China: Changzhou Yabang – organic pigments

Also, there has been strong growth inthe high density polyethylene (HDPE)and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)sectors, with growth rates since 2001ranging between 3.4% and 4.4% perannum. HDPE and PET are widelyused in plastic bottles and othercontainers.

European suppliers of plasticcolorants, especially organiccolorants, are finding it increasinglydifficult to compete on price againstsuppliers from India and China, withlower costs of plant construction,employee wages and pollutioncontrol. So, European colorantproducers have tended to shiftproduction to East Asia – byacquisitions or alliances – in order tocurb costs and remain competitive.

Press Release from: Frost & Sullivan, 1040 EastBrokaw Road, San Jose, CA 95131-2309, USA.Website: http://www.frost.com (18 Oct 2006) & ICISChemical Business, 23 Oct 2006 (Website:http://icischemicalbusiness.com)

PLANTSChina: Changzhou Yabang – organicpigments

Changzhou Yabang Chemical Co Ltd,a pigment manufacturer, suffered afire on 23 August 2006 in theanthraquinone section of its SecondBranch Factory at Changzhou-Wujin(Jiangsu province). The fire affectedabout 40 tonnes of benzene waste,contained in five storage tanks.Apparently, there were no personalinjuries and no significant waterpollution resulting from this incident.

China Chemical Reporter, 6 Sep 2006, 17 (25), 12

China: China Nanotech – nanoPCC

China Nanotech Inc (formerly knownas Zeolite Exploration Co) hasopened a 60,000 tonnes/ynanoparticulate precipitated calciumcarbonate (NPCC) plant at theShengda Industrial Park in XianyangCity (Shaanxi province). The plantemploys the proprietary “membranediffusion” technology developed byChina Nanotech and ShandongShengdatech in collaboration withTsinghua University (See also ‘Focuson Pigments’, Jul 2006, 7). Comparedagainst “ultra gravity” technology formaking NPCC, the Tsinghua process

offers significantly lower productioncosts, as well as improved qualitycontrol and product consistency.Carbon dioxide requirements arelower and the product generated hasa narrow particle size range, 30-60nanometres.

Mr Xiangzhi Chen (President andCEO of China Nanotech) commented:“As the first commercial-scaleproducer employing this technology,we expect to realise a significantcompetitive advantage in theburgeoning global market for NPCC.We have already successfully testedthe product in applications includingtyres, rubber, plastic and paints. Webelieve this will give us a platform todevelop exciting new applications forthis versatile nano-scale material.”

Press Release from: China Nanotech Inc. Tel: +1 (716)621 3535. E-mail: rick@heritagemgmt.net (14 Sep2006)

China: Doublestar, Henan Dongxin Tyre& local government – carbon black

A 100,000 tonnes/y carbon blackplant is to be built at the HongzhouIndustry Park in Hui county, Henanprovince. The project will cost Yuan450-500 M ($57-63 M) and this will befinanced jointly by the QingdaoDoublestar group, Henan DongxinTyre Co Ltd and the Henan HuiCounty Municipal Government. Aspart of the project, a large power plantwill be installed, which will utilisewaste gas streams from the carbonblack plant. The entire project shouldtake five years to complete.

China Chemical Reporter, 16 Sep 2006, 17 (26), 7

China: Guangxi Dahua – TiO2

Guangxi Dahua Chemical Works willspend just under $19 M to raise itsTiO2 pigment capacity in the Huahongdistrict of Baise city from 12,000tonnes/y to 25,000 tonnes/y by theend of 2008.

TiO2 Worldwide Update, May/Aug 2006, 14 (3/4), 19

China: Guangzhou Chemical – TiO2

Further details have come to lightregarding the reported titaniumtetrachloride leak in the Tianhe districtof Guangzhou city on 18 August 2006(See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Oct 2006,4). The emission was described as a

“white acrid mist” and the source wasnamed as the TiO2 pigment plantowned by Guangzhou ChemicalIndustrial Group. As a precautionarymeasure, 200 residents in the Tianhedistrict were temporarily evacuatedfrom their homes.

In fact, the TiO2 pigment plantunder scrutiny was a 12,000 tonnes/ysulfate-route plant which had beenclosed by Guangzhou Chemical lastyear. Most of the plant and equipmentat this site had been sold to a scrapmetal and hardware enterprise, basedat Jianmen. The white acrid mist wasemitted when workers from theJianmen enterprise were trying toclean and remove various pieces ofequipment. Presumably chlorine orsome chlorinated cleaning chemicalreacted with titanium-containingresidues, giving rise to the mist, whichmay have contained some titaniumtetrachloride.

In any event, it is now clear that thepigment plant was not operating at thetime of the mishap and it had onlyever employed conventional sulfate-route technology and not chloride-route technology.

China Daily, 19 Aug 2006, 5

China: Nanjing – TiO2

The 25,000 tonnes/y TiO2 pigmentplant in the Yuahuatai district ofNanjing was temporarily closed on 30August 2006 on the orders of theNanjing Environmental ProtectionAdministration. The plant was said tobe causing excessive pollution of theQinghuai River and the operatingcompany – Nanjing Titanium WhiteWorks – will have to improve itseffluent control facilities before thepigment plant can be reopened.

TiO2 Worldwide Update, May/Aug 2006, 14 (3/4), 19

India: TTP – TiO2

Government environmental approvalhas been granted to TravancoreTitanium Products (TTP) in respect ofits proposal to raise its TiO2 pigmentcapacity from the current 15,000tonnes/y to 33,000 tonnes/y. TTP hasbudgeted $55 M for this project.Apparently, no firm indication has beengiven for the target completion date.

ICIS Chemical Business, 18 Sep 2006 (Website:http://icischemicalbusiness.com)

NOVEMBER 2006 5

F O C U S O N P I G M E N T S