphtha will be one of the preferred solutions to add octane to the gasoline pool, triggered by new catalyst 

formulations and optimized processes. Catalytic reforming is the technology of choice for the production of highoctane 

gasoline and is usually the main source of refinery hydrogen. Catalytic reforming and isomerization 

continue to grow because of their role in removing lead from gasoline in the developing world. Hydroprocessing 

is probably growing the most, in response to lower sulfur levels in gasoline and diesel. 

Major market segments for polymerization catalysts include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene 

terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene. Polyolefin catalysts are the largest single market sector. 

Polyolefin catalyst consumption is nearly flat. Growth in polyolefin production is compensated mostly by the 

development and use of higher-efficiency catalysts. 

Technical improvements have reduced the cost of metallocene-produced polymers to levels more competitive 

with those produced with conventional Ziegler-Natta polymerization catalysts. Polymers based on single-site 

catalysts have unique properties and are expected to create substantial new markets; however, they will not 


Chemical Industries Newsletter December 2007 

displace conventional commodity polymers in existing markets. The initial slow growth of SSCs can also be 

attributed to intellectual property barriers. 

Advanced Ziegler-Natta catalysts have been developed that reportedly can produce polyolefins with properties 

similar to those produced by metallocenes, thereby resisting replacement. It is expected that Ziegler-Natta 

catalysts will remain the dominating technology because of its cost benefits. 

(For the complete December 2007 report on CATALYSTS: PETROLEUM AND CHEMICAL PROCESS, visit this report’s home page or see 

vol. 5 of Specialty Chemicals—Strategies for Success.) 


CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS 

By Stefan Müller with Xiamong Ma and Yosuke Ishikawa 

In this report construction chemicals are defined as chemical compounds that are added as such or in 

formulations to or on construction materials at the construction site in order to improve workability, enhance 

performance, add functionality or protect the construction material or the finished structure made out of it. They 

undergo chemical reactions (e.g., cross-linking) or physical changes (e.g., solidification from melt) during their 

application. The following groups of chemicals will be discussed: 

• Concrete admixtures 

• Asphalt additives 

• Adhesives and sealants 

• Protective coatings 

Worldwide, the construction industry contributes significantly to the global GDP, and is one of the most 

important elements of every economy. Today’s demands on buildings, roads, bridges, tunnels and dams could 

not be met without construction chemicals. The strength of concrete has risen dramatically due to the 

development of construction chemicals. The diameter of a pillar needed to carry 100 tons was reduced from 100 

cm to 10 cm between 1920 and 2004. The cross section of such a pillar is one-hundredth of what was needed in 

1920. High-rise buildings must provide maximum space on minimum ground. 

The raw materials needed for the production of construction chemicals are manufactured by the large chemical 

producers. Polymers are the most important group of raw materials and are found in virtually every construction 

chemical formulation ranging from adhesives to waterproofing treatments. The development of new construction 

chemicals in many cases requires interaction of the chemical producer, construction chemical manufacturer and 

end user. 

Protective coatings are the most important group of construction chemicals, followed by adhesives and sealants, 

concrete admixtures and asphalt additives. 

Construction chemicals will certainly gain importance in the future. While in some regions, the construction of 

new buildings will predominate, the focus will shift to renovation in the older economies. This will directly 

influence the usage patterns—concrete admixtures are predominately used for new buildings while more 

adhesives and sealants are consumed during renovation. 

(For the complete December 2007 report on CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS, visit this report’s home page or see vol. 6 of Specialty 

Chemicals—Strategies for Success.) 


December 2007 



ELECTRONIC CHEMICALS: PART 2 

PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) CHEMICALS 

AND SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGING MATERIALS 

By Yoshio Inoguchi, Larisa Dorfman, Vivien Yang and Yosuke Ishikawa 

Specialty as well as commodity chemicals are used in virtually every step of the manufacture of printed circuit 

boards (PCB) and semiconductor packaging materials. This report covers the major chemicals that are consumed 

in the production of these PCB and semiconductor packaging. 

This study presents an overview of the PCB chemical and semiconductor packaging material markets worldwide 

with regional coverage and a focus on regions with rapid technological changes. Coverage includes the three 

major regional markets—the United States, Western Europe and Japan—as well as the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, 

China and ASEAN countries, where available. 

In 2006, the global market for electronic chemicals for the production of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and 

semiconductor packaging was valued in the billions of dollars. This diverse, complicated, technology-driven 

global market is projected to grow at a robust average annual rate through 2011. Key market trends fuel this 

engine and multiple industries come together to deliver electronic products to the marketplace. 

Market forces drive the demand for materials, wafers, equipment, IC devices, services, software and components, 

as well as packaging and PCBs. Materials are used in various applications of this continuous loop. The major 

macroeconomic drivers that influence this industry include: 

• Globalization. A product can be designed in one country and manufactured in other. 

• The rise of the consumer. Globalization has brought wealth to emerging economies. 

• The communication and information age. Businesses and people are spread out all over the globe. 

• The cost/performance paradox. Moore’s Law is still in effect. 

• The rise of Asia. This global trend cannot be overemphasized. 

Currently, the global growth of PCBs is being driven by the increased use of multilayered, flexible PCBs. The 

board density and design complexity keep increasing as electronic companies try to add more features to the 

product. The electronic designers are trying to design products with clock speeds in excess of 250 MHz. At these 

speeds, speed and power dissipation become an issue requiring the use of advanced materials that can maintain 

their physical properties under even more stressful conditions. 

The chemical markets for PCB fabrication and semiconductor packaging are greatly influenced by the demand for 

products in the key markets. Some of the fastest-growing electronic markets are high-definition televisions; small 

wireless devices, including mobile phones, PDAs, and GPS units; and integrated devices like the Apple iPhone ® . 

These markets are projected to grow at extremely rapid average annual rates through 2011. 

(For the complete December 2007 report on ELECTRONIC CHEMICALS: PART 2, PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD [PCB] CHEMICALS AND 

SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGING MATERIALS, visit this report’s home page or see vol. 7 of Specialty Chemicals—Strategies for Success.) 



SCUP REPORTS SCHEDULED FOR 2007 

Report Title Author Status 

Specialty Chemicals Industry Overview Uwe Fink Published 

Cosmetic Chemicals Stefan Müller Published 

Textile Chemicals Tad Sasano Published 

Flavors and Fragrances Laslo Somogyi Published 

Water-Soluble Polymers Ray Will Published 

Compounding of Engineering Thermoplastics Fred Hajduk Published 

Imaging Chemicals: Electrophotography Uwe Fink Published 

Process Catalysts Masahiro Yoneyama Published 

Surfactants Hossein Janshekar Published 

Construction Chemicals Stefan Müller Published 

Electronic Chemicals: Printed Circuit Boards Uwe Fink Published 

Emission Control Catalysts Masahiro Yoneyama Published 

To view a list of SCUP reports for sale separately, please see our website at 

http://www.sriconsulting.com/SCUP/Public/Reports/. For additional information, please contact: 

R. J. Chang, Assistant Director 

Specialty Chemicals Update Program 




Tel. (650) 384-4300 Fax: (650) 330-1149 


December 2007 

CEH REPORTS AND PRODUCT 

REVIEWS IN PREPARATION 

Report Title 

Acetonitrile 

Acetylene 

Acrylonitrile 

Aluminum Chemicals 

Boron 

Carbon Black 

Carbon Disulfide 

Dimethylformamide 

Dyes 

Elastomers Overview 

Ethyl Alcohol 

Ethyl Ether 

Furfural 

Furfuryl Alcohol 

Glycerin 

Helium 

High-Density Polyethylene 

Inorganic Pigments 

Isoprene 

Lithium, Lithium Minerals and 

Lithium Chemicals 

Natural Gas Liquids 

Nonene and Tetramer 

PET Solid-State Resins 

Polybutadiene Elastomers 

Polyimides 

Polyisoprene 

Polyvinyl Acetate 

Propylene Glycols 

Vinyl Acetate 

Author 

Barbara Sesto 

Sean Davis 

Barbara Sesto 

Bala Suresh 

Stefan Schlag 

Jim Glauser 

Milen Blagoev 


Yosuke Ishikawa 

RJ Chang 

Eric Linak 

Vimala Francis 

Ralf Gubler 

Ralf Gubler 

Ralf Gubler 

Bala Suresh 

Andrea Borruso 

Ray Will 


Jim Glauser 

Sean Davis 

Bob Modler 

Elvira Greiner 


Uwe Löchner 


Henry Chinn 

Henry Chinn 

Henry Chinn 

This list is provided for the benefit of Chemical Economics 

Handbook users who may simultaneously be undertaking their 

own studies in these areas. Clients are welcome to write or call 

us in order to discuss the work in progress. 

CEH REPORTS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY 

To obtain a list of CEH marketing research reports or product 

reviews for sale separately, please see our website at 

http://www.sriconsulting.com/CEH/Public/Reports/ or 

contact: 

Koon-Ling Ring, Director 

Chemical Economics Handbook Program 




Tel. (650) 384-4300 Fax: (650) 330-1149 


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CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES NEWSLETTER 

The Chemical Industries Newsletter is published monthly by SRI Consulting. The contents of the Newsletter are drawn from current research 

and publications of SRIC’s multiclient programs. Readers are welcome to call or write for more information about the subjects and programs 

mentioned (see addresses and telephone/fax numbers below). 

SRI Consulting offers the world’s most comprehensive ongoing multiclient databases on the chemical industry. The major multiclient programs 

include 

Chemical Economics Handbook 

Directory of Chemical Producers 

The China Report Canada Mexico 

Process Economics Program China Middle East 

Specialty Chemicals Update Program East Asia South/Central America 

World Petrochemicals Europe United States 

India 

Companies may participate in these continuing programs for the chemical industry through annual subscriptions or by purchasing individual 

reports. Each program is supported by inquiry and consulting privileges; electronic access is also available for all of these products. 

SRI Consulting.......................................................John Pearson, President and CEO 

George Intille, Senior Vice President 

Ralf Gubler, Vice President 

Russell Heinen, Vice President 

Linda Henderson, Vice President 

Chemical Economics Handbook..................................Koon-Ling Ring, Director 

Directory of Chemical Producers....................................Carolyn Read, Director 

Process Economics Program.....................Greg Bohlmann, Assistant Director 

Production/Databases ...................................................Steven F. Read, Director 

Specialty Chemicals Update Program ................RJ Chang, Assistant Director 

World Petrochemicals............................................................Ed Gartner, Director 

About SRI Consulting 

SRI Consulting provides the world’s most comprehensive ongoing databases on the chemical industries. We offer an array of research-based 

programs designed to provide clients with specific market intelligence and analysis. These programs, combined with strategic information 

services, help clients define new market opportunities, identify and communicate future challenges, formulate and implement business 

strategies, and develop innovative products, processes and services. SRIC provides creative yet practical strategies, supported by renowned 

industry and technology expertise and delivered by multidisciplinary teams working closely with clients to ensure implementation. SRI 

Consulting is a division of Access Intelligence, LLC. 

About Access Intelligence, LLC 

Access Intelligence, LLC is a full-service global information and marketing solutions provider of competitive business-to-business information. 

The company publishes daily news services, premium-value newsletters, subscription-based websites, magazines, directories, and 

databases. 


Headquarters 

_________________________ International Offices ____________________________ 

Menlo Park, CA Europe, Middle East and Africa Beijing 

John Pearson, President and CEO Toedistrasse 23, 1st Floor Suite 1606, Tower B, Global Trade Center 

4300 Bohannon Drive, Suite 200 8002 Zürich, Switzerland 36 North Third Ring Road East 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 Telephone: 41 44 283 63 33 Dongcheng District, Beijing 100013 

Telephone: (650) 384-4300 Fax: 41 44 283 63 30 China 

Fax: (650) 330-1149 zürich@sriconsulting.com Telephone: 8610-58256826 

menlopark@sriconsulting.com Fax: 8610-58256830 

beijing@sriconsulting.com 

U.S. Offices 

East Asia 

Houston 

Takeda Honcho Building, 8th Floor 

2002 Timberloch Place, Suite 110 2-1-7 Nihonbashi Honcho 

The Woodlands, TX 77380 

Chuoku, Tokyo 103-0023, Japan 

Telephone: (281) 203-6280 Telephone: 81 3 5202-7320 

Fax: (281) 203-6287 Fax: 81 3 5202-7333 

houston@sriconsulting.com 

tokyo@sriconsulting.com 


Ellen Blue, Editor 

© 2007 by SRI Consulting. 

All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

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