Demand for nickel sulphate is expected to rise rapidly this decade to feed increased battery production for electric vehicles. At the same time, diminishing sources of high grade nickel ores are leading to a renewed focus on high pressure acid leaching (HPAL) of laterite ores, with a significant impact on sulphur and sulphuric acid demand.
Alexander Prygunkov became Uralchem’s new CEO on the 4th December. Mr Prygunkov, who was formerly PIK Group’s chief operating officer, will focus on the digital transformation of the company. He is also expected to strengthen Uralchem’s position in the chemicals and agricultural industries, and introduce a more modern approach to business management.
Newly-developed froth flotation equipment and reagents are improving selectivity and the grade and recovery of phosphate concentrates.
The coronavirus outbreak necessitated a ‘virtual’ CRU Sulphur + Sulphuric Acid conference last year, held in November 2020.
Selecting the right catalysts for the SO2 converter in a sulphuric acid plant has always been about balancing expenses, gains, and compliance. With increasing demands for sustainability and in challenging economic times, operators need to adjust their plants to get even more from less. This has led to market demand for new catalytic solutions that offer better productivity and a lower climate footprint, all at the lowest cost possible. Catalyst design and formulations continue to evolve with Haldor Topsoe, DuPont Clean Technologies and BASF all adding new types of sulphuric acid catalysts to their portfolios.
Corrosion Resistant Alloys, LP, a manufacturer of high-grade corrosion resistant alloy tubes, has appointed Tom W. Slaughter in a business development and advisory role. Based in Houston, Slaughter will be responsible for building relationships with strategic partners, including customers and suppliers. Slaughter’s background is as an industry leader in high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) and deep gas applications with more than 40 years of global industry experience. Most recently, Slaughter served as president of Energy Alloys, Advanced Tubulars beginning in 2007. Prior to this role, he served as president of CRA from 2001 to 2007 where he had full responsibility for global sales and supply chain and worked directly with domestic and international end users of specialty CRA OCTG products.
Clariant, says that Conrad Keijzer become its new chief executive officer as of January 1st, 2021. Interim executive chairman Hariolf Kottmann has thus returned to his position as chairman of the board. Keijzer is a Dutch citizen with a long track record in the chemical industry, including 24 years with leading global paints and coatings manufacturer AkzoNobel, where he was CEO of the Performance Coatings Division and a member of the Executive Committee. Most recently, Conrad Keijzer was CEO of Imerys, a French supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions.
Norilsk Nickel has finally closed down its nickel smelting operation at Nikel in Russia’s Murmansk region; the company’s oldest still operating production facility. The shutdown is part of the company’s environmental programme, which aims to significantly reduce its environmental impact at all production sites. The Nikel closure will eliminate SO2 emissions in the cross-border area with Norway, which had become a major bone of contention with the Norwegian government. Norilsk aims to reduce SO2 emissions at Kola by 50% by the end of 2020 and 85% by the end of 2021, and is modernising its production in Monchegorsk, including the construction of new state-of-the-art facilities.
A look back at some of the major events of 2020 for the sulphur and sulphuric acid industries, as well as a look forward as to how 2021 might look.
A few years ago DME production from methanol gave a major boost to world methanol demand, with DME being used as a blendstock for LPG. However, demand plateaued and DME has not had the takeoff that its proponents feel it should have. Could new renewable DME processes give it the boost it needs?